Mapleshade still felt shaken up after being marched out of Riverclan camp in such ruff fashion. The young specked warrior that trod next to her, Icefang, left his gaze on the damp floor. Awkwardly avoiding eyes contact with the traitor or the angered queen. Unlike his inexperienced clanmate, Splashfoot burnt with a determination and sacrificed scent. Clearly glad to get rid of the traitorous Appledusk.
Finally, the patrol had begun to approach the southern border. It was marked with a distinct line of large perfectly arranged green hedges. The thin layer of vapour in air had gotten caught among the hedges' leaves, like a spider's web, causing it to drip with fresh water drops. The disappearing sun's orange warm light reflected off of the water's surface, giving the whole row of hedges a shining gleam. Her neck fur clumped together with bewilderment, as she recognized the horrors that lay just beyond that those bushes. They weren't natural, they were created by Twolegs. Meaning they were being forced into the Twoleg place and the realm of kittypets.
Mapleshade watched the blades of long grass be swept aside as she moved through them. She turned her head, to look at the four territories for the last time as a Clan cat. As soon as they crossed that border, they were in exile and will have to live as rouges. Beyond the rocky plains of Riverclan covered with running streams and rivers; was Thunderclan territory made from dense woodland with endless undergrowth, next was the towering dark pines of Shadowclan and finally the long stretching heather-covered moors of Windclan that touched the horizon. Her body tightens up with sorrow, the full weight of the situation just starting to sink in. She felt Patchkit violently shivering on her back. He must of been looking at the same view and feeling the same thing. Poor thing...
"This is it.", Spiketail's words rang in Mapleshade's ears. The patrol had stopped in front of the Riverclan scent line, just stopping short of a foul-smelling twoleg place, already able to hear the large crashing sounds of monsters. Appledusk placed the curled up Petalkit gently at his paws as his deputy approved him. Spiketail showed clear signs of sympathy as he began to address the brown tom, "This is where we part ways. But before you go, know, I don't agree with Darkstar's decision. I know you meant well. And If I was the leader, I would have welcomed your kits into Riverclan.", the elderly cat took a slight pause for breath, "However she is still my leader and her word is the Warrior Code.".
Appledusk nodded, pleased with the deputy's kindful words, "I understand.". Spiketail's attention turned to Mapleshade, "Your kits have a strong heritage. Make sure you raise them well.". Mapleshade only responded with silence, unsure how to feel about it. Mapleshade noticed, Eeltail and Rainfall began muttering behind them, unimpressed. Spiketail seemed to take notice of it, too. "We've wasted enough time. Appledusk, you need to get going. Take your kits and leave Riverclan territory.", Spiketail instructed.
Appledusk opened his mouth but couldn't find the words, so just huffed, lifting the now dozing Petalkit off her paws. She was so tired, she didn't even bother to struggle as the cat, she distrusted, held her by the scruff. Mapleshade began to wonder if Larchkit and Patchkit were just as exhausted. As the pair of them turned their backs on the patrol, beginning to pad towards the border, several of cat started voicing their option behind them, "Good riddance!", Splashfoot rudely yowled. Mapleshade' ginger fur rose up like waves crashing against a stony shore. Oh, how she wanted to slash that cat's nose off.
Eletail joined in next, "Don't show your face here ever again!", proper hatred in her tune. Mapleshade struggled to ignore the comments as her blood boiled. She could even pick up her own anger scent. It was only what Spiketail mewed next, did Mapleshade managed to keep her emotions in check, "Good luck, both of you!". The young warrior, Icefang was about to speak but just in time, Spiketail's raised his tail to silence him. Any more comments were unnecessary. The patrol watched as the family wandered deeper into the unknown territories that lay beyond all the Clans. Satisfied, both groups went their separate ways.
It was only when they had made it safe distance over the border, that Mapleshade made a sharp turn, avoiding what lay beyond the bright hedges at any cost. Appledusk seemed surprised at first, but reluctantly followed anyway without complaint, letting his mate take the lead. They travelled at a fast pace along the border, not stopping until a small birch woodland came into view. Now under the shelter of the birches, that Appledusk finally allowed his bitterness to rise to the surface.
Under the shade of the trees, his creamy sleek pelt was now given a storey hard grey tint. He placed Petalkit aside, laying her against the roots of a tree trunk, as he faced Mapleshade, "This all your fault we were caught, Mapleshade.", He growled. . Mapleshade unsheltered her claws, shredding the dried leaves at her paws. It was about time she dealt with him. Ignoring Appledusk for the moment, she placed Larchkit on the floor and nosed Petalkit her paws. The tiny she-kit blinked sleepily up at Mapleshade, curious, "What's going on?", she asked.
Mapleshade leads the three kits over to a nearby patch of brown ferns. Under them, the earth dipped slightly and was filled with dried leaves, creating a soft surface. It was the perfect kit-sized den. Using her head, she pushed side fern stems, creating a small path, "In here.", she pointed out, flicking her tail. They reluctantly did as they were told. Patchkit looked back, worried, "What are you going to do?". She crouched down, into the ferns, pressing her nose against Patchkit's, trying to calm him, "Don't worry about it. I just have you deal with your father quickly.". Larchkit trudged through the layer of leaves like snow, leaving a set of trucks, becoming restless. "We haven't played all day!", he protested.
Using her quick thinking, Mapleshade scooped up a paw-full of leaves, throwing them into the air and causing it to rain reds, oranges and yellows. Larchkit and Patchkit's eyes widen with delight as they began to leap around like overexcited rabbits, grabbing out for the falling leaves. "Here's a new game, 'catch the leaf'.", Mapleshade suggested. Larchkit looked at Petalkit sitting in the corner, staring at the floor, struggling not to fall asleep. He watched her deviously, his tail swishing from side to side playfully. "Leave her, Larchkit.", Mapleshade scolded, "She needs to rest.". Larchkit shrugged, "Fine.", lunging at Patchkit instead, taking him by surprise. The two brothers squealed with excitement as they tussled in the leaves. Mapleshade couldn't help smile as she watched her kits. "Stay here until I come back.", she told them sternly, moving away from the patch of undergrowth. She padded towards Appledusk, who was sitting at the base of a tree, angrily mumbling to himself.
Mapleshade drew out her long claws to fall length. She would tear the sense into him if she had to. Appledusk's glare hardened as Mapleshade approached, "You ignored our agreement to stay away!", he growled, "But you just couldn't resist, could you? Dragging the kits to the dangerous Riverclan border and letting them show off how Half-clan they are. It allowed Ravenwing to spot you!"
Mapleshade's ear began uncontrollably twitching. She didn't want to listen to his cruel words for a heartbeat longer. Was this really the same cat she had fallen in love with? Mapleshade countered him, "I was a lone-mother doing her best to entertain her kits. It was meant to be a harmless little trip; How could I know our leaders would overreact? Where were you to help me raise them? Nowhere! So don't judge me!"
Appledusk shook his head defensively, "Kits ain't allowed to leave camp, Mapleshade. And anyway, You asked to raise them in Thunderclan! You know better then anyone, if I asked Oakstar to join, it would've ended in my murder and your exposure. What would've of that achieve?"
Makpleshade snapped back, "If we didn't need you for the first two moons, we needed when we were exiled! Yet what were you doing? Rambling about yourself the whole time, and not uttering a word in our defence!"
Appledusk still wouldn't give in, "I asked her multiple times to leave them alone! If I implied I cared more about my Forbidden family then my Clan, Darkstar would've of been harsher on all of us. Not that it mattered as it turned out."
Mapleshade shove her muzzle into his face, since he hadn't addressed one thing, "You may have done the bare minimum for our kits, but what about me? Where were your words defending me? For all you knew, Darkstar might've of kept the kits but still exiled me!"
Appledusk flattened his ears, "Maybe I didn't want to defend you. Your impulsiveness endangered our kits so many times! Your unfair expectations they could've united two warring Clans as warriors - Recklessly giving Ravenwing the evidence to expose them - And today, making them to cross a flooding river! I want my kits to be raised by someone who won't get them killed."
Using all her willpower, Mapleshade made sure her mate's words couldn't go to his head. No, he's making up lies so he can make himself feel better! He's the selfish one, while I've done everything to protect my kits! Finally, she was able to ignore Appledusk's words and stand up to him, "You're making up excuses. I bet the real reason was because of your precious Reedshine.", Mapleshade mewed almost mockingly.
Appledusk swallowed down the anger, beginning to mutter, "It wasn't what you think.". Her rage snapped in that heartbeat. "She's having your second litter!", she pointed out, "What else could it be? How could you? After everything we've been through.". Appledusk got to his paws, preparing himself as the situation began to get tense.
"Hypocrite!", Appledusk snapped, "You were posing as Birchface's mate moons before I was ever with Reeedshine. Yet you never bothered asking me once about.", he voice become pathetically high-pitched with emotion, "Didn't you ever considered how I felt? Forced to watch my kits from afar, as they're being raised into wanting to kill me. Birchface is a pawn, just as much as Reedshine is. But all it's all necessary in keeping our kits safe."
Mapleshade refused to believe a single word that lying foxheart uttered. How dare you compare your dirty lies to my harmless secrets! Mine were the only ones with true good intentions! Mapleshade began to pace around him, "Oh, so now you're making it out like it's both our fault.", she mewed unconvinced. Appledusk step several paces back, his back up against the black and white bark of a birch tree trunk, uneasy. "It was both our faults.", Appledusk insisted. Continuing to circle and pacing round the tom, she studied him carefully. . If he was manipulating her, it wasn't going work. Despite how much she hated to admit it, she needed him. Trying to raise three kits alone in the unexplored and unclaimed territories beyond the clans, would be near impossible. It would only be another moon until they would go off milk eventually and start demanding proper fresh-kill.
"That's not what sounded like back in Riverclan.", she finally spoke, "You called your own kits, a 'mistake'. I honestly don't know what I saw in you, to fall in love you. But I know now, You're disgusting!". That hit Appledusk right where it hurt most, his ego. His lip curled up as he growled at her, "I wasn't insulting the kits at all! I talking about our own actions being the mistake. I had pleaded to stay in Riverclan because I have too many responsibilities there. Many of my clanmates are replying on me-", he began. However Mapleshade interrupted him, noticing that he hadn't mentioned a specific thing even once, "What are their names?", she asked. Appledusk blinked at her in confusion. "What?", he buttered. He didn't even know!
"What are your kits' names?", she questioned. Appledusk tensed up, looking down at the floor as he hurriedly shifted through his memories. After time began to drag on, Appledusk finally had to give up and tell the truth. "I-I..I don't know...", he admitted. Mapleshade turned her back on him in disgust, walking away, "I knew it.", she muttered under her breath.
Surprisingly, he rushed after her eventually blocking her path. Mapleshade stared at him coldly. "Tell me.", he mewed. Mapleshade paused. Did he deserve it? "Petalkit, Patchkit and Larchkit.", she told him. It was up to him to find out which one was which. The former Riverclan warrior took a long and regretful sigh. "What am I going to do?", he mewed to himself, Mapleshade overhearing. "What else?", she began, Appledusk turning round, slightly surprised she heard him, "You're going to help me raise them. We're stuck together, whether you like it or not.". Which she didn't like much either.
"But I don't think I can-", Appledusk's voice trailed off. Her teeth were gritted together, she took a step towards him, fur spiked, "What? You can't what?", she challenged. No answer came from him, however. He just trembled like a terrified kit. If he wasn't going answer, she would have to guess, "So what are you saying? Are you going abandoned your kits in the wilderness?", she asked. Appledusk looked sickened that he would be accused of something like that, "No, of course not!".
Mapleshade went nose to nose with him, dead serious. She looked him square in the eyes. Her tail twitched. "Good. Because abandoning them would be no better than killing them yourself. So if you even think about leaving me or my kits- I will kill you.", she uttered, her voice hollow. As she said that, she felt like she was in another cat's body. A much more bloodthirsty and savage cat. Could she live with herself if she ever went through with it? Having the blood of her mate and the father of her kits on her claws? Even the deepest depths of her mind, didn't know if it was an empty threat or not. Appledusk swallowed and slowly nodded.
"We'll sort out what need to do tomorrow, let's get just get some sleep.", she added, walking away.
Throughout their argument, Mapleshade had failed to see the world around them had darkened as night approached. Everywhere, the sky was now a smokey grey, with the first shining white star starting to peer through the soft twilight clouds. As she approved the fern patches her kits were staying in, she saw they were in a large heap, fast asleep. They had completely worn themselves out. Larchkit snored so loud, it could wake up a dormouse. She pushed aside the fern leaves and stems, trying to get into the packed space, careful to avoid any movements or sounds that could wake them up. Rapping her tail around them, she settled down on the soft surface of dried leaves. The fern smells took her back to the Thunderclan nursery. She curled up into a tight ball, pulling them in the warmth of her belly.
Then Patchkit's eyes slowly drew open. "Mummy, why were to yowling with the Riverclan cat?", he asked in a hushed asked. Mapleshade licked him between the ears, "It's grown-up stuff. You'll understand when you're older.", she whispered into his ear.
Patchkit carried on to ask her questions, "Is that brown tom really our father?". Mapleshade paused. She couldn't hide it from them. "Yes, he is.", she mewed softly. The ginger and white kit looked thoughtful for a moment, "I don't believe what Larchkit and Petalkit said about Appledusk, I bet he'll turn out almost as kind as you.", he boosted with a spark of hope in his leaf green eyes. The Queen couldn't help but be taken back by the kit's innocence and idealist view of the whole situation. It must of been nice to see the world through the blindness of youth. "Let's hope he does.", Mapleshade mewed hopefully, "Now go to sleep now, we have a busy tomorrow.". Patchkit opened up his mouth, about to ask another question but Mapleshade stopped him by shaking her head. "Sleep now, questions later.", she told him, laying her head down on the nest of leaves. Patchkit nodded, finally settling down next to Larchkit and Petalkit in pile of fur, falling asleep within heartbeats.
Appledusk didn't venture into the fern den for a while longer. Mapleshade could hear the faint rustle of leaves, as he placed branches and brambles on top of the ferns. The extra layers of undergrowth did its job in blocking out bartering night wind and bone-chilling cold. It was only when the moon was high in the sky and it bathed the woodland in a silver light, that he quietly yet nervously, slip inside the tight space. He panted heavily and his pelt was mattered, after the late night of work. If she could risk waking up her kits, she would have made him sleep outside. He took his spot on the far side, the fern roots digging into him back.
There was a mouse-length's distance between the two 'mates', not touching each other. Mapleshade honestly didn't know what the future held for her or her family now. There were still two clans left; Windclan and Shadowclan. Maybe her kits could be raised in a clan after all. But they had to make it wasn't a repeat like last time. Lying seemed the only way out of a life of crow- food eating. But she could worry about that later. All she could hope, for now, was the empty void of sleep to overcome her senses.