"Birchface?" Mapleshade croaked, her eyes locked on the tom with disbelief. "But how! You and Flowerpaw fell into the river!"
The dark brown tom was staring at her worriedly, his tail flicking as he say beside her. "A twoleg found me and saved me. I escaped a few sunrises ago. But you, Mapleshade, why are you and these kits out here? Why aren't you back at camp?"
Mapleshade uncurled her tail, revealing her tiny kits as she answered him wearily, "Well, Appledusk fathers the kits. But they all assumed you did... when I told them the truth Oakstar exiled me and the kits. I just had them this morning, so I'm exhausted."
Birchface narrowed his eyes and got to his paws, looking around for a few heartbeats. "Stay here with the kits, you need to eat and have water. Once you're rested we'll go back to camp."
"Didn't you hear me? I was exiled!" Mapleshade protested, her tail twitching.
"And I'll change that. Now wait here while I catch you something to eat," The tom flicked his tail over her ear and padded off into the trees. Mapleshade covered her kits with her fluffy tail once more and closed her eyes, trying to sleep like she knew she needed.
Birchface laid curled around Mapleshade as she finished eating the plump squirrel the tom had caught her, watching the three small bundles of fur that laid curled up against her belly. Mapleshade swiped her tongue over her jaws and lapped at the water soaked moss, feeling better now that she'd been able to eat and have water. Thank Starclan he found me.
"Will you help me carry them to camp?" Mapleshade mewed, looking at Birchface hopefully, her paws working the ground anxiously.
Birchface nodded and the two rose to their paws, the tom picking up Larchkit and Patchkit while Mapleshade lifted Petalkit. Her pale pelt looked exactly like her father's, meanwhile Larchkit's pelt matched Birchface's dark pelt. Mapleshade made the mental note that kits could pass as the Thunderclan warrior's if she hadn't been so honest. But she hated lying to her clanmates. The two cats padded towards the camp slowly, Mapleshade's paws prickling as her nerves started up. Once they reached near enough by the Riverclan border, Birchface stopped and set the two tom-kits down and looked at Mapleshade.
"You wait here with them while I go all the way to camp and talk to my father and clanmates. I'll come get you and the kits when I'm done," Birchface meowed steadily, nodding to Mapleshade before he turned and ran towards the Thunderclan camp.
Mapleshade sat on the earthy ground, keeping the kits tucked behind her paws against her belly, her tail curled over her paws to shield them. A splash in the river made Mapleshade crane her neck to see what it could be. A sleek light brown pelt was swimming toward the Thunderclan bank and Mapleshade's heart skipped a beat. Appledusk emerged from the water and shook his pelt, looking at Mapleshade with a light in his green eyes.
"Mapleshade, why are you out here? Where are the kits?" Appledusk asked, nuzzling her ear.
Mapleshade revealed the small bundles of fur to the Riverclan tom, her chest swelling with pride as the tom sniffed the kits and straightened, looking at Mapleshade.
"Why did you bring them out of camp. They're far too young to leave the nursery," He meowed.
"Oakstar exiled us, learning you were the kits' father," Mapleshade started to explain, about to bring up Birchface when Appledusk's holly colored eyes flashed.
The pale tom hissed, "Seriously? You've endangered the kits by bringing them out here! Mapleshade is your brain full of minnows? That was so irresponsible!"
Mapleshade pulled away from him with a disbelieving hiss, "Did you not hear me say they threw us out?"
Appledusk narrowed his eyes and snorted before turning away. "Don't bother meeting anymore Mapleshade. I've found a cat in Riverclan who's more suiting as a mate. I suggest you do the same. Endangering those kits... you fool." Mate? What? Reedshine! That mousebrain fool really turned against me and his own kits?
Mapleshade watched in shock as the tom she had once loved and believed to love her slipped onto the river and swam back to his own territory. Mapleshade's heart felt iced over and cracked, a dark anger boiling bemeath her pelt. She curled around her kits as her blood boiled. That ignorant Riverclan tom!
"Mapleshade, it's time," Birchface padded up to her and dipped his head, lifting Patchkit and Larchkit while Mapleshade picked up Petalkit.
Mapleshade followed Birchface into the camp, keeping her head low, her tail dragging behind her as she stopped beside Birchface, setting Petalkit beside her brothers at their paws. Oakstar stood on the highrock and looked down at Mapleshade and the kits, his amber eyes unreadable.
"Is it true, Mapleshade? You lied about Appledusk being the kits' father so you could join Riverclan and take revenge on him?" Oakstar meowed steadily, his voice rasping. "Are these kits truly Birchface's?"
Mapleshade glanced at Birchface who looked at her and the look they exchanged briefly told her everything she needed to know. Starclan forgive me. She raised her head to meet the leader's gaze, "Yes. I couldn't bare the thought of my kits' father being dead and the murderer being left unpunished."
Birchface pressed against her side and intertwined their tails, further convincing the warriors of the lie. "When I found Mapleshade I was very angry she and my kits were tossed out. She told me about her plans to join Riverclan and take her revenge because she couldn't bare the thought of her kits growing up without their father while his murdered walked free."
Oakstar blinked for a moment and his shoulders dropped, he looked tired and relieved. "I apologize for being so cruel, Mapleshade. You and your kits are more than welcome to remain in Thunderclan, I hope you can forgive me."
Mapleshade dipped her head and relief washed over her, she and her kits could stay. She'd raise these kits to be loyal to Thunderclan, and Birchface would act as their father. I'll make you regret it, Appledusk.