Mapleshade was listening to Oakstar speaking about some warriors from ThunderClan tracking some adders and blocking the adders nest with stones. She overheard a ShadowClan elder stating that they were lucky that they didn't get bitten. She overheard another cat talking about an apprentice named Marshpaw who got bitten by an adder on his first patrol. As Mapleshade went by some RiverClan cats and she heard them snarling at her and the ginger tortoiseshell and white she-cat overheard them talking about the battle. "Remember when Appledusk struck that ThunderClan warrior, Birchface so hard that he fell into the river and drowned?" One of the RiverClan warriors meowed. Mapleshade remembered the day and remembered when Birchface's apprentice, Flowerpaw leapt in the river to save him but suffered the same fate as her mentor. Mapleshade's thoughts got interrupted as soon as she saw a pale brown tom with pale holly green eyes approach her. She quickly recognized the tom as her mate, Appledusk. "Appledusk, where were you for the past few moons?" Mapleshade asked in a happy tone. "Well, RiverClan decided to double the patrols and I'm unable to sneak out of camp as there's more of a risk. But, I promise that I will see you tonight after the gathering." The pale brown tom replied. Mapleshade nodded then she remembered about her expecting kits. "I also have something to tell you." Mapleshade meowed. "What is it?" Appledusk asked. "I'm expecting your kits." The ginger tortoiseshell and white she-cat meowed as her amber eyes brightened. Appledusk's pale holly green eyes widened and he smiled. "That's great!" Appledusk responded in a delighted tone. Mapleshade nodded. "Don't try to come and see me until I have my kits." Mapleshade whispered. Appledusk nodded. "Appledusk!" A RiverClan warrior called out. The two cats turned around to find Reedshine. "I've been looking for you everywhere. You need to come listen to these ShadowClan cats. They're telling a funny story about a frog!" The dark orange she-cat meowed. Appledusk hesitated for a few moments. "Okay, I'll come." The pale brown tom meowed. Reedshine coaxed Appledusk towards the group of cats with her tail on her back. As the two RiverClan warriors padded towards the group of cats Mapleshade glared at Reedshine. 'Reedshine needs to stay away from Appledusk because he's my mate and I having the kits to prove that he's mine.' Mapleshade thought to herself in anger. After when all of the leaders from each clan shared about what happened in their clans the gathering ended and all of the cats grouped up with their clan mates to head back to their camps. As soon as Mapleshade got back to camp she headed straight towards the Warriors' den. She then curled up in her nest and quickly drifted into a deep sleep.
"Hey Mapleshade." A voice meowed. The ginger tortoiseshell and white she-cat slowly opened her amber eyes to find Nettlepaw standing in front of her. "What is it Nettlepaw?" Mapleshade tiredly meowed. "Beetail wants you on dawn patrol." Nettlepaw told the ginger and white tortoiseshell she-cat. Mapleshade nodded and got up but she stumbled out of her nest. "Why're so slow?" The ragged ginger tom meowed in a bit of an irritated tone. "What would Deerdapple do if you spoke to her like that?" Mapleshade teased. "She would probably make me search for ticks for a moon." Nettlepaw admitted. Beetail saw Mapleshade and looked at her. "Come on, it's time to go out of camp to patrol." The dark brown tabby tom meowed. "Beetail, I'm expecting kits and I don't think it's a good idea for me to go out on patrol." Mapleshade meowed. Beetail's eyes went wide. "Oh, then you're excused from patrols and congratulations." Beetail responded in an awkward tone. Frecklewish's ears perked and her dark amber eyes brightened as she ran over to Mapleshade. Mapleshade saw the speckled golden furred she-cat run up to her. "You're having kits!? Whose the father? Is it Birchface!?" Frecklewish asked with an enthusiastic tone. Mapleshade didn't answer Frecklewish. "I'm happy that my brother would live through you, Mapleshade." Frecklewish meowed with her enthusiastic tone staying. Mapleshade went into her nest and rested in it and Frecklewish followed the ginger and white tortoiseshell and rested beside her. "I promise that I'll take care of you." Frecklewish meowed with a smile. 'I never said Birchface was the father though and Frecklewish insisted the idea when I didn't answer...' Mapleshade thought to herself. 'But, this is my chance given to me by StarClan to hide the fact that Appledusk is the actual father...' Mapleshade thought to herself in relief.
A few sunrises later Mapleshade felt a few sudden sharp pains and she twitched. Then, her amber eyes widened as she realized what was happening. Her kits were coming! Mapleshade twitched in pain and she saw Frecklewish. The golden speckled she-cat's dark amber eyes went wide. "Mapleshade, are you okay!?" Frecklewish meowed with concern. "N-no, my kits are coming...!" Mapleshade meowed in panic. Frecklewish and Mapleshade rushed to the Medicine cat's den to find the Medicine cat, Ravenwing. Ravenwing turned around the small black thick-furred tom turned around and rested his dark sky-blue gaze on the two she-cats and then he looked at Mapleshade quickly realizing what was going on. Mapleshade collapsed onto one of the nests in the Medicine cat's den and the two cats rushed over to her as Mapleshade writhed in agony. "Calm down Mapleshade, you'll be alright." Ravenwing calmly meowed.
After all of the pain Mapleshade had three kits. Two tom kits and one she-kit. She named the two toms Patchkit and Larchkit and she named the she-kit Petalkit. Mapleshade looked at Frecklewish. "Frecklewish, could you fetch me some water?" Mapleshade quietly meowed. Frecklewish nodded and padded out of the Medicine cat's den. Ravenwing looked at Mapleshade. "Frecklewish makes life worth living with the birth of your kits." Ravenwing meowed. Mapleshade buried her muzzle into her kits and she smiled. "They're my gift to ThunderClan." Mapleshade murmured.