Lynxstar gave a savage hiss as the flames licked at his fur. His eyes scanned the area, looking for a safe path away from the fire. He saw none, the flames rose high and bathed the sky a deep red. He would not let his clan fall to such a fate, so he grit his teeth and raised his voice.

”Peachdusk! Lightningstrike! Get to the front with Briarsong and put out any fire that gets in the way!” he yowled, nudging an elder back with the clan. He searched the crowed for Fishtail and Dogflight, relieved for a moment to see that they were among the senior warriors helping the kits get to safety. He turned his attention to his siblings, searching for Crowfang and Hollyfoot among the sea of pelts before shaking his head. They were competent warriors and even if they didn’t make it out alive...

He’d apologize to them personally.

His ear twitched at the sound of splintering wood, looking up just in time to see a tree fall over.

Right where one of his warriors was. He rushed over and stamped his paw, a wall of scorched earth rising up to meet the tree just before it made contact, and snapped his head towards them.

”Get moving!” he snarled.

Vixenleap had been eating a mouse while Crowfang stepped out of the warrior's den, immediately shooting the troublesome red-furred she-cat a suspicious glance at the scent of smoke. She was a fire element, after all- of course the childish furball would be his first assumption. However, Vixenleap gagged at the smoke and rose to her paws at the cries of her clanmates. She didn't hesitate to shoot the smoke warrior a hostile glance. "I didn't do it." She snarked in his direction before leaving camp as prompted.

----

Newtpaw perked her ears at her mentor's call, noting the stream of smoke that was rising above the horizon. Her instincts ordered her to flee like all the others, but she reminded herself that as he had a duty to do. As the leader's apprentice, she was responsible for helping out and ensuring that her clanmates fled from camp. She recalled that Acornpaw had run off into the apprentice's den to take a nap earlier, stressed out about his inability to control his powers.

Turning on her paws, the chocolate tortoiseshell darted back into the apprentice's den to see the cream tom cowering in the corner, having detected the scent of smoke and immediately growing fearful. "Get moving!" She barked at him before roughly shoving his side with her shoulder to force him along. Acornpaw stumbled out of the nursery with Newtpaw behind him to make sure nobody else had been left behind.

The smoke was beginning to mess with Copperlight’s breathing - he could hardly go a second without suppressing a cough. He knew that he would eventually have to get the smoke out of his lungs soon enough, but he strained to hear his leader’s orders over the crackling of the flames. He could see that Fogpaw wasn’t having much better luck, though he was struggling to find Acornpaw between all of the flames. He knew he had to help the young tom anyway he could, but how could he? He was struggling to get himself out of harm’s way, what could he do?

Lilacheart.

Copperlight lifted his head and wildly looked around for his sibling, the smoke already making his eyes water. He couldn’t stop - Lynxstar wouldn’t allow him to - but he could only hope that Lilacheart was safe with the clan.

Copperlight would’ve passed out right then and there, but a sudden gust of clean air had made him light headed and grateful all the while. He searched for his savior and noticed Hawktalon not too far away. He gratefully nodded to the tom but he would give him a proper thank you once they all got to safety. Wherever that may be

The roar of the flames in your ears feels almost deafening. The crack of splitting, collapsing trees echoed through the burning forest.

Smoke fills your lungs, making every breath feel almost agonizing.

Through the bright flames and dark smoke, it's hard to make out where your Clanmates are. You struggle to stay together while powering through the forest, trying to avoid fallen trees that are ablaze, charred brush, and other dangerous obstacles. Each pawstep is difficult, especially if you weren't one of the lucky ones to escape without a patch of singed flesh.

The elders, kits, and injured struggle to keep up. You and your comrades turn to help those you can, when suddenly a tree falls over, blocking the path ahead to the mountains.

The Water Elementals try their best to clear a path while Earth Elementals who still have enough strength begin to move rocks and boulders to climb around. Air Elementals try their hardest to clear the smoke as carefully as they can, knowing that one stray breeze can fan the flames even higher. It feels as if you're trapped with no way out.

A voice you recognize calls out among the crowd.

"Over here, hurry!"

You pair yourself with another Clanmate, or perhaps one of the apprentices from WindClan, and push your way through the path that someone had found.

Continuing on until the base of the mountains becomes clearer, you make sure to stay close to your companion, knowing well that if you lose each other in the smoke and flames, someone may die tonight. You cough, the smoke in your lungs stinging like venom.

Lynxstar collapses into a coughing fit, Sagewhisker quickly making his way to the older tom's side to lift him back onto his paws.

Briarsong's voice rang in your ears as you finally reach the base of the mountains. Your eyes fall on what had caught her attention. "A cave! Quickly now, take shelter in here!"

You and your Clanmates quickly hurry into the cave, large enough to house a bear and her cubs. You check the air cautiously. No scents from any potential predators. You were safe here.

For most, this was not their first forest fire. This was, however, one of the worst in ThunderClan's history in The Valley.

Sagewhisker and Whitepaw were making the rounds, checking the severity of everyone's conditions. There weren't many cats who had it bad, though a few were pulled to the back of the cave where Sagewhisker could observe them carefully if their condition worsened.

Two cats were assigned to keep watch at the entrance of the cave and monitor the fire. If it got too close, you would be forced to scale the mountain to higher ground.

Here's hoping that wouldn't be the case.