Juniper preferred to lay down or crawl in the caves, since its ceiling didn't really accommodate his long legs and tall antlers. He really wanted to stretch his legs. He tucked his hooves in closer. His belly ached with hunger. He'd eaten most of the grass just outside the cave. He didn't want to venture out, but he might have to. It'd just be a few feet, he reassured himself. I can't just starve in here. That made Juniper worry about the others, though. It wasn't like prey would just stroll up to a cave of wolves and dogs. Especially in a storm like this. I guess I did that... he shook his tail dismissively. He'd feel bad for their prey if he thought about it like that.

At least water wasn't a concern. It poured from the sky like a waterfall.

Pandora was in the middle of the group. She normally preferred having space, but she couldn't let herself get too cold.

It'd been two weeks since Pandora had last eaten, unlike the others, for whom it'd been days. I should've eaten that mouse Blaze caught me, she thought. Ironically, though, she was the only one just beginning to feel hungry. She really hoped no one would hurt Juniper.

Most of the discussions about who would join the council had been set aside, but seeing how long the storm was lasting, they might have to resume the conversation. Someone had to make decisions soon. Should she speak up? She cleared her throat. "There's only so long we can go without food. We need to figure out how to get more." And there's the herbs too. And what happens if this cave floods... she didn't want to overwhelm everyone too fast. "We might be able to dig for groundhogs, rabbits, or mice if we find a softer part of the walls or floor."

Selene | Female | Red Fox | M: MEH

"There might be some roots, too," Juniper added hopefully. He wasn't sure he'd find any thick enough for him to eat. He hated to think about it, but there was a chance that he could eat a mouse. The thought of eating meat made him gag, but he had heard of the things some deer had to do in desperate times.

-

I whimper in a corner. "Sparrow?" I ask. The pups are going to be weaned soon. We need food. I hual my self to my feet and stand be the door. "I am going hunting."

Selene | Female | Red Fox | M: everyone

I jump to my feet. "Night, no. It's too dangerous." I say, then i hesitate. She's probably going to say something obvious because we have no choice. We can't starve. WHYYYY WAS THIS SO HARDDD. "Okay, we're going to send the strongest hunters out," I say, loud enough for everyone to hear, "Sparrow will stay with the pups and Ace. Bai and Pandora, you guys run for it and try to look for any safe spots inland. Night, Blaze and I will try to find something to eat. Juniper, you go with Bai and Pandora. Did I miss anyone?" We have to make a move. We need to do something. There has to be a same place somewhere. Please tell me it isn't all over yet.

"I don't know about me. I might not be strong enough," Pandora said, coiling apprehensively. She wasn't sure a cold-blooded reptile like herself could handle the icy rain for too long, and she wasn't exactly the fastest animal here.

"That is a good idea, though. Prey would have the same idea as us, sheltering from the storm. And shelter for prey could be shelter for anyone who goes out there."

Juniper nodded eagerly at his assignment. It's just water, nothing to be scared of, he reassured himself. And what are the odds of lightning hitting us?

And if he went further from the den, he'd finally get some plants to eat. Though some of the other animals might find prey burrowing in the earth, it was unlikely he'd find much without venturing out.

Blaze/Female/Fennec M: ??

(Never mind my inconsistent tenses)

“Hunting, eh?” I say, stretching and opening my mouth into a yawn. “Sounds good to me”

I pull myself upright. The storm had been going on for several days now, and my claws itched to kill something. I poke my nose out of the cave, and a large, icy raindrop splats down on my snout, making me flinch. I huff and shake it off. I turn back to face Selene and Night.

“So, are we going to hunt in a group, or are we going to spread out?” I ask.
“I personally think we should spread out, so we have a better chance at finding prey.”

I rake my claws through the moist dirt. At this rate, our cave would be flooded in a few days if this rain continued. I remembered the prey-tree. I think I still have a couple of pigeons and that owl in there. Hopefully they haven’t rotted.

"I suppose it wouldn't be so bad if we went in a group. We could protect each other if the storm gets worse," Pandora said. The different species had different hunting styles, but it was worth the trouble for safety. She uncoiled, deciding she might go hunt after all.

Selene | Female | Red Fox | M: MEH

"Maybe Bai, Pandora and Juniper should go in a group, and Blaze Night and I will split up to cover more group. We're fast runners, so i'm sure we'll be okay." I turn to Ace and Sparrowhawk. "Stay safe guys. Make sure the pups don't follow us." I smile at them, then I turn to the others. "Alright team. Let's head out."

...

The sky was pitch black and the thunder rumbled loudly. The only light was the glow of lighting in the distant sky. The roar of the tide coming in was closeby and the land under their feet was soaked and moist, making is hard to run properly. Maybe we should have waited until the tide was going in, I turn to look at the others, who were going in their own directions. Guess there's no goin back now. Pictures of the city in rubble flashed inside my mind.

I ran full speed through the puddles and wreckage. I spotted the city in the distance. My old home... This is no time to be sentimental, Selene, you're on a mission! I dodge multiple falling branches from trees, but i can't avoid getting scratches. My legs hurt from running, my ears hurt and my head ached from the loud noises, but i had to keep gonig. It was our only chance.

I finally came close to the city. I spotted a bunch of cave-like spaces under the rocks. The water could reach here easily though... But it hasn't yet. That's probably a good sign.

I lift my nose to the air, seeing if I could smell anything. Before I could catch a scent, rain started pouring from the sky. Hard and Cold. Lightning and Thunder crashed closeby. I have to hurry. I have to- BANG! I yelp as lightning strikes on a tree nearby and it lights on fire. The tree starts to fall. I run, as fast I can. You can make it! THINK OF THE PUPS. I can't die! NOT YET! I see an small shelter space between a smashed up human monster and a wall. I run as fast as i can. The tree landed on the ground and started blazing. Oh saints.

Juniper stepped out with Bai and Pandora and his brown and white fur was instantly soaked. Cold water seeped onto his skin. He shiverered.

He leaned his head down and hungrily ate the grass at his hooves. It tasted gross from the mud and water, but he was so hungry that he didn't care. It felt so odd to be casually grazing in this weather.

He wondered if there was bamboo nearby for Bai. They definitely couldn't go to the city again now. "Bai, do you think there's something else you could eat? Something that isn't bamboo?"

Pandora moved outside and flinched as icy water hit her purple and gold scales. I'm already starting to regret this. She watched Juniper graze. At least he's going to be well fed. When she heard his question, she realized he had a good point. She didn't know much about pandas, but surely a bear could eat something other than one plant, right? Even if it wasn't ideal?

Pandora flicked her tongue. The storm and rain covered up many of the scents, but her sense of smell was good. She had hoped to find the scent of prey, but she also picked up on something much more concerning. "I think I can smell smoke!"