LEADER ❝ RHINE ❞ PALMCLAN

A sharp chill on the air spelled disaster for Palmclan, a group that had traditionally become used to mild winters, and a gleaming sun in the sky raining down upon them. Some cruel twist of fate had decided that winter would come early this year, and it was something that the whole of the clan was scarcely prepared for. It wasn't for lack of trying, no. Rhinestone had set up plenty of tasks for those around him, doing his own fair share of insulating and prey gathering. However, it was impossible to know how much one needed to plan ahead for, when one had never been forced to endure such a violent storm. At first, it had seemed as though perhaps they would be granted mercy. There was a chill on the air, yes, but Rhine couldn't see any clouds rolling in, nor did he spot any white specks of snow raining down. Despite this, he still ordered the queens to keep their kits within the nursery, and he still made sure that the few NPCs with medical knowledge had plenty of supplies to spare. They couldn't risk making a mistake, not so soon after the last disaster that had struck them so violently and unexpectedly.

The day had progressed on, and for a long while, the entire clan thought that the danger had passed. After all, it was such a nice day. However, their contentedness was not fated to last. It happened so quickly, in such a way that one could blink and miss it. The dark storm clouds rolled in above, dark black and rumbling. Rhinestonestar's gaze moved briefly upwards before he froze, knowing that his bad feeling had been correct. He turned, shouting above the rumbling of the clouds above, "Everyone! The storm is coming in! Make sure you get yourselves safely within your dens!" Despite issuing this warning, the tom made no move to follow his own orders. He couldn't – he needed to make sure that everyone else was safe, before he protected himself. He scarcely had time to finish his shout before the snow began, pouring down in thick windy whips that fell upon the beach, covering the sand and raining down upon camp. He closed his eyes as the wind whipped around him, a hiss of pain leaving him at the bits of ice that had already begun to rain down. It was practically a blizzard.

His heart sank as he opened his pale gaze again, eyes darting around to see that they were still missing several members from camp, even as snow began to cover everything. It was almost suffocating, and he found himself shouting again, shaking snow from his pelt half heartedly, "Anyone out if camp, come back! This is too strong, and you'll end up being seriously hurt! It's too dangerous!" His call rang out through the air, hopefully not drowned out by the roar of the wind. He could only pray to Starclan that those who had made their homes in the boardwalk would be safe as well, with the precautions he had put in place. Of course, as he climbed to the edge of camp to watch for anyone who was missing, he found himself wondering – did Starclan even care for them? After all, if they did, then wouldn't they have protected Palmclan, from the hurricane, and now from this?

( welcome to the official beginning of the second palmclan clanwide plot! this is only the first phase of the plot, and involves a massive blizzard hitting the territory and causing chaos. your character can be inside of camp, or out on a patrol, or wherever when it ended up hitting, but it is now snowing hard, as well as hailing! the massive amount of snow from this event will last for at least three days, so feel free to make opens set after this thread involving your characters interacting with the snow, or reflecting on what happened! )

LEADER ❝ RHINE ❞ PALMCLAN

Rhinestone could feel his chest clenching with anxiety as the storm continued to rage around camp, his pale gaze desperately seeking out a headcount. Number Nine was in the skies far above, and he could see several NPCs that looked familiar, but there were several important faces missing. He couldn't spot Medusa anywhere within the crowd, a fact that caused his gut to twist up into unpleasant knots. He had known that the senior warrior was avoiding camp lately, but was she stranded out there all on her own? Part of him wanted to try going out and finding her, but he knew that would be a death wish at that point. The house Medusa usually stayed in was quite a while away, within the forest, and he would have to trek through the snow. Not only through the snow already piled up, but also with the torrent of snow and hail that was still coming down onto them. There was no way he'd be able to make it all the way there, not without serious injury. For now, he just had to hope that she would be alright, even with everything that was going on. Still, he trusted Medusa. He knew that she was strong, even with all of her recent doubts in herself.

Taking a deep breath, the tom then turned to search throughout camp, trying to count all of those that he was able to spot. The absence of Quasar was nearly enough to send him into hysterics, his ears flattening down against his skull. He couldn't lose his son, not after everything that the other had already been through. Especially not after everything that Tree had been through, as well. Once again, the leader felt like rushing out of camp, regardless of the risks that were involved. However, the call of another familiar voice caused him to turn, relaxing slightly when he spotted Honeypaw. At the very least, he could be reassured by the fact that he knew she was safe. Even if she did seem to be panicking – something which he really couldn't blame her for. Emerging from the den he had been searching, Rhine went over to her side, pressing his pelt against hers before he reassured, "Don't worry, we won't let anyone get snowed into their dens. We could try evacuating, but that's even more high risk, especially with this hail coming down. I... I think I've got an idea." He pressed against her for another brief moment before turning, and bolting into his den, evidently going to search for something he thought could help.

After a couple of minutes, Rhine once again emerged from his den, only this time he was dragging several large palm leaves. They were broad and thankfully fairly thick, which was enough to hopefully protect them from the snow – at least until the snow passed. He had originally been keeping them for more palm umbrellas, this was obviously much more urgent, and important. Pulling them over to Honeypaw, he rose his voice above the storm, calling out, "Anyone who can, help me get these leaves secured over the dens! They're thick enough that they'll direct the snow away, and hopefully keep us from any entrances getting closed off." He tried to give his best reassuring look to Honeypaw then, as if asking the young canine to help out as well. He then took one of the large palm leaves, moving over to the nearby den and starting to secure it over the entrance, where it would act as a sort of overhang. He doubted they would work if the storm went on for several days, but hopefully this would pass within a few hours. If it didn't... well, there was little chance they would survive through it anyways.