A hunched up Larchkit was grasped in her mouth. Out of all of her kits, she feared he was most likely do something outrageous. He was pulling off a strop, tightening up in annoyance. Patchkit and Petalkit stayed as close to Mapleshade as possible, scared of this alien territory. They'll get used to it once we're here for a while, she told herself. They were heading to the camp now, all she needed to do was get their sympathy. Maybe, just maybe, getting exiled was a part of a destiny for greater things.
Swirling clouds unspeakably high above her head, threaten to cover the warmth of the sun and to place a sheet of shadows over the land. The territory around her was unfamiliar. The ground should be dry and sandy but instead, it was damp and marshy under her paws pads. Without packed trees to create a forest, it was pale wide plain, dotted with islands of protruding wasn't a spot in this territory where you could avoid the faint gushing sound of rushing water.
The holes left by Larchkit and Petalkit's claws, where they had gripped her, had started to bleed. Small Streams of red were running down her ginger, black and white fur now. With Patchkit keeping on glancing up at them, it made Mapleshade begin to get uneasy, but Patchkit still didn't say a word. She had much more important things to deal with. Getting herself healed should be an afterthought. After wandering down another slope, two streams came into view, uniting at the edge of the horizon, creating a blue-ringed circle. In the center, was a tangle of long grasses and reeds, that stood above them. Mapleshade's ear twitch. The salty fishy scent of Riverclan overpowered any other odors that could have been lingering about this place. Finally, they arrived. The Riverclan camp.
She placed Larchkit gently on the ground. All three of her kits sat neatly in a row, just a whisker-length away from her muzzle, "Make sure to stay close to me at all times. Don't wander off and don't say anything. I'll take care of everything, don't you worry.", she mewed softly, trying to remain hopeful in this bleak looking situation. All three kits nodded. Splashfoot marched ahead, "Come on.", he ordered harshly, approaching the reeds with Eletail already disappearing inside. As the pale warrior passed Appledusk, he angrily swiped his tail across his clanmate muzzle, muttering, "Now you'll answer for what you've done.", under his breath. Appledusk replied with a hiss as sharp as a snake's. The two mates shared a pitiful glance before both entered the forest of reeds. The long brown leaves were swept aside as Mapleshade took long strides to flatten it, making a path for her kits. But they still had to stumble over the fallen reeds, like logs for a fully grown cat.
They must've been exhausted by now. They've been through more than any cat should in a lifetime, let alone, in one day as kits; being exiled for something they couldn't help, dragged across a river, having one of them almost drown and learning their father wasn't Birchface. Even then, it still wasn't over, they still had to be accepted into Riverclan. Once they were in their new home, Mapleshade would take them to a nice clean nest and they could have a long needed rest. The earth under Mapleshade become not just marshy but was now swallow muddy stagnant water. Her paws were now covered in a layer of green mud. However unlike her, where it only went up her paws, the mud stretched up, all the way up to the kits' bellies. Just a bit further.
After traveling through the reeds for another fox-length, the tall plants began to space out before stopping eventually to make way for a large clearing. The entire camp was built on a slowly arching slope, walls blocking the views of the outstretching marsh grasslands just beyond their sight. The dens were made from tightly woven and packed reeds and twigs. Sedges surrounded the edges of the clearing, to make it's own isolated island. The ancient willow that stood at the side of the clearing, was a towering figure among the tangle of different grass types.
The ground here, turned to cracked well-worn sandy stone, showing a history of countless floods.
Lots of cats were already outside of their dens, getting on with their own business, eating large fish or sharing tongues. However once they spotted the approaching tortoiseshell and kits, many of them got up to their paws, uneasy. Not aggressive yet but certainly unwelcoming. Larchkit looked around wildly, a growl forming in his throat. Mapleshade lay her tail over his shoulders, shaking her head at her son. Larchkit stopped, joining his littermates in a huddle beside their mother. Eeltail pointed out a rock tucked away behind a layer of undergrowth, "You and your kits wait there while I fetch Darkstar.". Before rushing over to a cluster of stems woven into the roots of the ancient Willow. As Mapleshade waited, the Riverclan warriors muttered suspiciously behind her. More cats were beginning to sense the presence of Thunderclan scent and beginning to poke their heads out the den entrances. There was a stir of movement from inside the Leader den as a black shape emerged from its shadows. Darkstar stood with a strong posture.
Mapleshade's mate puffed up his chest as his leader padded up to them. "Appledusk, what's going on? Why is Mapleshade he-", Darkstar paused. Then the Riverclan leader's nose began twitching as she scented something, lowering her head. Mapleshade shifted, showing Darkstar the fear-filled kits behind her. "Why are kits here? They should be in the Nursery.", she pointed out. Appledusk took a step forward, surprisingly calm, "Those kits are mine.", he announced. Around the whole camp, yowls and hisses filled the air. A specked elder even yelled out in the far back, of the now gathered crowd, "Traitor!". This was it. Appledusk would be able to explain on the kits' behalf; that they truly had a place among the Riverclan warriors. Darkstar's eyes narrows, "Explain.". Appledusk bowed his head respectfully, "Please forgive me.". A she-cat separated from the ring of watching cats, bounding out to Appledusk. Reedshine.
"What are you saying, Appledusk?" she asked, pressing herself against Appledusk's thick slick pelt. Mapleshade's mind become numb in that heartbeat. The way they leaned against each other- they were more than Clanmates. Bitter frost of jealousy was beginning to form at the bottom of Mapleshade's heart. "It's true Reedshine. I'm sorry.", Appledusk whispered. Reedshine staggered away from him, turning her head to Mapleshade. She looked down at the kits, lost for words.
Darkstar stood face to face with her trusted senior warrior, "Appledusk, explain yourself this instant.", she repeated, her patient being tested. Appledusk began to explain, "A few moons ago, I- meet Mapleshade in secret and she ended up getting pregnant.". Darkstar remind silent, not having any questions yet, so Appledusk carried on, "Mapleshade said she would raise them in Thunderclan and we've led separate lives since, we though it was best for everyone. I knew I betrayed my clan- so I couldn't bring myself to tell anyone.".
Darkstar attention went to the former Thunderclan warrior, her stare judging, "So why have you brought them here?", tail twitching. Mapleshade's teeth gritted together, now it was her turn, she'd had to get this right, "Ravenwing managed to discover the truth. So Oakstar exiled me and my kits. I would be unspeakably grateful if you were able to let my kits join your Clan. They still have Riverclan blood in them.".
By now, the Riverclan deputy, Spiketail had joined them, sitting beside his leader. What was he thinking of all of this? Then Appledusk dipped his cream coloured head, eyes closed, "Please Darkstar, I understand now, I was being a fool. I should've never met Mapleshade against the code. My selfish mistake that costed those kits their exile. I'll regret that for the rest of my life.", he mewed, "The kits have nothing to with this. So I can only speak for myself and beg for your forgiveness. My loyalty is with Riverclan. I want to remain here to serve the cats I love.".
Mistake? Regret? Mapleshade's ears were pricked, she couldn't believe what she was hearing. Was he trying to pin the blame on her? He came willingly to their meetings! Anger sparked inside her, "How dare yo-", but a tail was flattened against her open jaw as Spiketail shut her up, "Hush. We're not going to solve this by shouting.". Mapleshade forced herself to be quiet. She couldn't ruin this for herself. She took the chance to check on her kits; Patchkit was crouched down on the crusted soil while Petalkit and Larchkit looked up with shocked faces and they were looking directly at her. Mapleshade blinked. They were scared of their own mother.
Slowly, Appledusk began to plead his cause again once things had calmed down. Mapleshade waited for what fox-dang excuse he came up with next. "Please, leave the kits out of this. Just judge me and I'll prove my loyalty again.", Appledusk muttered.
Spiketail and Darkstar looked at each other, reading each other. Spiketail nodded, seemly agreeing with the cream tom, "Appledusk is a brave and strong warrior and so would any kits he's fathered. It would be a waste to let them go.", the graying elderly deputy stood directly in front of the brown tom, "I'm willing to give him a chance.", smiling. Appledusk gave a grateful smile back. Were they being allowed to join? Reedshine padded up alongside him, their fur brushing like weeds growing around each other. "Spiketail's right. Appledusk is the most loyal warrior in Riverclan.". Despite how much Reedshine annoyed Mapleshade, she was grateful for her support. With two Riverclan cats on their side, including the deputy, made it all the more likely of giving her kits a future.
Silence hung over all the cats in the clearing like a fog. All of it now hinged on Darkstar's decision. She remained thoughtful for a heartbeat, a frown came over her face, until eventually shaking her head. Mapleshade's hope shattered. "I can't agree with you there, Spiketail.", she mewed. Panic came over Reedshine, her fur beginning spike up.
Appledusk remaining calm until now, took a step forward, "What?", he snapped. Darkstar looked coldly at him, her blue eyes darken as if rain clouds gathered there, "I'd like to give you that benefit of the doubt but I can't. By taking a mate from another clan, you've betrayed your Clan and the Warrior code.". Reedshine gasped while the Riverclan warriors yowled their agreement in the background. But Mapleshade could barely hear any of them. Darkstar was kicking Appledusk out? But what about, Patchkit, Larchkit and Petalkit? They were too young. They needed to raised in a clan.
Mapleshade darted forward, leaving her kits beside an enraged Appledusk. She stood nose to nose with the pitiful Riverclan leader, "What about my kits?", she demanded impatiently. "Kits belong with their mother, even if that's exile.", Darkstar argued. Mapleshade growled at her, feeling the urge to rip her fur off. "Send me away if you wish. But they need a home!". Yet again, Darkstar shook her head. The memorizes of her Thunderclan trial flooded over her - Including Frecklewish running away from the flood when Patchkit was still missing. This couldn't happen twice in the same day! How could the Clans be so cruel!
Mapleshade reared up onto her hind legs, about to slash down on Darkstar's head. However, teeth grasped her scruff and she was thrown backwards. She was sent flying, her kits had to scatter like ants to avoid their mother crashing into them. The air was forced from her lungs, a small dust cloud was created as she landed. Sand went up into her mouth and nose, causing her to cough. "Pin her down!", Mapleshade heard when her senses were still blurred. Spiketail and a warrior, called Milkfur, dashed over hurriedly, taking hold of the she-cat. Mapleshade furiously thrashed out but with the strength of two warriors, they overpowered her, keeping her subdued. "Mother!", Petalkit cried out.
The cats around her carried the conversation like nothing happened. Appledusk did his best not to hiss, "I asked you to leave them out of this! Those innocent kits and they'll fit in fine with Riverclan! It'll only me that can be judged!".
The black she-cat shook her head, "You got yourself into this mess and you have to face the consequences. Those kits will be fine as rogues if you them raise properly, which I expect from my warriors. Mapleshade needs all the help she can get.". Mapleshade stopped struggling. With a flick of Darkstar's tail, the two cats separated, allowing Maplshade to get to her paws.
"It's decided, then.", Darkstar muttered. The leader turned to her clan, her words ringing loud and clear, "From this moment on, Appledusk is officially exiled from Riverclan! If you find him on our territory after Moonhigh today, treat him like any intruder.". She looked at her deputy, who now looked irritated by Darkstar's ignoring his willingness to forgive Appledusk. Mapleshade couldn't believe this was happening. Exiled twice in one day. What would they do? Where would they go? How would she feed three kits with no territory? Would they have to live as rogues for the rest of their lives? With questions swarming through her head, she barely noticed Darkstar listing warriors, "Spiketail, Rainfall, Splashfoot, Eeltail and Icefang! Escort Appledusk, Mapleshade and their kits to the southern border.". Darkstar meet Appledusk's gaze, "Make sure they leave.".
The five warriors started to advance on them quickly, fur blazing, claws unsheltered and eyes narrowed. Mapleshade jump to her kits, using her own body as a wall. No one would harm her kits! The Riverclan patrol cornered them, coming from all directions, forcing the family into a tight circle. "Mum-", Larchkit whimpered, "I'm scared.". Mapleshade leaned over, "They won't hurt you.", she mewed, "I won't let them.". Having rounded them up, the patrol like one living creature, moved forward, matching each other stride by stride. With nowhere to run, Mapleshade had little choose in shuffling forward, she scooped up the closed kit to her, Larchkit in her mouth. Then she kicked at Appledusk's side to grab his immediate yet needed attention, he glared at her but quickly picked up the message. Petalkit squealed as her father, a stranger to her, lifted her off the ground. She began flailing her legs, trying to escape. But a kit could do little to get away. Patchkit meanwhile, with a surprising amount of skill, leapt onto his mother's flank, getting a grip and scrambling onto her back. The group slowly edged towards the camp entrance...
Suddenly Reedshine came storming through the crowd, shoving her clanmates aside. "You can't let him leave!", she yelled, "I'm pregnant with his kits!". What? She could physically see a shiver run down Appledusk's spine, as he twitched almost fearfully. The frost of jealousy that had formed in Mapleshade, had now turned to solid ice of hatred. She and Appledusk were going to have a long conversation after this. The mood around Riverclan shifted however it wasn't enough for Darkstar to change her decision. The only reaction Reedshine got out of the leader was, "I'm sorry.". Three of her clanmates were forced to hold Reedshine back before she could reach the traitor. Mapleshade's could just make out the soft whisper of a young cat, "Appledusk...", a tom muttered. She noticed Appledusk's apprentice, Perchpaw looking on, helplessly as his mentor was taken away. The apprentice looked horrified.
The panic in Mapleshade grew inside her rapidly, as they were marched out of camp, into the reeds again. The long marshy and stony plains soon came into view, stretching out before her. Her eyes were solely fixed on the southern border in the far distance. She had failed. Now her kits would never be able to grow up in the four territories. They would have to live the harsh and honorless lives of rouges from now on.