"Get out!", Prickleleaf growled angrily, shoving Mapleshade roughly over the scent marks. She was forced to drive her claws into the damp earth to stop herself toppling like a tree, her lungs devoid of breath. Slowly, she turned back to stare blankly at the viscous Shadowclan warriors, slightly surprised they hadn't torn her apart by now. Lashing his tail, Prickleleaf bared his fangs, "Don't let us see you on our territory again. If we do, you know the consequences.". If he had said that to her just a day ago, she would snarl at him like a badger and probably raked his ears off.
However, no growl was forming in her throat, her throat too raw to do it. Even if she had the strength to do it, she wouldn't bother, she was too numb to feel offended by anything. An odd stillness was shared between the cats. With that, Prickleleaf rounded up his warriors with a sweep of the tail, marching them away. After a few stern glances back, the patrol had disappeared into the thick shadow fog of the pine forest, leaving Mapleshade alone. She stared at the floor, unmoving, time dragging on.
Finally, she managed to gather enough motivation to start forcing her legs to lift in the air, pressing them back down against the earth, eventually forming into a slow trot, wadding like a duck. She walked and walked, the world around her frozen in grey ice, the pale sun surrendering to the thick sheet of clouds. Despite her wounds being tended to, it still felt as if a fire burning from inside her gut, acidic venom burrowing into her muscles and burning from inside her chest. It seemed Sloefur had only done the bare minimum, not even giving her a painkiller, crazing poppy seeds. The lazy snakeheart. Eventually, the last of her strength was consumed, forcing her movements to speed of a snail. She needed food.
Her jaw slipping open, she tasted the bitter Leaf-bare wind, desperate to pick the scent of something, anything. She groaned as she was forced to taste the scent of Thunderpath again, draining to return to it so soon. Pricking her ears, she heard the distant rumble of Monsters. Fear gripping her, knowing Bloomheart could be still prowling around there, eager for revenge after his mate's death. Yet, Mapleshade took a step forward. Among the scent of humid gravel and burning, lay another vile scent. Mapleshade couldn't believe herself at that moment, but hunger drove her on. Somehow despite all the pain, her body launched into a script, her muscles screaming at her.
Slipping into some thick layer of undergrowth, she tore her way through, despite stems and roots tangling around her. Eventually, she burst from the endless green cover, to be standing on a steep hillside, overlooking a narrow Thunderpath, smaller than the one she'd fought for her life besides, just earlier that day. Dusk was now setting over the land, turning the sky pale like giant claws had slashed through it, now bleeding with pink clouds. Searching the landscape, she finally spotted what she was looking for, what her body had dragged her to. There, laying among overgrown shrubs, lay the large body of a dead deer. No massive brown branch-like horns struck out of its head, telling her it was a doe. its body was torn open and tangled. It's large round black eyes still widen in shock, despite death gripping it. Another victim of the Thunderclan, just like Frecklewish and Dawnfeather. However, Mapleshade's heart insanity sank when she realized two creatures with fire red pelt surrounded the corpse, with bushy spiky fur, a white underbelly, and distinctive black tail tip. They were no cats.
In her haste, she'd failed to notice the overwhelming scent of a fox, in her rush to get to the dead doe. They were greedily gorging themselves on their prize, tearing it apart with canine teeth, their head covered in dried crusted blood. Before she could retreat back into the bushes, one of them raised their large heads from its meal, to look directly at the tortoiseshell. Mapleshade froze, spine arching. The male fox made a few yapping noising to its mate, with both of them now facing their natural enemy. Nobody moved for a long time as if they were nothing but trees, permanently rooted to the floor. Luckily, the female fox suddenly shook it's pelt down, boredom gripping it, returning to its feast. The male soon followed suit. Immediately, Mapleshade lunged into the shelter of the nearby bramble, burying herself deep within them. Her heartbeat roared in her chest, legs aching. Needing to remember she was still injured. Settling down on the uncomfortable nest, a spikey pile of pine needles and acorns, she waited.
By the time fox pair had their fill, Mapleshade was threatening to doze off. As the foxes sluggishly padded away, stuffed sickly, their over-bloated bellies swayed like the swollen belly of a Queen. They followed the Thunderpath's edge up east, seemly unfazed by the occasional Monster zipping past them. Carefully, Mapleshade slipped out from her cover, nose twitching, watching as the foxes become nothing red dots in the distance. The direction they were heading was towards Riverclan territory. Interesting. After making a quick mental note, Mapleshade sped over to the fresh-kill, desperate to fill her hollow belly. Only it wasn't fresh-kill.
The sick tinged the back of her tongue as she approached, being slammed by the overpowering smell of crow-food. Maggots wriggled like worms among the open cracks, running across the deer's body like gorges. A swarm of flies buzzed around it, so large, it was like a black cloud. Now all the drive food had gone, to be left with a desire to starve instead. It was so rotten, it wasn't even crow-food, it was beyond that point. Even the birds of the night wouldn't want this. And a warrior definitely wouldn't, she deserved better. She was about to turn away, but a sudden stab of hunger made her tense up. Grasping her belly, she curled up into a ball, trying to deal with the pain. Regretfully, she began to crawl towards the pile of rotting meat and squirming maggots.
She forced down another wave of vomit, partially pacing around randomly, desperately trying to find a fresh spring, willing to do anything to get rid of the vile taste. Her ears pricked like a rabbit's, when she finally made out the faint sound of trickling water. Instead of the frosty clear water she'd hoped for, it was tainted by mud and diet, impure. But Mapleshade didn't care, diving headfirst into the shallow stream, hurriedly and greedily gulping down mouthfuls of water, not stopping or slowing down. It went down so fast, some of it was forced the other way, choking and coughing it out like blood. Her throat down clear, she gasped for air. She remained standing there as the stream lapped at her paws, feeling like her bones would crack under the sheer cold of what she stood in. Stumbling up the rocky shore, she realized the light had surrendered to the darkness, now in a void of blackness.
Despite forcing the crow-food down into the burning fire of her stomach, it still continued to plague her body, now light-headed. Yielding to the urge, she allowed the pain to set in, turning her skeleton frail, stumbling backwards. Collapsing, she bit her tongue on the way down. She didn't bother to get up, simply laying there amongst damp earth and rotting leaves. Trying to not let the cold settle in, she crawled to the tangle of roots of a fallen pine. Pressing herself against a root's curve, she felt the to rough bark against her ragged pelt, like a kit trying to find warmth in their mother's belly. But there was no warmth to be found for Mapleshade.
Then, a rustle comes from a nameless bracken patch. Immediately, her head violently jerked up, new life sparking up in scruffy she-cat, "Larchkit!", she exclaimed loudly and hopefully, cracking the night. Yet, it only echoed into nothingness. The only thing that appeared was a scrawny tiny shrew, a waste of fur. That was no kit, it wasn't even a cat. Gritting her teeth, Mapleshade watched it silently, not even trying to catch it. The brown creature scuttled around and ruffled around the mud for a while before disappearing into the shrivelled lifeless ferns. Stillness settled among the dead trees once more. There was no other soul around. At least she thought there wasn't.
Yet there he was. Slowly, stalking out of the thick purple fog, his pale pelt becomes tinted silver in the rays of chilling moonlight, as if frost was slowly creeping down his spine. Mapleshade blinked once, she blinked twice. But like expected, he didn't disappear, he wasn't a nightmare she could just wake up from and escape. He was real and revengeful. Bloomheart halted just a tree-length away from her, tail rattling smoothly from side to side like a branch caught in a gentle breeze. They simply stared at each other for an endless amount of time. Mapleshade remained pressed against the claw-like roots, not bothered to get up.
Still, Bloomheart continued to stare at her, judging. The clouds that had once suffocated the low hanging sky, had now cleared to show the stars peeking through. Silver light flooded the forest. Strangely, Bloomheart's good eye glazed over with unknown emotions, twisting his head, until his eyes gazed up into the heavens. The stars reflected off his pale blue eyes like ice, the shimmering surface of the moonstone flashing it her mind, glowing with a million stars and colours. Nerves gleamed in his eyes, even his left eye despite the mist of blindness gathering there. Starclan watched from everywhere, from the highest mountain peak to the lowest valley. Was he starting to fear their ancestors' wrath? With a sigh, Bloomheart turned his back on her, slivering back into the darkness like an adder. As quickly he appeared, he was gone.
Abruptly, Mapleshade thrust upwards, heart pounding. New life was breathed into the hopeless she-cat as the panic surged through her like a fire. Her fur spiked to the sharpness of quills. Wait, why would he just spare her life that?! And where was he going? A haunting drain hung over her. Since she killed his mate, was he planning on returning the favour by killing off one of her family members? Not caring for sleep or her aching muscles anymore, Mapleshade allowed instincts to take over, pulsing through her veins as she desperately began the long journey to track down her lost loved ones, before that foxheart did.
The breath gashed out of her throat like a stream of blood, as she stumbled the last of the way down the sloop. The pressure on her back leg had grown too much, like thorns, forcing her to limp the last of the way. A vast landscape inclosed on her from all sides, dusty fields fall of dry and brown grasses with seeds at their tips, swinging like reeds in the night gale, ruffling her pelt. She viciously shook, trying to block out the cold snapping at the edge of her ears. She'd travel so relentlessly and so ridiculously far, the whole night had come and gone, the tip of the pale sun beginning to peek above the horizon. Dawn approaching. Eventually, she spotted what she was searching, a large twoleg structure, with red wall crisscrossed with white stripes and a pointed roof. It towered over her like the pines back in Shadowclan territory.
As she stumbled the last few steps, she let herself collapse against the bark wall, steadying herself, trying to catch her breath. Slightly surprised that she had enough energy for the exhausting journey, the rotten deer meat serving it's the purpose, even if it made her want to make her vomit every heartbeat. After a brief rest, she casually edged around the corner, her flank still pressed against the wall. Nose twitching and ears ups, she expected to scent the familiar scent of blood, but there wasn't any, none of the scrawny weeds tinted with red. Yet a scent still kept her on edge, the lingering oak smell of Thunderclan, very recent. Though strangely there was a multiple of them, Mapleshade paced in circles, snort against the floor. Had Bloomheart gained reinforcements by associating himself with his traitorous clanmates again? It seems ridiculous, he'd always been popular, but his earned reputation would have taken a major hit after the shenanigans at the Thunderpath.
While, the she-cat continued to pace round in circles as if she was brainless, a kit lay perched on the roof of the barn, glaring down at her with a stern expression. "Look who finally shows up.", voice scorned from above, coming abruptly. Shocked, Mapleshade immediately whipped around, ready to face a deadly opponent but relaxed when she released it was only her pesky daughter. Though still daunted, astonished a kit had been able to reach such heights, and so casual about it as well. With the skill of a squirrel as if she did a thousand times before, Petalkit launched from one wooden outcrop to the other, quickly and gracefully reaching the floor at her Mother's side.
Mapleshade blinked sadly from lost nostalgia. The creamy brown cat had grown the last time she saw her, probably up to her shoulder by now. She was plump with well-groomed sleek fur and a slender build. As if she was pure Riverclan cat, with no Thunderclan blood to taint it. Though, there was a coldness in her left swirling eyes like a leaf covered in bitter frost, telling the story of a cat that done and seen too much, an identical look elder would slug around with them, spreading their misery. Yet Petalkit wasn't an elder, she was a kit, a cruel world forcing her beyond her age. She sat with a strained pressure, as if expecting claws to come out of nowhere and rake her fur at any moment.
"Oh Mapleshade, what have you done this time?", Petalkit stirred, lashing a tongue over her back. Mapleshade snapped out of it, realizing she was letting her thoughts take over her senses. "That's mother to you.", she snapped, disgusted at Petalkit, "And What are you talking about?". Petalkit stopped grooming, placing her paws tightly together, almost defensive, "Dawnfeather, 'Mum'. That what I'm talking about.". Anger flashed in Petalkit's eyes, strangely irritated she'd killed one of the cats reasonable for their exile.
"How do you know about that?", Mapleshade questioned, shocked she knew. Petalkit subtly gulped, "Thunderclan popped round here at sunset, they're looking for you.", she mewed, her glare sharp, "Luckily for you, I sent them in the wrong direction.". The fur on her neck spiked, Thunderclan was looking for her again? A growl boiled in her throat, angered she had another obstacle to avoid. "To where?", Mapleshade demanded, taking a threatening step closer yet Petalkit kept seated, "The twoplace place just outside of Thuderclan territory.", she mumbled calmly.
"I'd never go there!", she spat offended. What did she think Mapleshade was? A kittypet like her?
Though Petalkit nodded, "Exactly.". Mapleshade then felt like a mousebrain, it took her so long to realize her daughter's trick. "And Bloomheart wasn't among them?", Mapleshade mewed, wanting it confirmed. Then, Petalkit lips edged upward into a wicked grin, "He won't be having the force of Thunderclan behind him anymore, that for sure. Because Beetail told me he's been exiled.". A spark of sick delight lit up in Mapleshade. Of course, for the murder of Frecklewish. Mapleshade imagined the scene when Oakstar saw his last surviving kit in bloody scraps, livid that another one of his trusted warriors had turned against him, Mapleshade began to wonder if anyone else would follow. Finally, Bloomheart would understand the suffering of exile and betrayal.
But then confusion set in. Why hadn't Bloomheart gone to straight for Petalkit? She already bared the deep scars of the previous failing, surely he wouldn't miss the opportunity to put things right. She was like a sitting duck here in the barn, just waiting for someone or something to snatch her up and eat her. Though, by the looks of it, glancing over there, twolegs had boarded up the ground entrance, only leaving the one higher up, near the roof, they'd used to escape with their lives, all those moons ago. So probably only Barn cats knew the special route to inside the red hive, stashed with mountains of golden grass.
An awkward silence settled between the mother and daughter, both failing to find any meaningful words for each other. Still, Petalkit continued to groom, her pale tongue searching for the diet between the toes of her front paw. Mapleshade blinked, realizing Petalkit wasn't well-groomed, she was overly-groomed, a nervous tick. Claws of annoyance struck against her chest, you wouldn't be catching Larchkit acting so pathetically. Briefly, she considered literally dragging the kit away from the Barn, away from the honorless life of a kittypet and into the proper life of a warrior. A sense of horror-filled drain hung over her, terrified of the very possible reality, she could be spending her night alone, in complete isolation. She forced it down, no that didn't matter right now.
Eventually, Petalkit managed to find a convocation starter, though still awkward and stiff, "So
How's Patchkit and Larchkit.", she mewed quietly. Sighing, Mapleshade had to spill the truth, despite how much she hated it, "Patchit somewhere out there with your father. And Larchkit- he's just joined Shadowclan.". Even if she couldn't read mind, she could sense the storm of mixed emotions swirling inside the young she-cat from the scent alone. "Right.", Petalkit muttered with a blank face. What was the pest thinking? Was she relieved or disappointed in her brother? Mapleshade started long and judging Petalkit returned her stare, blinking.
"You look like awful.", Petalkit gasped, now standing. Anger boiled to the surface, with Mapleshade welcoming it, "I don't need to snide remarks, Petalkit!", she snapped, her head launching forward like a striking snake. Yet Petalkit wouldn't stop pressuring her, "I'm serious, when was the last time you ate?".
"That doesn't matter.", Mapleshade retorted, bitter. Slowly, Petalkit slid closer, her nose pricking with the rotten smells of the scruffy thin rouge. Her eyes widen, "Have you been eating crow-food?", she asked desperately. Mapleshade made her keep her distance with a warning slash just skimming the edges of Petalkit's whiskers, "Don't come near me and don't ask questions.", she hissed.
Immediately, Petalkit crept back, crouched slightly lower to the dirt, returning to her nervous grooming. Her fur around her neck bristled like puffed up feathers. "What are you trying to hide from me?", she questioned, aggressive, not holding back, teeth and claws bared.
With a deep breath, the confidence finally building in her, holding her chin and tail high, "My name not Petalkit anymore, Mapleshade. It's Petal. Just Petal.", she announced proudly.
Suddenly, a vortex of pure hatred raged through Maplreshade's husk of a body, anger burning the hole in her chest even further after Larchkit's betrayal. What was happening? Who was this she-cat standing in front of her? This wasn't the daughter she once known. Mapleshade hadn't sludged around with swarming boulders in her belly for 2 moons, just to create this thing. The kittypet creature. Muffled sounds echoed around her as if she was enclosed in a tight cavern, trapping her. Her blurred vision drifted over the corner of the blood-red Barn, a black and white shadow standing here. An invisible force tightly gripped around her, feeling like it would crash her but instead it violently yanked her towards the Barn cat. As her body threw itself as Barley, the energy tom that corrupted her daughter. "You caused this!" she screeched at Marler, like a crow with a broken voice.
But instead of launching off the ground, high into the air like a bird soaring to freedom, her back leg betrayed her, awkwardly snapping mid-leap, causing her to topple over like. As she lay in the dust, she flexed her leg, the tingling pain soon set in. The stupid muscles twisted around the bone still hadn't fixed itself, shredded like a moss-ball after it been played to death by a reckless kit. There were flickers of movements around her, black blurs, like the shadows of fireflies. Still, Mapleshade wouldn't surrender, recently pushing herself, crawling towards her prey like a snail, bond the slithering across the mud for its entire life. Finally, she could make out proper words, like raindrops forming a pubble, "No, Mapleshade, stop.", Petal desperately begged, padding beside her, pressing her soft pelt into her ragged one. Yet Mapleshade continued. "Mother!", she repeated more sternly.
Seeing it was useless, Petal turned to the bewildered Myler, "Get out of here, quickly!". With a quick nod, Marley disappeared around the corner. No! Mapleshade griped the dirt floor with her claws, heaving herself forward, homelessly clambering after him. Out of nowhere, a sudden pressure in her injured leg, making her halt, splitting in pain. "Are incapable of being around someone, without trying to kill them?", Petal exclaimed, irritated, still pressing her small paw deep into the red depths of Mapleshade's wound. Mapleshade tensed up, barely handling the torture.
Seemly satisfied she dealt out enough pain, Petal released her grip, helping Mapleshade to her paws. Still on numb legs, Mapleshade flinched away from the support of Petal's shoulder, stumbling away in a random direction. She didn't care where, she just needed to get away from this place. "Where are you going?", Petal suddenly blurted, surprisingly worried. Why would she care?
"And don't know who you are anymore, but one thing for sure, you're no daughter of mine.", Mapleshade growled, looking back. Petal remained frozen with shock for dragging heartbeat, as if Mapleshade had just sprouted wings. Staring at her with stupid gaping expression. Ignoring her, Mapleshade carried on limping down the hillside, gradually creating distance between the former mother and daughter. Then, Petal called out to her, "You can't go!", she pleaded, "You'll die in the state you're in!".
Yet, Mapleshade simply ignored her, too tired and lifeless to shout or even utter another word. Annoyingly, Petal's persistence still held, a gentle pitter-patter of loose stones and pebbles as she rushed down the hill after her. Then, Mapleshade's patience cracked as she felt Petal's paws wrap around her dragging dull tail. Snapping with fury, Mapleshade whirled around, claws unsheltered, "Stay away from me, you filthy kittypet!", Mapleshade yelled, crazed. Before Petal even had the chance to defend herself, Mapleshade brought her hooked talon down right into Petal's open eye, stabbing it. Instantly, Petal screeched and whaled, violently flinching away, upturning the eye still attached to the claw, ruining it even more. Wildly, she flailed on the ground, a thick layer of blood oozing around the rim of her eyelid, the eye reduced to white mush, like upturned earth. Once the eye healed, Petal's vision could never be the same, if it wasn't already permanently blinded. Mapelshade just stared, daunted. Her pure white claw had now been strained a dark red. Back at the Barn, Marley heard Petal's screams of terror, appearing from the top of the rocky sloop.
"Petal!", he yowled out in horror, the adrenaline pumping through his veins giving him the speed, rivalling a Monster. Strangely fast for a kittypet like himself. It was funny what panic could do to cat. While Mapleshade could only remain rooted to the floor, Myler protect leaned over Petal like she was his own daughter, his soft fur puffed up and his usually gentle eyes, now glazed over with ice. "G-go", he shuttered, "Stay away from us!", pathetically shaking.
With nothing she could say or do to make it better, she obeyed. Silently limping off.
Mapleshade held the panting down, sealing her mouth shut. She stalked quietly through the dense brush, thorns and nettles tearing at her already torn pelt, like claws. Pricking undergrowth surrounded her on all sides, like enclosing green cave, dim dreams of light narrowly breaking through the tiny slits among the ceiling of leaves. Beyond the leafy cover, the loud gushing loud of rushing water as she followed the gorge river. Spreading her weight evenly across her paws, she slipped under another bracken brach, trying to not make a sound. Her were tufted ears pricked and nostrils flared at every heartbeat, always on edge from the hoovering danger of a Riverclan patrol, feeling like helpless prey. Yet her fear was unwarranted, she'd was far past any Riverclan scent marks.
She shouldn't of put it pasted Appledusk to be hoovering around his old home like a pestering fly. Even after everything his clanmates had to do to him and his kits, the daft tom still flocked to the rivers, letting native nostalgia blind him. Her son and old mate's stale scent had brought her far up the gorge river. This far north up its banks, meant it wasn't really inside a gorge anymore, instead the banks were more like small pebbly beaches, allowing the river to stretch out, now much wider. Yet somehow, it was much deader than further upstream as it burrowed it's way into Riverclan territory. The current was dragged along even faster as it approached the sheer drop off a tall cliff, to create a mighty waterfall. Which Mapleshade stared at in astonishment.
The torment of flowing water must have been the height of the tallest of pines, endless foam and bubbles hissing at it's the base. And the roar it made was deafening. Despite wanting to wonder at it some more like a kit, she forced herself on, she came here for a far more important reason then sightseeing. If Bloomheart hadn't gone for Petal to avenge his mate, then that only left Patchkit and Appledusk. Luckily for her, smooth slabs on stone lay on the cliffside, making for an easy way up. Though annoyingly, it seemed to have been carved by Twolegs, that same shiny stone used to silver poles at the edge of each slab, probably so no overexcited twoleg kit went careening off the side. But Mapleshade reluctantly accepted the help of their structure, in a race against time.
As she stumbled the last of the way, up to the top, a small woodland come into view, wide spaces between the stumpy trees. Yet somehow, despite it being leafbare, the grass still glowed a bright green. Thick hedges bordered this sides of the field, not enough undergrowth for a flushing Thunderclan cat. Deciding to remain safe, she entered the maze of the jagged stones that lined the river's edge, smooth under the paw and creamy in colour. At last, the burden woodland made way for a long stretching patch of reeds, dead logs sticking out the ground like brown fangs. The tree surrenders to marshes, filled with dried bracken and moss covering stone ground. Like a mix of Windclan and Riverclan territory. Finally the first sign of life, serval old fish bones scattered by the water's edge. Relief flooded over her, when scents lingering in the air were familiar, a strange mix of Thunderclan and Riverclan, even a bit of rouge forming.
Hissing to herself, Mapleshade considered ways to stop their pure scents from being corrupted, Petal was already a lost cause, unsure if she felt guilty or happy after ripping out her eye. The only one left was Patchkit, to fulfil her dreams of becoming the ultimate Clan cats. There were plenty of useless lumps of fur to kill off pests like mice and birds, but where was the pest control for cats? They would be the predators of cats, killing anyone who dared threatened them.
Following the trial, the signs of life only continued to grow, more bones and more scents, fresh and old alike. "Dad!", a familiar voice suddenly whaled out. Instantly, Mapleshade's head flung from the ground, searching the nearby shorelines. Sure enough, there was a large crashing of water as two cats plummeted into the deep waters.
Then relief flooded over her as the two cats resurfaced, a pale brown and Calcio head bobbing in the water, both failing to notice her yet from behind the wall of reeds. Irritation made her whiskers twitch, on how far they'd fallen since their days with her. They shouldn't let their guard ever, she hadn't even disguised her scent. If she were Bloomheart, then she could of easily snatched up Patchkit in the blink of an eye. The kit scrambled up the protruding stones, his pelt drooping with water, making him look like a long-hair cat. He perched on a narrow ledge, shelving, feeling sorry for himself. Without shouting, any words were impossible to make out from this distance, as the father and son continued to joke and laugh with each other.
Having enough, she strolled out of the reeds, walking alongside the bank towards them. The first to spot her was Patchkit, with Appledusk quickly following. Their faces twisting with a whole storm of emotions. Then Appledusk plunged out of the river with a massive splash, standing his ground, hissing, "Go away!", he ordered. Mapleshade should of expected this from her mousebrained former mate. Mapleshade taking another step closer anyway. Yet, Patchkit joined his father's side, tail flaring up like a fern branch. "Leave before someone gets hurt!".
Mapleshade halted, gasping. Confusion swirling her mind, blurring her vision. How could they treat her like this? "I'm your mother, Patchkit!", she exclaimed loudly, a tree-length between them, "Or have you forgotten that?".
Patchkit's eyes widen, seemly unable to answer, shuffling serval paces back, nervous. Was the kit just confused? Before she starts to approach again, Appledusk placed a tail between her and Patchkit, hissing twice as loud as before. Mapleshade's claws scraped against the bare rock, making a sharp screeching noise. Appledusk couldn't do this! "Patchkit my son as well, Appledusk. You can't keep me away from him!".
"His name is Patchpaw now and Yes I can.", the bitter tom retorted, "If you're willing to kill me, then I can't trust you with our kits either.". There was a pause, as his green eyes flicked wildly among the landscape as if desperately searching for something. "Where's Larchkit?", he demanded.
Mapleshade flinched, her weakness threatening to be exposed, that she hadn't been able to control her last obedient son. "He's joined Shadowclan.", she finally forced herself to admit. Patchpaw and Appledusk shared weary glances, all too aware of the treatment the Clans gave to half-clan cats. Eventually, Appledusk shrugged, "Well-.", he muttered, "At least he's finally away from you.". Mapleshade felt like her whole body was freezing over, slowly turning to ice, in complete disbelief. Each that came out of Appledusk's mouth was like a sharp icicle, stabbing her. Where those really cats she'd once knew? The cat she'd once loved and the cat she'd given birth to? She felt hollow inside. Not realizing, she still hadn't done what she comes to do.
"Have you seen Bloomheart recently?", she mumbled, half-heartedly. From on top of the rocks, Appledusk immediately stiffen up, "Him again?", he growled, "What's he doing now?". From behind him, Patchpaw shrivelled up like a rotting berry, probably getting haunting flashbacks to the cat the had tried to kill each one of his siblings, him being the only one that had yet to get his teeth around.
"I think he's going after us again after I killed his mate.", she replied, almost whispering.
At those words, Appledusk's burst into a fit of snarling and clawing the earth under his paws, like a raging badger. But that was nothing compared to the utter hatred that exploded in the innocent Patchpaw. Tearing Appledusk's tail aside like a piece of frail grass, he stampeded towards her, fur blazing like a wildfire and eyes narrowed to a snake's. Mapleshade shook in her pelt. Who was this cat? "Murderer!", he howled, snapping her. Mapleshade stumbled back, shaking. "Get out! Just leave, we don't want you here!". Mapleshade's heart turned to stone, motionless like stone, in absolute horror.
In the background, Appledusk casually dipped his head, "You heard the kit - Leave.".
She stumbled aimlessly, into trees, maybe some bushes as well, covered in thick sheets of shadow, frantic.
Wildly, she began to pace around the narrow clearing, her mind reeling.
Movement in corners of her fierce red eyes.
Were the trees growing around her, were they enclosing on in on her?
Halting, she twisted, growling, expecting someone to be there. A flicker of light. Was that someone? Rearing up onto her hind legs, she brought down her whole weight onto the bush, pounding it with all her might. Yet, the leaves just rustled. Nothing. There wasn't anyone there? There had to be someone there.
No, there wasn't. Was there? There couldn't be. Why would anyone want to go after this worthless lump of bones and flesh? A stain. Only taking up space, it that was she was?
No one- Nobody- Not even the moles that burrow beneath the mud and diet would want her. She was below it. Wasn't she?
Was that they thought of her, a piece of crow-food to be buried under the earth, to be forgotten? Everything and everyone has done that to her! Even the Siamese rouge. Why hadn't he killed her? Wasn't she worthy prey? Was she not worth his time? Why hadn't he gone after her kits yet?
A presence hooved above her, just out of reach. A green den, filled with warm light, birds singing, cozy soft moss, three bundles of homeless fur at her swollen belly, the sweetest of scents. Their round young faces, filled with wonder as they explored the big wide world, so ignorant to the nightmares that lay within.
But those weren't their faces. They weren't the kits she knew.
Their faces were enraged, bitter, blank, pity, terrified-
Not her kits. Those weren't her kits. Her kits were the ones that wouldn't judge her, the ones that would see the spark of light in her no matter what she did. No matter how many times her paws were stained red.
Strangely, she didn't seem to move anymore. Not standing anymore either. Laying down?
What is she doing now? What was it she felt? Hopeless? Hollow? Was she just going to stay here, die and rot away?
Her Heartbeat pounding- beating of a crow's tattered wings as it set off into the black skies- Wind rustling the dead leaves- snuffling as a mouse under a withered bush searched in vain for a life-giving nut - a kit's voice- his voice - Patchkit's younger voice like honey - "I never want to leave you."
Split like toxic venom drilled down the side of her hanging mouth. You'd leave me, you said... Liar! Snakeheart! Traitor!
Those things weren't her kits anymore. She was their mother. She created them. She gave them flesh and bone, She gave them the right to live and she should have the right to take it away.
They should have drowned back in that raging river all those moons ago! At least, then, they'd still be hers. They'd be her kits, no one else's.
She twisted around. If she lost those ones, no matter. She'd get a new one. A new, fresh start.
A gentle pattern of leaves, as raindrops, dripped onto the forest floor. Rain. Water. Streams. Rivers.
Riverclan.
Now she knew exactly where to get a new one.