CHAPTER 17
Sneaking out of camp would be harder than last time. Yellowstar had two camp guards at all times now, and the Clan deputy had a temporary nest near the entrance in case she needed to wake up in a hurry. But Jaggedclaw and Downtail had their backs turned as Mapledawn stared out from the warrior's den. They looked exhausted. Mapledawn suppressed a shiver as she realized how few warriors there were available for night watch. We have so few warriors, and no apprentices at all. A worm of fear uncoiled in Mapledawn's belly. There's me, Acorntail, Jaggedclaw, Downtail, Thrushflight, Dapplecreek… She blinked in surprise. And that's it. Thrushflight spent most of his time in the nursery anyway, now that his mate was there. Fallensnow liked to joke that Thrushflight was practically a queen. Her mate, Downtail, only visited his kits every day or two.
So much rested on her secret mission. We can't have more pointless battles! Checking that the guards' ears were still trained on the forest, not the camp, Mapledawn picked her way silently to the dirtplace and pushed through the tunnel behind.
It was a still, silent night, with a crisp tang to the air reminding Mapledawn that leaf-fall wasn't far off. She kept to the shadows; a nearly-full moon shone, making her white patches shine if she wasn't careful. A few times she paused, certain something was following her. But when she stood and scanned Thunder forest, nothing moved. Shrugging, Mapledawn continued to the scent line.
Gagging at the smell of pine sap and acrid BlackClan scent marks, she rolled around in the border until her pelt was drenched with BlackClan odor. There. At least now they won't scent me right away.
She padded cautiously through the strange trees with their quiet bristles that didn't murmur like Thunder's trees. As she walked, a pine needle stabbed the soft flesh of her paw pad. Stifling a curse, she held the paw and licked it furiously. Even after she fished out the pine needle, her pad still throbbed, making her limp awkwardly. Soon she came on an old, smooth path. An old twoleg path. Her pelt prickled. It was so open. She hurried across and stood panting back in the cover of trees, ears pricked. Satisfied all was quiet, she pushed on, following the stale scents of cats. BlackClan came through here. She could see a few paw prints in the dirt. This must be the way to their camp!
She leapt across the next open path, landing painfully on her wounded pad. It can't be far now. She stopped to taste the air; the scents were fresher here. Ahead, a dip cut between two hills, sheltered by low-hanging pine branches and thickly woven brambles. The camp! How can I get in? The thorn barrier would rip her pelt to shreds, and the tunnel entrance would be too obvious. She paced quietly around the camp. At one end, a nearly naked pine branch dipped down to the ground. Its bark was smooth, as if many paws had walked up and down it for years, and a lavish den crouched underneath. That must be their version of Highledge. It would be risky, but she didn't see any other choice. She'd have to climb down from the leader's perch, straight into the center of camp.
Mapledawn grasped the pine trunk in her foreclaws and shimmied down, careful not to dislodge any fresh needles. She landed on a soft covering of dry pine needles and looked frantically around the camp, trying to find their nursery. There-the most secure den in camp, set inside a mound of stone with thorns wrapping around it. It was furthest from the camp entrance. Mapledawn nodded appraisingly; it was the perfect place for the most vulnerable part of camp.
She sniffed the entrance cautiously. Weaselclaw! She recognized the she-cat's scent right away, and the warm, milky scent of her four kits snuggled in the nest. Thank StarClan, Mapledawn thought as she realized Weaselclaw was the only queen inside.
"What are-" Mapledawn slapped a paw across Weaselclaw's muzzle and shook her head.
"I just want to talk to you," she whispered. Weaselclaw narrowed her eyes distrustfully, but gave a curt nod. "You were wrong about Scratchface."
"Scratchstar," corrected Weaselclaw with a hiss.
"No. StarClan never gave him his nine lives. Because you never gave yours up."
Weaseclaw shook her head. "We can't talk here. I know a secret way out. One advantage to forbidden romance. Come." She tucked her sleeping kits deeper into their nest.
At the back of the nursery, Weaseclaw shoved aside a bundle of thorns to reveal a wall of stone with pawholds leading up. They were too far-spaced for a kitten, but for a grown warrior they'd work just fine. The russet queen climbed up, Mapledawn close behind. Together, they ventured into the eerily silent Shadow forest. Ick. The stillness unnerved Mapledawn. Even at moonhigh, Thunder forest was always alive with sounds-the subtle shifting of leaves in the wind, the tiny sounds of night game moving through the underbrush.
They stopped in a grove of dark pines.
"You don't know what you're talking about," said Weaselclaw. "I did give up my nine lives."
"But StarClan-"
"Let me finish. I tried. They wouldn't take them." Her claws unsheathed. "They said they couldn't."
"Then it's clear what you have to do," said Mapledawn resolutely.
"How can I lead with four kits at my belly? How can I lead from the nursery?" Weaselclaw shook her head. "There's nothing I can do."
"That's ridiculous," Mapledawn scoffed. "Plenty of queens are leaders, too. Didn't Swiftstar have kits as leader?" And Mistystar… Whoever that is. "You simply delegate your duties to your deputy until they're apprenticed."
"But Scratchstar-Scratchface-is my deputy. He won't step down." She sighed. "You're right, Maplepaw. I misjudged him."
"It's Mapledawn now." She shook her head. "He almost killed me, you know. Before I became a warrior. And my sister-" She stopped. She couldn't say it. "A lot of good cats died. On both sides."
"It's true. These stupid battles." Weaseclaw lashed her tail. "Everyone says I'm so hard-hearted, but even I wouldn't kill elders."
"Then you have to do something. You have to save your Clan. How far do you think Scratchface will take it? Your own kits might not be safe. Your whole Clan isn't safe! Drive him out. Do whatever it takes. Reclaim your title. Save your Clan."
Weaselclaw stared at Mapledawn silently for a moment. "For such a young cat," she said, "you have a lot of nerve. Fine, Mapledawn. I see your point." She glanced back at the camp. "I have to see to my kits. But I will deal with Scratchface-somehow. You have my word."
"Before StarClan?"
Weaselclaw dipped her head. "Before StarClan."
"Thank you. FireClan thanks you. Yellowstar would probably thank you if she knew what I was doing…" Mapledawn shook her head. "I have to get back before I'm missed. Good luck, Weaselstar."
"Thanks. And Mapledawn?"
"Yes?"
"If I catch you on my territory again, I'll have your pelt for my nest."
Mapledawn stifled a laugh. Now you're sounding like a leader. Picking a few stray pine needles from her pelt, Mapledawn crept back into Shadow forest; it was still night, but she could smell dawn in the air. Birds were already calling tentatively from the trees above her head. If Weaselclaw keeps her promise, we might just be safe.
The shadows lengthened, chilled, whispered: What about your revenge, Maple?
She rolled her eyes. Haven't you figured it out yet? I don't care what you say. I don't have to justify myself to you. Turning her back on the long, inky shadows, Mapledawn headed for the Thunder border, rubbing into the first patch of grass, wet from dew, she could find. The Shadow scent faded into the fresh, wet dirt below.
"Finally home," she said to herself. Thank StarClan I got that BlackClan stink out of my pelt-
"And where have you been, Fatpaw? Or should I call you Mapleshade?"
Mapledawn stopped cold. "And should I call you Frecklefang or Frecklewish?"
"I don't know what you're yammering about." Just a foxlength from the Shadow border, Frecklefang stalked out from the shadows, circling in a hunting crouch. "All I know is Wrencatcher finally told me all about StarClan's message. Finally told me the truth." Her eyes narrowed. "It's no wonder I've always hated you. Always known what you were. And now, finally, I have proof!"
"You don't understand. I was-"
"Betraying us. Just that. No more lies." She bared her teeth, hissed. "Come on, attack me.."
"What?" She'd been following Frecklefang's movement by instinct, but now she paused. "I'd never attack a Clanmate." The she-cat still looked like she should be in the medicine den. Her tight muscles flexed under a pelt covered in freshly-healed scars, and a poultice clung green and sticky to her belly.
"Then leave. Save us all the bother. I'll tell dear Redpoppy why her only living daughter's gone." She chuckled coldly. "Although soon she'll have a whole drove of replacement kits, so I don't think she'll care."
"You're just trying to get a rise out of me." Mapledawn narrowed her eyes. "That's what this is. You want to goad me into hurting you. Then you can tell the Clan I'm evil, that I tried to kill you."
"Smart, Mapleshade, smart. But you've forgotten one thing." She lashed out; Mapledawn ducked and sliced her claws through the golden tabby's ear. Frecklefang winced and stepped back, a look of triumph contorting her face into an ugly snarl. "Your battle skills are instinctive. You can't stop yourself. I'll come back bleeding, limping, crying… No one will believe you…" She lashed out again, and Mapledawn countered again before she could stop herself. No! How had it all gone so wrong so quickly? I just wanted to save my Clan. To save all the Clans. To make Bloomspirit proud of me… to make Wrencatcher like me again. Frecklefang leapt onto her back; Mapledawn twisted and flicked her off, held her down by the throat.
Do it, the shadows said-only this time it wasn't a whisper. It was practically a screech. Do it. Do it. Do it. Do it.
"I won't!" Mapledawn backed away, her fur fluffed up, and a thorn of grief twisted in her chest. "I won't…"
Goodbye, FireClan. Mapledawn pelted through the forest, her paws barely skimming the grass. Goodbye, Redpoppy. Thrushflight. Her jaws twisted in a silent yowl of pain. Wrencatcher…