Her blurred senses began to separate from the black void of sleep and make sense of the world around her. The wall in front of her slowly become more detailed, seeing the separate lime stems, creating a forest of tall pale trunks. Mapleshade's neck ached from spending the night laying on a wooden floor, rather than proper bedding made from soft moss and feathers. She'll miss the nursery. Taking at the moment, she breathed in the fresh and crisp dawn air. Peering through the gaps in the ferns, she noticed a frosty white gleaming fog had drifted in, covering the small birch wood and Riverclan marshes in icy silver sheets.
She eventually noticed movement in the pile of soft fur at her belly. Petalkit shifted around uncountable serval until throwing herself away from her sleeping brothers, landing in heap on Mapleshade's tail, panting. "What's wrong?", she asked confused. The brown she-kit huffed, "It's boiling in there!", she complained. This just made Mapleshade even more confused. She had a thick pelt but overheating had never been a problem until now. Leaning over, she sniffed. Petalkit was right, it was near her belly and the source of it was...Patchkit. His chest rose and fell slowly, his breath heavy and swallow. He was horribly burning up like a blazing fiery monster ripping through trees and undergrowth as it charged through the forest. Lightly nudging Patchkit to wake up, he simply let out off a weak gruff moaning.
Instead, Larchkit began to steer from his deep slumber. "Is it dawn already?", the dark kit guessed, rolling onto his back and stretching his legs. Seemly he was completely ignorant of Patchkit's soaring temperature. Out of nowhere, Larchkit leapt to his paws, as if he had all the energy in Starclan, rushing outside of the ferns with the speed of a hare. "Don't go anywhere outside of my line of sight, ok?", Mapleshade called after him, feeling like anything that could go wrong, would, knowing her son. "Don't worry, I will!", not even bothering to look back at her as he sped off.
"Make sure he stays out of trouble.", she uttered to her daughter. Petalkit's face lit up. She flexed her claws, a malicious smile grew up her face like a weed, "It'll be my pleasure.", she mewed slyly. Before rushing out of the outstretching branches of the ferns, after her brother.
With her two other kits out the way, her full attention could be on Patchkit. He was fighting his own body; constantly uncontrollably shaking, raspy gasping for air, his eyes rolled inside his head making them white slit and he was as solid and cold as a frozen stone in leaf-bare. What was wrong with him? Mapleshade stood up, trying to give the young kit some space. She prodded him with her muzzle again, trying to get him to stand but he just continued to make meaningless unhealthy noises. Slowly she began to get worried, "Patchkit, Patchkit. Are you alright? Try and stand up.", she encouraged. Still nothing. He continued to lay there barely moving among the red and orange leaves. The only sign of life he gave off was the rising of the chest and occasional twitch.
Just then she spotted a cream pelt approving the ferns, ignoring the two kits charging after a moss ball. She'd honestly forgotten he was missing. As he came near, Mapleshade could see he was covered in a small layer of mud and he smelt of the marsh. The branches swayed as the large frame of Appledusk entered inside. Carrying three green limp bodies with him. Mapleshade blinked at him, "Frogs?". He placed them down at his paws, making strange movements with his mouth in an effort to get rid of the foul taste. "Well since we're in exile now.", mewing with a hint of mockery. Mapleshade narrowed her eyes. He quickly shifted his tone of voice, knowing he was pushing his luck, "-Since I can't fish in the waters of Riverclan territory, I have to make do with what we've got.".
He pushed a frog toward her, settling down with one of his own. Just looking at its lumpy slimy grey-green skin with those fish-like eyes made her want to be sick. "Where did you even get them?", she mewed, still wondering why he would choose frog over anything else. "A small pond near a twoleg fence. However, I think I drained what little prey it had to offer.". That was right, Appledusk, as a Riverclan cat, could only really hunt in water. And with Riverclan hogging all the nearby rivers and streams, he wouldn't be much use in gathering food. So, unless they could find another water source with a steady food supply, she would have to teach him how to hunt on land. Which wouldn't be fun. She also wanted to get some travelling done today as well. They were too far over the border for any normal patrol to go after them. Sure. But if they sent too long lingering around the Riverclan's borders, Darkstar might send warriors to drive them further away.
Pushing aside her unappetizing meal for the moment, she turned to Appledusk, "You wouldn't know anything herbs or illnesses, would you?", being hopeful. The tom made a face after swallowing another painful mouthful of frog, "What do I look like? A Medicine cat?", he joked.
She sighed, moving around so he could see the limp Patchkit, "I think he's ill.". Appledusk's eyes surprising glazed over with concern, "He is?", leaning over and sniffing him over. He sat back, seemly unsure what to do, "What's wrong with him?", he asked. That's why I'm asking you! She couldn't help but cringe at her mouse-brained partner. She shrugged, "I don't know. He's not coughing, so I don't think it's white or Greencough.". Appledusk muttered something under his breath looking to the green wall for the heartbeat before looking back her. "So what do we do about it?", he urged.
Silence came over the two cats as they tried to think of a situation, only the squeals of the playing Petalkit and Larchkit from outside, could be heard. They need to get a Medicine cat to look at him but who? There were four medicine cat but which one? Both Ravenwing and the Riverclan medicine cat, Driftfur would probably refuse to help them after learning the truth.
Yet there was still Sloefur and Larkwing. Would they help? However, Mapleshade quickly decided against it. Windclan and Shadowclan were their last change on ever returning to the Clans. So she doubted they would let them join after forcing their medicines cat to cure her kits. Thinking it about, it couldn't be Driftfur either. Riverclan knew their location, so threatening one of their members could provoke an attack. They would have to relocate Petalkit and Larchkit and with not knowing how much time Patchkit had, it was too risky. There was only one left.
Mapleshade's fangs chattered with anticipation. She'd been craving to get rightful vengeance on the cats that had ruined her life. The blurry images of her Thunderclan trial came back, serval individuals clearer than others: Oakstar who exiled them, Ravenwing who exposed them and Frecklewish who harassed them. Then personally for Mapleshade herself, was Bloomheart, the mentor who disowned her. How they could throw outside innocent kits like crowfood sicken her. Foam began building up in her throat from the memory of the Foxhearts.
"What are you doing?!", came a shocked voice, breaking into her thoughts. Appledusk stood there, staring wide-eyed at Mapleshade's paws. She'd failed to release she tearing up the frog under her thorn-like claws. The head had been reduced to a green and red solid mush. "Just thinking.", she snorted, not bothering to come up with a believable excuse. Wanting to just get in out the way, she hooked the frog by the leg, shoving into her mouth. A foul watery-salty flavour filled her mouth along with the rubbery texture of the skin. She quickly forced it down her throat, not even chewing. Appledusk made a face, grossed out by his mate's actions. Moving on quickly, she changed the topic, "I know what we have to do.", she revealed.
"Which is?", Appledusk asked grumpily, not willing to play the waiting game.
"It'll be a half-moon tonight, correct?", she mewed. Appledusk nodded.
"Well-", she continued, "-Ravenwing will be making the journey to the Moonstone soon. That's our opportunity.".
The fish-smelling cat didn't clearly like where she was heading. "Where are you going with this?", suspicion tense in his tone.
"It may be our only chance.", she argued, "Now, it's simple. We take Patchkit and we ambush him at the base of Highstones tonight before he gets to Mothermouth, he'll be isolated and have nowhere to run. He can't fight both us. There, we'll force him to treat Patchkit, wound him if we need to.".
Appledusk staggered back several paces, in horror. Until he finally mumbled, "Are you really willing to do that?". She looked at him with hard stone eyes, "If it saves my son's life then yes.", she uttered. She sat down again, licking Patchkit between the ears. The kits only gave another weak response. From the back on the den, Appledusk's tail tip and ear twitched several more times. He looked on blankly in the distance, in the direction of Larchkit and Petalkit as they scrambled through the dried leaves, like a brown lake about to engulf them under it's muddy surface.
"Another thing.", She began again, "I want us to go somewhere safer. Being this close to the Riverclan border is dangerous.". Appledusk gave a quick glance over to river covered grasslands of Riverclan. A hint of sorrow came into his pale green eyes. She felt a stab of annoyance, the selfish tom still mourned the loss of his home. She bet he was staring at the view constantly behind her back. "But where do think we should go?", he asked, not conceived. She sighed, "I was hoping you might know somewhere.".
The cream cat bites as lips as he thought, "Well, there is one place.", he meowed, "A barn just beyond the twoleg place near the Thunderclan border. It's far away enough so no Clan cat would go there but close enough, so it's only a short journey the four territories if we ever need to return .". A barn? Mapleshade didn't like the idea of having to rely on twoleg structures for shelter, like some kind of kittypet. Well, it was temporary. She could complain about it later. After Patchkit was cured of the unknown illness.
"Fine.", she groaned as she began padding out of the ferns, wanting to talk to Larchkit and Petalkit. Appledusk hurried after her, "What do we do about Larchkit and Petalkit when we're going after Ravenwing? You can't expect kits they're age, not to get into some kind trouble.", Appledusk pointed out. He was right. Then it hit her, "I think I know someone that can help us.".
Being a rogue now, meant she was forced to go the long way, sticking to the borders. She didn't like the idea leaving her kits under Appledusk's care; they definitely hadn't, but they were stuck with each other, so some level of trust was needed if the family was going function and survive. All she hoped was that Patchkit's condition didn't worsen while she was away.
Putting all those thoughts to the side for the moment, she focused on her travelling. Earlier, she'd reluctantly rolled in fox dang, trying to avoid any unnecessary encounters. Even with her scent hidden with the odour of fox, she still made sure to always be at least tree-length away from the border and staying in the cover of undergrowth.
Finally, she began to approve the edge of the Thunderclan territory and her destination. It brought her mixed emotions coming back. It had been just over a day since she was exiled but this place already didn't feel like home, it just felt like a war zone. She was a constant threat of being attacked or even killed, so she couldn't afford to stay here any longer than she needed to. However, where she was heading, was a piece of territory that few ventured due to it to its poor hunting. But she wasn't here to catch prey, she was here for a very different reason.
The sharp songs of finches rang loud as she entered the forest. Mapleshade stumbled down a steep slope, the old oaks lay scattered around the area, their branches reaching out, bathing the woodland in a constant layer of shade. Long grasses and the occasional thornbush were the only undergrowth that grew here. With no berries or seeds for the mice to survive off of. After last night's short rainstorm, the grasses drip with fresh raindrops. Despite being technically over the border, the weak scent of Thunderclan, told her it had been a few days since a patrol had come through here.
She crept through the still wood as silent as vapour moving through blades of grass. The short trees soon began to spread out, making a small clearing with cracked soil. Two large pointed brown rocks, stood together side by side, at the left side of the clearing. The rocks' bases were covered in a dull moss, that showed signs of being scraped off by claws. But the oddest thing about this place, was the pile of flowers that lay at in centre, a wide range of types; Lavender, buttercups, daisies and many more.
Mapleshade crawled down in the tall damp grass the lined the edges of the clearing, in wait. The place brought back haunting memories for her, even if it didn't mean much for the rest of Thunderclan, it had always meant a lot to her, ever since she was an apprentice. Those pointed stones were the things that had caused her father's head to split open. She shivered as she remembered the scene in every detail; As that savage white loner threw Dullface into the sharp stone while her younger self was dragged to safety by her mentor. She still remembered Bloomheart's vow that it never let it happen again. The fur running down her spine spiked as the yowls and shouts of that battle echoed in her ears.
She forced the dark memories down. She needed to focus. Tucking her paws under her belly, preparing for the possible long wait. The ground damp against her pelt. Cloud after cloud flew past her from above, being dragged on by the blazing winds of the sky. The sun slowly crept further and further away from the horizon, far beyond the stage of Sunrise. Despite time dragging on, making the dark tortoiseshell feel like she was trapped in limbo, she always reminded alert, ears pricked, eyes sharp and nose twitching. It wasn't until sunhigh, that finally, a mottled cream and lilac pelt wandering through the nearby scrubs like a hawk gliding around tree branches with ease.
The spiked leaves of a thorn bush rustled as a greying skinny she-cat stepped into the clearing, a small white lily gently gripped between her worn fangs. Mapleshade's heart beaten harder, It was her. The she-cat padded with a slow pace, struggling with age. Her heavy scarred neck and muzzle with matted fur showed long moons spent serving her clan, selflessly throwing herself into battle, doing anything to protect her clanmates.
The Elder placed the lily onto the small collection of flowers, bowing her head in sorrow. This was it, she had to it now, the she-cat would only be here for another few moments. But regret held her cowering in her grassy cover. If Mapleshade showed herself now, would the cat in front of her, forgive her? Had she brought the she-cat shame? Had she brought dishonour to Tulipfur's name? There was only one to find out, she drove herself from her hiding spot.
"Mother!", she called, standing and stepping out of the tall grasses, entering the golden sanded clearing. Her mother's eyes shot open, looking and twisting around wildly until her sun yellow gaze laid upon her daughter. Silence reminded between the two cats for a heartbeat. Tulipfur took a step towards her, stunned, "M-Mapleshade?", she stuttered. Mapleshade smiled her greeting. Tulipfur rushed forward, pressed her muzzle against her Mapleshade's neck, purring loudly, "I'm so revealed you're not hurt.", she exclaimed. "Don't worry, I'm fine.", she told her mother.
Tulipfur drew back from Mapleshade, her eyes clouded over with sadness. Mapleshade felt as if landslide had hit her back from the overwhelming guilt. "I'm sorry, I didn't get to say goodbye to you.", the old she-cat muttered. It should be me saying sorry to you! Her mother carried on, "It all happened so quickly, I didn't even have time understand what was going on. But-.".
She trailed off with her words. Mapleshade was a little shocked, "You're not ashamed?", her thoughts slipping out into words by accident. Her mother shook her head, "What kind of mother would I be if I was ashamed of my own kin? No! Oakstar had no right in exiling Patchkit , Petalkit and Larchkit. All kits are a blessing, they can't control who their parent's ar-", she paused again. Mapleshade swallowed hard, knowing this was going to an emotional conversion. The lilac she-cat began again, "- Though I am a little disappointed you didn't come to me, Mapleshade. We could have softened sometime out and have avoided this entire situation.".
"I know, I know. I'm sorry.", She spoke while dipping her large ginger head.
Mapleshade was ready to explain everything if she needed to. Tulipfur meets her kit's glaze, "So what happened when you left? Frecklewish said how she saw you and your kits being marched off by a Riverclan patrol.", she mewed with a worried expression. Mapleshade felt a growl boil up inside her throat with the mention that name, Frecklewish. That name that Specked cat called her kits, 'Half-clan creatures' made her want to rip that foxheart's fur off. If she ever came across Frecklewish again, it would not a petty sight.
Mapleshade sighed as she began to explain, "I thought that maybe Riverclan could accept us but they rejected us and Darkstar ended up exiling Appledusk as well.". Tulipfur spat on the nearby earth in disgust, with the mention of Appledusk. "All this is that stupid tom's fault. Honestly Mapleshade, what did you see in him? He's just a selfish snob.".
"Trust me, I know now. But I had to learn the hard way.", she admitted, slightly muttering. Tulipfur turned away from Mapleshade, beginning to scan the nearby undergrowth. She blinked, "What are you even doing back here? Where are your kits?", she asked, deeply concerned. Mapleshade sat down trying to make her body language less tense, trying to calm the situation however her mother reminded standing. Mapleshade explained, "They're fine. They're in a barn.", At least, she hoped they'd arrived at the Barn by now, "They're with...". Tulipfur interrupted her, "Appledusk?". Mapleshade nodded. The lilac cat began stressfully pace around the small sandy clearing, pieces of sand being kicked up in clouds as she walked. She began speaking as she moved, "Don't tell me you're letting him raise them! If I ever find him, I'll give a piece of my mind and put him in his place.", she growled, getting herself worked up.
Mapleshade laid her tail on her mother's back, flatting the fur, calming the scarred she-cat. She wanted to move from friendly conversion and get to business quickly. Her fox scent disguise wouldn't last much longer in this damp area, so she couldn't stay here long. "I come here to ask for your help. Patchkit sick, so I and Appledusk will be setting out tonight, to find a cat to treat him. So we'll need someone to look after Larchkit and Petalkit.", she told her mother, being hopeful. She wouldn't refuse the chance of seeing her exiled grandchildren again, would she? Tulipfur's eyes drifted to the sandy earth as she becomes thoughtful for a moment.
"Alright.", she mewed with a sudden spark of determination, "I'll do it, what do you want me to do?". Mapleshade felt a flood of a relief wash over her. She began to pan out the details, "Me and Appledusk will be leaving as soon as it gets dark. So could you try and make it to the Barn just beyond Thunderclan territory before sunset?", Mapleshade suggested.
Tulipfur's ear twitched uneasily, "Ok, I'll try, just make sure you do your part and get Patchkit better.". The mother and daughter shared a smile between them. No matter what happens, the family should always be something you can trust. Mapleshade looked into the sky, the sun flying over their heads, sending a warm patch light directly onto them, as if they stood on top of a giant firefly. "It was getting late.", Mapleshade mentioned, "I should get going.".
Tulipfur lay her greying muzzle into her's cheek, "I'll see you soon.", she whispered. "You too.", the exiled rouge muttered in return. Slowly, she turned her back on Mapleshade, plodding away from clearing and into the nearby thicket. The green grass darkened as her mother's thin faint shadow sweep over them like grey water. Mapleshade stayed until her mother mottled cream shape faded into the gloom of the forest completely, then she padded towards away herself. However, she wasn't ready to leave, not yet. She had to do something first. Something that she should have done a long time ago.
Entering the shade of the almost bare branches again, she crept to a row of oaks, with a directive tangle of roots between each one. Like a medicine cat, she placed her nose against every root and plant, carefully smelling it until unsatisfied and moving on. It had been seasons since she last hid it. Then she spotted a familiar sight, a snapped grey branch, now nothing more than a stoney stump attached to a rotting hollow oak trunk. This was it. The roots around this ancient tree were so dense, it was like it's own network of dens, an endless amount of deep dark holes, waiting to be explored. Her nostalgia took over her as she approved it.
The holes between the roots were as large as cave entrances when she was a young apprentice, barely more than a kit. She remembered climbing in between the forest of dull wines, hunting down the giant killer-rabbits that stalked the deeper depths of the hollow tree. Mapleshade purred in amusement at her old fanatics. She was certainly was an imaginative young cat. Plunging her paw into the darkness of roots, she suddenly hit a hard smooth object.
Rolling it out, an old pebble covered with faded claw marks fell onto the sandy soil.
Her old favourite play-thing. Chasing moss balls had always been her favourite game as a kit. But she hated the fact they never last more than a day. So finding this perfectly round pebble, made her overjoyed when she found it. She'd always liked to come here. Into this isolated part of Thunderclan, her own little corner of the forest. Acting like kit here, to escape the stresses of early apprenticeship; the first time away from the warmth of your mother's belly and going into terrors of battles for the first time. The world outside the camp had once been a scary place. It was her fault. Her father went looking for her and it cost him his life...
She shook the dark memories from her head again. Grabbing the pebble, she headed past the large tree trunks, returning to the clearing. Her head slowly become numb as her claws picked up the earth at the base of the pointed stones, carelessly throwing aside endless clouds of dust. She ignored it as it came up into her nose and eyes. Until she had a shallow dip in the ground, a half-hearted effect of making a pit. With a sigh, she dumped the rock into the shallow dip, landing with the thumb, bouncing slightly. She began burying the play-thing, that held so many good memories, keeping it under the earth, away from all eyes, along with that part of her life.
Patting the earth down, to hide the signs of the earth ever being upturned. Without any more hesitation, Mapleshade scripted across the wooden floor with the speed of a fox, heading towards the Thunderclan border.