Appledusk wondered what he was doing. Wondered why he was so drawn by the Thunderclan she-cat. He could have anyone in Riverclan. But no. He wanted - no needed - the Thunderclan warrior. And she needed him. He remembered the day that he met her. She had been hunting by the river. She had slipped on a slick stone and fallen in the water crying for help. He had saved her. They soon grew fond of each other and fell in love. Appledusk was nearing the river. He could hear the Lap of water against its banks. He wanted to dash through the forest too her but knew that he might alert other creatures, must of whom wouldn't be friendly. He stopped to sniff the air. Good. No cat scent. He was nearing the Thunderclan border. He would have to be more carful from now on. He half considered swimming for a little bit, just to wake up, but decided against it. His mate would not appreciate cold, wet fur rubbing against her. He was nearing the clearing. Not much farther to go now. A cloud covered the moon, basking the forest in shadows. Appledusk kept walking, a spring in his step as he scented her. The clouds moved. He could see clearly again. He was no Shadowclan cat who hunted in the pitch black. He was just a Riverclan warrior, not even special at that, but he, of all warriors, had the best mate a cat could have. He could see into the clearing now. Moonlight shone illuminating the clearing in a silvery light. Sitting on the pale rock was a she-cat. She had a patched ginger and black fur. He darted towards her purring. In return the she-cat leaped off the rock to greet him, licking his ears and face. The beautiful she-cat, the one putting so happily to see her love? That cat was Mapleshade, the deadliest cat in the Dark Forest.