Chapter Fifteen
Oakstar stood in the entrance to Ravenwing's den. The ThunderClan leader's head was held high as he looked toward Mapleshade. "Once you're done here, I'd like you to come with me. There are some things we need to discuss."
Mapleshade swallowed. Was she in trouble? No, that didn't make any sense. She hadn't done anything wrong. Yet, she found no comfort in that thought as she followed Oakstar out from Ravenwing's den and out into the forest.
The walk up the ravine was slow, Mapleshade wincing with every step she took. Oakstar remained by her side the entire walk. He encouraged her onward in a gentle voice, nudging her forward anytime she slipped or struggled to make the next step.
Finally, they reached the top. Oakstar didn't stop walking though. He gestured for Mapleshade to follow him a little further into the forest. She staggered after him but said nothing. She was too exhausted to speak.
Oakstar leaped up onto a tree stump. Mapleshade collapsed to the ground below him, breathing hard. She glanced up at Oakstar, a look in her eyes as if to ask, 'Why in the name of StarClan have you brought me out here?'
"I'm sorry to drag you all the way out here after what you've just been through, but I couldn't risk anyone overhearing our conversation." Oakstar meowed. "Birchface told me his version of events, but I'd like to hear your side of the story. Mapleshade, what happened?"
"It wasn't RiverClan who caught that prey. It was rogues," Mapleshade said, skipping over the part in the story where she had argued with Birchface. "There were three of them - two she-cats and a tom. That's who attacked me."
"I see," Oakstar meowed. He fell silent, lost in his thoughts.
For a second, Mapleshade considered explaining more of what had happened, but she decided against it. The details didn't matter right now. Either Oakstar believed what she had said, or he didn't. Explaining how the whole fight went down wouldn't change his mind.
Oakstar leaped down from the tree stump. He started walking through the forest, but it wasn't in the direction of the camp. "We're not done here. Follow me," he called out once he realized Mapleshade hadn't moved.
"Where are we going?" Mapleshade asked, stumbling after him. Her body was still aching from the fight, and all she wanted to do was lie down in her nest, but she didn't dare complain.
"We're going to take a visit to ShadowClan," Oakstar meowed.
Mapleshade let out a purr of amusement. It didn't last long though, once she realized her leader was completely serious. "ShadowClan?" she exclaimed, stopping dead in her tracks. "Why in the name of StarClan would we visit them? You heard me say it was rogues, didn't you?"
"Of course I did," Oakstar meowed. "But I'm afraid that answer won't satisfy the rest of the Clan. Birchface has them rilled up. They want RiverClan to pay for what they've done, and so we need ShadowClan's help in doing so. That is if Smokestar's up to it. If not-"
Mapleshade's heart began pounding in her chest, and she could feel a surge of adrenaline coursing through her body once more. "Pay for what they've done? And what exactly is that? If you're talking about the battle..."
"I am," Oakstar said. "That battle may have been several moons ago, but the effects from that day are still felt by the entire Clan. It doesn't help that we've had several negative encounters with RiverClan along the border since then." When Mapleshade didn't respond, Oakstar continued, "I once thought like you, Mapleshade. I thought by keeping the peace, ThunderClan would be safe and I wouldn't have to deal with the loss of another cat." A look of pain flashed in Oakstar's eyes, and Mapleshade could only assume he was thinking of Dovesong. "But I was wrong. I'm not keeping anyone safe. I'm just prolonging the inevitable. Sooner or later, Darkstar's warriors are going to come marching right back to our camp, and someone is going to die. The only question is, who will it be?"
Mapleshade stared down at her paws. Images of the last battle flashed through her mind: the stench of blood in the air, the sounds of her Clanmates screaming as they fought for their lives. And of course, Dovesong's dead body… slaughtered in the middle of the night, without care. She then imagined her own family in Dovesong's place — her parents and sister, struck down by an enemy warrior, the light faded from their eyes as they lay to the side of the clearing in a puddle of blood. The thought made Mapleshade's stomach curl.
Maybe Birchface has been right about this all along, Mapleshade thought guiltily.
"I'm sorry," Mapleshade whispered, not lifting her head.
"What are you apologizing for? You haven't done anything wrong," Oakstar said.
"Birchface says I've been a coward, and I'm beginning to think he's right. I am a coward. I thought if—"
"You're not a coward," Oakstar interrupted her. "Neither of us are. It just took us a little longer to see what others have. And now we're going to do the right thing, once and for all."
"And how are we going to do that, exactly?" Mapleshade had a feeling she already knew the answer, but she wasn't ready to admit it.
"We're going to drive RiverClan out of the forest, once and for all," Oakstar replied.
Mapleshade's eyes squeezed shut. I knew it, she thought. Her stomach did another flip, and for a second she thought she would throw up. Stop it, she then scolded herself. This is for the best. Then no one else will be in danger, and you won't have to worry about losing anyone. But no matter how many times she repeated that thought in her head, she didn't feel any better.
Oakstar continued through the forest, eventually taking the same route toward the Thunderpath that Mapleshade had walked earlier with Birchface. Specks of dried blood — her blood — dotted the ground. Every so often, Oakstar would stop to observe them, before continuing on his way.
Finally, they reached the clearing where the fight had occurred. Oakstar stood off to the side, studying the scene before him. Mapleshade hovered a few lengths behind him. She kept her head down. She didn't feel like reliving that moment for the second time that day.
Oakstar padded forward, lowering his head to sniff at a clump of bloodied brown fur. "You were right. Rogues have been through here. A RiverClan tom passed through here as well. His scent is the same that clings to your fur."
Mapleshade's head snapped up. I never told him about Appledusk, she realized in horror. "It's not what it looks like," she blurted out, limping to Oakstar's side. "His name is Appledusk, and he came to help me. I didn't ask him to come here. We're not friends. In fact, I told him off for trespassing. I meant to tell you, but I got so caught up with everything else that… I-I would never—" The words came tumbling from her lips as soon as they sprung into her mind.
Oakstar's eyes widened. "Mapleshade, calm down. I wasn't trying to accuse you of anything. I know you would never do… 'that.'" His voice took on a disgusted tone as he spat that last word. Mapleshade let out a sigh of relief.
"Come on. Let's go," Oakstar said. He turned his back to Mapleshade and began walking in the direction of the Thunderpath.
She limped after him, silently.
The edge of the forest soon came into view, and through the gaps in the trees, Mapleshade could make out the gray stone that lined the Thunderpath. It had calmed down since she was here earlier, making for an easy passage.
When they reached the opposite side of the Thunderpath, Mapleshade collapsed into the grass. She lifted a paw to her mouth, giving it a few quick licks. "Sorry," she breathed, "I'll hurry up here in a second. My paws are just stinging."
"Take your time," Oakstar reassured her. "You've had a rough day."
She flashed him a thankful look and continued to lick at her sore paw pads. Once they were bearable enough to stand on, she hobbled after him deeper into the pine forest.
The scent of ShadowClan was overwhelming here, followed by the musty scent of marshlands and pine needles. It hung in the air, thick and unbearable. Mapleshade wrinkled her nose in disgust, wondering how any cat could dare to live here.
"How much farther do you think it'll be?" she asked.
"We're still a ways off, I'm afraid," Oakstar meowed.
Mapleshade sighed.
The two of them continued through the pine trees. By now, the sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows across the ground. With every minute that passed, the forest around them grew darker. Mapleshade shivered, pressing closer to Oakstar's side. She wasn't one to be afraid of the dark, but something was unnerving about the land ShadowClan called their own.
Just then, a rustle sounded from somewhere nearby. Mapleshade tensed, unsheathing her claws.
"Oakstar?" a voice called from somewhere up ahead. It sounded confused but peaceful. Mapleshade relaxed.
Seconds later, a ShadowClan patrol appeared. There were four of them in total. In the lead, Mapleshade recognized ShadowClan's deputy, Dustcloud. Behind her stood Rosebush, Nightshade, and an unfamiliar apprentice.
"Greetings." Oakstar dipped his head to the ShadowClan patrol.
"What brings you to ShadowClan's territory?" Dustcloud asked. Her green eyes flickered back and forth between Oakstar and Mapleshade.
"I've come to speak with Smokestar," Oakstar explained.
Dustcloud frowned. "Is everything all right in ThunderClan?"
"Look at Mapleshade," Rosebush hissed to Nightshade. "She's covered in wounds."
Dustcloud's ear twitched at the sound of Rosebush's voice. The ShadowClan deputy looked at Mapleshade, her eyes widening. "What happened? Has there been another battle?"
"Just a skirmish," Oakstar said. He looked up at the sky; the sun had well disappeared below the horizon at this point, drenching the forest in darkness.
Dustcloud followed his gaze before looking back down. "Follow me," she spoke. She gestured with her tail for every cat to follow her.
Oakstar dipped his head to her, thankful for her obedience. As they walked, Oakstar fell into step beside Dustcloud. Mapleshade followed after them, with the other three ShadowClan warriors bringing up the rear. Despite how close they walked, Mapleshade didn't get a sense of animosity from the cats.
"Are you okay?" Nightshade meowed.
Mapleshade nodded. "Yeah. Just some cuts."
"Are you sure? Your ear looks like it hurts pretty bad," the unfamiliar apprentice said. He was a stocky brown-and-white tom. By the looks of it, he hadn't been an apprentice for very long.
"It does hurt, but I'll be okay."
"Did you go see your medicine cat about the pain? That's what I always do when I get hurt. Sloefur – he's our medicine cat, by the way – always takes care of me. He's great. Maybe he could take care of you too when we get back to camp?" Hailpaw meowed.
"Hailpaw, that's enough," Rosebush ordered. She gave him a stern look, causing him to shrink down.
"He's not bothering me," Mapleshade told her. "And thank you for the offer, Hailpaw, but I've already been taken care of back home. You're very considerate, though."
Hailpaw perked up a bit but said nothing more for the rest of the walk.
When they arrived at ShadowClan's camp, they were stopped by Frogleap, who stood guard at the entrance. "What's this?" he asked Dustcloud, narrowing his eyes at Oakstar and Mapleshade.
"They've come to visit Smokestar," Dustcloud explained.
"It couldn't wait until the Gathering?" Frogleap asked, his lip curling slightly.
"I'm afraid not," Oakstar said.
Frogleap's ear twitched, but he stepped aside, allowing for the group to pass through into camp.
ShadowClan's camp was much larger than Mapleshade anticipated, located in a muddy hollow surrounded by pine trees. Shallow dens were scattered across the clearing, and at the opposite side stood a large stone. It was somewhat nice, although nothing compared to the comforts of the ThunderClan camp.
Several cats were still awake, eating fresh-kill. They looked up from their meals, staring intently at the ThunderClan newcomers. They began to whisper among themselves, their voices occasionally loud enough for Mapleshade to hear.
"ThunderClan? What are they doing here?"
"Maybe Dustcloud's taken them prisoner?"
"For what? We've never had any problems with ThunderClan. And look, Oakstar's here. It must be something important."
"I'll be right back," Dustcloud promised, returning Mapleshade's attention to her. She slipped away from the crowd and disappeared beneath the roots of an oak tree. She returned a moment later with Smokestar in tow.
Smokestar approached them, his tail high in the air. He had a friendly gleam in his eyes as he brushed against Oakstar. "Greetings! What brings you to ShadowClan so late at night, old friend?" he purred.
"I've come to discuss something with you. Preferably out of earshot," Oakstar explained.
"Of course. Follow me." Smokestar began walking back towards the camp entrance. Oakstar and Mapleshade followed after him, along with Dustcloud. They followed Smokestar through the pitch-black forest for a way, until the ShadowClan leader stopped by a boulder.
He settled down onto the ground beside the rock, giving his pelt a couple of licks. "So," he began, "what's going on?"
"As you know, ThunderClan has been having trouble with RiverClan for many seasons now," Oakstar began. "I've tried to solve this problem on my own, but things are only getting worse. They've started hunting on our territory. They attacked Mapleshade earlier today when confronted about it. Just look at her wounds. They would have killed her, had my son not intervened."
Mapleshade's stomach dropped. That wasn't the truth at all! It hadn't been RiverClan who attacked her, but Oakstar already knew that. He was deliberately lying. She looked down at her paws, trying to stay calm.
Smokestar didn't say anything at first. From what Mapleshade could see, the ShadowClan leader had a thoughtful expression on his face as he took in Oakstar's words. "What do you expect me to do about this?" he asked.
Mapleshade's eyes widened at Smokestar's harsh words. She looked at Oakstar, wondering what he was thinking, but if Oakstar was offended he didn't let it show. He let out a brisk purr, letting Smokestar's words roll off his back. "I've come to ask your help to drive RiverClan from the forest," Oakstar said.
Dustcloud let out a gasp from beside Mapleshade.
Smokestar seemed equally surprised, but before he could say anything Oakstar continued. "I know ShadowClan has been having similar problems with RiverClan. If you help me, all of our troubles will be solved. Please consider what I'm saying to you."
"You're asking a lot of me here, Oakstar. You know I'm tired of RiverClan's behavior. We all are. But to drive them from the forest entirely? Surely there's something else we can do about this…" Smokestar argued.
Oakstar shook his head. "I'm afraid there's not. I've already tried everything else, but nothing works. I'm not going to let RiverClan run amok any longer. They've already taken enough from me." He tried to seem strong, but Mapleshade could hear his voice quivering.
Smokestar sighed. "I can't give you an answer tonight. I need to think about it."
"I understand. I realize this is a large request, but I assure you the results will be worth it."
"Have you talked to Sablestar about this?" Smokestar asked.
The fur along Oakstar's neck began to bristle. Mapleshade eyed him, confused. "You know I can't talk to her about this," Oakstar snapped.
"Why not? If any cat would help you, it's her," Smokestar argued.
"I don't want her help," Oakstar hissed.
Mapleshade blinked, alarmed by Oakstar's sudden aggression. Sure, Smokestar's answer probably wasn't what Oakstar had wanted, but surely that remark wasn't enough to provoke the ThunderClan leader to anger. There had to be another reason for it, but what?
"Dustcloud, would you please escort Mapleshade back to the border for me? I need to speak with Smokestar alone," Oakstar asked.
"Oakstar, is everything all right?" Mapleshade asked.
"Everything is fine. I'll see you back at camp," Oakstar meowed.
Mapleshade frowned. She knew that wasn't the truth, but she couldn't confront him about it. Not here at least. Dipping her head to Oakstar, she followed Dustcloud in the direction of the border.
She was just about to disappear out of earshot when she heard Oakstar let out a shout. Mapleshade tensed. Were Oakstar and Smokestar fighting? She began to retrace her steps, careful not to make a noise.
Crouching underneath a bunch of ferns, Mapleshade strained her ears. To her relief, Smokestar and Oakstar hadn't been physically fighting one another as she had once feared, but things didn't seem to be going well between them. Oakstar stood a few mouse-lengths in front of Smokestar, the fur on his body fluffed out angrily. His tail was beginning to lash back and forth, and his ears were flattened against his head. Smokestar leaned away from him, his own fur prickling.
"You can't keep holding that against her. You know she can't help being half-Clan." That was Smokestar's voice.
"I don't care. It doesn't change how I feel. I will never acknowledge her as my sister, regardless if we share kin or not," Oakstar's reply was quick and harsh.
As Mapleshade listened to their conversation, she could feel her heartbeat begin to race. What were they talking about? As far as Mapleshade knew, Oakstar didn't have any siblings. And then there was what Smokestar had mentioned, about someone being half-Clan…
"Mapleshade?"
Mapleshade flinched. Spinning around, she saw Dustcloud standing there. The ShadowClan deputy had a confused look on her face as she looked down at Mapleshade.
"Sorry," Mapleshade apologized. She stood up, giving the fur on her chest a couple of nervous licks.
Dustcloud flicked an ear. "Follow me, please."
Once again, Mapleshade walked with Dustcloud towards the Thunderpath. Every so often, Dustcloud would try to make polite small talk with Mapleshade, but the conversation always died out quickly. She wasn't in the mood to talk anyways. The only thing on her mind was what she had overheard between Oakstar and Smokestar.
I must have misunderstood, Mapleshade thought. Yet she couldn't shake the feeling that wasn't the case.
When they finally reached the border, Dustcloud hesitated near the edge of the forest. "Would you like me to escort you across the Thunderpath?" she asked.
Mapleshade shook her head. "No, thank you. Just give me a couple of minutes to rest, and I'll be able to make it across by myself."
"Are you sure? I don't mind."
Mapleshade nodded. "Yeah. I can manage on my own."
I hope I can, anyway, Mapleshade thought. Her entire body ached as she settled down, trying to recuperate. Why did Oakstar have to make this trip today? Why couldn't he have waited until tomorrow?
"I think I'm ready now," Mapleshade said, staggering to her paws. She thanked Dustcloud once more and began hobbling toward the Thunderpath.
To her relief, the Thunderpath was silent. Creeping towards the edge, Mapleshade looked both ways and pressed a paw to the sharp black stone. She didn't see any oncoming monsters or feel any vibrations, which meant it was safe to cross.
As quickly as she could, Mapleshade hurried across. The pain she felt in her paws only increased with each step, but there was no time to stop.
When she reached the safety of the forest, Mapleshade let out a sigh of relief. She laid down in the grass, closing her eyes for just a moment…
"Mapleshade," a voice called, followed by several pokes.
Mapleshade squeezed her eyes tighter. Go away.
"Mapleshade!"
Mapleshade's eyes shot open. She could feel sharp blades of grass poking at her face and body. Scrambling to her paws, she then noticed Oakstar standing there.
"Wha… What happened?" she asked, groggily. She looked around, horrified to see that she had been lying close to the Thunderpath.
"You must have fallen asleep," Oakstar explained. "Let's move away from here, quickly."
Mapleshade nodded and hurried deeper into the forest. As they walked, she noticed rays of pink light appearing through the tree line. She had slept until morning.
"I'm sorry I fell asleep," she apologized.
"It's okay. I should have been more considerate of your condition than leave you alone like that," Oakstar meowed. "How are you feeling now?"
"Tired," Mapleshade admitted. The pain in her body seemed slightly better. Her ear was still throbbing terribly, but everything else seemed manageable. She knew that with more sleep (and a visit to Ravenwing) she would be recovered in no time.
"I'll make sure you're excused from your duties today," Oakstar promised.
"Thank you, Oakstar," Mapleshade said.
"And thank you for coming with me. I realize I've asked a lot of you today and pushed you more than I should have. Especially since things didn't go exactly how I planned," Oakstar muttered the last part under his breath. An irritated look crossed his face.
"Smokestar doesn't want to help?" Mapleshade asked.
"He wants more time to think about it," Oakstar said.
"Oh."
The conversation she had overheard between the two leaders flashed through Mapleshade's mind again. She wanted to ask Oakstar about it so that she could make sense of things, but she knew it wasn't her place.
"What's wrong? You look troubled," Oakstar said, interrupting Mapleshade's thoughts.
Mapleshade stopped walking. Should I?
"If you have something to say, then say it. Don't hold your tongue," Oakstar commanded.
Mapleshade took a deep breath. "I'm sorry, but I overheard a bit of your conversation with Smokestar. I heard the two of you mention some cat being half-Clan and something about you having a sister. I know I probably just misunderstood, but..."
She dug her claws into the ground, bracing herself for the worst, but when she looked up at Oakstar's face, there was no hint of animosity present.
"You didn't misunderstand anything," Oakstar said. He looked off into the distance, not saying anything for a second. "Very few cats know this, but the truth is… Sablestar of WindClan is my half-sister. I'm not proud of that fact, but I trust you."
An involuntary gasp left Mapleshade's mouth before she could think. Sablestar was Oakstar's half-sister? How could that be? But the more she thought about it, the less surprised she felt. She had always heard rumors about Sablestar's parentage, but she always assumed them to be just that – rumors. Yet now that she knew the truth, she couldn't deny the similarities between the two cats. They had the same brown pelt and similar builds. The only differences between the two were their eye colors, and Sablestar's legs being longer.
"Before I was born, my father became infatuated with a WindClan warrior. Her name was Sorrelwind, and she was the daughter of WindClan's leader. I don't know how long they knew each other, or how serious their relationship was, but eventually, Sorrelwind became pregnant. My father had just become deputy, so when he heard the news, he was afraid his reputation would be ruined and he would lose his position. He quickly took a mate in ThunderClan – Thistleflower, my mother. Soon after, I was born. Even though my father never loved my mother, he felt guilty for using her. He eventually confessed the truth to her. She took the news well and said that she didn't mind what my father did since the blood of ThunderClan's leaders ran through her kit's blood. She promised to keep his secret, as long as he agreed to stay with her," Oakstar explained.
A flash of pain crossed Oakstar's face as he continued, "Despite this, my parent's relationship was strained. They tried their best to be good parents, but I always knew something wasn't right between them. It wasn't until I got older that I figured out why. One day during a Gathering, Sablestar – she was still a warrior at this time – approached me. She told me that we were half-siblings and shared the same father. I didn't believe her at first. Why should I? My father was the most loyal cat I knew, or so I thought. Despite my faith in him, I couldn't let Sablestar's words go. I eventually confronted him about what she had said, and he confirmed it. He told me everything I've told you tonight," Oakstar meowed.
Mapleshade was silent for a few moments. "Thank you for telling this to me."
"You're welcome, Mapleshade. But you must promise to keep this between us. I know there are rumors about Sablestar floating around, but no cat can know the full story," Oakstar ordered.
"I would never tell anyone, I swear," Mapleshade vowed.
"Good. My father may walk with StarClan now, but I don't want his reputation to suffer from his immoral actions," Oakstar said.
A wave of unease washed over Mapleshade. "Immoral…?"
"Yes. Nothing good can ever come from a half-Clan relationship. It can only cause pain and heartbreak for all involved and leaves the kits confused and torn between two different worlds. It goes directly against the warrior code, and what StarClan has ordained for us. If they wanted the Clans to mingle together, they would have never split us apart to begin with. While I respect Sablestar as leader of WindClan, she should have never been born," Oakstar said. He had a faraway look in his eyes, and the fur along his neck and back was starting to bristle.
Mapleshade's ears flattened to her head. Isn't that a bit harsh? she thought. It wasn't Sablestar's fault her parents came from two separate Clans, so to say she should have never been born…
"Thank you for listening to my story." Oakstar's voice shook Mapleshade from her thoughts. Looking up, she saw that he seemed to have calmed down.
"Yes. Of course." She tried to fake a cheerful tone but failed miserably.
"Let's go home. I've kept you out long enough," Oakstar said.
The sun had fully risen over the horizon, casting pink and orange light across the forest. It was the complete opposite of the dark and gloomy feeling Mapleshade now felt inside.