Chapter Twenty-one
Mapleshade raced through the forest, her legs feeling as if they'd been replaced with wings as she made her way back to ThunderClan's camp.
Never had she been gone for so long, but now that the ravine was in sight, her heart soared. Carefully, she climbed down the rocky path, squeezing through the gorse her head high, she met the looks of surprise on her Clanmate's faces head-on.
"Mapleshade, you're back!" Goldenmist hurried forward, eyes wide. "And you found Nettlekit. I don't believe it!"
"It's a miracle from StarClan," Oakstar meowed, standing next to Goldenmist. He sniffed at Mapleshade's flank. "You must tell us what happened, but first: are you injured?"
"And what about Nettlekit? Is he all right?" Goldenmist looked toward the nursery. "Embershine, go get Dawnfeather!"
Embershine, who was already heading in that direction, slipped into the bramble den. Dawnfeather darted out a second later, rushing to meet her kin. She covered Nettlekit in frantic licks, her entire body shaking.
"You brought him home. You have no idea how worried I was, about both of you!" Dawnfeather nuzzled Mapleshade.
"We thought the rogues had killed you when you never came back," Embershine said. "And we weren't sure what poor Nettlekit had waiting for him either."
Mapleshade nuzzled Dawnfeather back. Thoughts of her sister's safety had plagued her ever since she'd taken off to rescue Nettlekit. Knowing she'd survived the attack made her heart at peace. "I've got a few cuts, but nothing serious, Oakstar," Mapleshade told her leader, looking back at him. "There's a lot I want to tell you."
A grim look crossed Oakstar's face. "We'll discuss it later. Right now, I want you and Nettlekit to go see Ravenwing."
"So some of RiverClan's warriors left to join the rogues," Oakstar murmured.
Mapleshade nodded. "Three of them, from what I could tell. It's possible there were more of them, but I didn't take the time to look."
Oakstar fell silent. Mapleshade could only assume he was trying to think back on something. "I've noticed some of their warriors have been missing for a while now. I thought it was odd Darkstar never said anything, but now I know why. Thank you for sharing this with me." Oakstar's eyes narrowed. "However..."
Mapleshade's tail drooped.
"It's not up to you to take off like that. You should've come directly to me first. You could've died out there, alone in the Twolegs Place like that, and then none of us would've known what happened to you. Nettlekit would've never been found, and then what?" Oakstar sighed as though he were lecturing an apprentice who forgot to check the elders for ticks.
"I know, Oakstar, but there was no time. I had to do it like this," Mapleshade argued. "We never would've found him otherwise."
"You didn't have to. You wanted to because you thought you knew better. You thought you could figure this out on your own. You didn't think to consult the rest of us. We would've helped you, Mapleshade."
The fur on the back of her neck began to bristle. Digging her claws into the ground, she met his expression straight on. "I brought him back, didn't I?"
"That's not the point. The point is you risked your life without telling any of us first. You can't just run off into the face of danger doing whatever you want, because you think you know what you're doing!" Oakstar huffed.
"I know it was dangerous, but does that really matter now? Nettlekit is safe. I'm safe. I won't do something like this again if that's what you're worried about. But in the meantime, the least you could do is thank me!" Mapleshade snapped.
Oakstar's eyes widened. Before he could say anything, the lichen at the entrance to his den swished, and Birchface walked in.
"I came back to camp as soon as I heard the news!" he explained. He pressed against her flank, purring.
Mapleshade tensed at first. "How did you know?"
Birchface lifted his head. "Bloomheart came to the training grounds and told us. At first, I thought he was joking, but… you're really home!"
"Training grounds?" Mapleshade echoed. What was Birchface doing there? He didn't have an apprentice of his own.
"I've been training Crowpaw since you disappeared," he explained. "I know I can never replace you as her mentor, but I thought since you were gone…"
Mapleshade touched her nose to his shoulder. "Thank you, Birchface. That was really nice of you. How is Crowpaw?" Her stomach flipped with guilt as she thought about her apprentice. Crowpaw had already been distraught over Rabbitfur's death, so Mapleshade could only imagine what the young she-cat was feeling after her mentor's unexpected disappearance.
"She's doing well. You're a good mentor, Mapleshade. You've taught her a lot. I was surprised. But come on, she'll be dying to see you again. She was worried sick when you disappeared." Birchface nudged her toward the entrance.
"Mapleshade and I were having a conversation," Oakstar spoke up, eyeing his son.
Birchface flicked an ear, an unreadable expression crossing his face. "And you can finish it another time."
To Mapleshade's relief, Oakstar didn't say anything else. She followed Birchface over to the fresh-kill pile where Crowpaw was standing.
Crowpaw let out an excited mew, pressing against Mapleshade's side, her tail held high. "I'm so happy to see you. I thought you were dead. And… this might sound silly, but I was starting to think I was cursed!"
"Cursed?" Mapleshade echoed.
"Yeah, cursed. Because of everything that's been happening lately with Rowanfur, Deerpaw, and Rabbitfur. And then you disappeared, and Nettlekit too. We all thought you were dead." Crowpaw ducked her head, shuffling her paws in the sand.
"Well, you're not cursed. And I'm glad to see you again. Both of you." Mapleshade glanced at Birchface. "You have no idea how good it is to be home. I never want to step paw anywhere near the Twoleg's Place again!"
"I can't believe you navigated it all by yourself," Birchface meowed.
Mapleshade's heart dropped into her stomach. She swallowed, trying to seem nonchalant. "It wasn't easy." That was true. Still, she felt guilty for lying to her Clanmates like this. Without Appledusk's help, she never would've been able to rescue Nettlekit. She couldn't tell them that though. Oakstar was furious enough with her. There was no telling what he would say if he learned the truth.
This was just another thing she'd have to keep close to her chest.
Mapleshade placed her front paws on her fluffy tail, thankful to get them off the frozen ground.
It had been two moons since her rendezvous through the Twoleg's Place with Appledusk. It was now the middle of leafbare, the unforgiving season sinking its claws in deep on all of the forest's inhabitants, Mapleshade would've opted to stay home during a night like this, but she hadn't been allowed to attend the last few Gatherings as punishment for taking off. She wasn't entirely surprised by Oakstar's decision, but she couldn't help feeling annoyed.
As she sat there waiting for the Gathering to start, she looked around the clearing trying to spot Appledusk. Due to the cold weather, most of the warriors in attendance had opted to stick with their own Clan, huddled together for warmth.
RiverClan sat off to the side, their fur fluffed up. Mapleshade picked through the crowd with her eyes hoping to catch a glimpse of him, but he was nowhere to be found. Was Darkstar still punishing him? Mapleshade's paws itched to ask one of his Clanmates about his whereabouts, but she knew how suspicious that would seem.
Suddenly, an idea came to her. She walked toward the RiverClan warriors, trying to ignore the sting in her paws from the icy ground. "How are things running in RiverClan this season?" she began, trying to seem as inconspicuous as possible.
"Cold," Eeltail said, shivering a bit. "I don't imagine things are much better in ThunderClan?"
"I'm afraid not. We've got as much snow as the rest of you," Mapleshade meowed.
"I'd imagine WindClan's taken the brunt of this weather, being out in the open like they are," Lilynose interrupted. "Can't imagine how any of them make it out alive."
"Everyone knows WindClan cats are half-rabbit. They burrow underground. Keeps them warm," Eeltail teased.
"Maybe we should try that. I'm tired of getting my paws soaked every day in this weather, and that's saying something!" Lilynose snorted.
"Don't think about crossing the river into ThunderClan's territory now that the river is frozen," Mapleshade said lightheartedly.
Eeltail shook her head. "Wouldn't do us any good even if we did. We'd still be as cold over there as we are in our own territory. And just as wet. Only difference is over there, we wouldn't have any fish to eat."
"Is the prey running well?" Mapleshade wondered.
"We're surviving." Eeltail straightened up. A look of suspicion flitted across her face. "This isn't the first leafbare we've gone through, and it won't be our last. I hope the same can be said about ThunderClan?"
Mouse-dung! "Yes, of course. I was just wondering. I noticed one of your warriors, Appledusk, out on the ice the other day, and it made me curious. That's all," Mapleshade lied.
"Appledusk?" Lilynose's eyes widened. "What was he doing out there?" she hissed to Eeltail, so faintly Mapleshade barely registered it.
"I don't know, but are you really surprised?"
"No, I guess not. Do you think we should tell Darkstar?"
Eeltail shook her head. "Let it go. He's not worth it."
Mapleshade frowned. So Appledusk was still being punished after all. She couldn't believe that after all this time, his Clanmates would still hold a grudge against him. With a pang in her chest, she recounted what he shared with her about Cherrypaw. If Eeltail's words were anything to go by, it seemed as though Redtail wasn't the only RiverClan warrior holding a bit of contempt for Appledusk. It must've grown after his unexplained disappearance, especially considering several of their warriors had abandoned them right before.
"Don't say anything," Reedshine urged. "Appledusk has been through enough. There's no point in getting him into more trouble."
"You know, I'm not even sure it was Appledusk I saw. I could've been mistaken," Mapleshade blurted out.
Reedshine narrowed her eyes. "You probably were, ThunderClan cat. Like you can even tell your own paws from your tail."
Lilynose let out a purr of amusement.
"Don't," Eeltail sighed.
"But she's trying to see how vulnerable we are," Reedshine argued.
Mapleshade glared. "No, I wasn't. I was just curious."
"In that case, wait for Darkstar to make her report. She'll tell you all you need to know about RiverClan since you're so 'curious.'" Reedshine turned away with a huff, going to sit closer to the center for warmth.
What an insufferable little mouse-brain! Mapleshade thought, stomping back to her Clanmates. She sandwiched herself between Birchface and Graytuft, grateful for their body heat.
"Where'd you disappear to?" Graytuft wondered, shivering a bit at the coldness of her fur.
Mapleshade rubbed her paws on her tail. "I wanted to see how RiverClan was doing now that the river's frozen."
"I don't expect you got an answer from them," Birchface remarked.
"No." Mapleshade glanced over her shoulder at Reedshine, then back at Birchface. "But that Reedshine sure is a mouse-brain. I don't know how anyone puts up with her."
"Maybe that's why some of RiverClan's warriors ran away?" Graytuft joked.
Mapleshade snorted. "Probably. I'd run away too if she were my Clanmate. StarClan help them!"
It wasn't long before the leaders leaped onto the Great Rock, beginning the Gathering. There wasn't much to report for this time of year, although Sablestar had sad news to share: one of WindClan's elders, Midgepelt, was attacked by a badger and later succumbed to his injuries.
As soon as the report came to a close, every Clan went their separate directions, ready for the warmth of their nests.
With one last look towards RiverClan, Mapleshade couldn't ignore the disappointment she felt knowing that Appledusk wasn't in attendance. She couldn't shake her feeling of guilt, either. It was her fault Appledusk was being punished so harshly. Sure, he'd opted to come out of his own volition, but Mapleshade knew he wouldn't of done this for any other cat. He'd gone out of his way to help her because he liked her, and now he was being punished for it.
"Are you tired?" Birchface asked, shaking her from her thoughts.
"Not really, but my paws are killing me."
"Mine too. I'm going to talk Beetail into postponing the dawn patrol if I can. It's too cold in the mornings."
"You should ask if you can join Crowpaw and me on the sunhigh hunting patrol. I promised I'd take her hunting near Snakerocks tomorrow," Mapleshade suggested.
Birchface held his tail up high. "That's a brilliant idea. Any prey in the area will be drawn to the warmth in the rocks, and we won't have to worry about adders this time of year. I'm sure we could come out of it with a couple of mice."
"It'll be good to test Crowpaw's skills, too. I've been postponing her assessment because of the weather."
Birchface let out a wistful sigh. "I can't believe it's almost time for that. I wish I had an apprentice of my own. We could've been mentors together."
Mapleshade frowned. "There's always next time. Maybe you'll get one of Dawnfeather's kits. Or even one of Embershine's?"
"Maybe, but that's still a long way off. Embershine's haven't even been born yet," Birchface said.
"They'll still need mentors when the time comes," Mapleshade pointed out.
"True. I guess I just can't help feeling disappointed. I feel like I've missed out on so much since I got sick. I'm finally getting back to where I was, but it's hard to look around and realize the world didn't wait up for me."
Mapleshade blinked at him sympathetically. "That's because you're on your own path. I know it's hard, but you can't compare yourself to everyone else. StarClan has something planned for you that no one else can do."
Birchface shook his head. "I wish I could believe that. But right now, all I can see is a burden and a disappointment."
Mapleshade stood at the top of the ravine, watching as Birchface disappeared through the gorse tunnel. She longed for the right words to comfort him, but her tongue caught in her throat. Birchface was her friend, and here she was, unable to console him.
"Don't worry about him," Goldenmist whispered, falling into place next to Mapleshade. "He'll be fine. The cold weather's got him down, is all."
"I can't help but feel bad for him." Mapleshade carefully stepped on a rock, testing to make sure it wasn't too slippery. "He's the only one of us who hasn't had an apprentice yet."
"Dawnfeather hasn't either," Goldenmist pointed out.
"That's different. She's in the nursery right now."
"And Birchface has been sick to no fault of his own. He needed time to heal. Giving him an apprentice would've been too much for him to handle at the time." Goldenmist sighed. "This is going to sound selfish of me, but I'm glad Birchface doesn't have an apprentice. It makes dealing with what happened to Deerpaw easier. I don't think I would've handled it as well as I did if I had to watch my brother console me before rushing off to train his own apprentice."
Mapleshade squeezed through the gorse tunnel after her. "It's selfish, but I understand."
"Good. I was starting to think I was the biggest fox-heart in the entire forest," Goldenmist confessed.
"Well, like I said to Birchface, maybe you'll get one of Dawnfeather or Embershine's kits? And you know, newleaf always makes the nursery a bit more crowded."
Goldenmist's whiskers twitched. "You're not hinting at something, are you?"
Mapleshade's jaw dropped. "No. Absolutely not."
"Pity. It's about time you and Birchface settled down."
Mapleshade stopped in her tracks. "Excuse me? Where in silverpelt did you get that idea from?"
"Are you really going to keep playing at that game, Mapleshade? We're all fully grown cats now. You can admit to the fact you're in love with my brother. Don't worry, I won't tell him if that's what you're concerned about. Although I'm not ashamed to tell you I think he feels the same."
Mapleshade pushed past her, rolling her eyes. "I'm not worried about anything, because it's not true. He's my friend, and he's my Clanmate. I care about him just as much as say, Seedpelt or…" She looked around the clearing, blurting out the name of the first cat she saw, "Mistpaw."
"You're so stubborn," Goldenmist grumbled. "But fine. I'll drop it. To be honest, it's probably not a good time for him to settle down anyway. He's still shaken up by what happened. It's been so long that sometimes I worry he's never going to get over it…"
"He'll be fine," Mapleshade snapped. She sighed inwardly, not intending to come off as harshly as she had, but Goldenmist's teasing had gotten under her skin. She didn't think of Birchface as anything more than a friend, and for Goldenmist to insinuate otherwise, rubbed her the wrong way.
"I'm going to my nest now. I have plans tomorrow," Mapleshade mumbled. As she curled up among the bracken fronds, she became all too aware of Birchface's sleeping form pressing against her back.
She didn't catch a wink of sleep that night.