Mapleshade stepped in the soft grass. Paw after paw, paw after paw. Yarrowclaw had asked her on a walk, which so far was painfully boring. He'd remained silent and in thought. She decided to get to the point of his request.

"So you have something to say, or was this just for fun?" Mapleshade asked bluntly. "We both have duties we need to tend to, Yarrowclaw. I'm supposed to lead the RiverClan border patrol at dusk."

"Yes, I know," Yarrowclaw told her. "And I do have something to say. I'm sure Petalwhisker has already informed you that we're mates?"

"Right after Larchfang left, yes." That was a moon and a half ago.

"Well, we tried for kits when we declared ourselves mates at that point in time. I'm sure that you can already tell she's expecting. She plans to move into the nursery first thing tomorrow."

"She should've been in there a half moon ago," Mapleshade growled. "She's been a warrior for too long already! She could damage the kits with her duties."

"You know her," Yarrowclaw sighed. "Too proud and stubborn to give up her work. She loves her role as a warrior."

"I'm aware," the calico hissed. "I know my own daughter, Yarrowclaw. Speaking of which, she should be telling me this - not you."

"She's moody," the golden tom huffed. "She's in no mood to speak. That's why I ordered her to the nursery tomorrow. Her hormones are starting up. Making her all aggressive and such. Can't she just repress it?"

Mapleshade moved in front of him and halted, making him stop as well. She forced cold eye contact as she unsheathed her claws and growled, "No, she can't. The aggressiveness is there to keep cats like you away from innocent, defenseless kits. She's your mate! You shouldn't talk about her that way."

"I speak about whoever I want however I want," Yarrowclaw retorted cooly. "Especially a simple she-cat. She doesn't matter. She gives me kits. That's it."

Mapleshade's amber eyes widened. "You fox-heart…!"

With that, she jumped on top of him and began striking. Although he retaliated, it was undeniable that they were both excellent fighters and were practically equals regarding skill and strength. She pinned him and got some good hits in on his face and soft belly, while he got her hind leg and chomped down as hard as he could. She had a limp, he had a temporary blind eye.

They fought for a very long time, well past dusk. They would lay and breathe and rest for a while, and then get at it for a few brief moments again. Mapleshade was fueled by rage and bloodthirst. She couldn't rest until he was dead. He had to die! Disrespecting and objectifying her daughter was a crime worthy of death in her eyes. The only thing stopping her was exhaustion. She had already taken two patrols and hunted solo, so she was completely rid of energy to fight. Yet she kept going, for as long as the short breaks allowed her to.

During about the dozenth time they fought, they were interrupted by a startled looking Patchberry. He dropped his mouthful of herbs and ran in between them, shouting, "Dear StarClan, separate!"

Mapleshade breathed heavily. "Move, son. He has treated your sister horribly!"

Patchberry locked his gentle green eyes with her amber. "You're overreacting. Unless he's murdered Petalwhisker, there's no reason to fight a Clanmate!" He looked thoughtful for a moment. "You were supposed to lead a patrol at dusk. They had to leave without you."

Mapleshade lashed her tail. "Great. Wonderful. Now look what you've done, Yarrowclaw; you've made me forget!"

"You did this to yourself, Mapleshade!" Yarrowclaw growled. "I've only been defending myself from your assault."

"You both need to be treated," Patchberry meowed. "Lucky for you, neither of us are busy. Come on!" He picked up his herbs again and nudged them with his muzzle.

Soon enough, they were sitting on the floor of the medicine den. Ravenwing was looking over them while Patchberry was hidden, storing herbs away. "I can't believe it!" the black tom murmured, shaking his head. "Clanmates fighting over what, a simple insult? Pah!"

"If he would've insulted Patchberry, would you be as dismissive?" Mapleshade asked angrily.

"Yes, but I would definitely be upset," Ravenwing replied. "You two just sit right there. We'll treat you before long. Patchberry, stop what you're doing and come take care of Yarrowclaw."

"Alright." The lean calico emerged from the herb store a moment later, bundles of cobweb on his pelt and herbs in his mouth. He tossed the herbs to the ground and began applying the cobweb to Yarrowclaw's wounds.

Ravenwing did the same, but to Mapleshade. "Any fatal wounds?" he asked his former apprentice.

"No, but he has a bad eye injury. Sight should be fine, though. It's only the lid. Might be left with a scar." A pause. "And for Mapleshade?"

"I'm fine!" Mapleshade huffed, flinching each time a bundle touched her wounds. "Just upset."

"That's your own problem," she heard Yarrowclaw mutter.

Mapleshade was hardly able to hold back a retort, but she managed; her aggression had worn away and left her even more tired than before. She sat perfectly still as Ravenwing chewed a poultice from some of the herbs and stuck it to her wounds using the cobweb. It stung, but she was strong enough to handle pain. Before long, she was up and ready to go.

"You two, only light duties tomorrow," Ravenwing ordered. "And come back for a fresh poultice! Yarrowclaw, I'm gonna want to watch your eye for at least a quarter moon."

"Yes, Ravenwing," Yarrowclaw mewed respectfully. "I'm sure it's fine, though."

"Medicine cat's orders," Ravenwing insisted. "You can never be too safe. Now run on along! Patchberry and I still have to finish putting away the herbs he gathered."

"See you, Mapleshade!" Patchberry meowed to her as she turned and left. She returned the goodbye without looking back.

"Mapleshade!" a voice called from beside Highrock when she left the medicine den. She flinched and looked over to see Oakstar sat by his den. "Come over here."

Mapleshade padded to him. "Yes, Oakstar?"

"I saw you and Yarrowclaw come in with Patchberry," Oakstar meowed. "Why were you two fighting?" When she opened her mouth to speak, he added, "Sit! There's no reason to be formal. Take a seat before you talk."

Mapleshade obliged and sat, her tail curled around her paws. "He insulted Petalwhisker. Acted like she was nothing but a kit-giver. It hurts me to hear my daughter objectified like that. I'm sure if you heard Frecklewish's mate speak about her like he talked about Petalwhisker, you'd be just as upset."

Oakstar nodded thoughtfully. "Indeed I would. However, we cannot have in-fighting. It makes us appear weak to other Clans, especially selfish and greedy ones like Darkstar's. Besides, it caused you to miss a dusk patrol. This isn't a light matter. Consider my words to you your only warning, else I will give you a true punishment if it occurs again."

"Of course," Mapleshade murmured. "Yes. I just hope you at least understand where I'm coming from."

"I do. In fact, I'll have a talk with Yarrowclaw tomorrow. He has no right to speak like that about a she-cat he's supposed to love. While it's not against the code or any rules, I still disapprove of it. I'll warn him to keep it to himself from now on. Does this sound good to you?"

While Mapleshade wished he'd stop having said feelings altogether, she nodded anyway. "It's good enough."

"Good. Then please leave me be. I'm sure you'll want to get some rest. Night has arrived."

"Not really," Mapleshade admitted. "I'm so tired, but not sleep tired. You know?"

"I understand your feelings well," Oakstar told her. "If you plan on leaving camp, don't stay out for too long. Goodnight." He left her side and pushed his way into his den underneath Highrock.

Mapleshade remained there for a very long time. She watched Deerpaw run to the dirtplace multiple times just to stay awake, and she eventually even had to warn her off to bed for good. It seemed to work, as she saw no one else wander through camp. She knew Mistpelt was sitting guard right outside of the entrance, but she didn't feel like talking to another cat. She simply sat. Perfectly still and silent. She stared at Silverpelt, admiring her ancestors.

Mapleshade felt an angry calmness in her, like a badger only a whisker away from awakening and letting its fury out on any nearby creatures. It consumed her entirely. The longer she sat, the stronger her feelings grew. Soon the sun rose, and yet she didn't move. Beetail emerged from the warriors' den and approached her.

"Great StarClan, have you been out all night?" he asked her. "Go to sleep, Mapleshade! I'll wake you up halfway to sunhigh. You can lead a patrol not long after to make up for last night. How does hunting sound?"

Mapleshade only stiffly nodded.

"Good. Well, off you go!"

His nudge made her finally stand. Her legs were numb and asleep from the stillness, and she stumbled before finally gaining uncertain balance. She padded slowly into the den, and she climbed into her warm nest halfway to the center where Beetail's was. Her cheek rested on robin and sparrow feathers that she'd stuffed into the moss moons before. Her anger stirred, yet she no longer had the will or energy to sustain it any longer.

Mapleshade's wounds stung. She shook her head sadly. She just couldn't help herself; Yarrowclaw had reminded her too much of Appledusk.