Long clouds of oranges, yellows and reds streaked across the sky like claw marks. She couldn't really remember whether it was sunrise or sunset anymore, not that it mattered anyway. There were contrast gashes of wind batters her clamp of bushes as Monsters stormed past, like the world was heavily panting. The constant pain in her legs had slowly turned to numbness, no more blood oozing out, now harder to crust. Staring back with a bitter grudge, she spotted the tips of the pines of Shadowclan in the far distance. Quickly, she shook her head. No, he wasn't her kit anymore. Let him go, suppressing the lost memories. None of them was. None of them would matter anymore once she got a paw on a new one, one that would fulfil the destiny they foolishly rejected.
Then noticing the white and greeny crust buried deep within her flesh, the crushed up herbs still there. Without even commanding her body to do it, her upper lip twisted up, hissing to herself. Only a fool and coward would accept the help of the enemy. Now stressed, that Sloefur had slipped in some kind of dangerous herb. Had he poisoned her? Groaning in pain, her teeth gnawed into the opening, beginning to pluck out the green mush from her raw skin. Like a more disgusting form of grooming, she tore the plant pulp from each wound, dumping into the long grass, covering it up as something to be forgotten. What remained was upturned skin and fur, fading from a pale pink to a raw red. Now flesh blood dripped from the cracks. Not that it mattered. Ever since her exile, she gotten in too many fights to count. From head to tail, her ragged pelt was crisscrossed with a layer of long scars like a spider web. Her other wounds had managed to heal without killing her, those ones would be no different.
Letting off of deep sighing, Mapleshade unsettled from the soft grassy floor. Trying to ignore was getting her nowhere. The deer's body seemed a bit more rotten then before, she swore there were more maggots at least. It was a messy business but it was the only easy source of food around for sky-lengths.
Slowly, Mapleshade crept closer to the deer course, still there, from last time she'd been here. The vile odour suffocating her, forcing her to retreat again. Could she do it again?
Carefully, she selected the piece of raw meat that seemed the least likely to give her food poisoning. The front hoof seemed the least decayed, still recognizable as a foot, rather than a pile of organs. Greedily, her teeth gripped the wrist, feeling the broken bone underneath. With a mighty tug, the foot was torn off with a satisficing rip, coming off with surprising ease. Her mood sunk like a pebble, when she glanced inside of it. It was hollow. With layers upon layers of wriggling insects. Groaning, she violently shook it, pink creatures shattering onto the ground like rain. Their grumose appearance sight ruining the lush surroundings. The skin and fur would have to do, gripping it in her mouth, swallowing it whole like hairless bird chick.
Honestly, she was rather impressed with herself that she wasn't dead right now, after trying to eat that thing whole. Another wave of bile twinged at the back of the tongue, threatening to puck a few precious foods remains still in her stomach. Luckily, it wasn't worse than last time she'd tried to eat crow-food. Forcing it down, she narrowed her focus to just travelling as she hurried up the Thunderpath, the freshly settled darkness leaving it devoid of Monsters. The odour of fox edging up her the tunnels of her nose, a nasty thing. The tree slowly becomes more and more scarce, until eventually Mapleshade was left with wide-open fields, dotted with the occasional island of woodland. Blue lines and specks burrowed through the land, covered to the dream with deep pounds and swirling rivers. The unwelcome scent of Riverclan greeted her. Yet that wasn't where the fox scent took her, it took her in a long loop around the borders but never daring to venture inside. Then, she froze, bristling.
An overgrown gove stood before her, tightly paced together like one massive plant. There amongst the cluster of thick thorns, brambles, ferns and other various bushes, where the scent trial met its end. Evidence of the firey red creatures that lived here, lay scattered everywhere; old bones, scuffed mud imprinted with large pawprints and shuffled dead leaves, as their long snorts raided through it, searching for Starclan knows what. The scent of fox overpowering her sensitive nose. Yet something lay amongst revolting aroma, the silky scent of milk. Pricking her ears, a soft whisper of newborn paps echoed in the branches far above. A crooked grin grew on her lips like ivy. Perfect.
Edging out from her hiding spot amongst the roots of an ancient oak, she let out three deafening sharp yaps, spitting the night like a talon. Within the tangle of undergrowth and tree roots, a single red head poked out, warily searching its domain. The pale moonlight gave the clearing a silver tint, illuminating it. However, the rest of the forest remained engulfed by the night, the thick canopy shielding it from the light. She crouched lower to the dump floor, motionless, not letting a single muscle twitch. Half of the mother-fox's body remained underneath the earth, only it's head and front legs visible, peering around. The thick shadows of the oak doing its job and keeping Mapleshade concealed. She needed to lure the fox out completely.
After a brief pause, it was dreadfully obvious the male fox wasn't there to protect his prized new litter. This time, the female fox was alone to protect its paps from the unknown dangers of the outside world. Mapleshade set the plan in motion.
There was a rush of warm blood while excitement and fear pulsed through her veins. Before the mother-fox could get too comfortable and slip back into the safety of her ben, Mapleshade grabbed the largest stick to her, its rough bark against her tongue. With all her strength, Mapleshade sent to the snapped branch deeper into the woodland behind her, flying high into the air, finally disappearing into the swallowing darkness. A moment of silence, before a loud clatter struck the air as the stick crushed through the undergrowth, hitting something hard. Instantly, the mother-fox shot out from the den, standing in the open, defensive, it's snort snipping in her direction.
Sticking the edges of the clearing, Mapleshade crawled away from the oak, forced to use her whiskers to sense her surroundings, blind in the darkness. Up and under through tangle of trees roots she went, keeping to the deepest darkest layers of black, invisible. The mother-fox took a cautious step towards her original hiding spot, long fangs ready for thrashing any threats. As Mapleshade backed up against a frail trunk, a bark texture hit her cracked paw-pad as she stepped onto another branch. A good steady one. Grabbing it, she swirled round. Carefully, she aimed in the direction the mother-fox's piercing vision. Satisfied, Mapleshade launched it against a band of trees off to the east, slightly beyond the clearing. Another pause, then came a cluster of wood against wood. Suddenly, the female let out an enraged yap, furiously charging after the sound, disappearing into the trees. Now Mapleshade had the perfect opening.
Without a heartbeat to lose, Mapleshade madly scrambled out of the stems, dashing to the clearing, the moonlight sweeping over her like silver rain. Letting her nose and ears guild her, the milk scent and whispering of pups quickly let her locate the fox den, well hidden among the bushes, near the base of great alder. The ground was loose and shifty, Mapleshade struggling not to stumble on the crumbling sand as she dived into the narrow hole, completely black, like a void. Sand walls pressed against her fur tightly, like it was enclosing in on her. Then, her long whiskers meet something, tiny, furry and warm. A wriggling pile of them. Not caring which one, Mapleshade snatched up the closet one, the pup letting off a terrified-fill wail, calling out to its mother. Mouse-dung.
Trying to wildly twist round in the paced space, she reached out through the blackness, burrowing upwards. Or was she? It was impossible to tell. Luckily, she soon broke out into the open frosty air, free from the stuffy humid den. While the fox cub struggled in her grasp, the mother-fox had started to return to the clearing. The two stood there unmoving for a moment, staring. The chase was on. Without even thinking, Mapleshade instantly twisted on her heel, sprinting like she never had before, she flew through the trees like a deer, the mother-fox on her tail. Right towards Riverclan territory. Her heartbeat quicken and panic shot through her. So this is what it felt like to be prey!
Trying to get free, the cub began flailing like a maggot, nipping at her chin. Even if it felt like it, this wasn't a kit, so she didn't hold back, digging her jaw tighter around its scruff, making it shriek in pain, feeling thick blood tinge her mouth. Hearing the cry of its baby, the mother-fox seemed to gain an even greater drive, closing the gap between them. The fur on her neck stood on end as she felt the fox's hot breath on her tail tip.
Her heart threatening to burst from her chest, she made a split-second decision and just went with it. Making a risky manoeuvre, she twisted her whole body, making a tight turn, her paws skidding across the ground like ice. Somehow she managed to keep her balance, heading in the opposite direction, creating distance between her and the fox, who was forced to make a larger lop. Between the gaps in the thin trunks, the land dramatically sloped down, out of sight. Mapleshade staggered as she sped downhill, more like controlled falling then running. Not surrounded by trees anymore, Mapleshade was now in open plains of tall reeds, muddy fields, wide rivers, narrow streams and swishing grasses. Finally within Riverclan's borders.
A mighty racket caused her ears to strain, as the mother and cub yelped and howled, longly calling out to each other. In the far distance, emerging from the night, a red creature was rapidly closing in, returning to its cub's aid. The father-fox now on her trial. Confusion swirled in her on whether this was the best or worst thing that could happen. For Riverclan, it would make her life easier as they tried to fight off two foxes instead of one. Yet, that could only happen if she herself wasn't ripped apart beforehand!
The once confident she-cat was slowly giving into a panic. Once this would have been no more than training, but now- now she genuinely feared for her life. The mother-fox jaws snapped at the air, only a mouse-length from Mapleshade's swishing tail. With the father-fox not much further behind now. Her muscles began burning, the old wound around her legs reopening, oozing with fresh blood. Strangely, the fox cub swinging in her mouth, once like a feather, was now a boulder, weighing her down. Starclan help me! She wanted to cry out.
Two distinctive lands began to form, a large body of clear water and a marshy bog, covered with sucking mud. Both could easily bring the chase to a halt. Not accepting it, Mapleshade began to make a long strenuous arch, following the edges of the Marshes, yet still not stepping into it. Eventually, it led an endless patch of reeds, Mapleshade was more than happily plunged into. Urgently, she wanted to catch her breath and rest her aching bones, but she could not stop now. She forced herself on despite the pain. Leaves whipped at her face as she stumbled through the reeds, threatening to trip her up. Just a bit further. There was a loud rustling of reeds as the foxs struggled through it too.
A familiar fishy-scent lingered in the atmosphere, the scent of Riverclan cats overpowering. Many of them gathered in one place. Mapleshade allowed herself a quick grin, almost there. Ahead, thick steady walls of reeds and grass stood, weaved together unnaturally. The walls of Riverclan camp.
Pacing, Mapleshade moved until she could scent milk, halting. The Nursery. Tightening her teeth round the fox cub, she quickly spans round like a whirlpool. With enough speed built up, she flung the cub over the wall into the clearing beyond, groaning. Instantly, Mapleshade desperately and wildly tumbled, retreating deeper into the thicket, collapsing, gasping for breath. The two mates run side by side now, their mouths hanging open. Without the cub, the parents paid Mapleshade no notice, instead effortless tearing through the tangle of reeds, pure fury burning off of them. Annoyingly, they didn't rip through into the Nursery but went straight into the open clearing. Suddenly, there was a burst of deafening noise, like a storm as cats and foxes alike began madly screaming at each other. Through the walls, Mapleshade could spot frantic flickers of movements inside, the Riverclan camp erupted into utter chaos. Getting to her paws, Mapleshade clambered through the freshly made entrance to the camp.
The female stood at the centre of the clearing, standing over its cub, mercilessly lashing out at any cat that came too near with snapping teeth. There was a tang of blood on the breeze. Meanwhile, the male brawled with four or five separate cats clinging onto it, the Riverclan warriors trying to drag it to the ground. A mass of cats swarmed around the foxes, quickly closing in on them. The foxes may be larger, tougher and meaner but not even they could compete with the so many foes. Luckily for Mapleshade, she was able to join the rapid flow of the yowling crowd, too occupied and panicked with the foxes, to notice the Thunderclan cat among their ranks. For now at least, if she was another cat, that's all that mattered to them.
Endless pelts pressed tightly against her, almost crushing her in the mad scramble. The clanmates shuffled and shoved in all directions, unsure what to do. Amongst the mayhem, Mapleshade could start to put names to faces; Darkstar fraught right beside her warriors, gripping the male fox's head, battering its ears. Perchpaw, stood firmly at the Elder's den, fur puffed up. Yet if she started to recognize others, others could start to recognize her. Any heartbeat now. Suspicious glances starting to build up alarmingly quick, Mapleshade narrowly ducking away each time before they could get a better look. Not risking it anymore, she slunk back into darkest corners of the camp like a silent shadow.
Now, Riverclan cats had managed to get a hold of themselves, joining together, piling around the foxes, slowly driving them back into the entrance. The mother-fox had the cub swinging in its jaws, fear glinting in its round eyes. The madness just kept on growing and growing, until Mapleshade finally grew impatient; she darted through the reeds like a hawk, diving through the crowds, using her body like a log, ramming into female's head. The force knocking the cub from her grasp and towards the Nursery, Mapleshade back into hiding before anyone knew what was happening. As the cub rolled away, the male left off an angered yap, thrusting away it's attackers, latching it jaw around tail and throats, throwing them away as easily as leaves. Blood splashing against the sand. Now free, it raised towards red pup.
Though the female managed to keep ahead of its mate, shooting forward, snatching up the cub again. Though the male fox didn't seem satisfied, instead of fleeing with it cub, it turned on the Nursery, hungry for young blood. Rearing up, it ripped through the dense barrier of brambles with its front paws, like it was digging a burrow. Then out of nowhere, the Riverclan deputy, Spiketail let out a battle cry, "Protect the Nursery!", he yelled. Bravely, he pounded like Leopardclan cat, gripping the fox's back, biting down. However, the male fox instantly retaliated, reaching behind it back, taking Spiketail into its mouth. Like helpless prey, the grey tom was ruthlessly thrashed around, fur and blood splattering everywhere. Terrified, a fresh wave of warriors came rushing into their deputy's aid: Milkfur crunched down into its back leg while Rainfall kicked out of its flank. Screeching in pain, the fox was forced to drop its prey. Yet Milkfur's and Rainfall's efforts proved for nothing, as Spiketail fell heavily to the floor with thump, dead. Mapleshade blinked, feeling strangely hollow.
Through her reed cover, Mapleshade noticed the fox had done its job, a gaping hole now left in the Nursery, horrified Queens and kits peering through in the gloom. The tables were finally turning, as the warriors starting overwhelming the mother and cub, pushing back into the entrance, while the male remained stubborn, still fighting. Releasing as the foxes could flee at any moment, Mapleshade was forced to make her move, reeds parting as she crawled through them, edging towards the Nursery. Just a bit closer.
Her pulse surged when she released to get there, she would need to go out into the open, exposing herself to the outside world. Yet determination drove her on. She'd made it this far, there was no way she was backing up now. Find a kit, grab it and get away, that's all she needed to do. And there was specific litter she had in mind. Tucked away in the furthest corner, laid a dark orange tabby, tightly wrapping her body around a precious bundle of kits. Reedshine. Mapleshade hissed to herself like a snaked. Not waiting anymore, Mapleshade burst from the safety of the reeds, straight towards her prize, not caring for the yowls of anger as she sped past the Riverclan cats.
Reedshine's deep blue widen in horror, all the Queens gasping, as Mapleshade began entering inside. "Mapleshad-", Reeshine began.
However, she couldn't utter the full word before the entire Nursery finally gave in to the damage, collapsing into itself.