Scrunching up her eyes and tasting the air, Mapleshade's ear tips tinged with joy, finally detecting life among the dead forest. Like her hazy mind, on all sides of her lay a dense white wall of fog, swirling around, enclosing her in. Only the blurry black shapes of looming giant trees gave her any bearings of her surroundings. Then she spotted the movement of a shrew as it ruffed through the rotting ferns. Luckily, Mapleshade stood downwind of the tiny creature, unaware of the presence of its own death. Tearing through the bramble, Mapleshade launched herself with all the speed she could muster, straight for the scrawny shrew. Yet, like the previous two times, her body betrayed her as her spin snapped awkwardly, falling short of her prey by a rabbit hop, clumsy stumbling, biting her tongue as her nose met the ground. As soon as the shrew spotted the massive grumbling mass of fur, it shot into the thicket like a lightning bolt, instantly lost to the green gloom.
Rolling onto her stomach, Mapleshade ripped at the layers of mushy shrivelled leaves, scattering them in the fierce gale, ruffling her fur like swishing grass. Frustration boiling up, she let off deafening yowl. Instantly regretting it as the cry rattled through the canopy, probably scaring off any nearby prey. Adding to her problems, Mapleshade was forced to let off another wave of raspy coughs from her aching throat. Struggling to stand, she reluctantly stuck her muzzle to the damp earth, beginning to a long search for scarce prey all over again. Mapleshade checked in bushes, under roots, between tree trunks, and over logs, yet no prey steered amongst the dull lifeless forest, hanging bare of leaves. Or was there?
Pricking her ears, she made out a faint nibbling, of jagged teeth against hard bark. Setting off, Mapleshade found her prey amongst a built up a pile of twoleg trash, rusty and grey. Though this wasn't the scrawny prey she'd hoped for, it was something much deadlier. What Mapleshade feared, like a massive mouse, it's dark brown fur was wiry and scruffy, two solid white blocks for teeth, ready for dashing and it reeked of grime. The rat scurried across the floor with alarming speed, as it poked its narrow twitching nose into every nook and cranny it could find. It had no colour in its eyes, just large black lifeless voids. A rush of nerves spread through her. Could she fight this hideous thing?
Yet, starvation drove her on. Without even ordering herself to do so, Mapleshade rushed forward, hooking the bony rat by its a scaley tail, trying to force it into her snapping jaws. Letting off a shriek of fear. But the rat wouldn't let itself be swallowed up by the gaping mouth. Twisting in mid-air, it gnawed deep into Mapleshade's muzzle. Bursting with pain, she frantically thrashed her head, trying to get the pest off. But it kept latched on, like a leach, going deeper and deeper.
Eventually, Mapleshade reached up with a paw, gripping it's neck with claws and flinging it away. Mapleshade huddled up, panicked and stunned. Red oozing from the tip of her nose. Instead of grabbing the chance to run away, now lustful for revenge, the rat tore towards her. Forced on the defensive, Mapleshade flailed her paws in random directions, desperately trying to keep the rat's cracked fangs away from her soft flesh.
For a heartbeat, her prey was out of sight. Where was it? Then there was a sudden stab of agony in her left back leg. Flicking around, her paws swooped in, using all her weight to pin it down, crushing it. It wriggled like a worm, in an attempt to get free. Not giving it that chance, Mapleshade ripped through its windpipe like a leaf, tasting its warm blood on her tongue. Greedily, she licked it from her lips, finally having something to feast upon.
Yet, it wasn't without consequences. Two new sets of wounds now opened up, deep teeth marks, leaking scarlet. While the injuries she'd gained from the Thunderclan patrol had barely begun to close up, the crusty yellow slim had returned, but now with limey green, decaying from sickness. Mapleshade had attempted to seal it shut with cod webs, the only herb she knew, though it seemed to be borderline useless. Sighing, Mapleshade scooped up the limp body, dropping in her grasp and limped back to Shykit.
As soon as Mapleshade emerged from the brown and green cover, Shykit immediately rushed towards her and started complaining, "Do you have any milk yet? I'm hungry!".
Mapleshade sniffed at her belly, but nothing seemed to have changed. "Stop being impatient! I can't start producing milk again overnight, you know.".
"But Reedshine had mil-".
"Shut up about that she-cat!", Mapleshade hissed hatefully at the tiny pale kit, "She is not your mother, I am!".
After a long awkward pause, Mapleshade shoved the oversized prey into Shykit's face. "Here.", Mapleshade grumbled, "You'll have to do with this instead.". Another moment past with Shykit just blinked at the nasty looking rat that was larger then she was. "I'm not ready for fresh-kill yet.", she mewed, confused. Mapleshade scoffed, "Tough! It's either this or nothing.".
Swallowing, Shykit slowly edged towards the lanky thing. Gripping a clump of fur between her kit teeth, no larger than seeds, she furiously tugged at its rough pelt, but could do nothing to get to the fresh meat that lay below. Growing impatient, Mapleshade snatched it from her grasp, tearing it open with a single bite. Stripping some muscle from the bone, Mapleshade placed the small pile of raw meat at Shykit's paws, before wandering off with the rest of the rat herself. Settling on a bare patch of sandy soil, Mapleshade scoffed down her meal, not caring for its salty taste or chewy texture. Finally filling the hollow feeling in her stomach, that had been there for far too long.
Mapleshade was glad to leave that horrid woodland behind, far too close to the twoplace for her liking. Even if the air was finally crisp and fresh, Mapleshade couldn't enjoy it's taste, her lungs too clogged up with spider webs of sickness. Her lips twitched as she silently muttered bitter words. Irritatingly, her mouth burned as more sour coughs gushed out.
"My legs are tired!", Shykit yowled behind, climbing from under a stake of rotten logs, now crawling on her stomach like a slug. Instantly Mapleshade span round in disgust, "You pathetic runt!", she snarled, teeth on display, "I've already stopped twice for you and now you want another break?". She questioned the kits fiercely, jagging her in the chest.
The kit swallowed nervously before answering, "But it's really far!", she protested, "And you're going too fast.". Anger snapping, Mapleshade raised her paw, claws out, about to bring it down on the unsuspecting kit. Forcing herself to stop, she tightly strained her muscles, desperately needing to remember this wasn't Larchkit- or probably Larchpaw now. He was 5 moons while this furball was only 1, more delicate than a feather in a gale. Any expensive force, even what grown cats would consider a light tap, could kill her within a heartbeat. Instead, Mapleshade turned her storm of rage on the nearby spindly tree, looking like the gentlest breeze could snap it.
Finding a loose piece of bark, Mapleshade furiously pounded at it, until she hacked it clean off.
"Fine- have your extra breaks.", Mapleshade puffed, struggling to get control of her rasping pants, "But that's not an excuse to slack off. If we're not going to get as much travelling done, you have to make it up with training.".
Gripping the bark underfoot, Mapleshade chucked it to the kits' paws, who only blinked at it. "Pounce on it.", Mapleshade ordered, sitting down, watching intensely. Reacting quickly, the kit shuffled back, creating distance between her and her wooden prey. Bending her legs, Shykit edged towards in a half-crouch, her paws heavy and clumsy, tail swishing, ruffing the leaves behind her. Her belly wasn't skidding the ground. Every mistake that could possibly be made. Bursting from sitting position, Mapleshade stalked over to Shykit. Before she could even lunge into the air, Mapleshade scooped her up with a paw, setting her aside.
"Not even close!", Mapleshade hissed, falling into hunting crouch herself, tail tucked in and weight spread evenly apart. Signalling with her tail, Shykit warily joined the Queen's side, doing her best to copy. Her tail lashed. "Stop moving the tail.", Mapleshade scoffed, Which Shykit did, but clearly using every bit of discipline and energy, to restrain her excitement. Well, it was better than last time at least, but Shykit still crept forward with the feet of a duck, swaying slightly. That Riverclan influence still strongly burnt into her.
Mapleshade stomped down hard on the brown she-cat's tail like a pesky ant, causing her to halt and squeak in pain. "If you insist at failing every time, I'll just do it myself.", Mapleshade sneered, shoving the bewildered kit aside with her back leg, preparing to make the leap herself. Focusing her piercing amber eyes on a scrap of wood, Mapleshade glided over the ground like a silent vapour, making quick yet steady process. Only within a fox-length now. Gripping the earth with her claws, she bent slightly closer to the ground, her underbelly fur skimming it like a hopping rock on a lake. With a final deep breath, Mapleshade darted forward like a pike, outstretching her claws about to strike. Yet, she suddenly turned into a clumsy badger, her lungs and muscles bursting with pain, making her tumble from the air. Landing heavily and awkwardly on her shoulder.
Glancing over, the healing wounds were ripped once again, oozing fresh blood. Mapleshade wanted to rip herself open at that point. What in the name of Starclan, was wrong with her?
Patchpaw couldn't contain his excitement anymore, speeding around the side of the Barn and calling out to his beloved sister, "Petalkit! It's me and Appledusk! We're here.", he yelled. His shouts echoed until there was only stillness and silence left. No cream head popped out from behind the corner. No reply back. Nothing.
A horrid drain fell over the young cat.
Worried, Patchpaw glanced back to his father for guidance as staggered up the slope, a deadly serious expression. Just like it had been for the entire journey up here. Ever since Reedshine had told the- Patchpaw quickly shook away the dark thoughts. Still vaguely hoping his mother hadn't brought any harm on the poor kit. "No one responding to my calls.", Patchpaw reported quietly as Appledusk joined him at the top of the hill, nose sniffing suspiciously. Without another word needed, Appledusk struck his muzzle to the ground, gliding Patchpaw round the side of the large red building. It wasn't long before Patchpaw gave up trying to follow his father's example entirely, sitting at the sidelines as the cream tom zigged-zagged and paced up and down, trying to make sense of the cluster of scents. Patchpaw certainly couldn't.
Eventually, Appledusk stood beside a small pile of log, looking overly sternly at a dip in the earth. "Hello?!", he called down into it, "Myler? Petalkit?". Yet just like Patchpaw, he got no response. The ginger and white kit joined him, blinking down at it. "Maybe they're not here.", Patchpaw suggested. Though, Appledusk rapidly shook his board head, "No. Their scents are too fresh. They're definitely here.". So why weren't they replying? For a heartbeat, Patchpaw wondered if Bloomheart had visited them. Though quickly dismissed it, knowing his father would've detected blood by now.
Even if he'd only been 2 moon olds the last he was here, he still distinctly remembered the entrance that borrowed under the wall, allowing entry inside. Yet now, it was bordered up with long sleets of stripped bark, stabbed into the wall by silver rusting needles. Now covered up, completely impassable. Appledusk hissed under his breath. "What happened?", Patchpaw gasped, ears pricked.
Appledusk grumbled his reply, "The twolegs probably didn't have a gaping hole in their Barn.". He then turned to his son, "If I not mistaken, isn't there a second way in?". Hurriedly, Parchpaw tried shuffling through his limited memories, searching for the specific spot his father spoke of.
"I think so.", Patchpaw mewed back, unsure of his own words. Without even needing to say it, the two cats separated, one going left, the other going right, starting the tedious search. Carefully, Patchpaw scanned the reds walls, with bright white stripes running down it's sides like a tabby's markings.
.
Recalling, while the Thunderclan patrol had tried breaking into the Barn to avenge Ravenwing, Myler had come through some small slit in the roof, near one of the corners. Though they'd been inside the Barn as climbed up there, outside there was only a sheer drop. So how did Myler get into the Barn from the outside? His bright eyes aimlessly drifted around, as he absorbed the surroundings; a few indescribable twoleg objects either made from wood or shining stone lay scattered round, with no clear organization but something slightly familiar caught his eye. A massive stack of golden grass, leaning against the Barn wall, reaching up and up until it touched the tip of the roof. An idea sparking into his head.
Without hesitating, Patchpaw rushed up to golden hill's base, beginning the long ascent upwards. Grass shifted under his weight, threatening to cave under, sending him tumbling down. But he didn't care, nothing could stop the young kit. Petalkit was on the other sides of those walls! He just kept on bounding up it in long strides like trudging through thick mud. After a few more slips, he eventually made it to the peak of a golden mountain, the roof now in reach. It was a flat surface, made from thin silver stone, creating a wave pattern like gentle ripples on a calm lake. Just as he was rearing up, outstretching his paws to grab the ledge, a concerned voice came from far below, "Patchpaw! Are you thicker than a fish? Get down from there!", Appledusk shouted up, no more than a cream smudge in the vast view.
"This is the only way to get into the Barn, trust me!", Patchpaw assured the paranoid parent, gripping the edges of the roof and heaving himself up. He was forced to settle down on the cold ragged surface as he waited while the former Riverclan cat failed miserably to get up the large hay pile, flopping and flailing like a bird in the water. For once, Patchpaw was grateful for Thunderclan blood flowing through his veins, at least then he wasn't a fish in a cat pelt. "Just remember-", Appledusk gasped as he made it to the top,"We are not squirrels.". Finally, he rolled onto the roof, wildly panting.
Usually, Patchpaw would have returned the witty remark, but with Shykit's life on the line, they didn't have time for messing around. Getting up, he clambered over the long rows of grey bumps, checking each corner in turn. Once again, Appledusk lugging behind, completely out of his element. It wasn't until he made to the last one, he finally saw the small slit in the red walls as he peered over the edge, a sheer drop just below him. Next to him, his father lashed his tail. "I've said it and I'll say it again, we are not squirrels.", he turned to Patchpaw sternly.
The back of Patchpaw's neck rippled in annoyance, "I'd thought you of all cat would be taking this seriously, why are you making jokes?".
"That wasn't a joke, Patchpaw. We're the only cats who can get Shykit back, so we can't be getting ourselves killed beforehand with unnecessarily climbing.", Appledusk pointed out.
Though Patchpaw wasn't having it, ignoring his father's warning, sliding on his belly toward the edge. A creamy tail swept against his chest, trying to create a wall between him and possible death, but he just knocked it away. He quickly glanced over to Appledusk, "You said yourself- Petalkit may be the only one to know where Mum is. You can be a coward and back off, but I'm not going to.". Appledusk puffed up his chest in silence defiance, grumbling.
With that, Patchpaw unsheltered his claws, digging them deep into the silvery roof, and steadily lowered himself from the roof. First, swinging one leg off the side, and with a slight hesitation, the next. His front paws suddenly strained painfully, needing to hold his entire body weight. Panicked, he kept his eyes firmly planted on the vast blue sky above, not daring to look down.
It was daunting to think that Myler and Petalkit needed to do this every time they wanted to in and out of their own home. Yet that meant if they could do it, so could he. So slowing his breathing, Patchpaw swung his body, gaining speed. Until enough was built up, he ungripped the safety off the ledge. For a heartbeat, he held on nothingness, wind sweeping through his fur, all he could do was focus on the entrance. Rapidly speeding towards it, Patchpaw outstretched his paws, barely grabbing onto the narrow outcrop of wood, ripping the breath from his body as he slammed into the wall.
With a groan of pain and heart-pounding, Patchpaw hurriedly scrambled through the slit, rolling onto a wooden beam, laying there for a moment. But it was short-lived. As Appledusk followed suit, tumbling past in a cream blur, before latching onto the slim ledge in the rather ungraceful matter. Patchpaw comes off his side, as Appledusk entered inside.
A thick ray of orange sunlight filtered through the cracks of the Barn, giving everything a sickly glowing hue. The light was so fierce, it stung Patchpaw's eyes. The air was stuffy and humid, a lot worse then Patchpaw remember since he was here last. The large area was stuffed with mountains upon mountains of hay, making Patchpaw wander what the twolegs could possibly use it all for. Somewhere amongst this sea of gold, lay his sister. The two cats shared a nervous glance, before Patchpaw lead the way across the crisscrossing wooden beams, like giant thick branches. Pressing against the wall, Patchpaw slivered like a snake through the maze of beams, crawling up and under. Until eventually, finding a haystack tall enough to skim the edges of bark blocks.
Going down them seemed a lot easier than trying to trudge up the straw, or it should have been. The challenge was trying to lose his balance and tumble, which he failed at. The yellow grass giving under the pressure, the world spinning as he rapidly twilled in the air with large clumps of hay, like a rockslide, reaching the stone floor with a moan.
Still, dizzy, Patchpaw shook the grass blades from his ginger pelt, just as Appledusk meet with him at the bottom. In the far gloomy corner, lay a mix of cream, black and white fur as two cats slept piled on top of each other. Myler was protectively and tightly wrapped around Petalkit, as if he was using his own body as a shield. A wave of emotions spread through the kit in that heartbeat, it was so strange seeing his sister after so long. After a brief pause, the father and son shared a nod and Appledusk let off a sharp yap, "Myler.", his voice echoing in the dense and stuffy space.
Instantly, Myler jerked violently away from Petalkit, now standing, his fur ridged with shock. Petalkit was disturbed from her slumber too, snapping her head back as she erupted from sleep.
For a while, no one bared move as Myler and Petalkit tried to process the two cats in front of them. Finally, Myler let out a massive sigh, rudding his paw over his face, "Please, don't do that.", he muttered, still half-bewildered.
Appledusk dipped his head, "My apologies, Myler. But this is urgent.".
Leaving the two toms to deal with the boring stuff, Patchpaw went for something much more important. Joy surged through him as he rushed towards Petalkit, still curled up in the corner. Long pink scars snaking down her back and neck like worms, where Bloomheart had left his permanent mark. The memory still haunting Patchpaw to this day. "Hey Petalki-", Patchpaw began but stopped when Petalkit suddenly flinched away from him, burying her head in her paws. "Wh-what's wrong?", he mumbled, "Petalkit. It's me, your bro.", nudging her with his muzzle, trying to get her up. From within her cream fur, came out Petalkit's muffled mew, "It's just Petal now. Not Petalkit.", she grumbled, sounding irritated.
Patchpaw let off a pleased purr, "That makes two of us!", he exclaimed, "Dad gave me my apprentice name, so from now on, you can call me, Patchpaw. After that, it'll be Patchshade.".
Hearing that, Petal lifted her head. It was strange, her green eyes were murky like muddy water, dirty with confusion and bitterness. What happened? She narrowed her eyelids, "You shouldn't be naming yourself after cats like her, Patchpaw.". His mood soured, but he couldn't help but be honest with himself. After everything she'd done- maybe Petal was right.
He was about to reply, but something rendered him wordless. A large crushed up dock leaf, reduced to green pulp, was smeared over her left eye like a fungus. He felt his jaw drop, bluffed what it could possibly be for. Petal seemed to read his mind, answering his unspoken question, "My eye got damaged.", she muttered. Then, their attention drifted behind them as Appledusk's and Myler's conversation loudened. The Riverclan cat growled to the air, "-I need you to think, Myler. Did Mapleshade have Shykit with her? A kit's life is on the line here!.", he yelled, getting himself overworked. Myler back down, shaking his head again, "Neither of us scented or saw any kit.", he confirmed.
As Patchpaw glanced back to Petal, her expression had darkened over, becoming grim and serious. Making Patchpaw's tail twitched with uneasiness. "Good to know Mapleshade hasn't changed a bit.", she drily remarked as she finally rose to her paws, calmly padding up to Appledusk and Myler, Patchpaw silently following.
Appledusk lit up brighter than any firefly or star as his daughter approached, giving him a reluctant dip of the head. Grumbling as Appledusk licked her between the ears in greeting, "It's good to see you, Petalkit-". But he halted mid-sentence when he too, noticed the leaf covering her eye, "What is that?", he question, suspicious. Myler bowed slightly as if in apology, "I tried copying what you Clan cats do with herbs for Petal's scratched eye- but I'm not entirely sure how you do it."
Appledusk shuffled around uncontrollably at the hear of Petal's new loner name, but his face quickly twisted into a snarl, "Who did to you? Was it Bloomheart?".
Petal subtly flinched with the mention of the cat that scarred her for life, yet Shockley, it wasn't the cat she named, "It was Mapleshade.", she admitted with a sigh.
It felt like a rockfall of boulders had landed onto Patchpaw's frail shoulders in that moment. "What?!", Patchpaw blurted. Though that nothing compared to their father's reaction, the muscle straining round his skeleton-like coiling snakes. Tail puffed, baring his teeth and fur spiked. Seething. Abruptly, Appledusk twisted round, stalking towards large haystack again, seemly about to exit to the Barn again. "Dad.", Patchpaw uttered, "What are we going to do?". Urgently, wanting to know what his father planned to do with his mother.
Appledusk halted, glancing over his shoulder with a fiery glare, "What else?", he questioned coldly, "I'm going to kill that foxheart." Panic surged through the young tom, instantly springing over Appledusk, biting down into tail, trying to drag him back. "No, you can't!", Patchpaw begged in a muffled voice, "She's your mate!".
Now He turned fully towards Patchpaw, his dragging tail pounding down hard on the floor, "She stopped being my mate a long time ago.". From the sidelines, Myler took a step back, gulping while Petal just rolled her eyes.
Refusing to accept it, Patchpaw let go of the cream cat's tail and shook his head, "Even if she's not your mate anymore, she's still my Mum.", he huffed, "If you kill her- th-then you're just as bad as she is!". Patchpaw expected this hit him right at the sweet spot, to make him think twice. Yet, Appledusk just casually shook his head, seemly disappointed, "Patchpaw, you don't understand what you're saying. She's a cold-blooded murderer.".
He began to get unhinged, failing to get his point across, now going for low blows, "You're a murderer too! Birchface and Flowerpaw anyone?".
Luckily, this one really seemed to hit Appledusk's at his core, as he broke out into shouting, going into a full out rant, "That was an accident during a battle, that's nothing like that she-cat done. Patchpaw, you've seen it with your own eyes. Ravenwing, he saved your life and how does your mother repay him? With claws in his throa-". Out of nowhere, Petal stepped forward, intruding onto Patchpaw's and Appledusk's heated argument without a care in the world, raising her tail for silence.
Looking at the two cats in turn, she growled at them, "While you two keep on wasting time, my little sister could literally be getting her throat ripped open right now. Our only goal should be getting Shykit home safely, it doesn't matter what happens to Mapleshade. So stop arguing. We need to go now.". With nothing more to say, Petal strolled past Appledusk towards the largest haystack, seemly wanting to come with them. "What are you doing?", Appledusk questioned.
"I'm coming with you.", she mewed simply.
Not even Myler saw Petal's abrupt decision coming, a wave of gasps rippling through the small group of cats. Hurrying towards her, Patchpaw blocked her path, "You can't.", he insisted, "Not with your eye.". Snorting, Petal used her shoulder to brag past, raw determination during off of her. "You can't stop me, Patchpaw. I'm coming and that's final.". Patchpaw opens his jaw to protest but strangely, the overprotective Appledusk seemed to agree, "Let her, Patchpaw. This family business, whatever happens, she should be there to see it.". A sudden drain for the future come over him, wishing he could freeze time forever so he'd never be forced to face a painful reality. They're now a pining for his brother, now amongst Shadowclan's ranks. He should be here.
From behind them, Myler took a step forward, raising his head and tail high. Though his whiskers twitched, clearly trying to hide his nerves, "If you're going anywhere near your mother again, I need to be there to protect you.". After a brief thoughtful pause, Petal shrugged whiling sighing, "Fine.". Making Patchpaw wonder just how badly Mapleshade had injured her leafy green eye, after all, it'd also been Mapleshade who'd slashed Bloomheart's eye, remembering it being covered in a gloomy grey fog of blindness. Would Petal's eye heal blind? He tightened up, a frosty shiver running down his short tail. Hopefully not.
Grateful, Appledusk dipped his head politely the black and white loner before turning away, "It's settled then.", he muttered in a frosty voice, "Let's move, if we're lucky, maybe I can still pick up her scent.".