Mapleshade held the panting down, sealing her mouth shut. She stalked quietly through the dense brush, thorns and nettles tearing at her already torn pelt, like claws. Pricking undergrowth surrounded her on all sides, like enclosing green cave, dim dreams of light narrowly breaking through the tiny slits among the ceiling of leaves. Beyond the leafy cover, the loud gushing loud of rushing water as she followed the gorge river. Spreading her weight evenly across her paws, she slipped under another bracken brach, trying to not make a sound. Her were tufted ears pricked and nostrils flared at every heartbeat, always on edge from the hoovering danger of a Riverclan patrol, feeling like helpless prey. Yet her fear was unwarranted, she'd was far past any Riverclan scent marks.
She shouldn't have put it past Appledusk to be hoovering around his old home like a pestering fly. Even after everything his clanmates had to do to him and his kits, the daft tom still flocked to the rivers, letting native nostalgia blind him. Her son and old mate's stale scent had brought her far up the gorge river. This far north up its banks meant it wasn't really inside a gorge anymore, instead the banks were more like small pebbly beaches, allowing the river to stretch out, now much wider. Yet somehow, it was much deader than further upstream as it burrowed it's way into Riverclan territory. The current was dragged along even faster as it approached the sheer drop off a tall cliff, to create a mighty waterfall. Which Mapleshade stared at in astonishment.
The torment of flowing water must have been height of the tallest of pines, endless foam and bubbles hissing at its base. And the roar it made was deafening. Despite wanting to wonder at it some more like a kit, she forced herself on, she came here for a far more important reason then sightseeing. If Bloomheart hadn't gone for Petal to avenge his mate, then that only left Patchkit and Appledusk. Luckily for her, smooth slabs on stone lay on the cliffside, making for an easy way up. Though annoyingly, it seemed to have been carved by Twolegs, that same shiny stone used to silver poles at the edge of each slab, probably so no overexcited twoleg kit went careening off the side. But Mapleshade reluctantly accepted the help of their structure, in a race against time.
As she stumbled the last of the way, up to the top, a small woodland come into view, wide spaces between the stumpy trees. Yet somehow, despite it being leafbare, the grass still glowed a bright green. Thick hedges bordered this sides of the field, not enough undergrowth for a flushing Thunderclan cat. Deciding to remain safe, she entered the maze of the jagged stones that lined the river's edge, smooth under the paw and creamy in colour. At last, the burden woodland made way for a long stretching patch of reeds, dead logs sticking out the ground like brown fangs. The tree surrenders to marshes, filled with dried bracken and moss covering the stony ground. Like a mix of Windclan and Riverclan territory. Finally the first sign of life, serval old fish bones scattered by the water's edge. Relief flooded over her, when scents lingering in the air were familiar, a strange mix of Thunderclan and Riverclan, even a bit of rouge forming.
Hissing to herself, Mapleshade considered ways to stop their pure scents from being corrupted, Petal was already a lost cause, unsure if she felt guilty or happy after ripping out her eye. The only one left was Patchkit, to fulfil her dreams of becoming the ultimate Clan cats. There were plenty of useless lumps of fur to kill off pests like mice and birds, but where was the pest control for cats? They would be the predators of cats, killing anyone who dared threatened them.
Following the trial, the signs of life only continued to grow, more bones and more scents, fresh and old alike. "Dad!", a familiar voice suddenly whaled out. Instantly, Mapleshade's head flung from the ground, searching the nearby shorelines. Sure enough, there was a large crashing of water as two cats plummeted into the deep waters.
Then relief flooded over her as the two cats resurfaced, a pale brown and Calcio head bobbing in the water, both failing to notice her yet from behind the wall of reeds. Irritation made her whiskers twitch, on how far they'd fallen since their days with her. They shouldn't let their guard ever, she hadn't even disguised her scent. If she were Bloomheart, then she could have easily snatched up Patchkit in the blink of an eye. The kit scrambled up the protruding stones, his pelt drooping with water, making him look like a long-hair cat. He perched on a narrow ledge, shelving, feeling sorry for himself. Without shouting, any words were impossible to make out from this distance, as the father and son continued to joke and laugh with each other.
Having enough, she strolled out of the reeds, walking alongside the bank towards them. The first to spot her was Patchkit, with Appledusk quickly following. Their faces twisting with a whole storm of emotions. Then Appledusk plunged out of the river with a massive splash, standing his ground, hissing, "Go away!", he ordered. Mapleshade should of expected this from her mousebrained former mate. Mapleshade taking another step closer anyway. Yet, Patchkit joined his father's side, tail flaring up like a fern branch. "Leave before someone gets hurt!".
Mapleshade halted, gasping. Confusion swirling her mind, blurring her vision. How could they treat her like this? "I'm your mother, Patchkit!", she exclaimed loudly, a tree-length between them, "Or have you forgotten that?".
Patchkit's eyes widen, seemly unable to answer, shuffling serval paces back, nervous. Was the kit just confused? Before she starts to approach again, Appledusk placed a tail between her and Patchkit, hissing twice as loud as before. Mapleshade's claws scraped against the bare rock, making a sharp screeching noise. Appledusk couldn't do this! "Patchkit my son as well, Appledusk. You can't keep me away from him!".
"His name is Patchpaw now and Yes I can.", the bitter tom retorted, "If you're willing to kill me, then I can't trust you with our kits either.". There was a pause, as his green eyes flicked wildly among the landscape, as if desperately searching for something. "Where's Larchkit?", he demanded.
Mapleshade flinched, her weakness threatening to be exposed, that she hadn't been able to control her last obedient son. "He's joined Shadowclan.", she finally forced herself to admit. Patchpaw and Appledusk shared weary glances, all too aware of the treatment the Clans gave to half-clan cats. Eventually, Appledusk shrugged, "Well-.", he muttered, "At least he's finally away from you.". Mapleshade felt like her whole body was freezing over, slowly turning to ice, in complete disbelief. Each that came out of Appledusk's mouth was like a sharp icicle, stabbing her. Where those really cats she'd once knew? The cat she'd once loved and the cat she'd given birth to? She felt hollow inside. Not realizing, she still hadn't done what she comes to do.
"Have you seen Bloomheart recently?", she mumbled, half-heartedly. From on top of the rocks, Appledusk immediately stiffen up, "Him again?", he growled, "What's he doing now?". From behind him, Patchpaw shrivelled up like a rotting berry, probably getting haunting flashbacks to the cat the had tried to kill each one of his siblings, him being the only one that had yet to get his teeth around.
"I think he's going after us again after I killed his mate.", she replied, almost whispering.
At those words, Appledusk's burst into a fit of snarling and clawing the earth under his paws, like a raging badger. But that was nothing compared to the utter hatred that exploded in the innocent Patchpaw. Tearing Appledusk's tail aside like a piece of frail grass, he stampeded towards her, fur blazing like a wildfire and eyes narrowed to a snake's. Mapleshade shook in her pelt. Who was this cat? "Murderer!", he howled, snapping her. Mapleshade stumbled back, shaking. "Get out! Just leave, we don't want you here!". Mapleshade's heart turned to stone, motionless like stone, in absolute horror.
In the background, Appledusk casually dipped his head, "You heard the kit - Leave.".
She stumbled aimlessly, into trees, maybe some bushes as well, covered in thick sheets of shadow, frantic.
Wildly, she began to pace around the narrow clearing, her mind reeling.
Movement in corners of her fierce red eyes.
Were the trees growing around her, were they enclosing on in on her?
Halting, she twisted, growling, expecting someone to be there. A flicker of light. Was that someone? Rearing up onto her hind legs, she brought down her whole weight onto the bush, pounding it with all her might. Yet, the leaves just rustled. Nothing. There wasn't anyone there? There had to be someone there.
No, there wasn't. Was there? There couldn't be. Why would anyone want to go after this worthless lump of bones and flesh? A stain. Only taking up space, it that was she was?
No one- Nobody- Not even the moles that burrow beneath the mud and diet would want her. She was below it. Wasn't she?
Was that they thought of her, a piece of crow-food to be buried under the earth, to be forgotten? Everything and everyone has done that to her! Even the Siamese rouge. Why hadn't he killed her? Wasn't she worthy prey? Was she not worth his time? Why hadn't he gone after her kits yet?
A presence hooved above her, just out of reach. A green den, filled with warm light, birds singing, cosy soft moss, three bundles of homeless fur at her swollen belly, the sweetest of scents. Their round young faces, filled with wonder as they explored the big wide world, so ignorant to the nightmares that lay within.
But those weren't their faces. They weren't the kits she knew.
Their faces were enraged, bitter, blank, pity, terrified-
Not her kits. Those weren't her kits. Her kits were the ones that wouldn't judge her, the ones that would see the spark of light in her no matter what she did. No matter how many times her paws were stained red.
Strangely, she didn't seem to move anymore. Not standing anymore either. Laying down?
What is she doing now? What was it she felt? Hopeless? Hollow? Was she just going to stay here, die and rot away?
Her Heartbeat pounding- beating of a crow's tattered wings as it set off into the black skies- Wind rustling the dead leaves- snuffling as a mouse under a withered bush searched in vain for a life-giving nut - a kit's voice- his voice - Patchkit's younger voice like honey - "I never want to leave you."
Split like toxic venom drilled down the side of her hanging mouth. You'd leave me, you said... Liar! Snakeheart! Traitor!
Those things weren't her kits anymore. She was their mother. She created them. She gave them flesh and bone, She gave them the right to live and she should have the right to take it away.
They should have drowned back in that raging river all those moons ago! At least, then, they'd still be hers. They'd be her kits, no one else's.
She twisted around. If she lost those ones, no matter. She'd get a new one. A new, fresh start.
A gentle pattern of leaves, like raindrops, dripped onto the forest floor. Rain. Water. Streams. Rivers.
Riverclan.
Now she knew exactly where to get a new one.
Long clouds of oranges, yellows and reds streaked across the sky like claw marks. She couldn't really remember whether it was sunrise or sunset anymore, not that it mattered anyway. There were contrast gashes of wind batters her clamp of bushes as Monsters stormed past, like the world was heavily panting. The constant pain in her legs had slowly turned to numbness, no more blood oozing out, now harder to crust. Staring back with a bitter grudge, she spotted the tips of the pines of Shadowclan in the far distance. Quickly, she shook her head. No, he wasn't her kit anymore. Let him go, suppressing the lost memories. None of them was. None of them would matter anymore once she got a paw on a new one, one that would fulfil the destiny they foolishly rejected.
Then noticing the white and greeny crust buried deep within her flesh, the crushed up herbs still there. Without even commanding her body to do it, her upper lip twisted up, hissing to herself. Only a fool and coward would accept the help of the enemy. Now stressed, that Sloefur had slipped in some kind of dangerous herb. Had he poisoned her? Groaning in pain, her teeth gnawed into the opening, beginning to pluck out the green mush from her raw skin. Like a more disgusting form of grooming, she tore the plant pulp from each wound, dumping into the long grass, covering it up as something to be forgotten. What remained was upturned skin and fur, fading from a pale pink to a raw red. Now flesh blood dripped from the cracks. Not that it mattered. Ever since her exile, she gotten in too many fights to count. From head to tail, her ragged pelt was crisscrossed with a layer of long scars like a spider web. Her other wounds had managed to heal without killing her, those ones would be no different.
Letting off of deep sighing, Mapleshade unsettled from the soft grassy floor. Trying to ignore was getting her nowhere. The deer's body seemed a bit more rotten then before, she swore there were more maggots at least. It was a messy business but it was the only easy source of food around for sky-lengths.
Slowly, Mapleshade crept closer to the deer course, still there, from last time she'd been here. The vile odour suffocating her, forcing her to retreat again. Could she do it again?
Carefully, she selected the piece of raw meat that seemed the least likely to give her food poisoning. The front hoof seemed the least decayed, still recognizable as a foot, rather than a pile of organs. Greedily, her teeth gripped the wrist, feeling the broken bone underneath. With a mighty tug, the foot was torn off with a satisficing rip, coming off with surprising ease. Her mood sunk like a pebble, when she glanced inside of it. It was hollow. With layers upon layers of wriggling insects. Groaning, she violently shook it, pink creatures shattering onto the ground like rain. Their grumose appearance sight ruining the lush surroundings. The skin and fur would have to do, gripping it in her mouth, swallowing it whole like hairless bird chick.
Honestly, she was rather impressed with herself that she wasn't dead right now, after trying to eat that thing whole. Another wave of bile twinged at the back of the tongue, threatening to puck a few precious foods remains still in her stomach. Luckily, it wasn't worse than last time she'd tried to eat crow-food. Forcing it down, she narrowed her focus to just travelling as she hurried up the Thunderpath, the freshly settled darkness leaving it devoid of Monsters. The odour of fox edging up her the tunnels of her nose, a nasty thing. The tree slowly becomes more and more scarce, until eventually Mapleshade was left with wide-open fields, dotted with the occasional island of woodland. Blue lines and specks burrowed through the land, covered to the dream with deep pounds and swirling rivers. The unwelcome scent of Riverclan greeted her. Yet that wasn't where the fox scent took her, it took her in a long loop around the borders but never daring to venture inside. Then, she froze, bristling.
An overgrown gove stood before her, tightly paced together like one massive plant. There amongst the cluster of thick thorns, brambles, ferns and other various bushes, where the scent trial met its end. Evidence of the firey red creatures that lived here, lay scattered everywhere; old bones, scuffed mud imprinted with large pawprints and shuffled dead leaves, as their long snorts raided through it, searching for Starclan knows what. The scent of fox overpowering her sensitive nose. Yet something lay amongst revolting aroma, the silky scent of milk. Pricking her ears, a soft whisper of newborn paps echoed in the branches far above. A crooked grin grew on her lips like ivy. Perfect.
Edging out from her hiding spot amongst the roots of an ancient oak, she let out three deafening sharp yaps, spitting the night like a talon. Within the tangle of undergrowth and tree roots, a single red head poked out, warily searching its domain. The pale moonlight gave the clearing a silver tint, illuminating it. However, the rest of the forest remained engulfed by the night, the thick canopy shielding it from the light. She crouched lower to the dump floor, motionless, not letting a single muscle twitch. Half of the mother-fox's body remained underneath the earth, only it's head and front legs visible, peering around. The thick shadows of the oak doing its job and keeping Mapleshade concealed. She needed to lure the fox out completely.
After a brief pause, it was dreadfully obvious the male fox wasn't there to protect his prized new litter. This time, the female fox was alone to protect its paps from the unknown dangers of the outside world. Mapleshade set the plan in motion.
There was a rush of warm blood while excitement and fear pulsed through her veins. Before the mother-fox could get too comfortable and slip back into the safety of her ben, Mapleshade grabbed the largest stick to her, its rough bark against her tongue. With all her strength, Mapleshade sent to the snapped branch deeper into the woodland behind her, flying high into the air, finally disappearing into the swallowing darkness. A moment of silence, before a loud clatter struck the air as the stick crushed through the undergrowth, hitting something hard. Instantly, the mother-fox shot out from the den, standing in the open, defensive, it's snort snipping in her direction.
Sticking the edges of the clearing, Mapleshade crawled away from the oak, forced to use her whiskers to sense her surroundings, blind in the darkness. Up and under through tangle of trees roots she went, keeping to the deepest darkest layers of black, invisible. The mother-fox took a cautious step towards her original hiding spot, long fangs ready for thrashing any threats. As Mapleshade backed up against a frail trunk, a bark texture hit her cracked paw-pad as she stepped onto another branch. A good steady one. Grabbing it, she swirled round. Carefully, she aimed in the direction the mother-fox's piercing vision. Satisfied, Mapleshade launched it against a band of trees off to the east, slightly beyond the clearing. Another pause, then came a cluster of wood against wood. Suddenly, the female let out an enraged yap, furiously charging after the sound, disappearing into the trees. Now Mapleshade had the perfect opening.
Without a heartbeat to lose, Mapleshade madly scrambled out of the stems, dashing to the clearing, the moonlight sweeping over her like silver rain. Letting her nose and ears guild her, the milk scent and whispering of pups quickly let her locate the fox den, well hidden among the bushes, near the base of great alder. The ground was loose and shifty, Mapleshade struggling not to stumble on the crumbling sand as she dived into the narrow hole, completely black, like a void. Sand walls pressed against her fur tightly, like it was enclosing in on her. Then, her long whiskers meet something, tiny, furry and warm. A wriggling pile of them. Not caring which one, Mapleshade snatched up the closet one, the pup letting off a terrified-fill wail, calling out to its mother. Mouse-dung.
Trying to wildly twist round in the paced space, she reached out through the blackness, burrowing upwards. Or was she? It was impossible to tell. Luckily, she soon broke out into the open frosty air, free from the stuffy humid den. While the fox cub struggled in her grasp, the mother-fox had started to return to the clearing. The two stood there unmoving for a moment, staring. The chase was on. Without even thinking, Mapleshade instantly twisted on her heel, sprinting like she never had before, she flew through the trees like a deer, the mother-fox on her tail. Right towards Riverclan territory. Her heartbeat quicken and panic shot through her. So this is what it felt like to be prey!
Trying to get free, the cub began flailing like a maggot, nipping at her chin. Even if it felt like it, this wasn't a kit, so she didn't hold back, digging her jaw tighter around its scruff, making it shriek in pain, feeling thick blood tinge her mouth. Hearing the cry of its baby, the mother-fox seemed to gain an even greater drive, closing the gap between them. The fur on her neck stood on end as she felt the fox's hot breath on her tail tip.
Her heart threatening to burst from her chest, she made a split-second decision and just went with it. Making a risky manoeuvre, she twisted her whole body, making a tight turn, her paws skidding across the ground like ice. Somehow she managed to keep her balance, heading in the opposite direction, creating distance between her and the fox, who was forced to make a larger lop. Between the gaps in the thin trunks, the land dramatically sloped down, out of sight. Mapleshade staggered as she sped downhill, more like controlled falling then running. Not surrounded by trees anymore, Mapleshade was now in open plains of tall reeds, muddy fields, wide rivers, narrow streams and swishing grasses. Finally within Riverclan's borders.
A mighty racket caused her ears to strain, as the mother and cub yelped and howled, longly calling out to each other. In the far distance, emerging from the night, a red creature was rapidly closing in, returning to its cub's aid. The father-fox now on her trial. Confusion swirled in her on whether this was the best or worst thing that could happen. For Riverclan, it would make her life easier as they tried to fight off two foxes instead of one. Yet, that could only happen if she herself wasn't ripped apart beforehand!
The once confident she-cat was slowly giving into a panic. Once this would have been no more than training, but now- now she genuinely feared for her life. The mother-fox jaws snapped at the air, only a mouse-length from Mapleshade's swishing tail. With the father-fox not much further behind now. Her muscles began burning, the old wound around her legs reopening, oozing with fresh blood. Strangely, the fox cub swinging in her mouth, once like a feather, was now a boulder, weighing her down. Starclan help me! She wanted to cry out.
Two distinctive lands began to form, a large body of clear water and a marshy bog, covered with sucking mud. Both could easily bring the chase to a halt. Not accepting it, Mapleshade began to make a long strenuous arch, following the edges of the Marshes, yet still not stepping into it. Eventually, it led an endless patch of reeds, Mapleshade was more than happily plunged into. Urgently, she wanted to catch her breath and rest her aching bones, but she could not stop now. She forced herself on despite the pain. Leaves whipped at her face as she stumbled through the reeds, threatening to trip her up. Just a bit further. There was a loud rustling of reeds as the foxs struggled through it too.
A familiar fishy-scent lingered in the atmosphere, the scent of Riverclan cats overpowering. Many of them gathered in one place. Mapleshade allowed herself a quick grin, almost there. Ahead, thick steady walls of reeds and grass stood, weaved together unnaturally. The walls of Riverclan camp.
Pacing, Mapleshade moved until she could scent milk, halting. The Nursery. Tightening her teeth round the fox cub, she quickly spans round like a whirlpool. With enough speed built up, she flung the cub over the wall into the clearing beyond, groaning. Instantly, Mapleshade desperately and wildly tumbled, retreating deeper into the thicket, collapsing, gasping for breath. The two mates run side by side now, their mouths hanging open. Without the cub, the parents paid Mapleshade no notice, instead effortless tearing through the tangle of reeds, pure fury burning off of them. Annoyingly, they didn't rip through into the Nursery but went straight into the open clearing. Suddenly, there was a burst of deafening noise, like a storm as cats and foxes alike began madly screaming at each other. Through the walls, Mapleshade could spot frantic flickers of movements inside, the Riverclan camp erupted into utter chaos. Getting to her paws, Mapleshade clambered through the freshly made entrance to the camp.
The female stood at the centre of the clearing, standing over its cub, mercilessly lashing out at any cat that came too near with snapping teeth. There was a tang of blood on the breeze. Meanwhile, the male brawled with four or five separate cats clinging onto it, the Riverclan warriors trying to drag it to the ground. A mass of cats swarmed around the foxes, quickly closing in on them. The foxes may be larger, tougher and meaner but not even they could compete with the so many foes. Luckily for Mapleshade, she was able to join the rapid flow of the yowling crowd, too occupied and panicked with the foxes, to notice the Thunderclan cat among their ranks. For now at least, if she was another cat, that's all that mattered to them.
Endless pelts pressed tightly against her, almost crushing her in the mad scramble. The clanmates shuffled and shoved in all directions, unsure what to do. Amongst the mayhem, Mapleshade could start to put names to faces; Darkstar fraught right beside her warriors, gripping the male fox's head, battering its ears. Perchpaw, stood firmly at the Elder's den, fur puffed up. Yet if she started to recognize others, others could start to recognize her. Any heartbeat now. Suspicious glances starting to build up alarmingly quick, Mapleshade narrowly ducking away each time before they could get a better look. Not risking it anymore, she slunk back into darkest corners of the camp like a silent shadow.
Now, Riverclan cats had managed to get a hold of themselves, joining together, piling around the foxes, slowly driving them back into the entrance. The mother-fox had the cub swinging in its jaws, fear glinting in its round eyes. The madness just kept on growing and growing, until Mapleshade finally grew impatient; she darted through the reeds like a hawk, diving through the crowds, using her body like a log, ramming into female's head. The force knocking the cub from her grasp and towards the Nursery, Mapleshade back into hiding before anyone knew what was happening. As the cub rolled away, the male left off an angered yap, thrusting away it's attackers, latching it jaw around tail and throats, throwing them away as easily as leaves. Blood splashing against the sand. Now free, it raised towards red pup.
Though the female managed to keep ahead of its mate, shooting forward, snatching up the cub again. Though the male fox didn't seem satisfied, instead of fleeing with it cub, it turned on the Nursery, hungry for young blood. Rearing up, it ripped through the dense barrier of brambles with its front paws, like it was digging a burrow. Then out of nowhere, the Riverclan deputy, Spiketail let out a battle cry, "Protect the Nursery!", he yelled. Bravely, he pounded like Leopardclan cat, gripping the fox's back, biting down. However, the male fox instantly retaliated, reaching behind it back, taking Spiketail into its mouth. Like helpless prey, the grey tom was ruthlessly thrashed around, fur and blood splattering everywhere. Terrified, a fresh wave of warriors came rushing into their deputy's aid: Milkfur crunched down into its back leg while Rainfall kicked out of its flank. Screeching in pain, the fox was forced to drop its prey. Yet Milkfur's and Rainfall's efforts proved for nothing, as Spiketail fell heavily to the floor with thump, dead. Mapleshade blinked, feeling strangely hollow.
Through her reed cover, Mapleshade noticed the fox had done its job, a gaping hole now left in the Nursery, horrified Queens and kits peering through in the gloom. The tables were finally turning, as the warriors starting overwhelming the mother and cub, pushing back into the entrance, while the male remained stubborn, still fighting. Releasing as the foxes could flee at any moment, Mapleshade was forced to make her move, reeds parting as she crawled through them, edging towards the Nursery. Just a bit closer.
Her pulse surged when she released to get there, she would need to go out into the open, exposing herself to the outside world. Yet determination drove her on. She'd made it this far, there was no way she was backing up now. Find a kit, grab it and get away, that's all she needed to do. And there was specific litter she had in mind. Tucked away in the furthest corner, laid a dark orange tabby, tightly wrapping her body around a precious bundle of kits. Reedshine. Mapleshade hissed to herself like a snaked. Not waiting anymore, Mapleshade burst from the safety of the reeds, straight towards her prize, not caring for the yowls of anger as she sped past the Riverclan cats.
Reedshine's deep blue widen in horror, all the Queens gasping, as Mapleshade began entering inside. "Mapleshad-", Reeshine began.
However, she couldn't utter the full word before the entire Nursery finally gave in to the damage, collapsing into itself.
The cats cried out as large twigs and leaves caved in around them before they could do anything and before she knew it, Mapleshade was completely buried, surrounded in all directions by rubble. The air turned humid and hot. The sudden weight made Mapleshade groan. The dead undergrowth enclosing her shuffled and shifted as if it was alive as the Queens and kits around her tried to find each other. Desperate mothers called out to their kits. Not if Mapleshade had something to say about it, using her claws to burrow through.
Pricking her ears, Mapleshade tried to focus on specific sound among the muffled voices, a voice like water boiling in steam on a blazing humid day. And she finally heard it, "Shykit!? Applekit?! Where are you? I'm right here, follow my voice!". Mapleshade would have leapt for joy if it wasn't for the pile of sticks piled on top of her. Seemed that she had yet to find two of her kits, all for the taking. Mapleshade just needed to find one of them first. As luck would have it, a sleek black tom brushed against her ragged pelt, as a kit hurried past her, not even giving her a second glance. Just when she was about to snatch him up, she realized he was neither Reedshine's kit and too large, close to apprentice size. Too old to brainwash. So choose to ignore him.
Driving herself on, Mapleshade went through the endless layers of collapsed brown and green plants. How far did it go? Distant muffled voices filled the air, coming from above the sea of brambles. Then scraping noises come, as claws worked at the top layers of the collapsed Nursery, Riverclan Warriors starting the attempt to free the trapped cats. And just to make her problems worse, a sleek tail swept against her wide face.
Before she knew it, another flank was pressed against her as the fellow Queens accidentally bumped into each other. The black she-cat, Blackbee's face twisted up in hatred like a shrivelled flower, "You caused this, didn't you?", she accused. Darting forward, belly still sliding against the floor, Blackclaw drove her teeth deep into Mapleshade's leg. She wanted to cry out in agony as her attacker found the sweet point, her teeth in the open wound. Aching to get away, Mapleshade kicked out against Strokweed's head, causing her to roll away. Now free, she didn't stand and fight like she should have done, instead, she desperately tried stumbling away. Scooping up pawfuls of bark and moss, she threw it behind her, trying burrow away while burying Strokweed at the same time. Don't stop.
Mapleshade paused, sensing the world around her with whiskers, nose and ears. She seemed to have lost the enraged she-cat. Though worrying, the pressure on her back seemed to lessen with each passing moment, as the layers of brambles were slowly removed, the warriors above getting closer to discovering her. They sounded nearer too, their voices as clear as water. Arching her ears, she fixed her hearing on the soft mew of kit. A young one. Pushing a large branch and a few leaves aside, Mapleshade finally found what she was looking for. A tiny she-kit, no older than a moon, with a pale creamy pelt and white paws and chest. A striking resemblance to her father. Her new daughter. Immediately, Mapleshade greedily scooped up the kit, wildly searching for a way out.
Suddenly, a brown tabby muzzle poked through the ceiling, like a bird's beak bursting into a worm's tunnels, trying to pluck it out. The tom's muzzle was just a mouse-length from Mapleshade's ear, his hot breath on her fur, "Stay still, we're going to get you out!", he called down to her. There was a rustling from all around, as the Warriors finally began to drag out the Queens and kits from the rubble. Holding her breath, Mapleshade slowly edged backwards, away from the tabby, his mouth like a brown icicle. He must of felt the strange cat under him moving, "Wait don't mov-", he began but he pulsed mid-sentence, his mouth open, tasting the air.
"We're got a Thunderclan cat here!", he howled, his paws plugging into bramble pile, blindly swiping with unsheltered claws, trying to find her. More paws came down, trying to get her out. Mapleshade felt like a helpless mole trapped within it's home. Using her head like a stag's horns, she forced her way through the undergrowth, in a random direction, sharp thorns threatening to scrap against her eyes. Reedshine's kit whimpered in pain and confusion.
Opening her eyes again, she wasn't amongst brambles or ferns anymore, instead, long reeds towered above her, realizing she'd managed to break through the Nursery into the reed patch beyond. Able to properly stand now, she immediately broke into a run, desperately trying to get away, relieved to leave the Riverclan camp behind. The fresh bite mark left the Riverclan camp, struck Mapleshade with a wave of pain. Abruptly, the kit in her teeth started whaling out in fright, "Mama! Mama!".
Somewhere far behind her, hidden behind the wall of grass, Reedshine screamed out, "They've got Shykit!".
Mousebung! Mapleshade wanted to curse aloud. Swerving to the side, Mapleshade broke out into the open, the border in the far distance. Strangely, there was dreadful burning in her chest as if a fire blazed in it. Her muscles boiling and throat raw with panting. What was wrong with her? A moon ago this would have been as easy as catching a mouse! Yet, the question remained, how was she going to get there? There wasn't a route Mapleshade could go without going into water and marsh, giving them the advantage. However, Mapleshade was forced to choose, as Reedshine broke through the same reed patch, more furious than any badger, her eyes wild. "Get back here!", she screeched like a crow, "Thief!".
Forced to make choice, unable to think in time, Mapleshade found herself trudging through the slimy mud of the marsh, almost green. Soon, it was up to her belly, the disgusting oily texture seeping into her fur, down to the skin, every huge step a battle in itself. Her few scraps of energy slowly being brained. Somehow, instead of slowing sinking into the mud like a pebble-like the clumpy Thunderclan cat was, Reedshine managed to stay on the surface, lightly skipping over it, as if she had fins for paws. The mossy shoreline was just in reach now, just a bit further but Reedshine was closing in with alarming speed. With one last final mighty effort, Mapleshade managed to lunge from the mud to the mossy dry land, landing awkwardly, Shykit knocked from her grasp. Laying on her side, she heavily gasped for air, lunges aching. She wanted to tear her own ears off for her weakness. Get up!
Rapidly, Reedshine joined Mapleshade, clambering up the bank. "I don't know what you're trying to do, Mapleshade, but it won't work.", she spat into Mapleshade's ear as she strolled passed her, "Not with me.".
Realising Reedshine was reaching towards Skykit, Mapleshade's paw swept in, her claws up against the kit's throat. "You wouldn't dare!", Reedshine gasped, instantly freezing up, stumbling back. The snobby confidence completely drained. Mapleshade licked her lips nervously, shuffling around until she stood directly above Shykit. The kit still blissfully unaware of harsh reality around her. Spotting Riverclan cats speeding towards them in the distance, Mapleshade decided to make this quick, disappointed she could meddle with the cat who stolen Appledusk's heart from her.
"This is how it's going to work from now on, Reedshine. This kit is mine. And if I ever catch a glimpse of you again, even from a distance, I'll kill Shykit on the spot.", Mapleshade threatened. The husk that stood in front of her seemed completely lifeless like cold stood, as Reedshine stared blankly at her with dead eyes. With the Riverclan patrol within a few tree-lengths of her, yowling their heads off, Mapleshade didn't bother waiting for Reedshine's reply, as her thorn claws flexed closer to Shykit's soft flesh, "And that goes for any Riverclan friend of yours.".
Still unresponsive, Mapleshade continued to drive the sharp tips of her talons into Shykit's neck, making her scream, "I'm waiting.", Mapleshade warned.
"Reedshine, what you doing? Attack her!", Eeltail called out to her clanmate as she rushed toward them with the other warriors. Life suddenly seemed to be breathed into the she-cat, the empty glaze over her eyes melting like ice to flare up to raw panic. Just as the Warriors slivered out of the marsh, leaving a sticky trail of mud, Reedshine brutally whipped around, facing the patrol, "Stop!", her voice so loud it caused the air to crack. The Patrol immediately halted to the Queen's orders, bewildered. A wall now between her and her death, Mapleshade snatched up Shykit, limping away: half-dazed, ears ringing, heart straining, fur ruffling, muscles tearing, bones cracking.
From behind her, Splashfoot called out to her, "Hey!", probably rushing after her, Mapleshade not even bothering to check with a glance over the shoulder. Then, there was a sharp whelp as someone crashed into him, hissing as they rolled on the ground. "You can't!", Reedshine growled, "She'll kill my kit if we go after her!".
Mapleshade smirked as she drowsy staggered away, breathless. Reedshine doing all the dirty work for her. Shykit squirmed and twisted frantically, trying to escape her captive's grasp, letting off confusion mews but none worked. There was nothing the tiny kit could do now. She belonged Mapleshade. And she had a lot planned for this small bundle of fur, a glorious future. Killing off the cats, Larchpaw had failed to, getting rightful justice for unpunished horrors of the Clans.
"You filthy foxheart!", Eletail's enraged yowl echoed in the far distance, "You'll die for this! You hear me?! You'll die!". Grateful, Mapleshade took a wide step over the scent marks, now a free of the Riverclan danger for awhile. A bittersweet victory at last.
Mapleshade didn't know how far she walked by now, only one thing in her hollow mind, get away, get away-
All she knew, for now, were nameless tall trees towering above, like long outstretching arms, continuing in their pointless and impossible mission to touch the empty black void of the night sky. Devoid of stars. She was in some kind of narrow stripe of woodland, trapped between two Thunderpaths, the Monster's roars echoing among the trunks, making the whole place violently shake. The atmosphere was denser here, more like thick smog then sharp clear air. Like having a piece of crow-food constantly up against her nose. Even if she was panicked, why did she have to choose this of all place?
Without even realizing it, Mapleshade found herself swaying as she plodded away, uncontrollably, until she toppled over like a snapping trunk, collapsing into a patch of thorns. Shykit whimpering in pain. The sharps edges dug deep into Mapleshade filthy coat, ragged with scars and grimy with dried mud still clinging to it like leeches. Yet Mapleshade didn't care anymore, she was numb to the pain. She felt pain so often, it was almost like second nature to her now. Almost impossible to live without.
Wrapping her tail around Shykit, Mapleshade's head drooped against the sharp steams and leaves, on a nest of thorns. Praying to Starclan, to just let a dreamless sleep take her this one night. But it didn't come. Mapleshade's burning red-amber eyes snapped open as Shykit began to call out in the chilling night air, "Mummy! Mummy!"-
Mapleshade stared into nothingness. Knowing with hanging drain, this was going to be a very- very long night...
Mapleshade burst from the drifting in void of emptiness, snapping her head back, her senses coming to life. When did she fall asleep? The air was damp and crisp from the freshly melted frost, now one with the earth. Pale sunlight turned the tips of her ginger fur a fiery red, managing to break through a newly settled overcast. Hanging low in the sky, it was unclear on whether it was thick vapour or thin fog. Sharp pains covered her body as the thorn dug into her skin like claws. Why did she have to collapse into thorn bush of all plants? Groaning miserably as she sluggishly crawled out from them, half-dazed. Instead of settling on the dead leaves and twigs of the muddy woodland floor. Serval undesirable pieces of two-legs trash dumped around the place, tainting the lush beauty of nature, with dull black and greys.
What time was it anyway? Strangely humid. Lazily blinking up to the sky, Mapleshade hissed to herself when she released the giant orange eye of the sun was already far above the horizon, edging towards the centre of the dim sky. It was sunhigh already!
As the awareness of her surroundings soon grew, hunger gripped her belly, her stomach in knots as if it was trying to eat itself. Her muzzle screwed up when rotten scent crawled into her nostrils. Following her nose, she tracked the rancid scent to an open gash in her leg. Still hanging open like a cave entrance, the oily yellow liquid had formed around the rims of the upturned fur and muscle. Was it infected? Bile boiled up in her throat. Disgusting. Biting down, she tore the crust off from the wound, taking a bit of dead skin with it, quickly burying among the leaves. Hopefully, this time her body would get hold of itself and heal her properly. Sighing, Mapleshade shuffled around as she lay there.
Then, small exhausted whimpering sounds came from behind her, as Mapleshade found Shykit tightly tangled among the thorns, upside down. The brown kit must have attempted to clamber away while she slumbered. "Stupid kit.", Mapleshade muttered, as she gripped her sleek tail like worm, roughly yanking out of the thorn. Shykit squeaked as she fell, Mapleshade hurriedly catching her, trapping her between her front paws. The kit was breathless for a heartbeat, as she tried getting hold of herself.
As Mapleshade tightly held the helpless kit, a strange feeling came over her, something she hadn't kept in such a long time. Knowing, the kit's life was in her paws, Shykit was defenceless, Mapleshade could easily snap her neck right now. Like a piece of prey. This kit was useless, she couldn't fight or hunt, all she did was play and take up milk. Yet Mapleshade was reasonable for protecting this warm scrap of fur against the cruel outside world. And she would. She had to, she'd sacrificed fur and tail to get her out of the protective wall of that camp.
Shykit blinked up at her with large round innocent kit-eyes, more curious than fearful like a grown-cat would, "Where's my home? Where's Mummy?", she mewed with a high-pitched voice. "This is your home. And I am your mother.", Mapleshade giving a simple answer to the simple questions. There was a pause as the kit's tiny brain struggled to process it, "You're Mummy?", she gasped, "But isn't Reedshine Mummy too? How can I have two mummies?".
Mapleshade shook her head, "Reedshine isn't your mother. I'm your mother, Reedshine stole you from me.".
Once again, Mapleshade had to wait as her words tried to get through Shykit's thick skull.
"Steal? Is that the bad thing Applekit once did, when he took my moss ball? He was told off for it. Did Mummy do that bad thing? Mummy stole me from you, like Applekit did to my moss ball?". Sighing, Mapleshade felt the intelligence being drained from her as she forced to downgrade her words in order to communicate with the kit. "Yes.", Mapleshade finally answered, "Just like that. She stole you from me, your real mother.".
Shykit began fidgeting in Mapleshade's paws, becoming agitated, "But I don't remember you.", the cream she-cat pointed out, confusion tinting in her bright green eyes like lush lime leaves in Newleaf. "No, you wouldn't.", Mapleshade tried explaining, "Riverclan stole you from me when you were very young, just after your birth. Do you remember being born?.".
Quickly, Shykit overdramatically shook her head side to side, almost violently. "Exactly. You were too young to remember.", Mapleshade noded down to her, faking a soft purr and a beaming smile brighter than sunlight. Shykit's long white whiskers twitched, unsure of anything, "If you're Mummy, then who's Daddy?", Shykit questioned through narrowed eyelids. Mapleshade bit down a hiss of annoyance, thinking she had earned her new daughter's trust for a heartbeat. There's a moment of silence as Mapleshade thought carefully on her next few words. Would she allow that traitorous snakeheart to be the father of any more of her kits? Yet if she made someone up, it causes Shykit to ask even more questions. So Mapleshade decided to ask Shykit a question of her own.
"Who did Reedshine say your father was?", Mapleshade asked, her voice quiet and gentle, imagining Patchpaw's calico pelt washing over Shykit's brown one, at a time when he was smaller and younger, a time when she could call him her son. At least now, she had someone else for that. "A tom named Appledusk. But he was sent away for a bad thing before I could meet him. Reedshine said it wasn't his fault though.". Mapleshade couldn't help but smirk to herself. Of course, Reedshine would say that, pathetically prancing after her handsome tom. She bet Appledusk could kill all the cats in Riverclan and Reedshine would still rush to his defence whenever someone dares insult him. But that wasn't why Mapleshade chooses him to be the father of her kits, she chooses him because she saw both the caring and powerful cat inside him, who could stand for those he loved and himself.
Just then, Shykit's abrupt words broke into Mapleshade's thoughts, "What you smiling about?". Hurriedly, Mapleshade shakes the stupid smirk from her face, turning down to Shykit again, "N-nothing.", she uttered. Any grown cat could have seen past her obvious lie but Shykit accepted it without a second thought, nodding. Mapleshade started up again, "Well, it's true.", she mewed, "Appledusk is still your father. Reedshine stole you from me for that. She was jealous, she loved Appledusk too.".
Strangely, Shykit began shredding the leaves with her small claws, fur bristling, "That's a mean thing to do!", she exclaimed, "You can't steal a kit from their mummy!". Grabbing her chance to really get into the kit's while she briefly on Mapleshade's side, Mapleshade nodded, "Yes, it is a mean thing to do. Reedshine isn't a good cat, Shykit. She's a liar and thief.". This made Shykit freeze up, pain making her chest puff up, "B-but she always seemed so nice. She would give us milk and sleep with us. Maybe you're just made a mistake and she is nice.", she mumbled, still hopeful.
There was a stab of annoyance as Mapleshade's patience was quickly running out. Why wasn't she just accepting what she said? How long would it take her to convince this kit she was her real mother?
