Hi! I'm Leopardsplash, and this is my very first story on here! I've been on fanfiction awhile, but I've just now decided to post my stories! Please review and tell me what you think! Constructive criticism is always welcome, but please don't be harsh or rude; this is my first story I'm posting, so cut me some slack!
I understand Mapleshade's Vengeance is being written by the Erins, but I wanted to write my take on what happened to Mapleshade and how she became so evil. So without further ado, here is my story! I hope you like it!
I do not own the Warrior cat series or the canon cats, such as Mapleshade, Appledusk, Reedshine, etc. I only own the few cats I made up.
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Paws hit the ground as a sturdy she-cat moved quickly through the forest. Two dark bundles hung from her mouth, and she used her nose to push another small kit forward. She couldn't believe it; earlier that day, she was positive she could make this work. Now ThunderClan, her very own birth Clan, had banished her. And she was forced to run and take her kits with her. How, she wondered, had this happened?
XXX
"They're beautiful Mapleshade!" murmured the nearby queen. Mapleshade held her head high, gazing at her three young kits with pride. "What are their names?"
"Their names are Patchkit, Petalkit, and Larchkit." Mapleshade said proudly.
"And who's their father?" Leafdawn asked. Mapleshade opened her mouth, then shut it, fur bristling slightly.
"He, uh," Mapleshade muttered, staring at her paws. How could she explain the kits having no father in the Clan? They had a father of course; Appledusk. And she was sure that if he were here, he would love their kits better than any father. I will always love you Mapleshade. Nothing can change that. That's what Appledusk had promised her. And she knew it was true, because she loved him with all her heart. She nuzzled her kits with her nose, blinking at them with loving eyes. One day, we'll all be together.
"Is their father gonna come see the kits soon?" Leafdawn's voice shook Mapleshade out of her thoughts. "You never mentioned a mate. Oh Mapleshade...did something happen between you and the father? Will you be raising them on your own?" Leafdawn gazed at her with concerned eyes. Mapleshade swallowed, wanting to mention Appledusk so badly. But no matter how much she knew that Appledusk would be an amazing father, no one would understand once they learned her kits were half-Clan.
"It's just me. The father...isn't a Thunderclan cat who is ready to care for these kits." Mapleshade said decidedly, avoiding Leafdawn's sad and concerned glance. It wasn't a lie; there was no ThunderClan cat she wanted to care for the kits. The only cat who would ever be the kits' father was Appledusk.
"Well, that's ok." Leafdawn comforted, inclining her head so that the tips of her ears touched Mapleshade's. "Many she-cats have raised kits in the Clan without mates before. You'll have the Clan to help care for you while you're in the nursery, and then they'll be apprentices and you'll have time to worry about them!" Leafdawn laughed and Mapleshade smiled weakly in return before turning back to her kits. Appledusk will take care of us. It will all work out.
XXX
"Get off our territory flea-pelt!"
"Who are you calling flea-pelt, mousebrain?" Robinpaw launched herself at her brother, Blackpaw, pummeling him with her paws. Blackpaw laughed and pushed at her with his hind legs, throwing Robinpaw to the side. The two apprentices climbed back to their feet and continued their play battle. Mapleshade and Leafdawn watched from inside the nursery.
"One day that will be our kits." Mapleshade announced proudly, curling around her three kits.
"Yes, but thankfully we'll have six moons with them before they begin training." Leafdawn shuddered. "I hate to think of my kits going into battle." Leafdawn shifted her weight. Her belly had grown larger in the last moon; Mapleshade was sure the kits would be born in less than a moon.
"That's what they'll be one day; warriors!" Mapleshade reminded her.
"Yes, one day, but that doesn't mean I want them fighting for their lives in battle!"
"But think of the battles they could win!" Mapleshade insisted, despite Leafdawn's dubious look. "They could fight so hard, they could become deputy! Or leader!" Mapleshade's eyes glittered.
"Clan life isn't all about battles and being a warrior." Leafdawn muttered, glancing at Mapleshade nervously.
"There's nothing more important than becoming a warrior and winning battles!" Mapleshade's claws dug into the earth. "Every cat's absolute loyalty should only be to their Clan!"
XXX
"We need to attack now!" Every ThunderClan warriors' head turned to Mapleshade, who had climbed to her paws, fur bristling. ThunderClan's leader, Oakstar, turned to her with narrowed eyes.
"Why do you say that Mapleshade?" He asked.
"ShadowClan is always looking for a fight. They think they can get away with anything!" Mapleshade protested. "Now's our chance to show them that ThunderClan will not be treated like kittypets!"
"But they've hardly done anything! Why would we fight them now?" One of the other cats called out. Oakstar inclined his head.
"An excellent point." He said before turning back to gaze at Mapleshade. "ShadowClan have been fairly quiet lately. Your courage and determination to defend your Clan is admired, and you have often battled well for ThunderClan. But I cannot go to battle with another Clan on the encouragement of one warrior." Mapleshade's fur bristled to the point where she looked double her size. Her pupils had narrowed to points and she let out a hiss.
"ShadowClan cats have been ignoring our borders and taking our prey!" Mapleshade meowed angrily. Oakstar jumped to his paws and looked down at Mapleshade.
"Their scent was only just over the border!" He growled. "And we have no proof they have been stealing prey. For all we know, an apprentice accidently stepped over the border. I will not attack a Clan who has done nothing to deserve it!"
"They've done everything! How long must ThunderClan deal with ShadowClan's arrogance?" Mapleshade demanded. "I say we-"
"We will not go to battle. As Clan leader, I am making sure peace is kept between our Clans." Oakstar announced, giving Mapleshade another look before turning away and heading to his den. Other Clanmates glanced cautiously at Mapleshade but said nothing, only quietly murmuring to each other. Mapleshade dug her claws into the ground, nearly spitting with fury. She had done everything for her Clan, battled for her Clanmates, fought her hardest against enemies, and her leader wouldn't even listen to her.
"One day I will be leader. I will bring full glory to ThunderClan, and my kin will forever be remembered. I promise you that, Oakstar!" Mapleshade quietly hissed to herself.
XXX
"Well, I'm perfectly fine with kits staying in the nursery for as long as needed. Thank StarClan they won't even train until they're six moons old!" Leafdawn's voice brought Mapleshade out of her memories. She shot a glare at Leafdawn before staring down at her kits.
"My kits will be great warriors. They will fight the hardest for everything! They will make their Clan proud!" Mapleshade said, puffing out her chest with pride. Leafdawn gave her one last wary look before climbing to her paws and padding back into the nursery. Mapleshade watched her go before returning her attention to her three kits.
"I promise my kits, you will be great. Every Clan cat will know you and honor you. You all have great destinies, I know it." She whispered with a glint in her eyes.
XXX
"Brackenleaf! Brackenleaf!" Mapleshade hurried across the clearing to the medecine den, where ThunderClan's medecine cat had raced outside.
"Mapleshade! Is something wrong?" He asked with concern.
"Larchkit's been coughing all day! She might be sick, and I don't know if the other kits are ill as well!" Mapleshade said in alarm. Brackenleaf sniffed at Larchkit, who mewed weakly from her place beside Mapleshade, then nudged her into his den.
"Don't worry. It doesn't look like greencough. Possibly whitecough, but if I give her herbs now, she should recover quickly." He reassured the frantic queen. She was unsheathing her claws and scratching the ground in frustration.
"Are you sure? What about Patchkit and Petalkit?"she demanded, pushing her other two kits forward. Brackenleaf looked down with narrowed eyes while Patchkit and Petalkit stood perfectly still, gazing up at the medecine cat.
"The way they stand...the sleekness of their tails...", he murmured and Mapleshade felt her whole body go still. "They...look like RiverClan warriors! In fact, they look like the warrior Appledusk!" Brackenleaf's voice came out in a quick whisper. He gazed at Mapleshade, who was too shocked to say anything. "You never declared a mate in ThunderClan. No cat had any idea who the father was. It can't be.." He trailed off. Petalkit and Patchkit, still too young to understand the situation, stared back dumbly while the tom climbed to his paws. "I must tell Oakstar!"
"No!" Mapleshade cried, facing Brackenleaf. "You can't! My kits!"
"It is true then." He shook his head, and quickly padded outside the den. Mapleshade heard him call Oakstar, and before long the medecine den was crowded with the three grown cats and the kits. Oakstar was staring at Mapleshade with disbelief.
"Out of all the cats, I didn't think one who so loved her Clan and the warrior code would break one of the most important rules of the code." He meowed, shaking his head. Mapleshade stared at him, trying to stand her ground.
"My kits are ThunderClan! I will raise them as loyal warriors!" She whispered.
"So the father would never know? You would never even talk to Appledusk again?" Oakstar challenged. "I can see it now. The kits share resemblance to him. And you didn't even tell me."
"How could I?" Mapleshade screeched. "You wouldn't accept them!"
"How can I trust any cat who would keep such large secrets from her Clanmates?" Oakstar hissed. "You had your chance, and you broke the code!"
"I am a loyal ThunderClan warrior!" Mapleshade hissed back. "Everything I have done, everything I have sacrificed, was all for my Clan!"
"You betrayed your Clan! And that cannot go unpunished." Oakstar stared at Mapleshade before shaking his head. "Come with me."
"But Larchkit-" she began. Oakstar turned to her and growled.
"Come now!" He growled before turning away. Mapleshade glared at him before picking up Larchkit and pushing the other two into the clearing. Oakstar had climbed to the tallest point in camp.
"Cats of ThunderClan, I have an announcement. All who are old enough to catch their own prey, come now!" He called. Mapleshade's fur bristled. Surely he wouldn't humiliate her in front of her own Clan?! Cats began padding out from their dens and into the clearing, staring curiously at Mapleshade and Oakstar. Once every cat had gathered, Oakstar looked down at them all.
"Mapleshade, step forward. " he mewed solemnly. Tail trembling, she took a few pawsteps towards her leader. Her kits stumbled after her, none knowing what was happening. Larchkit mewed pitifully.
"Mapleshade, you have dishonored your Clan and broken the warrior code. You lied to your own Clanmates and divided your loyalties." Oakstar's eyes blazed. "You broke the trust of your Clan. You put yourself before the good of your Clan! And for this, you can no longer be truly called a ThunderClan cat!" Gasps rang out through the camp. Mapleshade's fur bristled, and she could feel the shocked gazes of her Clanmates upon her. But she couldn't believe what Oakstar was saying. No longer a ThunderClan cat? What did he mean? Of course she was ThunderClan! Was this part of her punishment?
"But I am a ThunderClan cat!" She meowed loudly.
"No ThunderClan cat would break the warrior code such as you have done!" Oakstar hissed. "You cannot go unpunished Mapleshade. We can no longer trust you; how can your Clanmates know where your true loyalties lie when you have dedicated yourself outside of your Clan?" Oakstar shook his massive head, and gazed at Mapleshade with cold, amber eyes. "I am sorry for this Mapleshade. You can no longer be a ThunderClan cat. You cannot stay in camp, and your duty as a warrior to this Clan has ceased. You are hereby banished from ThunderClan!" More surprised gasps ensued and Mapleshade's jaw gaped open; no cat had ever been banished from her own Clan before. Mapleshade swept her tail around her three kits, drawing them closer.
"You can't do this!" She cried. "What about my kits?!"
"You must take your kits with you and leave. They are half-Clan, born because of your disloyalty. How can a cat born of two Clans be loyal to only one of them?" Oakstar questioned her with a fierce gaze.
"The kits too!" A cat cried out in surprise.
"Will they be okay if we banish them?"
"Oakstar! You can't! Not the kits! They might not survive!" Leafdawn cried from her place beside the nursery. Oakstar inclined his head towards her.
"Mapleshade brought this upon herself." Oakstar said, grief hinting his mew, angering Mapleshade. How dare he act like this was painful to himself! Did he even care what would happen to her and her kits?!
"I cannot leave! This is my Clan! I am loyal! I will never be loyal to any other clan! How can you turn your back on me?" Mapleshade yowled. Oakstar leapt forward, claws scraping the rock he was standing on.
"No ThunderClan cat would break the warrior code or devote any loyalty to another Clan! You must leave! You are no longer a ThunderClan cat!" He lashed his tail. "I am sorry, but you must leave now! If you remain on ThunderClan territory, you will be chased off."
Mapleshade backed away, hackles raised, staring at her leader and trying to ignore the looks from her Clanmates. A few were whispering to each other, and some looked like they would jump to her defense. But to her dismay and shock, no cat said anything. Several were staring at their paws, refusing to make eye contact as she whirled around to face them. She turned back to Oakstar, hackles raised, spitting fury.
"Fine, I'll leave you fox-heart!" She spat. Then she scrambled forward, leaning towards Oakstar. "But know this; you are going to regret this!" She hissed so only he would hear. The leader narrowed his eyes.
"Leave my Clan now Mapleshade." He said. Mapleshade hissed once more, then spun around, ushering her kits away from her ex Clanmates. She turned back to give a final glare to the ThunderClan leader before picking up Larchkit by the scruff and stalking out of camp, Petalkit and Patchkit stumbling after her.
XXX
And that's how Mapleshade came to be in her situation. Running through the forest, leaving behind her whole Clan. When she first left ThunderClan, she had no idea where she could go. She couldn't become a rogue or loner. She wouldn't raise her kits alone in the woods, starving and struggling to survive.
Then Appledusk's promise came to mind. Appledusk! He would take care of them! He loved her, and he would love their kits. He would take care of them.
Mapleshade changed direction, heading towards RiverClan.
"Where are we going? I'm so tired!" Patchkit complained, sitting down on his paws. Mapleshade looked back, worry in her eyes before purring weakly.
"Oh, it's okay dearest. I know you're tired, but you must keep walking. We're almost there!" Mapleshade purred, nudging Patchkit with her nose. The kit whimpered and didn't move. Mapleshade picked up Patchkit, struggling with carrying two of her kits before starting for the RiverClan border again. Petalkit struggled to keep up, bumping against Mapleshade's paws. Before long, the four cats had reached Sunningrocks and were facing the swollen, roaring river. To Mapleshade's horror, the river that divided ThunderClan and RiverClan was swollen much more than usual. But she had to get across the river, and she couldn't stay on ThunderClan territory anymore.
She set her kits down and looked at them all, forcing herself to purr.
"My sweet kits, you have been so brave and strong to walk all the way here. Now I must ask you to do one more thing for me." Her kits stared at her numbly, and Mapleshade motioned with her tail towards the raging river. "We need to cross the river. I promise once we reach the other side, we can rest, and find fresh kill. Alls we need to do is cross the river."
"We can't do it!" Petalkit squeaked. Mapleshade licked her between the ears.
" Of course you can! You are all strong kits, who will make great warriors one day!" Mapleshade promised, nuzzling each kit. "You must cross this river. We can't stay here anymore."
"Why can't we stay here anymore?" Patchkit asked.
"We don't belong here." Mapleshade told him with an edge in her voice. "We were turned away by cats who I thought we could trust, and for that I am sorry. But on the other side of the river is a cat who can help us. All we must do is swim across. Now, I can only carry two of you across." She gazed at her three kits. Larchkit was still sick and looked too weak to even keep her eyes open. She would have to be one of the kits Mapleshade would carry. "Petalkit, I need you to swim across. Don't worry, it's not too hard!" Forcing out another purr to keep her kits calm, she reared up and moved her paws in a circular motion. "You need to keep moving your front paws like this, and work your back paws as well, and that's all you need to do to swim across!" Petalkit's eyes were wide, and she gave a timid nod.
Bracing herself and giving each of her kits a lick, she grabbed Patchkit and Larchkit by the scruff and turned towards the river. This was it. She would have to make it to the other side, and keep her head afloat along with her two kits. Once they got onto RiverClan territory, Appledusk would find them and take care of them.
"Come on Petalkit. You can do it!" Mapleshade urged. Petalkit hurried over to Mapleshade and stood right by her side, and they plunged into the river.
Mapleshade heard Petalkit squeak as she hit the water, obviously surprised by the coldness of the river and the heavy current. She could feel the tiny kits splashes and she tried to keep up with her mother. Larchkit and Patchkit were mewling, trying to keep their paws above the water. Mapleshade struggled to fight the current and keep herself floating. It was hard enough work swimming in such conditions normally, but having kits with her made it harder than she had originally thought.
A huge wave surged towards them, pushing Mapleshade and Petalkit under the water. Both splashed up for air, gasping for breath and continuing the swim.
"Mapleshade, help me! I can't do this!" Petalkit cried, paws working frantically in the water. Mapleshade's tried to turn towards her daughter, praying to StarClan to help them.
"It's okay Petalkit, you can make it! You must keep swimming, we'll be there soon!" Mapleshade mumbled around the two kits in her mouth. As they neared the middle of the river, the water became rougher and waves crashed all around them. Mapleshade's head kept ducking underwater, and now she could barely even see Petalkit, who was drenched and sputtering for air. Patchkit was squirming slightly in Mapleshade's mouth, trying to keep away from the cold water. Larchkit was barely making any noise, just soft squealing and coughing. Mapleshade fearfully shook her head, trying to keep the two kits above water. Patchkit squirmed more, but Larchkit was still. Just as Mapleshade was about to ask if Larchkit was okay, another huge wave suddenly loomed over them, and Petalkit barely had time to screeh before it crashed over them. Mapleshade felt herself thrown against rocks underwater and one of the bundles in her mouth slipped away. No! Larchkit! Mapleshade wanted to screech, but she was still underneath the water and trying to hold Patchkit. It felt like forever before she came up for air, turning around and splashing everywhere, trying to find her kit.
"Larchkit!" She attempted to shriek her kit's name while holding Patchkit. A few moments later, another screech answered, but this belonged to a different kit.
"Help!" screamed Petalkit, who had been thrown farther down the river, and who's tiny head was just barely visible against the large waves.
"Petalkit!" Mapleshade plunged through the water, swimming as fast as she could to save her other kit. Petalkit's head bobbed up and down, and her screeching only got louder. Mapleshade kept swimming, trying to reach Petalkit, but she was no RiverClan cat and her legs were tired. The current caught her as she paused a moment and suddenly she was spinning, being tossed around in the water and splashed in the face. Patchkit began choking on water that he had swallowed. Mapleshade's paws lashed everywhere, trying to find something to grab onto, but she felt nothing except water.
Petalkit screeched again, and then suddenly the sound was cut off, filled by the sound of crashing waves.
"Petalkit!" Mapleshade cried. Patchkit was now moving much less, and before Mapleshade could react to anything, another wave crashed over her. Everything turned black, and Mapleshade felt her paws go numb. Her jaw slackened, and she gripped loosely at her kit's scruff. She could feel him slowly begin slipping away, and she frantically tried catching him. Not Patchkit too! Mapleshade thought, desperately trying to maneuver herself through the raging water. Her paw reached out, feeling a small bundle of fur for just a moment, but then the current caught her, and she was ripped away and thrown towards the surface, trying to look for her kits.
"Petalkit! Larchkit! Patchkit!" She shrieked, frantically looking around. Water splashed her fur, and her paws broke through the surface of the river quickly, trying to stay floating. "Patchkit! Petalkit!" No cry answered; alls Mapleshade could hear was the sound of waves. No, not my kits! StarClan help me! You were supposed to protect us! My kits and I were supposed to be safe in RiverClan!
Mapleshade managed to swim to shore after what seemed like a moon. Her paws scraped at the stones on the other side of the river. She collapsed on the ground from grief and exhaustion, pelt drenched and paws sore. She couldn't comprehend what had just happened. Her kits were gone, snatched away from her. The river which was supposed to lead her to a new life only took away what was precious to her. Mapleshade squeezed her eyes shut. Her kits, her beautiful kits!
Mapleshade lay there on the stones of RiverClan territory, praying to StarClan and trying to regain her strength. A new scent caught her attention; it was RiverClan, and strong. A cat! Possibly a patrol! Mapleshade slowly climbed to her paws, muscles groaning in pain. Her spiked up, sending rivlets of water down her back. Her claws slid out and scraped the wet ground, digging into the soil, ready for a patrol of warriors.
A dark shape emerged among the reeds. "Who's there?" the RiverClan cat called and for a second Mapleshade's heart soared. It's Appledusk!