Chapter Twelve
"Bury it under that oak. We'll come back for it later," Graytuft meowed as scrapped bits of earth over his prey.
"What about this rabbit?" Goldenmist asked, glancing down at her catch. "This is a big catch. I'm afraid to leave it here."
It was a little past sunhigh, and a hunting patrol was currently out. They had spent the last hour hunting near the Treecut Place, which had proved to be quite successful. Graytuft had managed to catch two shrews, while Goldenmist and Mapleshade had worked to bring down a rabbit.
Mapleshade eyed it now, her chest swelling with pride. This rabbit would be enough to feed the entire nursery, as well as Rabbitfur.
"It'll be fine," Graytuft promised. He looked up at the sky. "We're not going to be out much longer."
"Why don't we just head back now?" Goldenmist asked.
"I'm not ready to head back to camp yet," Mapleshade said. It was a nice day out. The sky was clear, not a cloud in sight, and the temperature was just right. These were the days she enjoyed most. She wasn't ready to throw the entire day away so that she could sit around camp doing nothing. Sure, she could have gone hunting on her own, but it wasn't the same as hunting with others.
"I'm not either," Graytuft meowed in agreement with Mapleshade. "This weather is too perfect to pass up. The more prey we catch, the better off ThunderClan will be."
"But Beetail's going to send out another hunting patrol tonight."
"If you want to go back, you can. But Mapleshade and I are going to check out Sunningrocks. I'm sure there's bound to be some more prey there," Graytuft said.
Mapleshade's tail drooped. Of course, Graytuft would pick Sunningrocks of all the places. It seemed as though she couldn't escape any reminder of RiverClan. It was as though StarClan had placed a curse upon her for whatever reason. Whatever, she thought. Let's just get this over with.
Mapleshade followed Graytuft through the forest in the direction of Sunningrocks. Along the way, she spotted a sparrow hopping along the ground. She immediately dropped into a hunter's crouch and began to slink across the forest floor towards the bird. She then leaped onto the bird, giving it a killing bite to the neck.
"Excellent job!" Graytuft praised. "I knew coming this way was a good idea."
Mapleshade tried to look enthusiastic about her catch. "Yeah. I guess so."
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. Let's keep going." Really, she wasn't fine. Her desire to keep hunting had disappeared like the morning dew, but she couldn't tell that to Graytuft. He wouldn't understand. He had no idea about Appledusk, and all of the encounters Mapleshade had, unfortunately, had with him. Or all of the arguments she and Birchface had gotten into over RiverClan's mere existence. No cat (outside of Dawnfeather, and assumedly Goldenmist) knew these things. Mapleshade had to make sure things stayed like this.
The two warriors continued through the forest, their eyes peeled for any sign of prey. Graytuft ended up catching another shrew, while Mapleshade caught a lizard. It wasn't ThunderClan's typical prey, but it had been an easy catch that she wasn't willing to pass upon.
Up ahead, Mapleshade could see the light reflecting off the surface of the river. It bounced off the calm waters, twinkling like thousands of little gems. As she watched, she had to admit that the sight was quite beautiful. On days like today, she could slightly understand why RiverClan admired the water so much.
Just then, a tiny screech alerted Mapleshade. At first, she thought it had been nothing more than a bird somewhere in the distance. But then, the cry came again, closer this time. She angled her ears towards the direction the sound had come from, waiting. This time, another little squeak sounded. This one was different.
It was at that point Mapleshade noticed several little bundles of fluff bouncing around on Sunningrocks. She narrowed her eyes, trying to pinpoint what exactly she was looking at, but it was hard to see through all of the trees and undergrowth blocking the way. She then opened her mouth, trying to pick up a scent. To her annoyance, she could smell nothing outside of the usual.
Mapleshade picked up the pace, Graytuft trailing after her. As she ran, she kept her eyes locked on the tiny fluffballs. From what she could tell, there were at least two of them, possibly more, but she wasn't sure.
Mapleshade burst out from the trees, landing onto Sunningrocks. Her eyes then widened at what stood before her.
Kittens. Five of them to be exact, all of which appeared to be quite young. Two of the kittens were pale gray. Based on their size and the fact their eyes had already changed from blue to green, Mapleshade assumed them to be the oldest. Even so, they were no older than two moons. Too young to be outside of the nursery, and especially too young to be in ThunderClan's territory. Another one was all black, while the last two were gray-and-white. All of them carried RiverClan's familiar scent.
"What are you doing here?" Mapleshade asked, trying to keep calm. What in the name of StarClan are they doing here? She glanced out at the river. Although the water was calm today, she couldn't imagine such tiny creatures making the swim across the river.
The kittens stared at her, their eyes round with fear. Two of the youngest kittens began to tremble as they stared up at her.
"I'm not going to hurt you," she promised.
The bushes behind Mapleshade began to rustle. To Mapleshade's surprise, Goldenmist appeared. She strolled out from the undergrowth, Graytuft flanking her. Both warriors kept their eyes locked on the kits.
"What are you doing here?" Goldenmist demanded, her voice cold.
Mapleshade frowned. "Goldenmist-" she started, but her Clanmate ignored her.
"Don't you know this is ThunderClan's territory? You're trespassing."
One of the pale gray kits took a step forward. He puffed out his chest, trying to appear brave, but Mapleshade could see he was shaking. "We're hunting for our Clan," he squeaked.
"Is RiverClan so pathetic that it has to rely on kits to hunt prey?" Goldenmist hissed.
The pale gray tom-kit's ears flatted to his head, but he did not say anything.
"Come on. Let's go back to camp," Mapleshade tried. She nudged Goldenmist's shoulder, trying to urge her back into the safety of the forest, but Goldenmist stood her ground. She sent a glare towards Mapleshade, one that caused the fur on the back of her neck to stand up.
"And just leave them here? I don't think so," Goldenmist snapped.
"They're just kittens," Graytuft whispered.
"Kittens that will grow into future warriors. We need to teach them a lesson now so that they don't grow up thinking they can just waltz through the forest wherever they want," Goldenmist said.
Mapleshade could feel a growl rising in her throat. "'Teach them a lesson?' What in the name of StarClan do you mean by that exactly?" Was Goldenmist suggesting they use violence against a group of kittens?
"We're going to take them back to ThunderClan camp. From there, I'll have Oakstar send a messenger to RiverClan so that negotiation can be made." Goldenmist glanced down at the kits as she spoke, her eyes filled with disgust.
"We're not going to do that," Graytuft said.
"So you're just going to let them go?" Goldenmist hissed.
"They're kittens, Goldenmist!" Mapleshade shouted. "They're not a threat to anyone." Mapleshade looked back at the kittens. They were huddled together, still shaking. They're so small, she thought, feeling a pang in her heart. It's a miracle they even managed to cross the river.
"They might not be a threat now, but one day they will be. If we let them go, they're going to continue through life thinking they can push us around. We need to show them now that ThunderClan is not to be messed with," Goldenmist said.
"Why don't you pick on someone your own size?"
Goldenmist froze. She looked up to see a silver furred she-cat sliding out from the water. Behind her, four other RiverClan warriors appeared.
We're outnumbered, Mapleshade realized.
"Mother!" the pale gray tom-kit cried out, rushing towards one of the warriors. The other pale gray kitten followed after him. They brushed against their mother's leg, crying out happily.
"Fennelkit, Blossomkit! There you are. I was worried sick about you," the she-cat said. She was pale gray, just as her kits were, with short fur and long limbs. She looked quite familiar, though Mapleshade couldn't place her name.
"Are they alright, Lilynose?" the long-haired silver tabby from earlier asked.
"They're fine, Frostcloud. Just a bit shook up." Lilynose looked up, her eyes locking onto Goldenmist. Her eyes blazed with fury, and for a second Mapleshade thought she would attack. Mapleshade took a step towards her Clanmate, ready to flank Goldenmist in case Lilynose tried anything. But the RiverClan queen beckoned with her tail for the other three kits to come towards her.
"You're on our territory," Goldenmist growled. "I now see where your kittens learn it from."
Mapleshade let out a growl. Stop it! Can't you see we're outnumbered?
"Sunningrocks belongs to RiverClan," Frostcloud spat, her hackles rising. "But I don't expect a group of fishbrains to realize that."
"We took it from you fair and square," Goldenmist hissed.
"Just like you were going to take my kits?" Lilynose spoke up. She took a step towards Goldenmist, but a ginger tom stopped her.
"They'd be better off in ThunderClan than they would be with you. You can't even keep an eye on them. It's a wonder they didn't drown while trying to swim across the river," Goldenmist retorted.
"Goldenmist, stop it!" Mapleshade begged her. She needed to get Goldenmist out of here, now. Things were getting way out of control. If RiverClan decided to attack, it wouldn't end well.
Before anyone could react, Lilynose launched herself at Goldenmist. She knocked her to the ground, sending fur flying. Goldenmist let out a scream and kicked Lilynose off. Lilynose landed against a rock with a thud, knocking the wind from her chest. She staggered to her paws, gasping for air.
Mapleshade stood there. She then took a step towards Goldenmist. She could feel Frostcloud and Lilynose's angry stares burning into her skin as she walked. Just ignore them, she thought.
"Goldenmist," Mapleshade hissed, leaning down to help her friend up. "Are you alright?"
Goldenmist let out a cough. She stood up, her legs trembling slightly. She looked past Mapleshade to where Lilynose stood. She hobbled forward a few inches, but Mapleshade blocked her.
"Stop it," Mapleshade urged. She looked at Graytuft for assistance, but the gray tom was frozen.
"You're pathetic. Picking on a bunch of innocent kittens like that," Lilynose called out.
"I'm sorry. Please ignore her," Mapleshade begged.
Goldenmist's head snapped towards Mapleshade, her eyes blazing. "What are you doing?"
"I'm trying to avoid a fight!" Mapleshade said. "In case you haven't noticed, we're outnumbered!"
"I'm not afraid of a bunch of overweight, fish eaters," Goldenmist said. She took another step towards Lilynose, but once again Mapleshade pushed her back.
"Who are you calling overweight, you badger-faced piece of crow-food?" Lilynose snarled.
"Enough!" Graytuft yowled. He quickly hurried to Mapleshade's side, blocking Goldenmist from Lilynose.
Lilynose lifted her head, a flash of satisfaction crossing her face. She, along with the rest of her Clanmates, was clearing taking Graytuft and Mapleshade's actions as a sign of cowardice. They continued to throw taunts, which only made Mapleshade grow more and more agitated by the second.
Why don't they realize I was trying to help them?
"Get your kits and leave," Mapleshade demanded, taking a step away from Goldenmist.
"I don't think we will," a ginger tom retorted.
Mapleshade eyed him. The fur along her spine was beginning to bristle. "Oh, yes you will. This isn't up for debate. Now go home."
"And if we don't leave?"
"Then I'll make you."
The ginger tom lifted his head and let out a purr of amusement. "You'll make us? Ha! I'd like to see you try."
"Mapleshade, just drop it," Graytuft called. He kept looking between Mapleshade and Goldenmist, afraid that either she-cat would make a rash decision.
"Oh, Frostcloud! Did you hear what this big, scary, ThunderClan warrior said to me? She's going to make me leave if I don't do what she says. I'm absolutely terrified! I think I'm going to have a nightmare," the ginger tom mocked.
"I know. She's just so terrifying. Whatever shall we do," Frostcloud pretended to agree.
Mapleshade's tail began to lash. "Leave," she tried again, but to no avail. The RiverClan warriors continued to mock her. As she stood there, Mapleshade could feel herself getting more and more agitated. She had tried so hard to avoid a fight, but it all seemed to be for nothing now.
Seconds later, the sound of water droplets hitting the rocks alerted the group of cats. Every cat looked up to see Spiketail, RiverClan's deputy, leading Darkstar out of the river and onto Sunningrocks. As they climbed up the rocks, Spiketail stayed close to his leader, nudging her up the rocks as a parent would do to their kits. They moved slowly, too, neither of them saying much. Every so often, Spiketail would whisper something to Darkstar, who seemed to be ignoring him completely. When they finally reached the top of the rocks, Darkstar hobbled to the front of the group. Spiketail looked as though he wanted to follow her, but he held back.
At first, Mapleshade found all of this to be quite odd. Why was Spiketail hovering around his leader like this? But once Darkstar stood before her, Mapleshade realized how unkempt the RiverClan leader truly was.
Her fur was dull and unkempt, as though she hadn't bothered to groom herself for moons. She was also extremely frail, to the point Mapleshade could see her bones sticking out from underneath her skin.
She must be sick, Mapleshade realized. Despite her dislike for the RiverClan leader, Mapleshade felt an ounce of sympathy towards her. Whatever was wrong with her was taking a toll on her body.
Glancing at the other RiverClan cats, Mapleshade saw each of them carrying a look of either embarrassment or distress as they looked upon their leader.
"I see you found the kits," Spiketail meowed, trying to be polite.
"Yes, and thankfully unharmed. We're lucky to have found them when we did. I overheard this-" Frostcloud glared at Goldenmist as she spoke, "-fleabag threatening to kidnap our kits as a ransom for trespassing."
Spiketail's eyes widened. For a second, he looked as if he wanted to say a bunch of not so polite things to Goldenmist, but he refrained. "We've got them now, and that's all that matters. We need to go home." He glanced in Darkstar's direction as if to say, 'She can't fight right now. Or ever again.'
"But Sunningrocks belongs to RiverClan. Now is the perfect opportunity to take it back!" the ginger tom argued.
"Not now," Spiketail said.
"But-"
"Let's go!" Spiketail ordered.
The ginger tom's tail began to lash back and forth, but he did not argue. He walked towards Lilynose, scooped up one of the kits, and then climbed into the water. The rest of the RiverClan warriors followed until Spiketail and Darkstar were all that was left.
"I'm letting you go today, but the next time you even think to suggest stealing out kits, it won't be pretty," Spiketail threatened.
"How dare you threaten us on our own land," Goldenmist snarled.
"Stolen land," Spiketail responded, eyes narrowed.
Goldenmist barred her teeth at him. She took a step forward, her claws unsheathed. For a second, Mapleshade thought she was going to claw the RiverClan deputy across the face, but Goldenmist dropped her paw. She sheathed her claws once more and looked him in the eye. "Go. Now." Her voice trembled with rage.
Spiketail stared her down for a couple of seconds before leading Darkstar back towards the river. Their pace was quicker this time as if they were in a hurry to get away from Goldenmist and the other ThunderClan warriors. Due to Darkstar's state, Mapleshade wondered if Spiketail was trying to get her out of here before she could get hurt.
"Mapleshade!" Goldenmist yowled once they were alone. "All of this is your fault!"
"My fault?" Mapleshade's eyes widened.
"Yes! If you would have just let me take those stupid kits, then we would have had RiverClan cowering in their nests for real. Now they think we're nothing but a joke."
"We don't need to traumatize a bunch of kits just to prove a point," Mapleshade snapped.
"When did you get so soft?" Goldenmist asked. "Whatever happened to the Mapleshade that fought a fox by herself?"
"That was different. I was trying to save your life!"
"You didn't seem too keen on saving my life today when that mangepelt attacked me just now!"
"Stop it, the both of you!" Graytuft shouted. He took a step between both she-cats and gave them both a stern look. "We're Clanmates. We need to act like it instead of allowing RiverClan to tear us apart."
"Tell that to Mapleshade! She's the one who's always picking fights with everyone," Goldenmist retorted.
Mapleshade's mouth opened. "Me? Do you not have any idea what you just caused?"
"I was trying to help us, Mapleshade. We could have had the entirety of RiverClan groveling at our feet over those stupid kits, and you ruined it." Goldenmist said. "They would have never tried to bother us again."
"Or you could have just waged another war and gotten more cats killed! Did you ever think about that?" Mapleshade said.
Goldenmist didn't say anything. She looked away from Mapleshade and Graytuft. She then spun around and walked into the forest, the ferns swallowing her up.
"Ignore her. Please," Graytuft pleaded, resting his tail across Mapleshade's shoulders.
"What do you think?" Mapleshade asked. "About Goldenmist's plan with the kits. Do you think it would have worked?"
Graytuft shook his head. "No. RiverClan would have never allowed such a thing to happen. They would have fought to the death over those kits before they would ever come groveling to our paws. That would only be a last case scenario, and by that point, I doubt it would even be worth it."
"Darkstar's sick," Mapleshade meowed as they walked through the forest to pick up their prey.
"She's been sick for a while," Graytuft said as he dug up the shrews he had buried earlier. He shook the soil off of them and began to head in the direction of the camp. Mapleshade followed him, her prey clamped tightly in her jaws.
"Really?" Mapleshade mumbled through a mouthful of feathers.
Graytuft nodded. "I tried to ask Ravenwing if he knew anything, but he refused to tell me."
"Maybe he doesn't know what's wrong with her."
"Maybe," Graytuft said half-heartedly. "But I think he does. He just doesn't want to say anything."
"But why? Surely it would be an advantage for us to know what's going on in RiverClan, right?"
Graytuft didn't respond.
When they arrived back at camp, Mapleshade dropped her prey off at the fresh-kill pile. Taking a step back, she felt her heart swell with pride at all of the catches that had been made that day. The Clan would be well fed tonight. She then spotted the rabbit she had caught with Goldenmist, and her mood sank. How was it that they had gone from working together, to arguing, in only a matter of hours?
Mapleshade looked around the camp to see where Goldenmist was. She finally spotted her talking with Birchface near the apprentice's den. Goldenmist was leaning into her brother's side, whispering something into his ear. As if they knew Mapleshade was staring, both cats looked up at her.
Birchface had an annoyed look on his face, while Goldenmist looked angry. Mapleshade didn't bother to look away. She continued to stare at them. She wished she knew what they were thinking, but at the same time, she was grateful such powers didn't exist. There was only so much anger and sadness she could take for the day, and she was at her limit.
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