Lichennose sped past the branches sheltering the Elders' Den, wincing sharply as a thorn stabbed into his pad. It was dumb to put it there, he scolded himself momentarily before running to the Nursery in search of his beloved Quailflight.

   The tom pushed his body into the den, breaths rapid. He found Sagetail and Pebblefur trying to round up the kits, moving with quick, panicked movements as their litters wailed and ran around them. Sagetail glanced at him for a heartbeat, hissing, "Quailflight and Fennelwhisker left." She picked up Berrykit by his scruff, holding Firekit and Foxkit still with a paw. Pebblefur had Birchkit in her mouth and Dewkit mewling between her paws.

   Lichennose grabbed Foxkit and raced from the Nursery, hearing a faint "Thank you!" as he left.

   His eyes widened at the sound of breaking bark.

   The pale tom dared to glance where it was coming from, seeing a tree leaning dangerously over the hollow, dangling mid-air. In its dark shadow, nearly hidden by the dark of the storm, Juniperwhisker tried to shove Aspenshade to her paws while the tortoiseshell panted on the ground.

   Lichennose tore his gaze away. I can't watch her die, but I can't help either.

   He scanned over the mass of cats gathering near the camp entrance, all scrambling in a fearful panic. Lichennose pushed his ears back at the racket of crashing branches, painfully aware the tree would fall any heartbeat now. He finally spotted Quailflight's light fur in the crowd and ran forward.

   The tom passed Foxkit to Bumblebee, nuzzling his mate with heavy breaths. The warrior saw Morningbelly reach them, but glance back at the dens. He just caught her voice above the loud rain and thunder, "I have to make sure nobody's left behind!" Before he knew it, the elder was half-running half-scrambling to the Apprentices' Den.

   Lichennose gasped and ran after her. He had to save her. "Morningbelly, leave the dens be! You have to come with!" he hissed, managing to catch up with the surprisingly fast old she-cat. She snarled a response, "No, Lichennose! I've seen too much death in my life already, your dumber than a mouse if you think I'm just leaving innocent cats to die!"

   Lichennose stumbled to a halt in front of the den as Morningbelly dove inside, melting into the darkness. He glanced back at his Clan and drew a deep breath, dipping into the Apprentices' Den.

   Flypaw was huddled up in the corner, his breaths loud and shallow. Lichennose took a step forward as Morningbelly approached the younger cat, but the pale tabby looked up and saw ominous cracks in the ceiling.

"No, stop! Get out now!" Lichennose yowled, but the elder refused and grabbed at Flypaw's scruff, trying to drag the apprentice out. Too scared to think straight, Lichennose turned and fled the den. It collapsed behind him, sending a small wave of dust into the storm.

How could I let them die? Lichennose panted heavily, staring with huge eyes at the wreckage. A Clan cat protected his Clanmates, not flee and leave them to be crushed by a rockfall! However, the warrior turned and began back to his Clan, wincing at the sound of the tree crashing down the rocky walls. With a burst of speed, he made it to Quailflight.

Quailflight meowed pitifully, rubbing her cheek against him.

"We are leaving now. I don't care if anyone else is left, we are going!" Berrystar screeched, his white form disappearing through the bracken making camp entrance. Lichennose staggered on his paws as cats rushed around him, but he found balance and went along with, Quailflight somewhat-limping at his side.

The panicked cats of ThunderClan ran through their woods, barren branches crashing and whining above them and leaves scattering in their wake, making the usually peaceful forest a dreadful, loud place. The Clan slipped and slid in the mud, some falling over completely but quickly being picked up by their Clanmates.

Berrystar led the group through the torrential storm, until he swerved and began to head for WindClan's portion. Please, StarClan, let them be forgiving on such a terrible night.

They broke past the woodland and quickly slowed, exhausted now that the threat of falling trees was gone. However, the Clan continued at a fast trot, and found WindClan huddled together, terrified, at the base of a tall hill. Patchstar stared at them with wide eyes as Berrystar led his cats to the top of the hill.

Lichennose stayed right next to his mate's sodden body, licking her ears to try and comfort her. The Clan collapsed on top of the hill, watching their beloved home, where the leafless trees were whipped by the wind like feeble twigs. Lichennose shivered. Perhaps even a fire would've been better than this.

Quailflight rubbed her head against her mate's cheek, breaths heavy and deep. Lichennose looked at her, asking "Are you okay?" with a shaken tone. However, his voice was nearly drown out by thunder.

Quailflight only groaned, but mumbled something about kits.

Kits? Great StarClan, not now! Not even you could be this cruel! I can't have my family be taken too, please! Lichennose leapt to his paws, horrified, "Willowwhisker!"

The medicine cat was at his side in almost an instant. Cloudpaw, however, was no where in sight. He took one glance at Quailflight and was able to guess the situation.

"Everyone, step away! She needs space." Willowwhisker muttered something about herbs to himself. He had to leave his whole supply at camp! Lichennose realized with a jolt of new fear.

   Lichennose looked away, Quailflight's heavy breathing drown out by the storm. Please, StarClan, spare my kits tonight...

   He headed over to Bramblefoot, nuzzling his brother. Bramblefoot wrapped his tail around Lichennose, the brothers sitting close together as they watched Quailflight have her kits. It seemed like they'd waited for endless seasons before Willowwhisker stepped away.

   At Quailflight's side lay three tiny, defenseless kits, suckling desperately at her belly. She smiled a weak grin, her stubby tail twitching.

   Willowwhisker whispered something to her, but Lichennose didn't catch the exact words through the pounding rain and thunder. He ran forward and covered Quailflight's face in licks, settling down beside her and nuzzling his mate. He recalled the day back in Greenleaf when he asked to be her kits' father, realizing just how good of a choice that had been.

   Bramblefoot slowly approached, his purr hardly noticeable in the storm. "What shall you name them?" He asked gingerly, tail swishing as he sat down.

   "How about we name the light brown tabby Squirrelkit?" Quailflight looked up at Lichennose. He nodded joyfully, "That's a wonderful name. And how about Branchkit for the brown tabby?"

   Quailflight nuzzled her mate, "Yes, perfect. And for the final kit... Hazelkit." All three cats stared down at the kits, warmth filling their eyes. Lichennose had never wanted them to be born on such a bad night, but at least they could be safe from falling trees. He winced at the thought of Aspenshade.

   He nuzzled Quailflight, but flinched when a huge strike of lightning lit up the sky. He raised his head and gazed back at the forest, closing his eyes slightly as he remembered the recent deaths. Morningbelly, Aspenshade, Flypaw... None of them deserved to lose their lives today.

   Lichennose then looked up at the pitch-black sky, rain pelting his face. He mentally asked why StarClan had to claim so many innocent cats today, but then looked around at his family. They were all still here with him, and he was so lucky that Quailflight's birth was successful. But he couldn't help feel guilty, that he could've done something else to help his three dead Clanmates survive. And what would they do now, with that fallen tree? It was huge, it must've covered at least part of camp. "Bramblefoot, can you watch Quailflight?" The words slipped out before he knew it.

   The darker tabby nodded, turning to look at Lichennose's mate and kits. Lichennose turned and looked for Berrystar; the snow-white leader was sitting a few fox-lengths away, his conversation with Juniperwhisker silent from the thunderstorm.

   Lichennose padded over, and as he approached, it was clear Juniperwhisker was telling him about Aspenshade. Berrystar's eyes were sorrowful, and he sighed to himself. "May I speak with you?" Lichennose asked sheepishly.

   Berrystar turned to him and nodded, his deputy padding off. "Yes, Lichennose? What is it?" The white tom's gaze seemed distant, his words so quiet and gentle that Lichennose had to strain to understand him. The pale tabby blinked, "Where will we go now?"

   The leader dipped his head, looking utterly hopeless. "I don't know."

   Lichennose whimpered. He turned and hurried back to his family, laying down next to Quailflight and swiping his tail across their kits' backs, trying to wipe the wet from them. Unfortunately, as soon as his tail slid off, they were soaked again from the rain. He sighed and closed his eyes, dipping into uneasy slumber.

   Mountains rose steeply from the earth a long way away, and behind a waterfall, there was a dim cave full of blurry cats. Booming overhead, there was a deep voice.

   "Beware, for the thunder has enough power to destroy all the Clans."

   Cats were fighting, battling against dark shapes of odd warriors, Lichennose's adult kits among them with bodies covered in wounds and claws dripping with blood. Screeches and yowls blocked any other sound, the wails of cats being struck down filling the air. With a terribly loud crash of lightning louder than any of the screams, Lichennose jolted awake.

   Lichennose jumped to his paws, shaking from his nose to tail tip, quickly looking at his kits and mate and relaxing just a little when he saw they were safe and asleep. He glanced around, realizing all his Clanmates were sleeping. All except for Berrystar, who was sitting and staring at their territory.

   Lichennose staggered over to him, still shaken by the dream. He sat beside the leader, pressing his ears back as rain hit them. The storm had lightened only a little, and thunder still rumbled in the clouds.

   Berrystar glanced at him, and the pale warrior confessed everything about the dream, from the tall cliffs to the voice to the battle that felt so horribly real. Berrystar was clearly astonished.

   "Tomorrow is the full moon. If we can get to the Gathering, perhaps you can tell Willowwhisker and talk with the other medicine cats." the white tom twitched his tail tip. Lichennose was somewhat shocked that Berrystar immediately believed the dream, but then remembered that he must be terrified at the storm and sudden deaths, and that maybe the dream was all they had to know StarClan still was on their side.

   Lichennose nodded and stood, turning to go find Willowwhisker, the fur along his striped spine prickling. He spotted the matted tom and paused for a moment, then hurried up to him, realizing this may be the fate of the Clans.

-

There it is! The final chapter! Book 2 shall be out soon enough!

I'm really happy to know that so many people love this story, it's an amazing feeling to see the votes and comments you guys leave. If you guys haven't figured out yet (there was a few hints!) who the real father to Quailflight's litter is, it's... oh come on, you didn't think I was going to tell you, did you?

Anyway, I'll ask two more questions; Who was your favorite character, and what was your favorite scene?

With that, I'll see you all in book 2!

~ Warrior