Mapleshade pressed herself against the two-leg fence, trying to contain any fear scent. Her ears pricked as she heard the heavy sound of running paw against gravel. "Are you sure you saw Mapleshade?", came Deerapple's voice, one of her former clanmates. The high-pitched bright voice of Nettlepaw replied, "I sure of it. I saw a ginger and white tail.".
The sun crept forever closer to the horizon, sunset quickly approving. She was a young and healthy warrior, still in her prime, the journey to the Barn should have been quick. But Appledusk's vague directions to it hadn't proved useful at all. Now having to rely on her family's trail scent alone. At least she knew they had made it past the Thunderclan border without much trouble. Patrolling around the twoleg place had never been that good anyway. But despite that, here she was, being hunted down like helpless prey.
Deerdapple spoke again, "Does that mean the kits could be around here?". You wished. Mapleshade listened in carefully, holding her breath. A low rumble came from beyond the safety of fence, as a cat was growling to themselves, "Do you really think Oakstar did the right thing in exiling them? Frecklewish mentioned a flood almost drowned them the same night. That must be an omen of Starclan's disapproval.".
It felt like a mountain of boulders had collapsed on top of her. Out of every Thunderclan warrior, she could've encountered, it had to be him. Her traitorous mentor who supported her exile within a heartbeat. How could their moons of training together be so meaningless to him? Bloomheart was a father and mate himself, he should have understood! But of course he didn't, she thought cynically. She'd been too naive to admit it, but the moment she got pregnant with half-clan kits, she had a hidden fear of her former mentor. Bloomheart was always amongst those foxhearted Clan purists.
Quiet rustling came from the other side of the wooden sheet, as Deerdapple teared up grass from under her paws. "Leave those poor kits alone, Bloomheart. They've already been exiled, there's nothing left to do.", Deerdapple huffed. Mapleshade imagined the two Thunderclan warriors circling each other, tails spiking as tension grew.
"I just being wary - They're free to do whatever they like beyond our borders. Oakstar told them to leave one time - How can we be sure that's enough? ", Bloomheart argued, "Those Half-Clan kits are being raised by Appledusk, the same cat who killed my daughter, Flowerpaw. How can be guarantee our kits safety with those revengeful rogues around?"
Despite how much Mapleshade wanted to spring out and shout at Bloomheart, she used the squabbling to slip away. Mapleshade looked around at the small garden that surrounded her. Mouse-dang! She'd trapped herself. The whole patch of bright grass was closed-in by fences or red walls. The only way out was the way she came in, scaling the fence. She dug her claws deep into the bark, bending her back legs, preparing to make the leap. She licked her lips nervously, she had make this quick.
"Enough!", came Deerdapple's voice once more, "Oakstar only wants the kits in exile but nothing else. If you lay a claw on them, you will be reported.", the she-cat sternly warned. Mapleshade laid a single paw onto the fence, each heartbeat dragging on painfully slowly. From the other side of the fence the quarrel continued with Bloomheart rudely snorting, "You do that. I don't care. Let's just back to findi-". Mapleshade saw their shocked faces as she came into view ontop of the fence. The whole thing shook under her weight.
Instinctively, Nettlepaw scaled the fence to be at Mapleshade's level, his voice shaky, "What are you doing her-". Before he could finish, Mapleshade raked her claws hard across his jaw, sending him tumbling through the air. He landed awkwardly on his ground, groaning with pain. Even if he was an apprentice, he wouldn't stand in the way of the Queen and her kits. While Deerdappled rushed to Nettlepaw's side, while Bloomheart focused on Mapleshade, "That's my son, you foxheart!".
Twisting her whole body round, she sprinted down the fence ledge at full pelt. A hate-filled yowl came from Bloomheart as Mapleshade made it further away. While Bloomheart had the strength of a banger, Mapleshade had the climbing of a squirrel. Using her bushy tail to balance herself as she ran across the fence. It was as easy as running across a thick tree branch. The trees of Thunderclan quickly become long wielding fields of Twolegs farms as she neared the border. Ignoring, several dumbfounded kittypets watching her, as they lazed around in their gardens. Just a bit further. Then from the corner of her amber eye, came a fast moving pale grey shape, darting along side her from the bottom of the fence. A tom with a thick tabby markings and strong build. Bloomheart. His face was strewed up with raw determination as he recklessly charged after her. His breathing heavily as he struggled to keep up.
Using his own body as a log, the long-legged tom slammed into the fence with his flank. The whole fence violently trembled, making her lose her footing. She grabbed the sides with her claws as her back legs and tail dangled over the edge. Bloomheart sprang up, his teeth digging into her back leg. She cried out in pain. Both cats were spent tumbling down, hissing and spitting, right into a thick patch of stings nettles. She flailed out as she felt sharp pain all over her body as the nettles stung her from all directions. She was surrounded by sharp needle-like leaves, like nature itself was against her. Roots and stems tangled around her as she desperately tried to climb out. Completely ignoring the pain; Bloomheart tore through the nettle bush, relentlessly driving himself forward, his eyes blazing as he picked his way over to Mapleshade. She swiped the leaves out of her face, giving her room to breathe. Gathering the energy, she the gripped the earth, heaving herself forward. She gasped as she broke out from the nettle bush, rolling into the open air. Still covered in nettles that clung to her shredded fur.
However this worked to Bloomheart's advantage. She'd caused the branches of the bush to split like a torn ear, giving him a perfect way out. He quickly broke free and leapt high into the air, landing on top of Mapleshade. "I know you too well Mapleshade - I thought exile wouldn't be enough and here you are, attacking an apprentice! My son no less. ", Bloomheart spat as he clawed as her pelt. The ginger queen raised her paws to her face, protecting her most vulnerable areas.
Flipping her onto her back, Bloomheart pressed his claws into her neck, "I'm not letting you hurt anyone else so this is how it's going to work: Every time I catch your family trespassing, you'll leave with a permeant injury. So if you continue coming, sooner or later, you'll have too many injuries to survive. So this warning better sink in quickly."
Refusing to listen further, Mapleshade kicked out at full force. With Bloomheart knock over, she attacked a second time, blindly slashing out. Then she heard a sharp hiss of distress as her back paw meet flesh and bone. Twisting her head round, she saw Bloomheart flailing on the grass-covered ground, clawing at his own eyes. Three long claw marks ran across his muzzle, right up to his left eye. Mapleshade stared at him. The wounded eye was badly swallowed like rolling dark green hills at night. It oozed with streams of thick blood. "I-I-I…", the tom scattered, panic overwhelming him, "I can't- I can't see! I can't see out of my left eye!", he yelled out in terror.
Calming himself down with steady inhales, Bloomheart plunged his paw into a nearby dock patch, snapping a leaf off its stem. He pressed it against his bleeding eye in a vain attempt to save it. Even if Bloomheart had better herb knowledge than most warriors, it was pointless. Though Mapleshade couldn't stay to watch him try, as Nettlepaw and Deerdapple were catching up.
Hurrying to her paws, she began dashing towards the Twoleg farms again, leaving the shivering cat behind her. "Coward! Get back here and answer for what you've done.", Bloomheart shouted. Glancing back, Mapleshade noticed he'd pressed a dock leaf into his bleeding eye. Even if he had better herb knowledge then most warriors, she doubted
As Mapleshade ran, she felt a wave of anger move through her. If she didn't have a family to look out for, she'd be more then happy to prove him wrong. One day, she'd show that fox-heart that she was no coward.
She placed her nose to the rough gravel path again. This was where Appledusk's trail scent ended. Her ears pricked as she looked up the tall red two-leg nest. This must be it. This must the Barn.
It was as tall as a pine. The walls were made from strange smooth flat bark, like nothing you would find in a forest. She padded to the side of the Barn, trying to find a way inside. How did they get in? "Appledusk?", she called out to the Riverclan tom. Several moments passed, until eventually she spotted a cream head poke out from a well-hidden hole, next to a pile of logs. "I'm here!", he responded, running over to greet her. His eyes narrowing as he approved, "It's almost sunset, what happened with you?", he asked. Seeing that Mapleshade's fur was matted and covered in stinging nettles. "Nothing.", she lied, not wanting to make a situation out of it, "Just got stuck in a nettle bush on my way here.".
"Minnowbrain.", Appledusk muttered. Just before she could cuff him over the ear, she stiffened up as he began to pluck out the leaves from her fur. She quickly knocked him away with a kick, leaves still in his mouth, "I'm can do it myself. I'm not a kit.", she insisted. Appledusk spat the nettles out, all getting caught in a gentle breeze, scattering them. "Suit yourself.", he mewed. They both walked towards the entrance to the den, Mapleshade taking the lead as they neared. She ducked inside, eager to see her kits again.
Inside, all over the place, the same thing, mountains of dried yellow grass. Faint tapping sounds as tiny feet scurried across the bark floor, in the dark depths of the Barn. This place was plateful of prey. "Larchkit, Petalkit, I'm back!", she yelled out, knowing Patchkit was too sick to respond. Her voice echoing in the cave like space.
"We're here!", came her mother's voice, causing Mapleshade's eyes widen. Since when did Tulipfur get here? She rushed over, tracing the sound back to the left far corner of the Barn. She found Tulipfur laying out on the golden straw, Patchkit settled in her front of paws and Larchkit and Petalkit bouncing up and down on her flank. As Mapleshade came into their view, Larchkit and Petalkit immediately ran over. "Mother's back!", Petalkit yelled out in excitement. They torched noses as they reunited. Larchkit stepped back, puffing, "Why did you have to leave us with Appledusk? We don't like him!", the kit complained.
"He's your father, Larchkit. I'm sorry but you're just going to have to get use to him.", trying to explain to her son. Mapleshade's whiskers could sense Appledusk lingering in the far side of the Barn, hearing everything they were saying. He was keeping his distance as Tulipfur kept an eye on him. Clearly, she'd kept her word and had a talk with the cat that had broken her daughter's heart.
Mapleshade sat down, letting Larchkit and Petalkit to finally feed. She glanced down worriedly at Patchkit. He didn't seem any worse at least, still lying stiffly, breathing heavy. She turned her head up towards her mother, "It's good to see you but- How did you get here so quickly?", confused how her elderly mother beat her to the Barn. "Well it was easy; I went back to camp, said I needed sometime to clear my head after what happened you, no one questioned it and went straight here.", Tulipfur briefly explained, speeding through the story. "I could ask you, 'why were you so slow'?", Mapleshade's mother carried on, "But looking at the state of your pelt, it's obvious.".
Mapleshade grumbled. Did everyone have to point out her messy coat? After Petalkit and Larchkit finished, she settled down beside the cream and grey elder. "How is he?", she asked. Tulipfur shrugged while shaking her head, "It's mixed. One heartbeat he'll be boiling, the next, frozen solid. He's not getting any worse but you need to get him treated as soon as possible.".
Mapleshade began tearing at the golden grass under her paws, "I see.", she mewed. She rose to her paws again, "We might as well get going now then".
She called out to Larchkit and Petalkit, who were throwing up heaps of hay, trying to grab each individual strade. As the brother and sister came over, she began to give them clear intrusions, "Me and Appledusk are going to get Patchkit treated. So while we're gone, be sure to be nice to Tulipfur.".
Petalkit lowered her head in sadness, "You're going already?". She nodded. The brown kit jumped into her mother face, "Why? You just got here!", she complained.
Mapleshade licked Petalkit's check, trying to calm her down, "I know, I know. Things have been quite hectic these past few days, so I've had a lot to soft out. But everything will settle down again soon, I promise.". Petalkit just stayed wordless.
"Now, don't go outside, do as you're told and go to sleep on time, we'll be back before sunrise.", she mewed. Larchkit's ears flatten, annoyed at all the new rules being set. Mapleshade turned Tulipfur for the last time, "Thank you for doing this.", truthful gratefulness in her mew. Her mother just nodded, "Don't worry about us. Just focus on getting my Grandson cured.".
Mapleshade leaned down, gently taking Patchkit by the scruff, heaving him off his paws. He was limp and floppy, making him heavier than usual. "See you!", Larchkit called out as his mother walked away. She'd just hoped they'd make it back before sunrise, which was a big ask, as Highstones was a long way away. She found the dozing tom leaning on a small heap of yellow strew as bright as the sun. He snapped out of his sleepy state with Mapleshade approach. "We're going already?", Appledusk questioned, confused. Mapleshade nodded, not in the mood for conversion. They had a lot of traveling to do. Her mate reluctantly followed her across the Barn. "Are you sure we should be leaving so early? Shouldn't we rest a bit? What about food? You hadn't eaten anything since dawn.", he pointed out.
Her voice was muffled, talking while still carrying Patchkit, "Don't worry about me.", she ordered, "Worry about Patchkit. The sooner we catch up with Ravenwing, the sooner he'll be cured.".
Dusk had now settled over the landscape, purple and light blue clouds swirling above. The tall pointed rocks being bepthed in the fading light, being given a black tint. Her legs ached and hunger clawed at her stomach but she pressed on. Adrenaline pumping through her veins. This was an encounter she'd been waiting for. Appledusk trailed on behind her, heavy panting. Thunderclan territory was now nothing but a few rows of trees in the far distance. Patchkit tightened up into a ball, struggling against the harsh winds that blow against the rocky plains of the Highstones.
The group scrambled up a steep cliff side, shreds of grey stone trickling down with every slip. The earth here was darker, muddier and rougher than the ground in Thunderclan. The bare rocky surface of Highstones was dotted with patches of scrawny heather. For land blessed by Starclan, it was surprisingly barren. Only the toughest of plants could live here.
Mapleshade leapt another crack in the smooth boulders they were climbing over. The highest point they could reach, giving a clear view of the whole area. They landed with a jolt, making Patchkit groan. She heard a loud thud as Appledusk land clumsily next to her. A Riverclan cat up here was as good as a Windclan cat in water. She peered over the edge, the land rolling down into a sloop before going into a valley, the cliff walls touching the sky on both sides. She placed down Patchkit for the moment, trying to get her bearings. She'd been an apprentice since she last came here. Trying to track down a small black tom in this vast, quickly darkening landscape was almost impossible. Like trying to find a single star among the endless waves of glowing orbs in Starclan. Any scent left by Ravenwing would of been swept away by the raging fierce winds. Appledusk watched in silence as she gathered her thoughts. Trying to track him down would be a waste of time.
All they needed to do, was wait in place where they knew Ravenwing would have to pass through. Mothermouth was the obvious one but all the medicine cat would pass through there. The chances of getting spotted by an unwanted cat was too high. Yet again, she knew he would have to pass through Windclan territory to get here.
Mapleshade turned to the Windclan border, tail swishing. She stared hard at the large open pale green fields of Windclan, covered with heather and shifting grasses. "Let's head down towards the Windclan border.", she told Appledusk, picking up Patchkit again and leaping down from rock to rock. He groaned for a bit before hurrying after her. She edged across a long stretching fallen stone like a branch, leading towards another ledge. Appledusk decided another root, using nearby boulders like the stepping stone back in Riverclan, jumping across them with little effort. As they entered the bottom of the valley, the ground began to sprouted thorn bushes and small ancient, almost rotting, alder trees. Small glances of movements could be seen, as rabbits hopped among crevasses of the valley.
The sight of prey made her mouth water but she forced down the urge to hunt. No. Patchkit came first.
Mapleshade lead Appledusk to a flat stone ledge, covered with wiry heathered that twisted and grew around itself. The small platform gave them a good view of the grey slope that lined with a wide Thunderpath, with loud shining Monsters speeding under them. Laying down next to the heather and pressing Patchkit against her belly. She tried her best to warm him against the chilling night air. Appledusk reminded alert, standing tall on the flat stone as he took up the role of lookout. She closed her eyes, "Soon.", she muttered into Patchkit's ear. To her surprise, Patchkit stirred, opening his eyes to slits, clearly struggling. He gave his mother a smile, "I'm fine...", he mewed quietly. Appledusk's ears pricked, "Is he talking?", he exclaimed excitedly. "Get back to looking for Ravenwing!", she snapped. He obeyed, sniffing at the air. She curled protectively around her son.
By the time she'd opened her eyes again, the whole sky was a mockery dark blue. The horizon was skimmed with silverlight, as the tip of the moon edged into view. A sudden unnerved scent came over Appledusk, as he strung from his sitting position. "I see him!", he growled, "He's just crossed the Thunderpath.". At those words, Mapleshade immediately scrambled to her paws, heart pounding. "Let's go.", she spoke sharply, grabbing Patchkit and dashing down the jagged brown rocks. Sure enough, she could make out a solid black object moving up the northern part of the cliffside. Nothing but a thin shadow in these vast mountains. Thudnerclan scent lingered on the rippling breeze. That mouse-heart was going to pay for everything he'd done!
They advanced on him, like helpless prey. She leapt and scripted through the jagged rock field like one of the rabbits that lived here, not letting anything get in her way.
Getting closer, she could see the Medicine cat in more detail. His strolled up the slope side at a steady pace, his expression calm and muscles relaxed. The mouse-brained fool was still completely ignorant to the cats silently stroking him in the night. It wasn't until Appledusk came within several fox-lengths of the Ravenwing, did his shady blue eyes finally meet her flaring amber eyes. Ravenwing staggered back several paces, his tail bushing up in fear, "M-Mapleshade- Appledusk?", he staggered.
Appledusk sprang forward as Ravenwing tried making a ran for it. Using his weight, he slammed Ravenwing onto the hard stone ground, the air being forced from the black tom's lungs. Mapleshade placed down Patchkit onto a piece of dried heather. She felt something strange and new as she circled the pinned Ravenwing. He began begging, "Look, whatever you're planning on doing with me, it's not worth it. It'll just put your family in dan-". He immediately stopped as Mapleshade placed her long claws against his throat. "Now, listen carefully if you don't want your throat sliced opened.", she threatened. Ravenwing gulped and Appledusk's ear twitched.
Just then Appledusk raised his tail for silence, before opening his mouth to taste the air. His eyes peered down the sloping grey land. Mapleshade followed his line of sight and she spotted it. The faint outline of two cats dashing across the Thunderpath. The blazing eyes of a Monster speeding past them, illuminated the two cats; a young black and white she-cat and grey tom with splashes of black - The Riverclan medicine cats, Echopaw and Driftfur.
Mapleshade hissed to herself in irritation. Of course, Riverclan needed to cross Windclan territory to get to Highstones as well. The cover of darkness could only do so much, they could easily spotted out in the open if the Riverclan cats came any closer. "We can't stay here.", Mapleshade mewed quickly, picking up Patchkit again. Appledusk grabbed Ravenwing by his neck fur, forcing him to his paws. Then the cream tom knocked Ravenwing several paces with his flank, getting him to move. The two cats rounded up their prisoner, heading to a more sheltered area.
They lead him to an isolated rock hollow, surrounded on all sides by jagged peaks. Where no other cat could spot them. Dim weeds and moss grew among the cracks that climbed the walls and floor. The only way in and out, was the small gap between two large round boulders. Now it was only him and them, trapped with nowhere to hide.
Ravenwing padded into the center of the hollow, the fur running against his spine bristling. His pale underbelly tightening up in fear. Appledusk side-stepped, so his back was against the hole, blocking off any possible escape routes. Mapleshade's lips drew back to show gleaming thorn-like teeth, snarling. Ravenwing lowered to the floor, whimpering. "What do you want from me?", the tom uttered in quite yet tense voice. Mapleshade shifted round her body, using her tail to point out Patchkit leaning up against her front paws, "Something's wrong with Patchkit and you're going to fit it.", she instructed simply. "What?", Ravenwing asked, eyes widening.
"Check him!", Appledusk snapped angrily from the back of the hollow. The medicine cat slowly and nervously edged forward, his blue eyes constantly flickering up at Mapleshade, as if she going to bite his head off. Which she meant if he pushed it. Hesitantly, she allowed Ravenwing to get near her kit, his small pink nose poking through Patchkit's hot sticky fur. Ravenwing sat up, thoughtful.
"Well-", Mapleshade quickly getting impatient, "What's wrong with him?".
Ravenwing sadly shock his head, "It's not like any illness I've came across before. Has Patchkit experienced any extreme temperature changes recently?". Mapleshade's heart sank. It must of been when he fell into the freezing river. This was her fault! "Yes.", having to force herself to admit, "When he fell into the river, he was under there was good amount of time.".
Ravenwing looked up into night sky, grey clouds only letting the brightest of stars shine through. He mouthed several random herb names to himself, trying to figure out what to do. "I can try and use Feverfew to bring his temperature down.", he suggested, clearly doubtful of his own words.
"Where do you find it?!", Mapleshade demanded, standing up. Ravenwing jumped back in shock, "There's a stream running into Windclan territory.", he explained, "there might be some there but I'll have- to…", trailing off his words, not wanting to say it. Mapleshade narrowed her eyes. She didn't want to let him leave but if it was necessary to treat Patchkit, then so be it.
"Fine.", she puffed, turning to Appledusk, "Go with him. And if he tries anything, scar him. I'll stay and look after Patchkit.".
Appledusk agreed, moving aside so the entrance to the hollow was clear. "Come on.", he spoke harshly. Ravenwing did as he was told, padded over to the entrance, still slightly lowered to the ground. "Be quick!", she added as Ravenwing crouched down and slipped into the gloom of the short tunnel. As soon as Ravenwing's and Appledusk's tail tips disappeared round the corner, Mapleshade tacked her paws under, trying to get comfortable on the bare rock. Covering Patchkit with her tail. The moon had now raised high into the sky, giving the landscape a silver outline. Her tortoiseshell pelt almost glowing in the silverlight. Without Appledusk and Ravenwing there, an uneasy silence and stillness had came over the hollow. As if the world was holding its breath.
Then a swirling breeze disturbing the bushes that lined the top of the hollow. Making whispering like noises as if the valley itself was trying to talk, calling out to her. She began to wander how long it would be, until the Moonstone was hit by the moon's beam of light, bringing it to life as it glimmered with endless reflections of bright stars. Had all the other Medicine cats gathered in carven yet? Would they go looking for Ravenwing?
Then, as if it was destined to happen, her concerns were answered. Her ears pricked, as she heard the muffled voices of a passing conversion, coming from somewhere above her. Riverclan scent hang in the air. However it wasn't Appledusk's. Mapleshade rose to her paws, pressing herself and Patchkit against the far stone wall, continuing to listen carefully. The voices slowly become clearer as they neared, words beginning to string together like a spider's web. She could even picked up the scraping of rock as they walked over it. A she-cat was talking, a young one, "-He's definitely in the area. Let's just search a bit longer, please.". It must of been Echopaw, Riverclan's medicine cat apprentice. Mapleshade only faintly recognized the young apprentice's voice from gatherings. A gruff voice sounded as an elderly tom began scolding Echopaw, "We're wasting time! The Moonstone will light up soon.".
Echopaw and Driftfur. Did they spot her and Appledusk leading Ravenwing away? They couldn't have. They'd been all the way back at the Thunderpath. The overpowering acidy scent of the Thunderpath, would have blocked out any Thunderclan or Riverclan scent that had the chance of drifting down there. But that didn't matter anyway. They were dangerously close to finding her hiding spot.
The conversion casually continued, "But we can't let another Medicine cat miss the sharing of tongues with Starclan.", Echopaw complained. Mapleshade could pick up Driftfur's growing frustration with his apprentice, "It's Ravenwing's responsibility to get to the Moonstone on time, not ours. We shouldn't butt in with Thunderclan business anyway.". Yes, turn around and leave me and my family alone.
"Hey wait- Can I look in this one spot and if he's not there, we'll go.", Echopaw asked, awfully close. Panic began to surge through Mapleshade. She wasn't talking about the hollow entrance was she? "Fine quickly, but if you don't find anything, we are going.", Driftfur snorted. Why was he agreeing to this? She left Patchkit against the wall and leapt towards the entrance. She crouched down next to the tunnel and waiting. Her tailing began uncontrollably lashing, feeling ridiculously threatened by an apprentice of all cats. A grey nose was twitching in the murky gloom of tunnel as a cat moved through it. Suddenly a black and white head poked out, looking round the clearing.
Not giving Echopaw time to react, Mapleshade grabbed the apprentice's head with a single paw, slamming it onto the floor. "Hel-", Echopaw started but Mapleshade increased the pressure, driving her head into the ground even harder, sealing her jaw shut. Only being able to make quiet groaning noises. Mapleshade leaned forward, hissing into the she-cat's ear, making her warning loud and clear, "You saw nothing. Repeat it. You saw nothing.". She allowed the apprentice's jaw to loosen, her breathing was rapid as fear gripped her. But the apprentice kept a steady head, "I saw nothing…", she muttered, baring her fangs.
Mapleshade nodded, "That's right, you will tell no cat about this. Not even Driftfur. Now get out of here.", she spat, annoyed that Echopaw had the nerve to bare her teeth at her. Slowly, she unsheltered her claws from Echopaw's fur, letting her go. She began shuffling back, her fur pressed against the two boulders. Echopaw kept eye contact with the growling rouge as she disappeared into the blackness.
Mapleshade sighed with relief, sagging down into the floor. Patchkit was awake, having watched the whole scene, confused. Driftfur's words came from the other side of the high rocks, "Well, find anything?", he mewed, an edge of mockery in his voice. Echopaw staggered, "Ur- Nope, nothing. You were right.", she lied. Mapleshade grinned to herself. The apprentice was wise for her age. Wise enough to know that her threats weren't a bluff. "Told you, now let's get going.", Driftfur spoke. Their pawsteps soon fading away into the night. Her and Patchkit were safe.
It wouldn't be a while longer, until Ravenwing and Appledusk finally returned. The black tom seemed less on edge, then he was when he left. What Mapleshade didn't like. Ravenwing held a bunch of small white flowers between his teeth. Hopefully that would be the herb that would sort out this mess. He laid the Feverfew on the ground, pushing it towards her with his paw.
"Here.", he meowed calmly, "Get Patchkit to eat this. In one go if you can.".
Gently, she shook Patchkit, trying to get him to sit up. Grudgingly, he managed to pull himself up on shaky legs. Mapleshade showed him the small white flowers, "See these? These are going to make you better, all you need to do is swallow them.".
Patchkit stared down at the herb blankly for a long time until eventually nodding. She held the herb up to his mouth as he nibbled at the edge of the petals. "No, Patchkit.", she explained, "You need to try and eat it whole. Without chewing.". The kit groaned, leaning over again and taking the whole plant into his teeth. He was hesitant to swallow. "Come on.", she encouraged, "Just do it and get it over with.". With another pause, Patchkit tipped his head up, trying to force the herb down. However he quickly began choking, bringing it back up again. "Maybe you should let me try.", Ravenwing suggested, moving towards them. "No!", Mapleshade growled, making him keep his distance with a warning slash, "I'll do this.".
She placed her paw against his chin, making his head point upwards, allowing the herb to finally be swallowed. Patchkit collapsed to the floor, coughing. A worried father watched from the back, "Is he ok?".
Ravenwing shrugged at Appledusk, "Don't worry, most kits find it hard to take tough herbs like Feverfew.".
The herb began to worked quickly, Patchkit was now able to stand without her support and his breathing turned from raspy and hot to more steady and even. Mapleshade stepped away, giving her son some space, "How do you feel now?". Patchkit coughed a few more times, "Better at least.", he smiled, his voice still a little weak. Thank Starclan. She looked up to the stars gleaming down at them, imagining the shining warriors of Starclan looking down upon them. Not choosing Patchkit to be among their ranks tonight, allowing mercy for once.
"All this wasn't necessary, you know.", Ravenwing muttered behind. Her shot round to stare at him, tail lashing. "Do go on.", she challenged while growling. She expected him to back off but instead he held his head up proudly, preparing to speak his mind. Why wasn't he scared of her? Her stomach curled around itself, as she grew irritated. A full argument broke out between the two cats;
"If you'd just told me that Patchkit was sick, I would of happily gotten the Feverfew.", he pointed out, "Threatening me wasn't necessary.". Mapleshade felt outraged. What nonsense! "Oh please!", she shouted, "There was no way you would of helped Patchkit willingly.". The fur on the back of her neck spiked up like the jagged rocks of Highstones. Patchkit ducked under a nearby thorn bush, peeking out as his mother raged on. While Appledusk whispered annoyed words under his breath, Mapleshade couldn't catch.
"All the kits in Thunderclan are like kin to me, of course I would of helped him.", Ravenwing countered, "Despite what you think, I do care about him.". The black tom still managed to show no signs of aggression, while Mapleshade scrapped her claws against the grey surface under her paws. "If you really cared-", she muttered, "you wouldn't of gonna us exiled.".
"That wasn't my decision and you know it! As Medicine cat, it's my duty to tell my leader the truth. I didn't expect Oakstar to go as far as kick out innocent kits.", he argued.
"It still is your fault!", her throat being worn down by all the shouting, "Because of you, my kits will live as rogues, because of you, my kits won't ever have a future.".
Suddenly Ravenwing snapped, going into a full out rant, "Stop trying to put to the blame on other cats! When you know, it's your own fault! I wasn't the one who betrayed their clan and took another a mate from the enemy. I wasn't the one of lied to their own clanmates, used a dead cat's name for your own selfish gain and broke the hearts of Frecklewish and Oakstar. I don't agree with Oakstar exiling your kits, but I certainly agree with him in exiling yo-".
Mapleshade howled in rage, leaping forward, taking Ravenwing off his paws. She tore at his neck with her fangs, spending black shreds of fur everywhere. Ravenwing thrashed under her paws, yelling out in pain. "Mapleshade stop!", came her mate's voice, but the words were blocked out by the icy solid wall that now covered her mind, quickly fading away as if nothing had been said in the first place. Weakly, Ravenwing tried kicking out at her underbelly with his hide legs as a last effort, but his claws failed to draw blood. She felt numb in that moment. Like she wasn't in control anymore, her body just moved and she just said things, without wanting to.
Mapleshade spat in his face, showing her disgust for him. "Pathetic really.", she hissed, leaning over to meet his eyes clouding in terror, "Only 2 moons alone and you're already leaving Medicine cat role behind. I hope Oatspeckle is watching right now and seeing the truth about you, that you never deserved to call yourself a Medicine cat!". She didn't know why she was bothering to say anymore to him. He was a about to die and it was more than this pitiful lump of fur deserved.
The Medicine Cat spluttered and choked, writhing around on the floor as his neck oozed with streams of red. She just watched him for a heartbeat. Like a helpless rabbit about to become fresh-kill. Until finally ending his suffering with a clean slash to the throat. Her claws run with blood, as Ravenwing let out one final gasp before going limp, dead.
Appledusk just stared at that lifeless body of Ravenwing, speechless. Mapleshade stepped over the blood stained Ravenwing, padding over to the bush Patchkit was hiding in. He'd seen the whole thing. Patchkit was surrounded by spiky branches of the thorn bush, facing away from her. The kit was completely traumatized, crunched on the floor, shelving and whimpering. He violently flinched and uttering, "No.", as his mother grasped him by the back of the neck, raising off his paws, into the air. Turning around, she saw Appledusk standing over the body, fur on end and ears flattened. "Why did you have to do that?", his face disappearing into blackness as a large cloud passed over the moon, blocking out it's silverlight.
Mapleshade ignored him, heading over to the hollow entrance with Patchkit. Appledusk didn't stop, "Ravenwing did what we asked! He cured Patchkit. How could you kill a Medicine cat? Are you sick in the head?". She halted. Looking round to face the tom, "Don't pretend like you've never killed before. We're Clan Cats, it's just a harsh part of our lives.".
Appledusk flicked his tail over the body, slowly shaking his head, "Not like this.", he muttered, "Clan cats do it with honour, in battles, to defend our clanmates and territories. But this- this is just in cold blood, for pity revenge. This isn't what warriors do, it's what rogues do.", he hissed, his white fangs gleaming as the starlight reflected off of it. "That's cute.", Mapleshade mocked, heading back.
The long journey back to the Barn was traveled in dead hanging silence. Patchkit shivered in fear. While Appledusk stared at floor, his eyes blaring with a green flame. Exhaustion and hunger were starting overwhelm her, as she struggled to keep steady on her paws. Luckily, the large looming red shape of the Barn in the thick fog of the dark night. The shift in the air; from crisp and chilled to fresh and warm, told her that dawn slowly approached.
By the time they entered inside the gloomy towering insides of the Barn, Tulipfur immediately came over to the greet them. Mapleshade stood there unfocused and lifeless. Her head and tail drooping. "Oh, you poor thing.", Tulipfur whispered. Her mother took hold the dazing kit from Mapleshade and flicked her tail towards a large bundle of hay.
"Don't worry, I'll take care of Patchkit, you just get some sleep.", she took hard look at Appledusk, "Both of you, I guess.", she mewed reluctantly. Tulipfur softly placed Patchkit in a pile among his sister and brother. She didn't have to energy to argue or even say 'Thank you'. All she could do was pad over to the edge of a golden lining and fall into it in a giant heap. The straw was itchy, digging into her skin slightly. Feeling Appledusk lay next to her, fur pressing against her. His breath hot on her face. She couldn't even be bothered to push his away. Consciousness slipped away like trying holding clear water in your paws. A murky darkness forming over her sight. Within heartbeats, she gave into a deep yet restless sleep.
As she began came round, she found herself lying on a stiff back, her belly exposed and hollow of food. Glowing orange light surrounded her. Her nose twitched as she tried to make sense of the world around her, like a newborn kit opening their eyes for the first time. A scent was urging her to get up, something familiar. Not wasting time, she heaved herself up, feeling heavy, sluggish and dazed. She allowed her nose to guild her as her eyes still adjusted. The feeling of home coming over her. She blinked. A small chestnut brown plump mouse lay at her paws. Fresh too.
Smiling, she knelt down gratefully, starting to chew at slowly. The juicy taste of the meat filling her tongue. Mapleshade purred. Much better than Appledusk's frog. Then she spotted Tulipfur padded past her, more mice dangling from her jaw, "Enjoying it?", she asked. Mapleshade swallowed another mouthful, "Yes, thank you.". Tulipfur placed more mice at Mapleshade's side, "And you'll be getting more where that came from", she confirmed.
"I knew you still had the hunting instinct in you.", Mapleshade commented. Tulipfur nodded proudly, "And it will be for a long time to came. It takes a lot to bring down this old she-cat!". The two shared a purr of laughter.
Mapleshade grabbed the half-eaten mouse in her mouth, about to pad over to her kits but the lilac cat dashed forward, stopping her. "Don't worry.", like she always said. Her mother insisting her, "You'd been through alot, so just relax. I'll keep your kits in line.". Mapleshade shrugged, maybe it would be nice to have sometime to herself. Tulipfur turned and walked away, "It might be the last time I see them anyway.", she mewed sadly. Mapleshade's head hang lower.
Then she noticed the itchy texture in her fur. She twisted to see her back, it was covered in Appledusk's cream moulted hair in her ginger and black pelt. Gross. Then came his loud snoring as behind her as he slept. And there went the good mood…
The rest of the day was sent in a dreamlike daze. Tulipfur agreeing to staying until Sunhigh at least. They sent the next several hours relaxing on the endless layers hey as the Larchkit and Petalkit played. Patchkit is the corner, staring blankly at the wall. Mapleshade licked her lips with stratification, her belly bloated with the mouse. But Appledusk just grumpily complained that it wasn't fish. The walls of the barricaded any glimpse of sky, all sense of time lost.
Soon came the time for Tulipfur to leave. It came too soon. They touched noses and she was gone, just like that.
Mapleshade returned to the stake of hay at the front of the room, Patchkit and Appledsuk still glaring at her. Despite the blood being washed off a long time ago. She yawned. Moving away, to the far end of the Barn, into old of the damp shadow-fill corners. Sitting down, she closed her eyes in thought. This didn't feel right. Having this much prey with this little effort. Having no duties to do. Living in this type of isolation from the outside world. In this strange limbo, devoid of time. Getting the taste of damp, rotting wood, gave her a sudden desire to return; to a lush forest with low trees, with fresh rain water trickling from the branches, the sky covered by a green canopy but the sun always managing to shine through. She gritted her teeth. She wouldn't let her or her kits become kittypets.
"I'm going for some fresh air.", Mapleshade muttered as she passed Appledusk, not bothering to see his reaction. She slipped under the thick Barn wall, her belly scraping against the sharp sand. As she made it outside, she sucked up the frosty Leaf-fall air, filling her lungs. A pale sun flew up in the cloudless sky like some kind of elderly firefile, losing its glow. Mapleshade continued to sit there peacefully as a mild breeze steer the shaded farm lands around her, causing tall grasses and bushes to sway.
Her ears than pricked as her nose began to uncontrollably twitch like mouse's. There was a piney soft of scent lingering. Thunderclan? Her heart sank to her paws. Thunderclan!
In the far distance, outlines of different pelted cats moved across a dim field, straight towards the Barn at a steady speed, their features too blurred to name individuals. The large patrol was made up of half a dozen warriors at least. Panic began to surge through her; How they know they were here? They were already exiled, why were they still after them? This wasn't about Ravenwing was it? They couldn't of known about it so soon, could they?
Slamming the questions to the side of her head, Mapleshade took action. Springing to her paws, she stumbled to get under the swallow dip in the earth, trying desperately to get into the Barn, like a flailing rabbit trying to cowardly retreating into a barrow. Her legs flailed as she tried to get to grip on the ground. As soon as her claws hit the ground, she violently flung herself into the Barn, with a cloud of sand and grass. Larchkit and Petalkit stopped play fighting. Appledusk was immediately on his paws, rushing over. "What's going on?", he demanded. Mapleshade met his lime green gaze, breathing heavy with panic, "Thunderclan- Thunderclan! An entire patrol.", gasping for air slightly. Petalkit stepped forward, "Mommy, what's going on?", worry draining off her like sun-heated rain, turning to steam and rising into the air. "Petalkit, Larchkit and Parchkit! Stand there and don't move!", she mewed with a harsh tone, swiping her tail to a bare patch of stone on the floor, not covered with hay. The kits did as they were told, sitting on the stone in a tight bundle, shaking.
Appledusk froze for a heartbeat, before leaning forward, about to poke his head out, but Mapleshade grabbed him by the tail, yanking him away. He fell onto his side, making a strange grunt as he landed. "Don't give away out position!", she spat in his face.
"Like you didn't do that when you were getting your 'fresh air'.", he argued back. Mapleshade cuffed his over the ear, "Shut up.", she ordered. They might in be life or death situation, the last thing they needed was pretty bickering among themselves. She hurriedly looked round the Barn, trying to get her thoughts together. What should they do? It would suicide to try and stay and fight. Yet again if they tried and ran, would they be fast enough? With one of them having to carry two kits? Was there even time and an opening for i- The scent of Thunderclan was distinct now, a hounding noise coming from outside as a forest of paws struck against a gravel path and muffled anxious voices. The patrol was only a few tree-lengths away.
Mapleshade went for broke, going for the only thing she could think of in that split heartbeat. Scooping up a massive leap of hey, then slammed it down onto the entrance. Before jabbing it with her front paw, packing into the dip, making it denser. But it created nothing but a thin layer of grass, no thicker than a leaf, even light managing to get through. Appledusk just stood with a stupid flabbergasted look on his face. "Fill in the entrance with as much hay as possible, quickly!", she insisted. "That's our only way out!", he pointed out.
"And their only way in!", she remarked.
Appledusk bit back the irritation of being wrong, sped to the closet pile of towering golden grass. Mapleshade gripped a few grass blades between her claws, dragging them across the floor and shoving them into the thin barrier. Appledusk returned with a pathetically small mouthful of dried grass. As he dropped it onto the floor, Mapleshade's heartbeat rang in her ears with frustration, "Get more, a lot more!", she snapped, kicking him in the chest, so he stumbled towards the yellow mountains. This wasn't enough. They'd would notice the movement of shadows from inside the Barn at any moment. And at this point, one good shove would be enough for the entire thing to collapse. They needed more and fast.
Luckily, Appledusk came back again, this time with heap of hay as big as a log. That was more like it. Appledsuk shoved it into Mapleshade's paws, dashing back. She got back to work as well, using her experience building den walls, she weaved it between the other blades, like a spider's web. Tightly packing it in until it was as solid as a rock and as tangled as a nettle bush.
Suddenly, Mapleshade stopped, ears pricked. She held up her tail for Appledusk to halt. Just beyond the barrier, came the same voices, much closer this time. A growl formed as Oakstar spoke, dangerously close, "I thought you said the scent trail ended here?", sounding impatient. She gained a sudden urge to tear open the barrier and rip his face off. The one that had put her into this mess in the first place. Then came another tom's voice, Seedpelt, "It does, I swear, just give me a bit of time.". Puffing noise came from just a few mouse-lengths away, as a twitching noise smelted the air. Though the cracks in the yellow wall, Mapleshade could just make out a white and brown head, Seedpelt looking directly at her. They blinked, holding their breathe. Than Seedpelt twisted on the spot, yowling off his head like a sparrow. "Here, Oakstar! They're over here!", he shouted.
Without Mapleshade needing to tell him to, Appledusk ran. Damping the hey and scripting over to get more. She grabbed, forcibly jamming it, desperately trying to block the Thunderclan cats getting in. Shadows danced beyond the entrance, as more cats gathered round, with hurried voices, Mapleshade too frantic to make sense of. Another hey pile came. She slammed it in. Her front paws beginning to tire. She began to pant. No, it wasn't enough. "Mapleshade!", Oakstar rang, "We know you're there! If you have any honor left, came out and face us.", he voice booming, shaking the air itself. Mapleshade didn't bother responding, she just kept on piling on every scrap of hay she could in reach.
Despite, his mother's earlier orders, Larchkit left his brother's and sister's side and went over to his mother, "Let us help!". Mapleshade froze. Then she started hearing scraping noises of claws against diet, "Dig though.", Oakstar ordered. Every little bit helped. "Fine.", she mewed quickly, "Copy what's Appledusk doing!". Before turning away from the dark brown kit, starting to kick at the hey barrier with her back leg, trying to make more solid. The kits got to work, grabbing small mouthfuls of hay from round the Barn and taking it over. With the extra hay, progress was faster, making the barrier larger and larger. The shape of a warrior made her flinch. They'd already dug halfway through the barrier. This was serious.
Not caring anymore, she reach through the grass, outstretching it until she felt the warrior's head. She caught a glimpse of Seedpelt, giving her half-hearted growl as a retort. Her leg ached as it was stretched too far but she dug her claws into Seedpelt's head anyway. He staggered back a few paces to avoid the pain. Luckily, only one cat could hit in the entrance at time. They had that advantage at least. She doubted the laid back Seedpelt even cared about this whole situation.
Slowly, the family lost their basic system. Instead beginning to simply; to wildly charged back and through, damp as much as hay onto the growing pile and occasionally ramming into to make it more compact. Many attempts were made by the patrol to breach the Barrier but all failed. Both sides were now tiring. With Oakstar getting angrier and angrier. With his frustrated yowls and hisses filling the air, after every failure. The barrier was so paced, it was the size and strength of an ant hill now. Until eventually he decided to switch up tactics. Just as Mapleshade collapsed to the floor in exhaustion, Oakstar began to try to yell through the dried grass wall, his voice ridiculously muffled, "If you cooperate with us now. We'll only partially blind you and Appledusk.". Her kit's eyes widen in horror as they waited from afar.
She and Appledusk stared worried glances. Mapleshade tried getting up on shaky paws but failed, ending up crawling up to towards the wall and pressing her head against it, "So is exiling my entire family and ruining our lives, not enough for you?", she hissed through the wall. The wooden wall shifted very slightly as Oakstar leaned up against the same wall, his enraged scent draining from him. It was like venom to her nose. "We know what you did, Mapleshade! Darkstar told us. You killed Ravenwing and his death won't go unaveraged.". Darkstar? How could the Riverclan leader possibly know about Ravenwing? Then it struck her. Echopaw. She knew she should dealt with that pest of an apprentice more efficiently. Wishing she'd given Echopaw a good scatch or two, to drill in the message.
"And one of my warriors is half blind because of you as well.", he added, his anger starting to get the better of him as he started to scrap at the wall with his claws. He deserved it. Mapleshade secretly responded. Mapleshade quickly ran through the things she could say to the questions she could ask. She knew she had limited time before he lost his impatience for good. "How did you even track us down?", she asked.
"You're mother, Tulipfur. Took us awhile but she eventually confessed.", Oakstar ruffled slyly. Mapleshade felt like her all legs had turned to twigs, she could barely stand. Being choked by an invisible cat. She finally snapped out of the confused daze, "What have you done to Tulipfur?!", she demanded. "We haven't hurt her, If that you're thinking.", Oakstar insured, "But it's your fault that she'll been spending the rest of her life confined to the Elder's den." , he snapped like an enraged banger, a hint of guilt in his voice for a heartbeat. Mapleshade's heart became stone and hollow. She wouldn't be able to visit her father's grave anymore. The flowers couldn't be left to rot, it was a mockery of Dullface's name.
"You'll never touch me, Oakstar. No matter what you do!", she muttered, turning her back to the wall and padding away. Tulipfur would want her to be stronger. And she wasn't going to disappoint. He wasn't worth anymore. None of those low-lifes were. If they either wanted to forget about her or to kill her. Fine, she didn't care. She was too good for them. She stared at them; Larchkit, Patchkit, Petalkit and Appledusk. Those were the only cats that mattered now. No one was going to get in their way. No was going to get close to them and get away with it. They'd be better than any Clan cat.
Oakstar's howl out a cry of uttered rage, as loud and as piercing as a Owl's screech ringing throughout a dark forest.
He then began addressing his warriors, "We're wasted enough time here. Let's get back to camp". It was the songs of Starclan in Mapleshade's ears, letting off a massive sigh of relief.
But then that crumbled when Oakstar muttered his next orders, "Seedpelt, Trushtalon, you two stay here. You're on guard duty, they'll have to come out eventually.". Then was shifting of gravel and loose stones as Oakstar twisted round, "Don't think this is over, Mapleshade!", he called, "Ravenwing won't go, unaveraged.". The shuffling of paws, that slowly faded away as the patrol set off, walking further and further away.
And so it went on like this several hours, dragging on and on. The kits finding it harder and harder to entertain themselves at the back of the Barn. The shift in the air was the only sign that night was beginning to set in. They'd been in this confined Two-leg nest for an entire day. Mapleshade dropped on top of the barrier, feeling like an hollow trunk, struggling not to let sleep over come here. Appledusk loomed over to her like a bad smell, "Are they still there?", he asked for the third time to in a row. She tasted the air, the tangy smell of Thunderclan meeting her nose. "Yes.", she muttered, annoyed. How much longer, she began to wonder. If they were trying to starve them to death, it wouldn't work, they had a steady supply of mice to last them moons.
She was even starting to hate the Barn air; this stuffy, heavy, thick, humid air. It was horrible to breathe.
Appledusk eyes narrowed, beginning to scrap at the first few layers of the hay pile they'd created. "What are you doing?", she snapped, wondering why in the name of Starclan he was tearing down the only thing keeping them safe. His gaze gleamed with a bright and determined spark, "Let me check out there at least once. Oakstar only said 'Seedpelt and Trushtalon' to guard. That'll be two on two. We could take them.", he suggested. If he'd said this earlier, she would've called him 'mousebrained' but by this point, she was getting desperate.
However that didn't stop her doubting his words, "How? An entire Thunderclan patrol couldn't break through here. What are you, a Windclan tunneler?". Appledusk shrugged, having more confidence then he should, "I won't be having to dig through extra layers added every heartbeat. Trust me, I swim underwater every day, how much different can hay be?". Before she could stop him, he padded on the center of the barrier. Drawing his claws to full length, he began pulling heaps of golden grass, throwing aside in the massive clouds. It began raining down with yellow grass blades.
In no time, Appledusk had managed to make a shallow tunnel, chucking more hay behind him like a rabbit. Mapleshade lay crouched at the tunnel entrance, tail swaying. "If they're still there, come straight back.", she warned. If they were, she'd know how to deal with them. The creamy shape of Appledusk slowly become smaller and smaller as made it through the large barrier, the cycling of the tunnel managing to hold. Appledusk came to a halt, before then jabbing the hay with a front paw, hard. The wall in front of him collapsed, letting a beam of moonlight shine through. It made her smile for a quick moment to see the outside again. Cautiously, Appledusk crept out into the night's chip's air, looking around. He then stepped to the side, out of view for a moment. Abruptly, there was a mass of sharp sounds, hissing, and yowling.
Appledusk leapt back into view, locked in combat with Seedpelt. The two cats rolled over each other, with Seedpelt trying to bite down into her mate's neck. Mapleshade's fur spiked and tail lashed. Luckily, Appledusk managed to get a grip on the warrior's underbelly, flinging him off with his back legs. As soon as he was free, he instantly dived into the tunnel, flailing slightly in panic. But Thrushpelt and Seedpelt were hot in pursuit.
With Thrushpelt only a rabbit-length's away from Appledusk's boney tail. As soon as Appledusk reached the Barn, he threw himself out, rolling. With Appledusk out the way, she immediately leapt into the air, slamming down onto the hay pile with all her weight. The tunnel quickly gave way under the pressure. Like a cave in, clumps of golden grass began falling onto the two Thunderclan cats. Their cries of terror being cut off as they were buried alive. The cats around the Barn didn't bare move for a few good heartbeats.
Then a terrified kit's voice came from be behind her, "How could you kill more cats?!", Patchkit whaled out. Mapleshade calmly turned to her son, "It's hay, Patchkit. It won't kill them.", she explained. Patchkit fell silent. A growl of anger formed in Mapleshade's throat, they're were in an even worse position now. The Hay pile could only keep them trapped for so long, when they finally managed to dig their way out.
Then they would be trapped inside with the two Thunderclan warriors, with nowhere to go and three kits to defend.
Then there was a large crashing sound coming the far counter of the Barn. A strange black and white tom with a brown collar looked around the barn, confused. "Tulipfur? Are you alrig-", he called out but he was cut off when he noticed the strangers standing in front of him. "Who are you?", Appledusk growled. An enraged Mapleshade dashed straight for kittypet before he could reply to Appledusk. She rammed into him, tackling him to the ground and placing her paws on his chest and neck. Pinning him down. "How do you know Tulipfur? How did you get in here, kittypet?!", she demanded.
However Petalkit grabbed onto her tail, "Mum, stop! Myler on our side. Tulipfur allowed him to play with us while you were out with Patchkit!", she explained while shouting. Mapleshade held back a growl, hating the idea of her kits being allowed to mix with a kittypet. She was resistant at first but she eventually she stood aside, "Get up.", she instructed the kittypet. Myler quickly shuffled to his paws, bowing his head politely. At least he knew to respect Clan born cats. "Sorry for coming uninvited like that. I heard the hissing and I thought something had happened.".
Mapleshade was about to speak, but before she could, Appledusk barged past, going nose to nose with Myler, "Wait. If you got in- You can get us out.", he mewed excitedly. Then it hit Mapleshade, then she stepped forward, "How did you get in?", she demanded.
The kittypet staggered back a few paces, in surprise but soon shrugged and flicked his tail towards the left top corner of the Barn. It took a lot of squinting and heartbeats, but eventually, Mapleshade managed to spot the tiny slit in the bark wall, serval fox-lengths off the ground. It was next to one those darker brown lines in the wall, that stuck out slightly to make a narrow ledge. "Sure.", Mapleshade snorted, "We'll just head up there as soon as we sprout wings.".
Larchkit jumped excitedly in front of her, his tail hooked at end with determination, "Oh no, Mum. You don't need wings. Myler showed us how to do, come on!", before she could stop him, the over adventurous kit began scaling up the largest mountain of hay in the entire Barn. He looked like a chestnut coloured cricket bouncing wildly among the golden grass. She twisted to face Myler, what had he'd be teaching her kits? But a pale brown tail lay on her chest, blocking her. Appledusk slowly shock his head. Mapleshade just scoffed, storming off. One by one the family started follow Larchkit up the mountain of hay. The Queen leaned over, but before she could grab Patchkit, he jerked. "No!", the tom squeaked like a mouse, "I'm not letting you carry me, I can do it myself.".
The male kit then stomped off in a puff, after the rest of the group. Mapleshade followed on behind, speechless.
When she'd reached the top of the grass mountain, she warily test the platform's surface, scraping her twisting claws against it. Seemed like to be made of some kind of wood. She struggled to find words to describe it, it was either a very thick square branch or twolegs had somehow leant to makes logs float in midair. Either way, they were everywhere attached to the roof of the Barn, crisscrossing.
A groaning noise was the only thing that took her away from her confused state. Like the fish he hunted, Appledusk flopped up the hay stack, tripping as he went. Wanting to just get out of this Barn, she grabbed him by the scruff, struggling under his massive weight, flinging him over the ledge. She neatly leapt on over him, as moaned to himself and continued on creeping the bark ledge. For cats their size, it was easy for them with the kits already at the end, waiting with Myler at the small slit. A dim moonlight beam, reflected off the damp surface of the bark, turning into a pale grey. Taking the lead, moving past everyone else, Mapleshade stuck her head out into the fresh night air, taking in the moment of freedom from suffocating atmosphere of the Barn. If was as if she'd surfaced after being trapped under the murky surface of a river. Then one look down, she saw the steer drop below her.
"Can we jump down there?", Larchkit asked from behind her, his ears twitching. "No.", she immediately responded, grabbing the kit before he could do anything stupid. Larchkit just let out a squeal of irritation. This jump would hard enough for adult cats let alone kits. With one last sigh, she bent her legs and launched herself down. The wind swept past her face, causing her face fur to flatter like a desperate pigeon trying to avoid the snapping jaws of a fox. Suddenly her paws meet the ground; the air was forced from her lungs, her legs snapped like twigs as she fell over and the blood rang in her ear tips. Larchkit has knocked away from her grip, sending him scribbling across the dirt floor. They were finally outside. Groaning slightly, Mapleshade rose to her paws, looking over to Larchkit, shaking the specks of earth from his dark pelt. "I could of jumped myself, you know.", he boosted. He was fine.
Appledusk and Myler followed, falling like pebbles. Her mate tripped like her, making Patchkit fly off. While Myler, with clear experience, neatly landed on all fours, only giving off a slight grunt of pain. As soon as Mapleshade made eye contact with the unwelcome ally, Myler knew to drop Petalkit away from him. Straightening himself up a bit, the Riverclan tom turned to the kittypet, curiosity making his nose twitch like a rabbit's, "How do you even find that tiny hole in the roof?", he questioned.
"This Barn was kind of mine before- well before you lot took resistance there.", he joked, bursting out into a fit of purring laughter at his own joke. A blazing fire crept down into Mapleshade' tongue.
"Enough!", she snapped, Myler's laughter trailed off to an awkward silence. She turned to Appledusk, "More Thunderclan cats could show up at any heartbeat, we need to go now.".
They were nothing but fasting moving black outlines against the cloudy night sky, devoid of all stars. Mapleshade and Appledusk sped across the flat dull farmland field, their kits holding on tightly as they ran with the speed of foxes. They needed to get as far away as possible. They ran and ran, not stopping until the Barn was nothing but a small red bot against this massive landscape of grasslands and strong standing twoleg nests. Gradually, coming to a complete halt at the border of one of the endless farms. She left Petalkit on the upturned muddy soil, trying to catch to her breathe.
Instead of scent marks, the Twoleg seemed to mark their borders with fences instead but this was a type she'd never seen before; It was serval fox-lengths high with weird silver vines that coiled round each other like a web, supports by smooth shiny black sticks, with scrawny dried weeds the only plants able to grow there. They couldn't be climbed like the usual fences made of bark, they would need to find a crack or hole
to get though. Giving into the exhausted she leaned up against stumpy tree.
Appledusk soon joined at the tree, letting Patchkit and Larchkit to ground. He tried to mew while his breath was heavy with panting, "Shouldn't we go further?". Mapleshade glanced over to the Barn in the far distance, nothing but a red speck. Thunderclan territory was almost non-existence in her line of sight, a very thin green line of the horizon. She closed her eyes, "It's going to take awhile for Trushtalon and Seedpelt to get from of the hay and get back to camp.", she pointed out.".
Appledusk rolled his eyes, still thinking he's right, "You can never be too safe you know.".
Mapleshade wasn't done though, "But it'll take even longer for them to track our scents all the way out here.", she tried to then insure the paranoid cat, "We're fine for tonight. We'll get traveling done tomorrow." . He just sighed, before nodding.
Pleased to have Appledusk's complaining out the way, she padded over to her kits, they blinked as they looked around the strange new environment. Skimming over the nearby undergrowth, she looked for a place to sleep. Petalkit muttered into her mother's ear, "When can we see Myler again?", she asked. "Hopefully never.", she sneered, carrying on with her search for shelter. "Mapleshade, don't say that to a kit!", Appledusk exclaimed.
Trying to ignore the annoying comments coming at her at every direction, she slipped away nearer to the Undergrowth next to the fence. However all the undergrowth was too low and tangled to climb into to sleep in. She growled to herself.
Just then a familiar scent insanity put her on edge, including Appledusk. A nearby Thunderclan scent. Her kits quickly pick up on their parents aggression, banding together and watching intensely. Suddenly came a darting grey fur at her left, rushing straight towards her kits! Before she could fully react and stop him, Bloomheart launched at the three kits. Why had he come here? Was this the same cat she once knew? Grabbing the nearest kit to him, Petalkit was forced into snappy wild jaws, she screamed out with a mix of terror and pain. Bloomheart trashed the helpless kit violently, like a massive two-leg with a piece of prey.
As she stumbled to save her daughter, she felt like she had the whole strength of Starclan on her side. Like a badger, she pounded Bloomheart into submission with her front paws. A blood-soaked Petalkit was thrown to the floor, with deep teeth marks on the back of her neck. Appledusk moved into to help Mapleshade, but she spat at him while struggling to keep Bloomheart from recovering, "Protect the kits, you mousebrain, not me!".
Under her paws, Bloomheart gathered his strength and dug his back legs into her underbelly. "You've destroyed my future!", he yowled into her face. She could only gasp as she was flipped onto her back. Already grabbing his chance, Bloomheart hurried to his paws. Before he could do anything more, Mapleshade grabbed his lashing tail with needle teeth, yanking him towards her. Leaving traces of blood. The savage staggered against the flurry of front blows against his muzzle.
In that heartbeat, she noticed the three fresh scars creeping up his face, ending with a blind eye. That wouldn't be the only scars he'd be getting tonight, if they weren't enough to kill him. How dare her mentor attack her! In her fit of rage, she become unfocused and clumsily, leading to sloppy attacks. The siamese tom quickly managed to duck under the next paw swipe, leaping at the opening.
Both were sent to the floor, hissing. They were now in a storm of endless teeth and claws as neither of them refused to break. The amount of hated that blazed in his eyes and edged his voice was ridiculous. She began to question if this was even a Clan cat she was fighting. The well-being of her kits took her away from the battle slightly, as Bloomheart clawed to get through her paws covering her face. Luckily, Appledusk stood over them, tail lashing. He was struggling to not to leap into the fight. Only there when she needed him.
Knowing they were safe, allowed Mapleshade to focus on tearing Bloomheart to scraps. Breaking away from his slashing range, rearing up onto her hind legs, about to bring down her paw to batter his head. However Bloomheart swept his leg under her, causing her to crash to the ground. He moved quickly, pressing his foot into her exposed stomach and dig his claws deep into her throat. She choked as he went deeper and deeper until his claws were up against her windpipe. She stopped resisting. Bloomheart leaned down and spat into her face, his rotting breathe in her nostrils, "You've always been like this, Mapleshade - Never thinking of the consequences. Because of Ravenwing's murder and my injury, Oakstar shoved me into the Medicine den. Because of you, my family can't a second litter. Nettlepaw will grow up without siblings!.
What nonsense was he spouting now? How could any cat possibly predict that? Mapleshade fought through the pain of the claws inside her flesh and growled back at him, "Don't blame me for your stupid eye! You attacked me first - A Queen!".
On Bloomheart's face a crooked scowl grew like a weed, "You were never a respected Queen in the first place. Your crimes brought an evil cat's spawn into this world.", drawing in his claws deeper now.
Appledusk bared his long white fangs in an enraged snarl, "Get off her and leave my family alone, foxheart!", he demanded. As Bloomheart attention turned to the other tom, she felt the pressure on her neck soften slightly. "And don't think I've forgotten about you, murderer.", he whispered dangerously, "Don't talk to me about families when you took Flowerpaw away from me."
Appledusk staggered back, but steadily gained his composure. "I swear on my life, I'd never kill an apprentice on purpose. It was an accident. But how can you justify dragging an innocent kit into this? You're just branded yourself with the title of murderer as well.". He whipped his tail towards the battered kit, partly breathing under the layers of dried blood and shredded fur.
At Appledusk's accusation, Bloomheart recoiled with disgusted, "Those creatures ain't kits! They're a prophesied evil, who will become murderers like their parents. If have to take Ravenwing's place in Starclan's plan, I'll do it as a warrior, not a Medicine cat!"
While Bloomheart was distracted rambling, Mapleshade grabbed her slim chance. Chomping down on Bloomheart's leg, made him jerk away in shock. Keeping up the assault, she drove him off his paws by landing heavy on his back. She then placed her fangs round his neck. He lashed out with flailing paws but none worked to knock her away. All she had to do was tighten her grip on his neck and he would dea- "Mum, don't!", cried out Patchkit.
All turned to the tiny ginger and white kit with black speckles, "You can't kill another cat, it's bad. Tell her, Dad. Tell her it's bad.", turning to Appledusk for back up. The tom seemed to be taken back slightly, being called 'Dad' the first time but he quickly snapped out of it and responded, glancing at the bleeding Petalkit under his paws, "I'm sorry, Patchkit. But I don't know if a kit-killer is redeemable.", he bitterly growled.
Larchkit's angrily swiped at the air as he stood over his injured his sister, he faced his brother, "He did his to our sister.", anger gripping him, he turned to his mother, "Do it, Mum! Kill him!". Mapleshade's stomach curled up with disgust, her legs betraying her going shaky and weak. In desperation, Bloomheart landed a direct front slash over her nose, making her taste the diet under her as she fell. Appledusk yowled a warning. Free from her grip, she expected the scarred tom to instantly leap towards her kits however he ended up twisting on his heel and rushing off without another word. His dull fur merging into the black void of the night.
Glancing at Petalkit's deep wounds, Mapleshade thought she'd collapse from the stress. How could they possibly save her with injuries like that? She'd already killed Ravenwing, the other Medicine cats would run away from her on sight. Warping Petalkit in her paws, the desperate mother pitifully tried washing away the blood. "Mapleshade-", Appledusk began.
"What?", Mapleshade snapped in fury - The last voice she needed to be hearing right now was that faithless tom's. Taken aback, Appledusk steadied his breathing, determation sparking in his green gaze, "We have to ask Myler for help. Twolegs are known for having powerful herbs."
Her fur instantly bristled. The black and white tom had already influence her kits enough with his kittypet softness. Yet for the sake of keeping Petalkit alive, even Mapleshade wasn't stupid enough to decline. Giving Appledusk a single nod, she gently lifted Petalkit, barely breathing. Appledusk's tasted the air to pick up Myler's disgusting scent and flicked his tail for them to follow. Patchkit and Larchkit scrabbled at their father's paws, but Mapleshade gave them a muffled call, which they miserably obeyed. If Petalkit's life was endangered, she's want her sons at her side, not the faithless tom's.
