Chapter 31: Perspective is Everything

We all sat to begin our stories. The only question was who would start us off. A tense silence held us all at bay before I looked to Birchface.

"I think your death was what kickstarted this whole thing. Why don't you begin with our relationship before your death and what you saw from Starclan following your death."

Birchface huffed, somewhat unhappy to have to be the one to begin and break the silence.

"Well, for reference, Mapleshade and I were friends while I still lived. I think Frecklewish and I were her only real friends."

I quietly hissed at that.

"I did at one point have a crush on her, but she proved uninterested in my advances, so we decided to stay as friends. I had noticed her running off frequently in the late evenings and discovered she was having an interclan affair. At first I was appalled, but she convinced me that this may be good for both clans. Sunningrocks was starting to prove to be an eternal battlefield. In truth, I think she just wanted to stop fighting her mate, but she convinced me that the kits she could bare would be a chance for both clans to settle the Sunningrocks issue for good.

Then came the battle where I died. Appledusk exacerbated the issue, and it was no longer safe for Mapleshade to reveal the heritage of her unborn kits. I did know about them before my death. I don't fault her for trying to protect her kits even if it was somewhat irritating to see her claim them as my kits. Frecklewish and Mapleshade were very close because of the kits. Frecklewish had always been somewhat overprotective of me. She felt the kits were her last connection to me and I think she wanted to support her last friend.

Starclan did indeed send the three reeds. I witnessed it. They specifically chose that day to send them knowing the tension in the clan would get Mapleshade and the kits exiled. I was mortified to see my clan break the code so flagrantly and I was ashamed of Frecklewish's actions, but that wasn't all Starclan did that night. They were the ones who sent the wave that took your kits. They also made sure you'd survive. I didn't stick around long enough to watch anything else. I tried to shield Mapleshade's kits from what was happening below."

I tilted my head slightly confused and slightly angry.

"Really? I just thought it might have been a Starclan cat who had a vendetta against halfclan relations. To hear all of Starclan was in on it…"

I was huffing with fury before the Darkforest Frecklewish rested her tail on me assuring me I wasn't alone.

Starclan Frecklewish took this as her cue to speak.

"Well, it was deserved. You lied to your clan and broke the code. Simple. Those things never deserved to live in the first place."

I was about to stand up hissing, but Darkforest Frecklewish beat me to it.

"Shut up! You didn't really feel that way. You forced yourself to feel the way you are now by casting me off. If you all must really know, I did love Mapleshade in life as a sister. I loved her coming kits not just as my brother's kits but also as my best friend's kits. You've forgotten, but I haven't. We knew those kits were coming. We predicted it moons before we assumed they were Birchface's, and we didn't love them any less. In truth, you cast off all those feelings of care for Mapleshade because you couldn't stand the guilt of what you created. You call her out for breaking the code, but you were the first one to call for her kits' exile from what I'm told. You twisted your own memories to make your greatest shame into a vengeful vice. Those feelings you feel when looking at the kits is shame you've turned into anger. If you never cast me off, you'd realize you never hated the kits. You hated yourself for what you did. Now all you have is that same anger, but you don't know who it is directed at, so you turn it at Mapleshade as your scapegoat."

Starclan Frecklewish spat in reply. "She killed me! She lured me to Snakerocks and killed me!"

Darkforest Frecklewish replied. "A death I feel we deserved. We didn't just break the code. We ostracized our last friend over two names. Mapleshade was already pregnant when Birchface died. It wasn't like she meant for her mate to kill him. As Birchface said, Sunningrocks already had its fair share of deaths. It was just coincidence that his life was another added to the tally."

Starclan Frecklewish hissed again, but it seemed her fury took away her capacity to argue convincingly. She instead ran off like the last time the Darkforest Frecklewish told her off. Appledusk looked ready to bot too before I nodded to him.

"You are the one I want to hear the story of most. Why did you move on to Reedshine when you knew I had your kits? What made you so hostile to me? Why were you so different from the cat I once fell in love with?"

Appledusk dipped his head as he began. "In truth, it's because I'm a coward. Killing Birchface was my breaking point. I was so scared of how my clan and yours would react that I had to double down on my loyalty. Reedshine had already been trying for my attention, so I gave in. She was completely loyal to me and Riverclan. I managed to convince myself that your kits didn't matter to me, and that I was loyal only to Riverclan, that my actions were a mistake. When you were exiled and showed up letting us all know our kits were dead, I lashed out at you and clung to what made me feel safe. I cast you out without a second thought, but my guilt did eat at me. In truth, I was somewhat glad it was over when I died. I'd gotten back at least a piece of that bravery I was once known for."

I nodded at Appledusk respectfully saying. "That is what I wanted you to do."

I let the statement sink in for a moment before continuing. "I'll let you in on a little know fact from when I was alive. The cat most attuned to Starclan was not Ravenwing. It was me. Starclan only knows how often the medicine cat before Ravenwing tried to recruit me, but having kits was all I ever dreamed for. I refused them constantly, but that did not mean I didn't get the occasional omen or vision. Before I'd even fallen in love with Appledusk, I saw the kits I would have. I thought it was Starclan encouraging us as I saw them more clearly the more often we met.

After my exile, I sought Starclan's guidance, but it came up empty, so I went to find you Appledusk. I'm sure we all know what happened. The second exile along with my once mate rejecting me made me unstably mad. I soon enough got another vision, this time of my three kits' spirits. I only found out recently it wasn't really them, but I thought it was. I wanted revenge and those spirits seemed to be encouraging it. I will say I regret being the one to kill the three of you, but I thought it was necessary. I was convinced me killing you all would absolve you of the death of my kits. My punishment would get you into Starclan was what I believed. I specifically killed Ravenwing at the moonstone so he could see the truth of what Starclan thought, that omens and visions are meant to be kept close to the chest until necessary. Petalkit's spirit was no longer there after that murder. I led Frecklewish to Snakerocks for a snake to bite her. Since it was her unchecked rage that got her killed and it was a slow death, I thought it would absolve her crime of attacking me as a queen, sentencing my kits to exile, and watching without action as my kits drowned. Appledusk's death is the one I am the least proud of. I attacked his apprentice to single out him and his mate. I attacked her with the intent of forcing Appledusk to martyr himself for her. It was the only way for me to forgive his cowardice and cruelty directed at me. He needed to prove his devotion to his new mate transcended his life. I am actually glad you passed my test. Only then could I accept my own demise. There was nothing left for me since I believed I'd done as my kits desired."

The tense stance Appledusk held had loosened up. It seemed his guilt was finally resolved. In truth, he still had some feelings for me, but the rift we both carved could never be bridged again. Too much hurt was between us to ever consider rebuilding that relationship. Instead, we just had mutual respect. I finally moved on from those feelings of betrayal from Appledusk. I think I could learn to love again someday.

Birchface interrupted my thoughts by pushing in one last note. "Those kits Mapleshade saw were a vision from Starclan, but they weren't her kits. They were pretenders guiding Mapleshade on her path of vengeance. This is where Ravenwing comes in. Can you tell us about the Grand Prophecy?"

Ravenwing's eyes lit up as it was his time to recite the Grand Prophecy. "A queen of kits between, killer of those who once called her friend and love, will come to conquer the Darkforest beyond. After a fire cleanses the clans, three kin of kin will appear. They shall hold the power of the stars in their paws. The skies will run black as the living and the dead come to battle once more. The Queen of Darkness shall walk within Starclan and the last prophecy will be concluded."

An almost giddy look crossed his face. "There is more. We've gotten small hints over time. You Mapleshade are the Queen of Darkness we've been awaiting. The Obelisk told us so ever since you were a kit. Starclan made you for this purpose, giving you guidance where we could. May you fill your role perfectly."