A/N: Hi!
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Word Count for this Ch.: 2,267. I know, one of the short ones. Sorry.
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Replies:
Pinkblossom97473: It's okay!(; How was it?
OceanBlueSeaEyes: THANKS!
Poppyflower of Stormclan: haha, ikr!
Cody The Pikachu: Queens are awesome like that:P thx!
Epic Swag Cat YOLO: shanks!^^
Bubbles-Vampire: You can find out RIGHT NOW!(; If you go on the official Warriors cats website, you can do the warrior cat name generator AND Clan generator. I am Raintalon of WindClan(; Hopefully I might be Rainstar of WindClan...jk
Riders in the Dark: Thank you! But idk about the grammar mistakes ... you see, there are quite a few ...(; I'm hardly perfect.
Eternal Bond Dragon - Infinity: I know! I was wondering when someone would realize that ... yeah, I was feeling extra lazy that one day. Didn't bother to reread. Heh.
Dedications:
Pinkblossom97473, OceanBlueSeaEyes, Poppyflower of Stormclan, Cody The Pikachu, Bubbles-Vampire, Riders in the Dark, and Eternal Bond Dragon - Infinity! Thanks guys!
Song: Hero by Enrique Iglesias
Enjoy!
Appledusk crouched under one of the Fourtrees, anticipating the arrival of Mapleshade.
She was like no other cat in RiverClan. Mapleshade was beautiful and brave, the exact two elements Appledusk admired. He admitted to himself that he had grown quite attracted to the young ThunderClan warrior. What he would give to live by her side forever.
Suddenly, the ferns rustled. Out stepped his muse, sleek and energized. She sniffed the air cautiously, turning her brilliant green gaze towards him. "Over here," he hissed, waving his tail.
Mapleshade started padding towards him, slightly running, her full stomach swinging. Appledusk winced. How had she put on so much weight?
"Appledusk!" Mapleshade leaned forward and touched her muzzle to his cheek warmly. Appledusk relished her soft, sweet scent. He nuzzled her back, enjoying her company.
"I think of you night and day," he whispered. It was true. Whenever he closed his eyes, an image of the ThunderClan warrior flashed behind his eyelids. Mapleshade ran her tail along his flank. "Me too," she breathed.
Suddenly, Mapleshade stopped. Appledusk's ear twitched. Was something wrong?
Finally, Mapleshade let out a purr – warm and content. "Appledusk, I have the most wonderful news!" Appledusk's ears perked up. "What is it, love?"
Mapleshade's green eyes glowed. "We have kits!"
Appledusk stopped dead.
Kits?
His mind raced in horror. But he wasn't ready for kits! If they had kits … they were mates!
Appledusk didn't quite mind that part, but part of him was still fearful with the idea of new kits. No wonder Mapleshade had had such a big stomach! No wonder she had been getting tired quickly!
It was the kits.
Appledusk closed his eyes, letting the pain and remorse fill him.
It had not happened so long ago ….
. . .
Fernleaf had been Appledusk's first love.
She was beautiful and kind, every single cat in RiverClan had a place in their heart for her.
Appledusk liked to think that they had something special. He was still an apprentice back then, Applepaw. Fernleaf was just a few moons older than him, and she had already received her warrior name. Applepaw missed sleeping beside her in the apprentice's den, but he reminded himself day and night that soon, the two of them would hunt and sleep together like the old days.
But that did not happen.
It had all come too fast. Applepaw fell in love with Fernleaf. Appledusk winced at the memories. They were so attached to each other.
And it all came to an end.
One day, Fernleaf suddenly had expected kits. Appledusk had been so happy for her. He was just one day old being a warrior.
But the kits came too soon. Appledusk could just remember the shrieks and howls of pain coming from the nursery ….
And then it was over.
Fernleaf had died from too much blood, and her one kit, born too early, went to StarClan with her.
Appledusk had never been the same.
. . .
"Appledusk? Hello?"
With a jolt, the RiverClan warrior was shaken from his thoughts. Bitterness crept into his mouth. He never wanted to see another cat die.
Mapleshade gave an amused purr, but there was shock written across her beautiful face. "You blacked out for a minute there," she teased. Her tone started to drip with concern. "Is everything alright?"
Appledusk gave his head a shake, reminding himself over and over: Mapleshade is stronger than Fernleaf ever would be. The kits will be okay.
Even through the relentless consoles his mind played, Appledusk could not forget the pain or fear.
"I …" his words ran dry. He took a slight step away from Mapleshade, heart hammering.
He finally knew why he had fallen in love with the ThunderClan warrior.
She resembled Fernleaf so much – her eyes, her pelt, her smell, her voice. Every single thing she did oozed with the likeliness of Appledusk's previous love.
A flicker of hurt crossed Mapleshade's gaze. "Appledusk. You need to tell me what's troubling you," she mewed firmly.
"It's … it's nothing." Appledusk looked away. His mind was having trouble processing everything.
Mapleshade had kits.
And Appledusk was scared.
. . .
The next morning, Appledusk opened his eyes to the twitter of birds.
"Good morning." He raised his head to the direction of the voice.
Fernpaw.
Another reminder of Fernleaf. He shuddered. Why did the previous pretty RiverClan warrior consume his thoughts so much?
He replayed the events last night. His heart gripped in pain at the thought of the arrival of his second litter of kits. He hoped desperately that they would be okay. But then again, the Clan had started raising suspicions about his disappearance. Meeting Mapleshade had become more risky than ever.
If RiverClan ever found out …
Appledusk's stomach pooled with dread.
Meanwhile, Fernpaw gave him a sharp prod with her paw. "Ow," Appledusk muttered. Fernpaw gave him a friendly flick with her tail. "You've been sleeping for ages," she grumbled. "Let's go hunt!"
Appledusk sighed. "Okay, okay."
Fernpaw gave an excited squeak. "Hurry up and groom yourself then!" she coaxed. "I'll be waiting outside."
Appledusk watched the pretty apprentice slip out of the warriors' den, tail kinked.
He twisted around and started to rasp his tongue across his back.
He desperately hoped that Mapleshade was okay.
. . .
A sudden pain woke Mapleshade in the middle of the night.
She gasped, drawing her haunches closer around her as another spasm of pain gripped her.
Leafheart jolted awake at Mapleshade's sudden intake of air. The queen crossed over to Mapleshade's nest, sniffing her warily. "Is everything okay?" Leafheart asked. "It …" Mapleshade flinched. "It … hurts …" She let out a small squeak with agony.
"I'll get Graywhisker," Leafheart announced. "Do … that," Mapleshade managed.
With that, the queen sped out of the den, leaving Morningdew, the kits, and Mapleshade alone.
Morningdew padded over and started to lick Mapleshade's head gently, her tone hushed. "It's probably the kits," she assured. "They'll be fine and healthy, I guarantee it."
Mapleshade let her rasp her tongue on her head while more pain gripped her stomach. The agony was too much. At once, all the hurt started to build inside her. Mapleshade let out a screech, her eyes squeezed shut and her body trembling.
At once, Graywhisker and Spottedtail crashed into the den, jaws crammed with herbs. "Leafheart, Morningdew – get your kits out of here. Spottedtail and I will deal with Mapleshade."
The two queens nodded, whisking Sorrelkit, Bumblekit, and Tawnykit out the nursery opening. By then, some of the Clan had started to stir.
"Shhhh, it's okay," Spottedtail said gently. Mapleshade whimpered, hoping that everything the medicine cat apprentice said was true.
"Here." Spottedtail pried Mapleshade's jaws open, inserting a sturdy stick. "Bite down."
Mapleshade nodded, relieved. And suddenly, the worst of the pain gripped her.
Mapleshade let out a yowl, muffled by the stick. She bit down hard, splintering the wood and feeling her stomach spasm. "The kits are coming!" Graywhisker yowled. Mapleshade felt Spottedtail press her paws to her stomach. "That's it, Mapleshade. PUSH!"
The one word reminded Mapleshade of Rose's kitting. It will be different this time, she promised.
Mapleshade grunted, heaving. The stick continued to splinter in her mouth. "PUSH!" Spottedtail screeched again.
Mapleshade screwed her eyes shut, letting out ragged breaths as finally, the pressure in her stomach started to lighten. "One so far!" Spottedtail yelled. "There's more! Hang in there, Mapleshade!"
Mapleshade let out a small screech as another spasm gripped her stomach. "You can do it," a ghostly voice whispered. Mapleshade pricked her ears. Thrushfeather?
"They aren't mine, but I will care for the nonetheless," he assured. "Now push like you've never pushed before."
Mapleshade grunted, moaning as more pain danced in her stomach. "You can do it, love. Think of the strong, healthy kits you'll have when this is all over."
Thrushfeather's words echoed in her ears, and with that, with a mighty heave, Spottedtail let out a shriek.
"Two more!" the medicine cat apprentice cried joyfully. "There's … there's one more!"
Mapleshade let out a groan. When would this ever end?
And suddenly, the biggest wave of agony over them all, loomed up inside her, a tidal wave of hurt that Mapleshade could not fight off. Graywhisker patted his paws around her stomach. "Feels like a big one," he noted.
Mapleshade let out a weak cry finally breaking the cursed stick and releasing the last bundle inside her.
"FOUR KITS, MAPLESHADE! YOU DID IT!" Spottedtail's joyful yowl echoed around the camp. Mapleshade flattened her ears. What she would give to make the medicine cat apprentice shut up.
"They're beautiful," Thrushfeather's soft voice echoed in her ears. Mapleshade let out a small whimper. "Let me … let me see." She croaked.
Graywhisker and Spottedtail pushed the four little mewling things towards her. "They're beautiful," Mapleshade whispered, licking each of their heads. Unlike the other queens, there was no father in the Clan to share Mapleshade's pride.
Mapleshade propped herself up on her fore-legs, sweeping the kits closer with her tail. The four of them latched onto her stomach, mewling with content.
Thrushfeather's familiar scent bathed Mapleshade's nose. "I will forever watch them up in StarClan," he whispered. Mapleshade let out a gusty sigh of relief. "Thank you," she whispered. "Of course, my love." Came Thrushfeather's confident mew.
Mapleshade looked at her new family happily. The pain had all been worth it.
Too bad there is no one else here to share it, she thought wistfully. Maybe if Thrushfeather lived ….
Mapleshade let her tears fall from the corners of her eyes. If Thrushfeather lived, he would be the father of these kits.
Mapleshade watched her kits lovingly. I love you, Thrushfeather.
I finally understand.
. . .
Mapleshade blinked, purring when she caught hold of her new kits.
Rubbing a paw across her eyes, she gave a luxurious stretch, welcoming the daylight. Her kitting had been at moon-high, and she had slept until sun-high. Her stomach growled. It was time to eat.
Mapleshade hauled herself to her paws, quickly grooming her fur before picking her way out of the den to the fresh-kill pile.
"Mapleshade! You're awake!"
Startled, the ThunderClan warrior whipped around to the direction of the joyful yowl.
It was Spottedtail.
"You're kits are beautiful!" She meowed happily. "Have you decided on names?"
Mapleshade shook her head. Spottedtail gave her a nudge. "Any idea on who the father is?" she teased.
Graywhisker probably told her about our encounter yesterday, Mapleshade thought. She groaned inwardly. Gossip was one of her least favorite things.
Spottedtail looked at her for a moment, than shrugged. "It's okay if you don't tell me," she said lightly. Mapleshade could sense the dying curiosity under her cheerful voice, but didn't utter a word.
"I'll leave you be," Spottedtail said after a moment of silence. She gave Mapleshade a friendly flick with her tail. "Tell me when you come up with the names!" she called.
Mapleshade nodded. "I will!" she replied.
Thankfully, Honeyheart had already issued patrols. Many of the she-cats were not in camp right now.
Mapleshade picked up a sparrow and headed back into the nursery, curling herself around her kits. They were her new life.
Her gaze swept over them lovingly.
The biggest had russet-colored fur and green eyes; Mapleshade remembered catching a glimpse of them during the kitting. He was definitely muscularly built, with broad shoulders and a sleek pelt. Pinekit, Mapleshade thought instantly. The color of his fur immediately reminded her of a pine-cone.
Pinekit's sister slept beside him, her chest rising and falling gently. She had soft, pale gray fur and a small nose. Pebblekit, Mapleshade decided.
The new queen bent down and took a few gulps of sparrow, looking at the next kit. His red fur was like a flame. "Fierykit," Mapleshade said aloud. Leafheart twitched an eye open. "What did you say?" she murmured, hauling herself up from her nest. "Oh," Mapleshade gave her chest a few embarrassed licks. "Just deciding on what to name the kits," she meowed.
Leafheart let out a purr. "Can I help?" she asked gently. "Of course," Mapleshade responded. Leafheart picked her way across the sleeping bodies of her kits, stopping in front of Mapleshade's.
"What have you come up with so far?" the queen prompted. Mapleshade dipped her head to touch Pinekit's fluffy russet fur with her nose. "Pinekit," she introduced. Leafheart nodded. "I like it," she replied.
Mapleshade touched the next lightly. "Pebblekit," she said. Leafheart smiled.
Mapleshade stopped and raised her head. "I was thinking about Fierykit for this one," she meowed. "His red pelt is like a flame."
The name was a bit iffy, but Mapleshade liked it nonetheless. After a few silent moments, Leafheart exhaled. "Okay," she meowed. "So you haven't named the last?"
Mapleshade's last kit was skinny and small, which resulted in a look of weakness. Mapleshade didn't care. She was still beautiful. With a golden pelt and white-tipped ears, she resembled Leafheart greatly. "What about … Petalkit?" Leafheart said quietly.
"Petalkit … that sounds nice." Mapleshade gave the golden kit a lick. "Thanks, Leafheart."
"Of course," the queen replied.
As Leafheart left the den to go to the fresh-kill pile, Mapleshade buried her muzzle in her kits' fur. "You are my life now," she whispered, heart fluttering.
"I will never cease loving you."
A/N: Sooo, what didja think?
I know Fierykit's name is like, wuuuuut? I kinda got it from Survivors ...
The reason why Mapleshade wants revenge ... is in the NEXT CHAPTER! Yayyy! I'm just as excited as you are!
How was the Appledusk POV? Should I write another?
Please leave your answers in the REVIEWS! Oh, and constructive criticisms, what you like/don't like, etc. Thank yaa!(:
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Thanks for reading!
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