Chapter 21
Thunderclan-
Leader- Bramblestar- broad-shouldered dark brown tabby tom with amber eyes
Deputy- Squirrelflight- dark ginger she-cat with green eyes and a white forepaw
Medicine cats- Leafpool- light brown tabby she-cat with green eyes
Jayfeather- light gray tom with blind blue eyes
Warriors-
Birchfall- light gray tom
Whitewing- white she-cat with green eyes
Berrynose- cream colored tom with a short tail
Poppyfrost- tortiseshell she-cat with amber eyes
Mousewhisker- gray and white tom
Lionblaze- golden tom with amber eyes
Cinderheart- light gray she-cat with blue eyes
Dovewing- pale gray she-cat with blue eyes
Ivypool- silver and white she-cat with dark blue eyes
Bumblestripe- pale gray tom with black stripes
Blossomfall- tortoiseshell she-cat with white patches like petals and amber eyes
Rosepetal- dark cream she-cat
Cherryfall- ginger she-cat
Molewhisker- cream and brown tom
Amberpool- pale ginger she-cat
Dewsplash- gray and white tom with blue eyes
Snowstorm- white tom
Lillyheart- tortoiseshell she-cat with white spots and amber eyes
Stormcloud- dark gray tom
Sorrelstripe- tortoiseshell she-cat with brown stripes
apprentice- Streampaw
Deerfoot- golden brown tom with amber eyes
apprentice- Minnowpaw
Sagefur- light brown she-cat with white paws and amber eyes
apprentice- Sproutpaw
Cloverstem- golden brown she-cat with amber eyes and white paws
Cloudshade- dark gray tom with green eyes
Honeypelt- white she-cat with ginger splotches
Redfoot- ginger tom with dark ginger paws
Larkflight- silver tom with blue eyes
Alderclaw- dark brown tom with amber eyes
Sparkfire- ginger she-cat with green eyes
Apprentices
Minnowpaw- dark gray she-cat with blue eyes
Streampaw- light gray tom with green eyes
Sproutpaw- dark brown tom with green eyes
Queens-
Hollytuft- black she-cat with green eyes (Mother of Patchface's kits)
Mapleleaf- tortoiseshell, ginger, and white she-cat with amber eyes (Mother of Deerfoot's kits)
Elders-
Sandstorm- pale ginger she-cat
Graystripe- big gray tom
Millie- pale gray she-cat with blue eyes
Daisy- cream-colored she-cat
Cloudtail- long-furred white tom
Brightheart- white she-cat with ginger splotches
Thornclaw- golden brown tom with amber eyes
Brackenfur- golden brown tom with amber eyes
Windclan-
Leader- Harestar- brown and white tom
Deputy-Emberfoot- gray tom with dark gray paws (standing in as temporary deputy)
apprentice-Beepaw
Warriors-
Crowfeather- black tom with green eyes
Breezepelt- black tom
Heathertail-light brown she-cat with blue eyes
apprentice- Robinpaw
Gorsetail- very pale gray and white tom with blue eyes
Weaselfur- ginger tom with white paws
Leaftail- dark brown tom with amber eyes
Willowclaw- dark gray she-cat
Dewspots- pale gray and white tom with blue eyes
Sunstrike- tortoiseshell she-cat with a white spot on her head
Furzepelt- gray and white she-cat
Crouchfoot- ginger tom
Larkwing- pale brown she-cat
Slightfur- black tom with a flash of white on his chest
Featherpelt- gray she-cat
Hootwhisker- dark gray tom
apprentice- Hazelpaw
Whiskernose- light brown tom
Palefur- pale gray and white tom with blue eyes
Mistystream- misty gray she-cat
Fogtail- pale gray and white tom
Darkspring- black she-cat with amber eyes
Shrewnose- golden brown she-cat with green eyes
Brownfoot- brown she-cat with dark brown paws and blue eyes
Apprentices-
Beepaw- yellow tom with black stripes
Robinpaw- light brown she-cat with amber eyes
Hazelpaw- light brown she-cat with amber eyes and a cream underbelly
Queens-
Nightcloud- black she-cat (Mother of Harestar's kits)
Fernpelt- gray she-cat with green eyes (Mother of Palefur's kit)
Elders-
Whitetail- small white she-cat
Riverclan-
Leader- Mistystar- blue-gray she-cat with blue eyes
Deputy- Reedwhisker- black tom
Medicine cat- Willowshine-gray she-cat
Warriors-
Mintfur- light gray tom
apprentice- Muddypaw
Pebblefoot- molted gray tom
Rushtail- light brown tom
apprentice- Carppaw
Minnowtail- dark gray she-cat with blue eyes
Mallownose- light gray tom
Petalfur- gray and white she-cat
Grasspelt- light brown tom
apprentice- Poolpaw
Duskfur- dark brown she-cat
Graymist- light gray she-cat
Shimmerpelt- silver she-cat
apprentice- Goosepaw
Lakeheart- gray she-cat
Heronwing- dark gray and black tom
Havenpelt- black and white she-cat
Perchwing- gray and white she-cat
Mossyfoot- dark brown she-cat
Lizardtail- light brown tom
Icewing- white she-cat with blue eyes
Sneezecloud- gray and white tom
Curlfeather- pale brown she-cat
Podlight- gray and white tom
Pinefur- dark russet tom
Copperfeather- golden brown she-cat
Rainstorm- molted gray tom
Owlnose- dark brown tom
Jaywing- light gray tom
Shellclaw- large gray tom with yellow eyes
Apprentices-
Muddypaw- dark brown tom with lighter spots
Carppaw- dark brown she-cat
Goosepaw- silver and white she-cat with blue eyes
Poolpaw- silver and blue-gray she-cat with green eyes
Queens-
Brackenpelt- tortoiseshell she-cat (Mother to Shellclaw's kits)
Elders-
Pouncetail- ginger and white tom
Mosspelt- tortoiseshell she-cat with blue eyes
Mothwing- golden she-cat
Shadowclan-
Leader- Rowanstar- ginger tom
Deputy- Crowfrost- black and white tom
Medicine cat- Sunspots- ginger and white she-cat with orange eyes
Warriors-
Dawnpelt-light gray she-cat
Kinkfur- tabby she-cat with fur that sticks out in all directions
Ivytail- black, white and tortoiseshell she-cat
Whitewater- long-furred white she-cat with blue eyes, blind in one eyes
Snaketail- dark brown tom with a striped tabby tail
Owlclaw- light brown tom
Scorchfur- dark gray tom
Ratscar- dark brown tom with a long scar
Tigerheart- dark brown tom with amber eyes
apprentice- Plumpaw
Ferretclaw- black and gray tom
Spikefur- dark brown tom
Pinenose- black she-cat
Grassheart- pale brown she-cat
Stoatfur- tortoiseshell and white tom
Smokefoot- black tom
apprentice- Timberpaw
Cloverfoot- gray she-cat
Rippletail- white tom
apprentice- Thistlepaw
Sparrowtail- dark brown tom
Mistcloud- long-furred gray she-cat
apprentice- Acornpaw
Stonetooth- white tom
apprentice- Flightpaw
Wasptail- yellow she-cat with green eyes
apprentice- Meadowpaw
Strikeclaw- silver she-cat with green eyes
Sleekpelt- sleek ginger tom with yellow eyes
Liontail- golden she-cat
Birchfur- cream colored tom
Slatefur- gray tom
Shadeheart- dark gray she-cat
Barkwhisker- dark brown tom
Snowbird- white she-cat
Apprentices-
Plumpaw- black and dark gray she-cat with a sweeping tail
Timberpaw- dark gray tom with black stripes
Thistlepaw- long-furred light brown she-cat
Acornpaw- large, dappled dark brown tom with amber eyes
Meadowpaw- pale ginger she-cat
Queens-
Tawnypelt- tortoiseshell she-cat with green eyes (Mother to Roawnstar's kits)
Berryheart- black and white she-cat (Mother to Rippletail's kits)
Darkforest-
Tigerstar- huge, broad-shouldered dark brown tom with a battle worn pelt
Brokenstar- dark brown tom with a tail bent in the center like a branch.
Hawkfrost- broad-shouldered dark brown tom with icy blue eyes
Thistleclaw- large gray tom with yellow eyes
Darkstripe- dark gray tom with silver stripes
Sparrowfeather- dark brown tom
Snowtuft- white tom with a long scar
Silverhawk- silver tom with scared ears
Shredtail- tom with a shredded tail
Redwillow- dappled ginger tom
Hollowflight- dark brown tom
Antpelt- dark brown tom with a black ear
Beetlewhisker- dark brown tom
Sharpfrost- ginger and white she-cat
Eaglescar- battered brown tom
Sunflower- light ginger she-cat
Nightstrike- black she-cat
Lionclaw- golden tom with long claws
Barktooth- dark brown tom
Talonscar- dark gray tom
Stoneshine- molted gray she-cat
Splintertail- thin brown tom
Adderheart- golden she-cat
Trainees (kits stolen from the clans)
Goldenkit- golden brown tom with yellow eyes (Son of Deerfoot and Mapleleaf, formerly of Thunderclan)
Flowerkit- tortoiseshell, ginger, and white she-cat with amber eyes (Daughter of Deerfoot and Mapleleaf, formerly of Thunderclan)
Maplekit- tortoiseshell, ginger, and white she-cat with amber eyes (Daughter of Deerfoot and Mapleleaf, formerly of Thunderclan)
Marshkit- golden brown tom with blue eyes (Son of Deerfoot and Mapleleaf, formerly of Thunderclan)
Quietkit- black she-cat with green eyes (Daughter of Patchface and Hollytuft, formerly of Thunderclan)
Hatchkit- dappled gray tom with yellow eyes (Son of Patchface and Hollytuft, formerly of Thunderclan
Quailkit- dark gray she-cat with blue eyes (Daughter of Shellclaw and Brackenpelt, formerly of Riverclan)
Otterkit- dark brown tom with yellow eyes (Son of Shellclaw and Brackenpelt, formerly of Riverclan)
Mousekit- dark brown she-cat with black paws and ear tips with green eyes (Daughter of Shellclaw and Brackenpelt, formerly of Riverclan)
Swiftkit- tortoiseshell tom with green eyes (Son of Rowanstar and Tawnypelt, formerly of Shadowclan)
Firekit- dark ginger tom with green eyes (Son of Rowanstar and Tawnypelt, formerly of Shadowclan)
Tansykit- pale ginger she-cat with green eyes (Daughter of Rowanstar and Tawnypelt, formerly of Shadowclan)
Nightkit- black tom with amber eyes (Son of Berryheart and Rippletail, formerly of Shadowclan)
Woolkit- long-furred tabby and white she-cat with amber eyes (Daughter of Nightcloud and Harestar, formerly of Windclan)
Rabbitkit- black and white tom with amber eyes (Son of Nightcloud and Harestar, formerly of Windclan)
Dawnkit- pale ginger she-cat with yellow eyes (Daughter of Nightcloud and Harestar, formerly of Windclan)
(Anyways, here's the chapter)
Chapter 21
Mapleleaf stared after Deerfoot. "What'll I do?" Mapleleaf thought miserably.
A voice broke into her thoughts. "Hey, it'll be okay. We'll get your kits back. Hollytuft's too." Mapleleaf turned. Cloverstem had come to stand next to her. Her green eyes were full of confidence.
"How do you know?" Mapleleaf challenged desperately. "You've heard Blossomfall's nursery stories about the Darkforest! These cats are pure evil!"
Cloverstem shifted her paws uncomfortably and mumbled, "Well, they can't all be bad. You were one of them and you're not evil."
"That's because Starclan wiped my memories! I killed cats! I killed medicine cats, even!" Mapleleaf pointed out, "No cat will ever look at me the same way again! Even Deerfoot!"
"The clan will get over it once you help rescue all the kits," Cloverstem purred reassuringly.
"Why aren't you afraid of me?" Mapleleaf whispered to her.
"Because you're my sister. I'll never be afraid of you and I'll always stand by you, just like you've always stood by me." Cloverstem purred, brushing her pelt with Mapleleaf's.
"Me too," Cloudshade agreed, coming up on Mapleleaf's other side.
"And me," Honeypelt purred, brushing against Cloudshade.
"We aren't afraid of you." Cloudshade said, "What you've done is in the past. You haven't done anything to harm Thunderclan or any of the other clans,"
"Thanks, guys," Mapleleaf murmured.
That night, Mapleleaf had a fitful night sleep. After being used to squirming kits sleeping beside her, the silence and lack of movement beside her kept her awake. Mapleleaf could tell it was keeping Hollytuft awake because Mapleleaf could see her stirring in her nest. "My precious kits, we're coming,"Mapleleaf thought, drifting into a fitful sleep.
At dawn, paws shook her and Mapleleaf opened her eyes and saw the blurry face of Deerfoot. There wasn't love in his eyes now. There was only bewilderment and anger. "It's time to go," he said shortly. He left the den without saying another word.
Mapleleaf watched him go, feeling like she had lost him. But she wasn't giving up. She'd show him that she wasn't evil. On the opposite side of the den, Hollytuft was getting up from her nest and shaking scraps of bracken and moss off her black fur. Her green eyes glowed with sympathy, but she didn't say anything. Instead, she dipped her head to Mapleleaf and padded out of the nursery. Bramblestar, Jayfeather, Leafpool, Squirrelflight, and Deerfoot were waiting by the entrance to camp, where a few of their clanmates were waiting to see them off. Sorrelstripe looked at Mapleleaf like she was a piece of crowfood in her fresh-kill, but Cloudshade, Honeypelt, and Cloverstem greeted her with purrs and word of encouragement. Mapleleaf touched noses with them.
"Right,' Bramblestar said, glancing up at the two queens as they greeted their clanmates. "Let's go."
As the group padded into the forest, Mapleleaf silently slipped into pawstep with Deerfoot. He looked at her briefly, but didn't say anything. After they had walked a bit, Mapleleaf finally mustered up the courage to speak to him. She took a deep breath. "Deerfoot, we need to talk"
He looked at her again and said quietly, "Fine,"
Mapleleaf swallowed and continued. "Look, I'm sorry, okay. But think about it, how could I walk up to you one day and say 'Hey, guess what! I'm the reincarnated soul of a Darkforest cat!' You'd of died laughing and wouldn't have believed me, not that I blame you."
"if you told me Starclan had told you, I would have believed you!" Deerfoot exclaimed.
"No, you would have blamed it on too much fresh-kill the night before!" Mapleleaf exclaimed, amber eyes blazing in disbelief. She could see Bramblestar and Squirrelflight looking back at them, there eyes warm with amusement. Mapleleaf ignored their knowing and amused looks.
"I-" Deerfoot started. Then he stopped. Then he sighed and said, "Okay, I guess you're right. I think what I'm really upset about is if you were a villain and loved no cat, how do I know that you really loved me, or our kits?"
Mapleleaf looked at him, love in her eyes. "You stupid mouse-brain. Have you ever doubted that I have loved you?" she purred, flicking him with her tail.
"Never," he murmured.
"Then why would what I learned about my past change a thing?" Mapleleaf questioned. "It was long ago."
"I don't know what I thought," he murmured, leaning against her.
"It's over know," Mapleleaf murmured. "Lets focus on getting our kits back."
"Yeah," Deerfoot agreed.
Mapleleaf stepped up onto the tree bridge, shuddering as she remembered the tree's bloody past. At the island, cats from the other clans were waiting. "It's about time," complained Harestar, looking very anxious.
Behind him, Mapleleaf could see that Kestrelflight, Fernpelt, Palefur, and Nightcloud had accompanied him. The other two clans had brought there leader, medecine cat, and deputy. Tawnypelt, Berryheart, Rippletail,Brackenpelt and Shellclaw were there as well. "Oh, it's you," Shellclaw sniffed.
Mapleleaf rolled her eyes. "Yes, it's me," she replied. Then she asked, "What are you doing here? I don't remember you having kits."
"Yeah, I do. Three, in fact," Shellclaw replied.
"This is all very heart-warming." Rowanstar interrupted, "But can we get on with this?"
Mapleleaf opened her mouth to retort, but suddenly, a bright light flashed, and a ginger tom, a big white tom with black paws, a golden she-cat with black spots, and a pale brown tom appeared. "Firestar, Blackstar, Leopardstar, and Onestar," Bramblestar breathed.
Mapleleaf looked in awe at the great leaders, all of whom, but one had died before she was born. "Yes, Bramblestar," Leopardstar responded in amusement.
"Our kits have been taken by the Darkforest," Rowanstar said to the Starclan cats. "Please, get them back for us!"
Firestar shook his head. "We can't just do it for you. Send a patrol of five warriors from each clan and we will take you to Starclan."
"So we have to die to get our kits back?!" Mapleleaf asked in alarm.
Firestar looked at her. "No, it will be temporary, unless, of course, a Darkforest cat kills you while you try to take the kits."
"That's right," Onestar added, "Then you'd be stuck there, forever."
All the cats were silent for a moment as Onestar's words sank in. Then Deerfoot spoke up. "Who cares? We're doing this for our kits."
Bramblestar looked at him approvingly and Squirrelflight eyed him thoughtfully. "He's right." Tawnypelt agreed.
"Tonight," Blackstar said, "Have the cats you have chosen to go sleep in the medicine cat den and we will come to collect you. Choose wisely."
Then the four cats disappeared. "Well, let us go back to our clans and choose our five," Rowanstar spoke up.
The cats nodded in agreement and each turned to follow their clanmates back to camp. Once they got back to camp. it was nearly sunhigh. Bramblestar leaped onto Highledge and yowled, "All cats old enough to catch their own prey gather under Highledge for a clan meeting!"
"What happened?" Cloverstem whispered in Mapleleaf's ear.
"Bramblestar's about to say," Mapleleaf whispered back. Then she thought. "My precious kits, I'm coming!''
"Leopardstar, Blackstar, Firestar, and Onestar appeared and told us to choose five cats to be taken by Starclan to rescue the kits," Bramblestar yowled.
Immediately, chroruses of "I'll go!" erupted from Mapleleaf's clanmates as each one eagerly volunteered to go. Bramblestar called for silence. "Mapleleaf, Deerfoot, and Hollytuft will go, seeing it's their kits. Finally, I think Whitewing and Bumblestripe should go." he said. "May Starclan light their pathes and bring them back safely!"
The meeting ended and Mapleleaf's family padded up to her and Deerfoot to him. "Do you have to go?" Blossomfall's eyes glistened "I might never see you again!"
"Yes," Mapleleaf said firmly, "For my kits." She searched her mother and father's gazes, "Do you hate me for what I am?" she whispered.
Thornclaw wrapped his tail around her while Blossomfall covered her gently with licks. "Never." her mother murmured. "Whatever you've done in you past doesn't matter. You're still our kit and We'll always love you."
"Yeah, you're still our sister," Cloudshade added, while Cloverstem nodded in agreement.
"Seeing we can't stop you, we should at least be able to spend one last day together," Blossomfall murmured.
"Let's go into the forest, as a family," Thornclaw said.
Mapleleaf and her mother and littermates nodded in agreement. Together, they padded out of the camp to spend one last day together. Mapleleaf's heart ached at the thought she'd never see her parents and littermates again, but she knew she had to go. For her kits.
Later on, as the sun dipped towards the horizon, Mapleleaf knew that it was time to head back to camp. "It's time to go," Blossomfall said softly.
Mapleleaf nodded silently and the family made their way back to camp. At the camp, Deerfoot, Hollytuft, and the other cats Bramblestar had chosen stood outside the medicine cat den. She turned to her family. "Cheer up!" Mapleleaf purred, trying to sound cheerful. "I'll be back soon!"
The four pairs of somber eyes that gazed back at her obviously didn't believe her. "Goodbye," Mapleleaf whispered.
"Goodbye," Cloverstem whispered. Thornclaw and Blossomfall didn't say anything, but instead looked overcome with grief. Mapleleaf felt
"Good luck," Cloudshade responded. Honeypelt slipped to his side and let out a reassuring purr. In spite of the danger, Mapleleaf couldn't help but let out a mrrow of amusement. Honeypelt was sure to be expecting Cloudshade's kits before long. Mapleleaf became serious. She had to do this. Not just for her kits, but for the sake of all the kits taken by the Darkforest and for the future kits to be born in the clans.
She took a deep breathe. "I'm ready,"