Warrior Cats/Recap/After the Flood

Shortly after the flood that killed Lichenfur and messed up the camp, SkyClan is doing its best to recover. They're clearing the debris and rebuilding dens. Life goes on: Cherrytail is expecting Sharpclaw's kits. Harveymoon surprises Leafstar by being one of the most helpful cats to pitch in. Despite this, spirits are a bit low. Leafstar is visited in a dream by Spottedleaf, who warns her that Sol will bring trouble.

Though Sol does his best to be helpful, he's unhappy that Leafstar won't make him a warrior yet, and she's not entirely sure he understands the warrior code. That's not her only cause for concern, though: Fallowfern, Patchfoot, and Clovertail tell Leafstar they're considering leaving the Clan because they're afraid of the damage and loss of lives that another flood could cause, and Leafstar learns that Billystorm's been telling her kits that he'll take them to live in the Twolegplace, because he's afraid that living in the Clan isn't safe for them. She accuses him of not being loyal to SkyClan or to her, and tells him to leave.

Billystorm doesn't show up the next day. Leafstar feels extremely stressed out with everything going on, so to get her mind off things, she gives Sol an assessment. He does okay, but not the best, at hunting, and they come across the scent of a loner or rogue, and the trail leads them to the Twoleg nest (which is now empty) where Petalnose and Shrewtooth had been mistreated by the Twoleg. Leafstar explains the history of the place to Sol, and they head back to camp. The next day, Billystorm still doesn't show up. The kits are afraid that they did something to make him not love them, but she assures them that this isn't the case. Seeing how distressed her friend is, Echosong offers Leafstar to take a walk with her. The kits are old enough to behave themselves without a cat constantly watching over them, so Leafstar and Echosong leave them in the camp. The two spend the afternoon hunting, telling stories, and just trying to relax. It works for a while... until they arrive back at the gorge, and Leafstar learns that her kits are missing.

Leafstar frantically asks her Clanmates if they've seen her kits, and they search, but don't find anything. She also asks if anyone's seen Billystorm, because she's afraid he's taken them back to his Twoleg nest. That night, Leafstar wakes up to find Sharpclaw speaking to a large group of SkyClan cats, and they leave the gorge. Honeypaw explains to Leafstar that he's taking a patrol to Billystorm's house, and that she doesn't think Billystorm would ever do something like that; that he could be harmed for no reason. Leafstar agrees, and she takes a shortcut to Billystorm's house. Leafstar gets there first and tells him urgently that he has to go with her, and they quickly climb to the roof of the house to see a patrol of nine SkyClan warriors arrive, furiously searching for Billystorm. Leafstar confronts them, covering for Billystorm. He blurts out in shock, "The kits are gone?!" He angrily tells Sharpclaw to go right ahead and search his Twolegs' next, but Sharpclaw realizes that it must not have been Billystorm. Everyone heads back to camp.

When Leafstar wakes up the next day, Sol returns from spending the whole night searching for her kits. Sharpclaw offers to send out more search patrols, but Leafstar declines, explaining that they shouldn't wear themselves too thin trying to take care of the Clan and search for the kits. She, Billystorm, and Echosong end up going. Billystorm and Leafstar apologize to each other. Leafstar suddenly remembers how Sol had scented the strange cat the other day... and she realizes that she smells more now. They spot a group of eight rogues heading toward the gorge. They get back to camp first and warn the Clan. After a short fight, the intruders are driven away. SkyClan is proud of how they've supported each other, and Patchfoot, Fallowfern, and Clovertail decide to stay.

The next morning, Leafstar asks Shrewtooth if he's okay, since he seems worn out. He explains that Sol kept him awake last night with his coming and going searching for the kits, and that Sol tracked some sort of stinky leaves into the den that keep clinging to his pelt. Around sunhigh, Leafstar notices Sol leaving the camp, with Shrewtooth sneaking around behind him, following him. Something seems odd here, so she follows as well. Sol ends up going to the old Twoleg nest, where he's been keeping the kits under a bush, bringing them prey (he tells them it's because their den back in the gorge is being rebuilt.) Shrewtooth confronts Sol, and Sol attacks him. Leafstar steps in and pins down Sol, ordering Shrewtooth to bring the rest of the Clan.

Sol tells Leafstar that he's always overlooked. Scorned because he's a kittypet. Never made the leader of a patrol. Leafstar won't even make him a warrior. So the only way for him to get the Clan to notice him was to find Leafstar's kits. Leafstar furiously tells him that this proves he has no understanding of the warrior code. Her kits were vulnerable alone out there - they could have died because of this stupid stunt. She tells him that the Clan is a family, and that the warrior code means that they must always look out for each other. Sol only has his own interests at heart. The rest of the Clan arrives, and Leafstar banishes Sol from SkyClan. They tell him to go away, and Sol accuses Billystorm of having no right to tell him that, because he doesn't give himself fully to the Clan either - he goes back to a Twoleg nest every night. Billystorm says he won't - not any longer. The Clan is his family, and he belongs in the gorge. Sol tells them all that they're foolish for following the warrior code. They're hindered because they think StarClan will save them from rats or a flood. Finally, after his little speech is over, he leaves. Billystorm asks Leafstar what if Sol doesn't leave - what if he shows up at the gorge? Looking around and seeing her loyal warriors alongside her, Leafstar says, "Let him try."