Chapter 56: A Mistake?

I knew something was wrong as soon as I sensed a soul like no other appear in the Darkforest. I was literally woken from my nap by the faint shockwaves of the entry. It was an utterly pure soul, a kit. This was completely unlike the kits already existing in the Darkforest. The kits made here still bear the corruptions of their parents or their life. This kit did not. It was completely sin free. There was no way this was correct.

Splitpelt must have noticed my panicked state because he rose in alarm as well. "Mapleshade, what's wrong?!"

"Something just happened that should be impossible. Ther is no way Starclan would willingly do that, right? I… I… I gotta go! I gotta fix this!" I mewed in a frantic daze.

I raced off towards the stranded kit with Splitpelt on my tail. My haste made me take routes I usually wouldn't risk. Layer leaps can be dangerous. One could appear higher than the trees are tall and miss the next entry point. I at least had enough awareness to leave a trail for Splitpelt to follow. My dangerous jumps were accompanied by bridges of black material so Splitpelt could make the gaps. I wasn't really paying attention to what I made besides it needing to be a bridge. Then I appeared nearby the kit, only a couple dozen tail lengths.

I came pounding over, still somewhat frantic. "Kit! What are you doing here?! It's not safe."

I must have frightened the poor dear because she was pressed flat with her eyes wide with fear. I took a couple deep breaths to calm my heart.

"I'm sorry I frightened you. Let's start again. My name is Mapleshade. What brings a kit like you to a dangerous place like this?"

I apparently chose my words poorly because the kit began trembling. "I don't know! I was… I was with mommy. We were out of camp, and it was so cold. It was burning cold. Then I felt tired. I just couldn't keep awake. Then I woke up here. I don't want to be cold. I want my mommy." The kit cried.

"Shhh. It's ok. I promise you don't have to feel cold again. I can't get you to your mother, but I'll keep you safe." I mewed reassuringly.

As I let the kit calm down under my maternal aura, I had my powers search out a reflection pool nearby. By the time I found one, Splitpelt had caught up. He skidded to a stop in front of me.

'Mapleshade, who is this?" He asked calmly despite the rapid rise and fall of his chest.

The kit giggled. "You look funny. I'm Mosskit."

I nodded at Splitpelt in response. "Thanks for calming her down. Splitpelt, can you go check the reflection pool over there? I want to know who lead a kit out into the snow."

Splitpelt turned with an almost salute before bounding over to the reflection pool I indicated. He used his powers to carve out a hole and gazed within.

"You aren't going to like this, but it's Bluefur." He reported.

I felt shock run through my body as I slowly looked down at Mosskit who seemed distracted with my tail. From what little I knew about Bluefur, she had a good head on her shoulders. She wasn't the type to do anything rash. I needed answers.

"And how is Thunderclan looking?" I asked.

"Their freshkill pile is empty, one other queen with many kits, and their deputy seems to be in the medicine den for something not battle related."

I knew Bluefur's kits weren't pure Thunderclan since Oakheart confessed to Crookedjaw, but for this to happen? Was it chance, or was Starclan making a play that sacrificing another kit as a pawn? No! I would not allow Starclan to cast a kit into the Darkforest for the circumstances of their birth. It was time to break the rules.

"Dear. You can't stay here, but I know where you can go. I can get you into Starclan."

"Starclan?!" Asked Mosskit with eyes filled with wonder.

The sight just made me internally wince. She shouldn't have needed to die at all, let alone require the assistance of a cat such as I just to get into Starclan. Splitpelt looked at me with a measure of confusion. How could I get her into Starclan with the barrier? My answer was simple, but I knew it'd be costly. I'd just move the barrier out of the way. I already knew the barrier wouldn't accept my circumvention of its rules that easily, but it was my best shot. I sent a message ahead to Birchface to find some kin of Mosskit in Starclan to take her. I let the kit clamber onto my shoulders as I lead us to the barrier.

The barrier was as impressive as always, but today I planned to cheat it. With herculean effort, I managed a part just big enough for me to walk with Mosskit. Splitpelt walked by my side within the bounds of the barrier. With gritted teeth and sweating profusely, I pressed forward, each step taking more effort than the last, each whisker length like digging through stone by claw. It didn't help that the barrier was much deeper than it first was. Finally I could see Starclan clearly with a molly pacing worriedly on the other side. By now, I could barely manage much more. I definitely couldn't fit anymore.

"Mosskit. You need to keep going on your own. I can't get any further. Just go straight towards that nice molly over there."

Mosskit climbed off and looked back at me with worry. "But what about you?"

Wincing through my effort in maintaining the hole in the barrier, I managed an exhausted laugh. "Don't worry about me. I'm tougher than anything else here. Just get on over there. Make some friends. If you see Larchpaw, Patchpaw, or Petalpaw, let them know I'm doing fine over here. In fact, they have some siblings on the way."

Mosskit nodded in the way only a kit could when given a serious duty before bounding on. I briefly saw her get through and the molly snuggle up to her before my strength gave out. You know how a springy branch can keep bending and bending until it snaps back into place, sometimes hitting you in the face in the process. Imagine that but way bigger. I was flung back the direction I came harder than when Starclan nearly spiked me into the ground. I smashed through several trees in the process. It took me a while to wake up, and the impact of me hitting the ground left a rut longer than Thunderclan camp was wide. I was frankly surprised I was alive, let alone conscious. Nothing appeared to be broken, but I was completely wiped out on energy.

Splitpelt came racing up to me. "Are you OK?" he asked with clear worry in his voice.

"Strangely enough, I am mostly fine. Just tired. Can you check on Riverclan real quick? I want to know how long I'm allowed to pass out for."

Splitpelt shot me a worried look, but he complied. "Uhh. Mapleshade, their deputy just stepped down…"

A tense silence filled the air before I hissed out my exasperation. "Foxdung!"