Chapter Sixteen
While I respect Sablestar as leader of WindClan, she should have never been born.
Oakstar's words repeated in Mapleshade's mind the entire walk home. Each time, a sick feeling she couldn't get rid of washed over her.
Sablestar's existence – and every other cat just like her – went directly against the warrior code, the very law that held the four Clans together. If the entire forest found out the truth, Mapleshade knew they would agree with Oakstar on the matter.
I can't help but think that's not right, though, Mapleshade thought. Sablestar didn't choose to be half-Clan. She shouldn't be punished or shamed for what some other cat did. Nor should any other cat like her.
Mapleshade glanced at Oakstar. She wondered what kind of relationship Oakstar would have had with Sablestar if things had been different, and the warrior code didn't exist. She then thought of Dawnfeather, and how close they were. Would Oakstar want to spend time with Sablestar like that? Did he ever regret not being able to?
I wonder how different the forest would be if the warrior code didn't exist. We wouldn't have to fight one another over resources anymore. We could live in peace.
Appledusk's face popped into her mind. He wasn't her friend by any means, but he was the only cat outside of ThunderClan she somewhat knew. If the warrior code didn't exist, how different would things be between them?
A wave of guilt washed over Mapleshade. I shouldn't be thinking things like this. StarClan gave us the warrior code for a reason. It isn't right to go against it.
She looked at Oakstar again, thankful that he couldn't read her mind.
And yet, those feelings secretly harbored in the back of her heart. Tucked so far away, that not even Mapleshade herself realized it.
The sun was high in the blue, cloudless sky as Mapleshade and Oakstar finally arrived back at camp.
Since most of the patrols had already gone out hours earlier, everything was quiet. The few cats that remained in camp lifted their heads, their eyes sparkling as soon as they noticed their leader's return.
"Welcome home!" Sweetbriar exclaimed, bounding over to Oakstar.
"Thank you. I assume everything went smoothly while I was away?" Oakstar asked.
Sweetbriar nodded. "Not a single fur out of place," she assured him.
"Good, good." Oakstar went quiet for a second, his eyes scanning the clearing. "Is Beetail out on patrol?"
"Yes. He took Rowanfur, Birchface, and Goldenmist hunting towards Fourtrees. They left early this morning, so they should be coming back any moment now."
"I hope they won't run into any trouble," Oakstar sighed.
Sweetbriar frowned. "I'm sure everything will be alright. Hey, have you eaten yet? Whitefoot caught a huge squirrel this morning. We could share it if you'd like," she offered.
"That would be nice. Thank you."
Oakstar bid Mapleshade goodbye and followed Sweetbriar over to the fresh-kill pile.
Mapleshade contemplated getting something to eat for herself, but she decided against it. She was beyond exhausted, every part of her body aching with a pain she had never felt before.
Too tired to even make it to the warrior's den, she curled up beneath a clump of ferns towards the edge of camp and drifted off into a dreamless sleep.
The next week passed without much incident.
There was no sign of RiverClan, or of the rogues that had attacked Mapleshade. Oakstar had made sure to send extra patrols out towards Snakerocks, in hopes of catching any trespassers, but their scent had gone stale long ago.
There was also no word from Smokestar. While Mapleshade hadn't spoken to Oakstar since she had traveled to ShadowClan with him, she could tell just by observing him that he was growing impatient.
Mapleshade's stomach churned as she wondered what Oakstar would do next. Would he give up on trying to drive RiverClan from the forest, or would he try something even more reckless: trying to drive them out by himself?
A shiver ran down Mapleshade's spine, and she willed herself to push the thought away.
Focusing on the task ahead of her, Mapleshade bounded after Oakstar and Cherrypetal in the direction of Fourtrees. She had been given the clear this morning, allowing her to tag along on the dawn patrol.
"Feels good to get out of camp for a while, doesn't it, Mapleshade?" Cherrypetal purred, stopping to sharpen her claws against a tree.
"When's the last time you left camp?" Oakstar asked.
Cherrypetal went silent, tilting her head back in thought. "Oh StarClan, I couldn't even tell you. At least a moon. No, wait, Deerdapple and I went to collect moss for the nursery…"
Mapleshade's whiskers twitched in amusement, but she quickly tuned out their conversation. She walked ahead, marking some trees as she went. ThunderClan's scent was still strong in the air, but Oakstar was determined to keep the borders marked. He wanted to send RiverClan a message: ThunderClan was strong and vigilant, and they would not tolerate trespassing.
"Deerkit and Doekit will be apprenticed before you know it." Mapleshade heard Oakstar say. He then sighed. "Our Clan has gone far too long without them."
"Well, like you said, there will be a whole den of apprentices before you know it. I know all the kits are eager for their training. Crowkit's already practicing her hunting crouch," Cherrypetal meowed.
"That's what I like to hear."
"Embershine's proud as can be. She tried to teach Stormkit the same thing, but…"
Mapleshade tuned out of the conversation again.
The three of them continued toward Fourtrees.
Just as Mapleshade was about to walk down into the clearing, a bone-chilling scream split the air, causing her stomach to lurch. She whipped around, claws unsheathed, but to her surprise, Oakstar and Cherrypetal stood unharmed.
"What was that?" Mapleshade hissed.
"I don't know. It sounds like it was coming from over there," Cherrypetal said, bounding away in the direction of the Thunderpath.
Mapleshade and Oakstar followed her, picking up the pace as the screams grew louder and more frequent.
Oakstar crawled under a holly tree, pressing his belly to the ground as he peered up ahead. Mapleshade copied him, hanging a few tail-lengths back. Through the branches, she could make out a group of cats surrounding a ginger-and-white shape. Off to the side, a black cat crouched, wailing desperately as a tortoiseshell she-cat clung to his back.
"That's Sloefur!" Cherrypetal exclaimed.
Without hesitation, Oakstar burst out from under the holly, charging at the group of cats. Mapleshade and Cherrypetal followed, launching themselves into battle.
Mapleshade grabbed a scrawny ginger tom from behind, pulling him onto the ground. He let out a startled cry, peering up at Mapleshade in complete shock.
At first, she didn't take him as anything other than a rogue. A strange scent she couldn't place clung to his ragged, unkempt fur. But as the two of them began to fight, Mapleshade realized this was Creekstep of RiverClan.
They've resorted to attacking medicine cats now? Mapleshade thought angrily as she dealt another blow to Creekstep's shoulder. On ThunderClan's territory, no less!
The fight didn't last long. Creekstep pulled away from Mapleshade and retreated into the undergrowth, the rest of the cats following not long after.
Mapleshade turned her attention back toward Sloefur, who crouched over the unmoving body of Mudpool, his apprentice. He rubbed a paw up and down her ribs, hoping to find a heartbeat, but there was none.
"She walks with StarClan now," Sloefur sighed, crumpling to the ground.
"I'm so sorry," Oakstar murmured, bowing his head. The forest was quiet for several moments as the cats mourned for Mudpool. While Mapleshade didn't know her, the loss of a medicine cat was always hard, no matter what Clan. They were sacred cats, chosen by StarClan themselves. So for RiverClan to slay one so thoughtlessly? It was unthinkable.
"Can you tell us what happened?" Mapleshade asked.
Sloefur lifted his head. "We had just traveled to Mothermouth to share tongues with StarClan. We stopped to take a break and look for herbs when we were attacked. They were ruthless. I've seen many battles in my lifetime, but none quite like this. It was as though they were trying to kill us. And as you can see…"
"They succeeded," Oakstar finished, scowling.
"Yes." Sloefur sighed again.
"It was RiverClan," Mapleshade spoke up.
"RiverClan?" Sloefur's eyes widened in horror. "Are you positive? I didn't recognize any of them."
"I'm positive. I chased off Creekstep. At first, I didn't recognize him, but I have no doubts in my mind," Mapleshade said.
"Thank StarClan I'm not going crazy," Cherrypetal spoke up. "I knew I was fighting Carpclaw, but he didn't smell like any RiverClan cat I knew."
"There were rogues with them. I recognize the scent. They're the same ones who attacked you, Mapleshade. Maybe not the same cats, but they come from the same group," Oakstar said.
Mapleshade was quiet as she pondered Oakstar's words. Now that he said that, she had to admit there was something oddly familiar about Creekstep's scent. But if RiverClan was working together with the rogues, why had Appledusk helped her that day?
Mapleshade's mind whirled as she thought back to every recent encounter with RiverClan. How out of control their warriors seemed to be, how frail Darkstar had been at Sunningrocks, the rogues…
I didn't kill that rabbit. It was those rogues. They've been stealing prey from us too
We've been picking up their scent along the river for a while now. Darkstar won't do anything about it,
She's sick.
Appledusk's words echoed in her mind repeatedly.
"I think the rogues have taken over RiverClan," Mapleshade spoke up.
Oakstar stared at her, his ears flattened against his head. "Taken over, or allowed in? If Creekstep and Carpclaw were working together with the rogues, it seems to me as though they're allies. There was a RiverClan warrior with the rogues last time as well — Appledusk, I believe you said his name was?"
Mapleshade nodded, lowering her gaze.
"Why would RiverClan be working with rogues? Have they no shame?" Cherrypetal hissed.
"Of course they don't! Look at how those bloated fish-eaters behave! They've desecrated the warrior code and everything it stands for. Killing warriors isn't good enough for them anymore. Now they've resorted to murdering medicine cats," Oakstar raged.
Mapleshade looked back at Sloefur. The ShadowClan medicine cat was prodding at craps of herbs that were scattered across the ground.
"Do you want help?" she asked, walking up to him.
Sloefur shook his head. "These are useless now. Besides, I have other things to take care of now…" He looked at Mudpool's body, sighing.
"Do you want me to help you carry her home?" Mapleshade offered.
"ThunderClan will escort you back to your camp if you'd like," Oakstar said.
"Thank you, but this is ShadowClan's matter." Sloefur looked as though he wanted to say something else, but he held back.
"Of course. I understand."
Sloefur dipped his head. "Have your warriors ready. I imagine Smokestar will be visiting you tomorrow."
Oakstar's whiskers twitched. "Noted. Tell him I said thank you."
Sloefur nodded. He then picked Mudpool up by the scruff, dragging her body into the undergrowth in the direction of the Thunderpath.
Once he was out of earshot, Cherrypetal gave Oakstar a panicked expression. "What did he mean by that?"
"ShadowClan is going to help us drive RiverClan from the forest once and for all!" Oakstar yowled, his voice echoing throughout the clearing.
Several pairs of eyes reflected in the faint moonlight as the cats of ThunderClan gazed up at their leader. He sat high above them, perched on the edge of the Highrock as he continued his speech.
Just as Sloefur had predicted, Smokestar had come to speak with Oakstar, agreeing to help him drive RiverClan from the forest once and for all. While Mapleshade hadn't been privy to the conversation, she could assume what was said. Smokestar was furious, and he wouldn't allow RiverClan's misdeeds to go unpunished any longer.
"We will not stop until RiverClan is gone. And when that day comes, the forest will change forever," Oakstar continued. "No cat will ever lose their life in an unnecessary battle. No cat will ever have to starve to death. There will be no more hatred between the Clans. There will be peace!"
Cheers erupted throughout the clearing.
Mapleshade stayed silent.