ravenpaw's farewell: part two

After waking up, trying to make peace, as well as teaching the young cats, Ravenpaw shows them some fighting moves. They continue on their journey and find an abandoned Twoleg nest. While exploring it a shadow falls across the doorway and Ravenpaw braces himself for a fight, but it is just Barley. He wants to greet Barley but holds himself back, remembering their bitter words. But Ravenpaw doesn't have to worry because Barley immediately apologizes. He admits his fear that Ravenpaw was leaving him for good. Ravenpaw assures him that he had nothing to worry about, that he was always coming back home. The best friends make up and Barley joins them on their journey. Bella and Riley are happy to see Barley, though Bella does say that Ravenpaw is bossy. Barley tells her she needs to listen to him if she wishes to be a clan cat.

Ravenpaw realizes they are approaching SkyClan territory so he tells the cats they must stop for now so they do not accidentally cross the border. Riley and Bella admit that they are afraid the clan will not accept them. Barley assures them that if that happens they will always have a home with him and Ravenpaw. They settle down for the night but are woken by Pasha and his gang of tough kittypets. Words are exchanged and Ravenpaw bashes Pasha on the head with his paw, warning him that they mean business when they say they want to be left alone. This angers Pasha, but his gang want to move on. Feeling that these cats are more talk then action, the friends settle down to sleep again.

In the morning they wait for a SkyClan patrol. The cats are hostile at first, but when Ravenpaw tells them that he is Firestar's friend they agree to get Leafstar. While Leafstar is honored by their request she tells Ravenpaw that there is no room in her clan for Bella and Riley. She asks him why not take the cats to ThunderClan and Ravenpaw tells her that the clans have left the forest. She expresses a hope that Firestar and Sandstorm are okay and Ravenpaw assures her that they are, that StarClan would have told him otherwise. Barley looks surprised by this and Ravenpaw feels guilty for keeping his faith in StarClan from his friend. The cats leave, upset that Bella and Riley cannot stay with the clan. Ravenpaw's stomach starts to bother him again. Concerned, Barley makes him rest. Ravenpaw sleeps until Riley and Bella wake him up. They can hear something coming from the direction of the SkyClan camp. Barley wakes up too and Ravenpaw says he will go to investigate but everyone insists on coming with him. They sneak right up to the border and look down on the camp below. Pasha, with his kittypet friends, are attacking the camp for fun. They leave and the cats overhear that this is the third night in a row they have attacked.

Everyone goes back to sleep and Ravenpaw dreams of Silverstream. Ravenpaw is in pain and makes a joke about getting old, but Silverstream's eyes betray the truth and Ravenpaw realizes he is dying. He asks Silverstream if he is going to make it home and she tells him no, but that he will die surrounded by those who love him. He worries for Barley but Silverstream aspires him that Barley knows he does not want to leave him. She then takes him to see Skywatcher and Cloudstar, formally of SkyClan and now of StarClan. They tell Ravenpaw not to give up, that there is a home for Riley and Bella if he can solve the kittypet problem. The next morning Ravenpaw tells the cats that they are staying. They wait at the border for another patrol. When it comes, it is hostile, but Echosong, the medicine cat, arrives and brings them to the camp to see Leafstar. Ravenpaw passes on his idea of moving the border further from the camp and lying in wait for the kittypets to show up that night. Leafstar likes his idea and calls a clan meeting to pass it on. During the meeting Ravenpaw is called on to speak beside Leafstar, but has such a bad pain in his stomach that he says his part from where he is sitting. The cats excitedly get to work and their daylight warriors (cats who are warriors during the day and kittypets at night) insist in fighting in the upcoming battle. Riley and Bella are given tasks to help prepare, and so to is Barley who is joining a hunting patrol. Ravenpaw wishes to join the patrol but Barley tells him to rest. Echosong takes Ravenpaw to their version of the Moonstone/Moonpool. She leaves him there and Bluestar, Whitestorm, and Lionheart appear to him. They try to give him his warrior name, but he says he wishes to remain Ravenpaw after having that name for so long. They invite him to join them in StarClan, but thinking of Barley he tells them he cannot for he wishes to be where his friend will go. They accept his answer and tell him that a visit to StarClan will always be welcome. Ravenpaw drifts off to sleep.

Ravenpaw wakes up and finds Barley, who begs him not to fight that night, but Ravenpaw insists he must. Everything goes as planned and when the kittypets arrive they are shocked to find the clan cats ready for them and eager to fight. One of the kittypets hits Ravenpaw in the stomach, causing him intense pain and knocking him out of the fight. Barley finds him after the fight is over but Ravenpaw refuses to let him fuss over him. Leafstar invites Riley and Bella to join the clan - which they excitedly agree to - and gives them mentors. Barley bring Ravenpaw to Echosong's den. At first when she approaches him Ravenpaw mistakes her for Silverstream, but then he realizes who she really is. Echosong asks Ravenpaw where he wishes to go and he tells her under the trees. Barley starts to object, feeling Ravenpaw belongs in her den, but Echosong tells Barley that it is too late, and all they can do is honor Ravenpaw's wishes. As he lies down Ravenpaw knows that Rileypaw and Bellapaw will be safe, but he worries for Barley. Barley curls up beside him, promising that he will never forget him. Ravenpaw, in turn, promises to find Barley. Leafstar arrives, and says they will sit vigil for Ravenpaw as he was a warrior. Ravenpaw finds himself outside of his body, all of his pain gone. He looks down at his friend and longs to stay with him but knows he cannot. He leaves, knowing that one day he and Barley will be reunited.

I am so relieved that Barley followed Ravenpaw! I was so worried they wouldn't make up until Ravenpaw was dying. And, StarClan never forgot about Ravenpaw. That was a nice touch too, offering to give him his warrior name. And I am glad he turned down StarClan's offer to join them. He belongs with Barley, wherever that is. I hope Barley isn't too lonely without Ravenpaw. Things never worked out with his brothers and while his sister lives nearby she is not interested in being a loner. But Barley is older then Ravenpaw. I am not wishing death on him but maybe they won't be separated for too long.

But yeah, this is definitely the most depressing "Warriors" story EVER.

ravenpaw's farewell: part one

Ravenpaw dreams of races through the woods with Firepaw and Graypaw. They are happy and feel clan life is the best ever. It starts to rain and Ravenpaw wakes up to Barley telling him he is getting rained on. The cats get up, but Ravenpaw's stomach hurts. He doesn't say anything but he knows Barley can tell. He doesn't want to eat but he does so Barley won't worry. They leave the barn and head to what is left of the woods to run around. The landscape is so changed that Ravenpaw is unsure of where the clans lived, but as they race through the trees they find the ravine where ThunderClan used to camp.

Ravenpaw finds the entrance and shows Barley around. He tells him some of his happy memories with the clans. This, however, upsets Barley and he reminds Ravenpaw why he left. Ravenpaw assures his friend that he doesn't regret leaving the clans to live with Barley, he is just happy to finally be able to remember some good things to outweigh the bad. They explore more of the territory and run into some tough kittypets, led by Madric, who threaten to fight them. They run away, but the run winds Ravenpaw. They are saved by Barley's sister, Violet, who tells the kittypets that Barley and Ravenpaw are welcome. It is clear that they are not happy, but they leave. Violet then shows the two cats her new litter of kits. Ravenpaw is happy to meet them and they make him think of his clan he left behind. The kits are excited to meet the new cats and Violet promises them that one day she will take them to the farm.

Time passes and winter comes. Ravenpaw's stomach hurts him even more. He's also been having a hard time keeping his balance, but Barley cares for him when he hurts himself. He tells Barley that he is getting old, but Barley tells him he is silly since Barley is at least a few years older. One day Violet brings Bella and Riley, her last two kits, to visit. The rest have homes of their own now. Bella and Riley are obsessed with stories of the warrior cats who used to live in the woods. They hear stories from Smudge, Firestar's old friend from when he was Rusty, all the time and wish to join ThunderClan themselves. Barley shows Violet around while Ravenpaw shows Bella and Riley how to hunt. After killing a mouse he thanks StarClan for his food. He is surprised that he did it and even more surprised that he spoke the words aloud. The two young cats continue to talk about their desire to be warriors, much to their mothers dismay. They even ask Ravenpaw to teach them. Violet tells them to stop, that there are no warriors anymore and there is nothing wrong with being a kittypet. Ravenpaw is not sure he agrees but he keeps his thoughts to himself.

In the morning the cats leave, with the kits still wishing to be warriors trained by Ravenpaw. As they go Ravenpaw wonders if maybe they should be trained. As he tries to sleep he thinks of the clans and how far away they are - and how he doesn't even know how to reach them. Silverstream comes to him and tells him that the clans are too far away, but there is one clan nearby still. She tells Ravenpaw to take Riley and Bella to SkyClan. The next morning he tells Barley his plan, but Barley becomes upset. They fight with Barley refusing to support Ravenpaw's decision. When Ravenpaw speaks to Violet and her kits about it her kits are excited but she is upset. In the end, though, she agrees that while she wants to keep them safe as kittypets she knows it is their choice to make.

Ravenpaw and Barley argue more. Barley accuses Ravenpaw of doing this to try and become a warrior again. He refuses to go with the cats. Ravenpaw promises his friend that this isn't true, that he is coming back, but Barley doesn't believe him. Ravenpaw is upset that this is how they are parting. Barley leaves the barn, refusing to see the cats out. Ravenpaw, Riley, and Bella eat then head on their journey. They encounter a dog, experience sleeping in the outdoors, and the young cats realize just how scary it can be in the outside world. Ravenpaw tries to teach them some of the things he feels they should know, but he and Bella clash a bit - especially when he catches her taking food from a twoleg. As they journey he worries that maybe the cats aren't cut out to be warriors.

This has to be the saddest "Warriors" story I have ever read. Knowing that Ravenpaw is dying (after all, the back cover said it was his final days), seeing him sick, watching him and Barley fight - this is awful. I have a feeling he is going to bring Bella and Riley to SkyClan, but he won't be coming back home. I also have a feeling he will die a warrior, and not a loner. I am sure he and Barley will make up before the end, I just hope it isn't on Ravenpaw's deathbed.

goosefeather's curse: part two

Before the Moonstone, Clouberry speaks the words to name Goosefeather. The unseen cats chant his new name, making him wince, then Sagepaw starts chanting his name, making him feel better. Goosefeather hears the dead cats again, speaking of things yet to come. (Blood spilling blood - Brambleclaw killing Hawkfrost. Darkness, air, water, and sky uniting - I believe that was the wording used when they united against Scourge. Someone being a kittypet - probably Firestar but could also be Pinestar or Cloudtail. Water destroying someone female - I assume Feathertail dying for the Tribe but I not sure. Fire saving the clan - the prophecy about Firestar.) Later on, back at the camp, Cloudberry sends Goosefeather out to collect herbs. Stormtail leads the badger to him then runs away. Goosefeather realizes this is the moment and accepts his death at first, but then decides to attack back. Moonpaw rescues him, but she lashes out at him, angry at him. When he tries to tell her that it was Stormtail's fault she doesn't believe him, telling him that Stormtail is the one who went to the clan and told them Goosefeather was in danger, and leaves him.

The cat from his vision of the kittypets attacking finds him and offers to teach him how to fight. After they practice he asks her name and she says it is Mapleshade. Goosefeather goes back to camp where Moonpaw apologizes and offers to teach him how to fight but they just wind up arguing over him being a medicine cat. He confronts Stormtail, who denies everything. Then he is summoned to help Larksong deliver her kits. As he touches them he realizes the one will be clan leader and the other a medicine cat. He wants to tell Doestar but Cloudberry won't let him, telling him that every kit is special, and that these kits deserve to grow up without knowing the future.

Days pass and Cloudberry and Goosefeather watch Sunkit and Featherkit play and grow. Cloudberry warns Goosefeather not to let the future blind him to the present. Cloudberry tries to get Doestar to eat, but she refuses. Leaf bare is on the way and while her clan is strong she worries how they will eat all winter - especially when three litters were just born. One night while sleeping, Goosefeather wakes up to a bitter cold. He leaves the den and enters the clearing where he finds his clan starving to death around him, and a dead cat lying there. He races to Doestar's den and wakes her with the news of his vision. Pineheart comes in, having seen Goosefeather race in. He is unsure of Goosefeather's vision. Doestar has Goosefeather bring Cloudberry in and the four cats discuss what to do. Cloudberry has the idea of burying prey to save it for later. Everyone works on burying food. Stormtail asks Goosefeather if this is his doing. Goosefeather responds that Doestar wishes this, but he also mocks Stormtail, implying he can see his future. He leaves the camp and works his way towards snakerocks. While there he sees Mapleshade kill another cat. Seeing Mapleshade he asks her if this is true. Mapleshade says yes, that he hates ThunderClan and will not rest until she has her vengeance. Shocked, Goosefeather points out that she helped him. She responds that it doesn't matter, because Goosefeather has been doomed by StarClan. As she leaves him he realizes he has never seen his own future.

The clans are at the Gathering. Rain starts so they all leave. As they go Goosefeather realizes his mother is getting old. Back at camp Cloudberry says she would rather have cold then rain, since rain makes her ache. Goosefeather assures her that the rain will go away. But it doesn't and Goosefeather realizes the rain will rot the stored food. He tells Pineheart that they must dig it up immediately. They race to the food but when they unearth it, it is already rotten. Goosefeather looks to Doestar and realizes she is scared. He understands that his prophecy is going to come true and there is no way to stop it. As the seasons turn deep snow comes. Clanmates starve to death and Nettlebreeze lies dead in the clearing just like Goosefeather saw. Some of the cats resort to eating worms and bark to survive. Cloudberry tries to comfort Goosefeather, telling him there was nothing he could have done to prevent this but Goosefeather blames himself. He leaves the camp and Pearnose finds him. She tells him that his path is a difficult one - to know the future and be unable to change it.

The snow melts and the weather turns warmer. Doestar makes all the apprentices into warriors. Cloudberry fears that Doestar will die soon. She tells Goosefeather that she will care for Doestar personally, and no one is to go near her. Doestar dies quickly and Cloudberry will let no one but herself sit vigil with their leader. After sitting vigil, Cloudberry tells Goosefeather that she will bury Doestar alone and that he must take Pineheart to the Moonstone. Goosefeather realizes that Cloudberry's days are numbered. At the Moonstone Goosefeather watches as Pinestar receives his nine lives. As the ninth one is given to him he has a vision of Pinestar with a twoleg. The vision fades and Pinestar excitedly tells him he received his nine lives. Goosefeather can only nod as he realizes he has seen the future and in it Pinestar betrays his clan - and there is  nothing Goosefeather can do to stop it.

So I enjoyed this story. It gave a glimpse into what lead up to Firestar's story. I was hoping for confirmation (one way or the other) on Firestar's parentage, but no luck. And I was also hoping that Goosefeather's vision of attacking the WindClan herb store would be explained but no luck.

It must be hard to see the future and be powerless to stop it. That must be a hard burden for Goosefeather to carry - and a hard life to live. All along I thought Pinestar had a choice - and at every moment he did - but in another way he really had no choice at all. I stand by my initial thought that he never should have been given the burden of leadership. He might have been okay as just a warrior, but never more then that.

goosefeather's curse: part one

Goosekit is listening to an unnamed elder tell a story about TigerClan when his mother calls for him. He wants to stay with the elder and hear more but she shoos him away. Goosekit finds his mother then goes to the fresh kill pile. He has a hard time navigating the camp because there are so many cats there. He makes his way back to his mother, speaking about how overwhelmed he is. She is amused and tells him there are no more cats then usual and that they are his clan and will protect him. His sister Moonkit is playing with Stormpaw. Goosekit tells his mother that one day Stormpaw will try to kill him with a badger attack. His mother, Daisytoe, does not believe him and tells him to stop making up stories. But Goosekit insists so she tells him he needs to stop listening to the elder's stories. Goosekit won't be swayed and believes Stormpaw to be the meanest cat in ThunderClan.

Goosekit is playing hide and seek with the other kits. When it is his turn to find the other cats a warrior he doesn't know tells him where they are hidden. Because he found them right away the other cats accuse him of cheating and declare they don't want to play with him anymore. Goosekit is upset since he feels he didn't actually cheat - he didn't ask the strange cat to tell him where everyone was hiding, he volunteered the information. There is a commotion when Cloudberry, the medicine cat, asks after Swiftpaw. Swiftpaw was supposed to be gathering herbs for her but hasn't returned to camp yet and should have a while ago. Patrols are started to go look for her and Goosekit asks the strange cat why he doesn't look for Swiftpaw. The cat responds that he is an apprentice and isn't sure he can go out to look for her but he asks a passing warrior after Swiftpaw. He responds that last he knew Swiftpaw was at Sunningrocks and leaves. Goosekit runs over to the warriors and blurts out that he knows where Swiftpaw is.

Everyone else thinks Goosekit is making it up and refuse to go to Sunningrocks but Larksong and Mumblefoot take him seriously and leave. They return with Swiftpaw but when the cats try to thank them they respond that Goosekit is the one who deserves thanks. When they question him about how he knew he tells them a warrior he doesn't know told him. No one believes him and insist that he tell the truth. Cloudberry steps up for him and tells the cats that it doesn't matter since Swiftpaw is safe, then she takes Goosekit to Doestar and has him repeat everything. After talking about what happened Cloudberry then takes Goosekit outside to show her other cats that he doesn't know. Cloudberry realizes that Goosekit can see dead cats. She tells him he has a gift but must keep it a secret and decides she must train Goosekit to be a medicine cat.

Swiftpaw is made a warrior and then, even though he is only four moons old, Doestar names Goosekit as a medicine cat apprentice. This causes some grumbling in the clan since he is not six moons old yet. Some cats - including Larksong, Mumblefoot, and Moonkit - cheer him while others - including Stormtail (formerly Stonepaw) and Nettlebreeze glare. Cloudberry takes him to the Moonstone for the first time for the medicine cat gathering. Some of the cats are welcoming, while others, like Echosnout the RiverClan medicine cat who was Cloudberry's mentor, are less welcoming. As they settle down Goosepaw asks why he has to do this since he sees StarClan all the time and is practically a medicine cat already. Cloudberry points out to him that there is more to being a medicine cat then speaking to StarClan and tells him to settle down. But as he does dead cats emerge from the shadows and start speaking to him all at once, telling him of events to come and overwhelming him. (They speak of a cat who burns like fire - Firestar. Of fickle hearts - Spottedleaf. Of more water then any cat has ever seen - probably the sun drown place. Listening to midnight - the badger. The lake running red with the blood of brothers - Brambleclaw killing Hawkfrost. ShadowClan soaring above all - not sure, possibly the rise of Tigerstar. Leopard and Tiger feasting on bones - Tigerstar and Leopardstar's alliance. Rivers of blood washing away everything the clans know - I assume the fight with the Dark Forest.) Scared and overwhelmed, Goosepaw runs away. Cloudberry follows him, telling him he cannot leave before the ceremony is over. He refuses to return, telling Cloudberry of the dead cats. She tells him they will have to figure out a way for him to ignore them.

Goosepaw is practicing memorizing herbs with Pearnose's help. Moonpaw overhears him and asks who he is talking to. Knowing his sister cannot see the dead cat he tells her he is talking to himself. Moonpaw leaves to find Stormtail and Pearnose dismisses Goosepaw. As he goes back to camp he has a vision of kittypets attacking a ThunderClan patrol. He doesn't know if this is an image of the past or the future. Suddenly another cat is there, telling him that the kittypets are strong. She is enjoying watching the fight and when Goosepaw asks her who she is, she is surprised that ThunderClan has forgotten her already. The vision fades and Goosepaw races back to camp. He tries to act like everything is normal but then he hears Squirrelwhisker's patrol isn't back yet. He goes to Doestar's den, seeking out Cloudberry to tell her of the vision he had. Cloudberry has Goosepaw tell Doestar, who orders Pineheart to take a patrol. Pineheart is annoyed, feeling they shouldn't be listening to an apprentice but Cloudberry points out that Goosepaw is a medicine cat. When Pineheart returns with the missing cats Doestar calls a clan meeting to acknowledge Goosepaw, and to ask Cloudberry to give him his full medicine cat name. Cloudberry agrees causing some cats (including Moonpaw and Stormtail) to become upset but other cats (like Squirrelwhisker) are supportive.

Okay, I will admit, Goosepaw is not the most likeable cat, however his clanmates seem to have a real problem with respecting medicine cats. A medicine cat is supposed to be a place of honor, yet all of his clanmates seem very dismissive of him. I get that he was made an apprentice very young, and I know his clan wasn't told why, yet they don't seem to care that StarClan chose him for this path from birth. Even Pineheart is not supportive. I don't know if he knows about Goosepaw's visions or not, but he is constantly talking down to Goosepaw. One day he will be clan leader and Goosepaw his medicine cat - granted, he doesn't know this but, at the same time, it is the logical assumption to make - yet he is wholly uninterested in anything Goosepaw has to say and dismisses it outright despite the number of times Goosepaw has been right.

I did wonder at Ravenwing's death, and what ThunderClan would do. It is nice to see that RiverClan sent a fully trained medicine cat to them. And I bet anything that the cat who was enjoying the vision of the kittypets and ThunderClan fighting is Mapleshade - which makes me worry for Goosepaw's future. He is already bitter and struggling with his visions and his status as an outsider. He doesn't need Mapleshade filling his head with lies too.

On a final note, it was nice to see all the references to things that have yet to happen, and seeing that StarClan foretold of them long before. Especially since they didn't necessarily give away the outcome. Hawkfrost could have killed Brambleclaw. Leopard and Tiger could have feasted on the bones of the clans instead of prey. Spottedleaf could have fallen for Thistleclaw completely. All they did was foretell that these moments would come, not the outcome of those moments. So it was nice.

mapleshade's vengeance: part two

Mapleshade makes her way to Highstones and lies in wait for Ravenwing. She sees him then decides instead to attack him at the Moonstone itself, since that is the source of his omens. She follows him into the tunnels, creeping behind him. At one point he hears her and calls out but she remains silent and they move on. When they reach the Moonstone she attacks Ravenwing, telling him it is vengeance for her kits. After she has killed him she hears more cats approaching so she hides. Larkwing of WindClan and Sloefur of ShadowClan find him. They leave immediately with Raveneing's body to spread news of his murder. Mapleshade waits, but no one else comes to the Moonstone. When she leaves she finds a stack of rocks that hold Ravenwing's body. She knocks the rocks over so his body can be destroyed by hawks then she goes to sleep. As she sleeps she hears two of her kits calling out to her but the third is silent. When she wakes up she wonders why. She decides it is because only one kit has been avenged. She determines that Frecklewish too needs to pay but she is unsure how to get at her. A piece of ivy on the ground makes her think of snakerocks.

Mapleshade heads towards Twoleg place and waits in a tree for Frecklewish to appear. She finally sees her in a hunting party. Mapleshade kills a mouse and makes sure Frecklewish can smell it, then she drags it towards snakerocks. Frecklewish follows, assuming someone is in their territory and has taken prey. Mapleshade places the mouse in front of the adder hole, which has been filled in with rocks, and then knocks the rocks away. She then hides and when Frecklewish appears she challenges her. Frecklewish insists she never meant for the kits to die but Mapleshade does not believe her. Frecklewish attacks Mapleshade, not realizing the adders are loose. One lunges at Frecklewish, biting her and getting venom into her eyes. Her cries of pain alert her clan who come running. Mapleshade hides, wanting to watch Frecklewish die, and is disgusted that her clanmates would try to save the cat. She leaves before she is spotted, knowing that if Frecklewish survives she will be blind, and now only hears the cries of one of her kits.

Mapleshade heads towards RiverClan land. She hides in a tree and waits to find Appledusk alone. Eventually Appledusk arrives with Reedshine and Perchpaw. As Mapleshade listens she hears that Reedshine is expecting kits. Mapleshade feels even more betrayed since this means Appledusk was lying to her the entire time he was seeing her. She hopes that the other cats will leave Appledusk alone so she can attack but they move off together. She dozes off and when she wakes up Perchpaw is beneath the tree. She attacks him and waits for Appledusk. Appledusk is angry to find her both on their territory and with Perchpaw. She tells Appledusk she blames him for their kits deaths and he counters it is her fault and that he wants Perchpaw back. She tells him he can have him back but first they will fight.

Upset, Appledusk tells her he will not fight her. As Mapleshade goes to attack Reedshine enters the clearing. Instead, Mapleshade attacks her, saying that she and her kits must die. Appledusk throws himself in front of Reedshine and Mapleshade instead kills him. Perchpaw attacks her, delivering a deep wound. Her last kit appears to her and tells her they are now free and disappears. Reedshine tells her that she will not win, because Appledusk will live on in the kits she is carrying. Mapleshade tells her that she will just have to watch over those kits and exact her revenge on them too. Dying, she stumbles away and finds herself back in the place she found shelter in before. Everything goes dark and she calls out to StarClan and her kits but no one answers. Then Myler is there, helping her into the shelter. He tries to stop the blood from flowing but Mapleshade tells him to go away, that she doesn't need anyone. Sad. Myler tells her that he disagrees but he leaves her. She falls asleep and finds herself in a dark, dank wood. She can walk again and her wounds are healed. She calls out, asking if this is StarClan. A voice whispers from the darkness that it is the Place of No Stars, and that she must walk here alone. Instead of feeling upset she feels triumphant. She resolves to find other cats like her - cats who were wronged - and train them. They will become a force strong enough to destroy the clans and she will have her vengeance.

This was sad. So much of Mapleshade's story was avoidable. And you are left feeling almost sorry for her. Like Ashfur, she was destroyed and driven mad by her grief, causing her to do things she never would have dreamed of in her right mind. And now in death she is still separated from her kits - and still desiring vengeance. And this ending means she is the reason the Dark Forest started recruiting cats. Everyone walked alone until Mapleshade started training them. But she wants to wage war on the clans for the death of her kits.

And I still place most of the blame on Appledusk. He was clearly carrying on with both Mapleshade and Reedshine at the same time since they were both pregnant with his kits at the same time. And really, he does not get to hate Mapleshade for their deaths when he told her - in front of his entire clan - that they never should have happened. I am willing to bet he was lying to save himself, but it was still a cruel thing to do.

mapleshade's vengeance: part one

Mapleshade is at the Gathering. She works her way between the warriors looking for one cat. RiverClan is hostile as she works her way through them. They recently had yet another battle over Sunningrocks and ThunderClan won. Rainfall leans into her, whispering to remember what happened to Birchface and Flowerpaw. Mapleshade jerks away. Appledusk had struck Birchface so hard that he fell into the water. Flowerpaw dove in after her mentor but the two cats had been swept away and drowned in the current. She finds Appledusk and he demands to know what she is doing talking to him. She asks him why he hasn't been to their meeting place and he tells her since the battle patrols have been doubled - he has been unable to slip away. She gives him the happy news that they are going to have kits. Appledusk is happy but is worried about them being half clan. She tells him she will raise the cats to be ThunderClan at first and when they are older tell everyone the truth. Mapleshade leaves and Reedshine arrives looking for Appledusk. Mapleshade watches as Reedshine leans all over Appledusk. She thinks to herself that Appledusk is hers, and these kits make sure of that. Back at the camp Beetail, the deputy, talks to Mapleshade about her duties. She breaks the news to him that she is expecting kits. Beetail is caught off guard but tells her he is happy. He asks who the father is but Mapleshade does not wish to tell. As she lays down in her den Frecklewish comes in. She asks if Mapleshade is unwilling to name the father because he is dead. Mapleshade is unsure how to answer her but Frecklewish takes her silence as a yes. She tells Mapleshade that she is happy her brother, Birchface, is going to live on in the kits. Mapleshade assures herself that she isn't actually lying since Frecklewish is jumping to conclusions. She also hopes that Appledusk will understand her deception for now.

Mapleshade gives birth to two boys and a girl with Ravenwing and Frecklewish's help. Ravenwing tells Mapleshade that she has made Frecklewish feel as if life has a purpose now. Mapleshade responds that she will thank StarClan every day for the kits. After Frecklewish leaves Ravenwing tells her that ThunderClan thanks her. Privately she thinks RiverClan too will thank her and the fight over Sunningrocks will finally be over when they realize the gift she has given them too. Days later Oakstar and Frecklewish visit her. Frecklewish is disappointed that Mapleshade has not named any of the kits after Birchface, but Mapleshade declares she wishes her kits to be judged by their own actions. Oakstar approves of her logic and Frecklewish accepts it. Mapleshade asks Frecklewish to tell Appledusk about the kits at the next Gathering. Frecklewish is upset with the request but Mapleshade lies and tells her she wishes Appledusk to know that Birchface lives on in her kits.

Mapleshade is watching her kits play but she begins to feel frustrated with the way the clan treats her kits, always judging them by Birchface. She takes them for a walk outside the camp to the river. They dive right in and play. Patchkit grows tired and climbs onto a branch in the water. A passing RiverClan patrol catches them and Appledusk offers to come over and help Patchkit. He collects the young cat and returns him to Mapleshade. He leans in close and tells Mapleshade that the kits are perfect. He returns to his clan and Mapleshade collects her kits to leave. They run into Ravenwing who has seen everything. He tells Mapleshade of an omen he saw where a river ran through his den and in it floated three reeds. He tells Mapleshade that reeds do not belong in ThunderClan. Mapleshade feigns ignorance of what he is saying but Ravenwing tells her he must tell the clan the kits are half RiverClan and that he will not lie for her. He leaves her and Mapleshade feels worried. But she reminds herself that the clan loves her kits and she always intended to tell the truth about their father - this is just sooner then she expected.

Back at the camp Oakstar demands Mapleshade reveal the truth of the kits father. Frecklewish speaks on her behalf at first but Mapleshade admits the truth, causing Frecklewish to attack her. Angry at the deception of Birchface being their father when really it is the cat who killed him, Oakstar banishes Mapleshade and her kits. She is shocked when the clan turns against her and her children. She tells ThunderClan she will never forget this betrayal and they will regret turning on her like this. She takes her kits and leaves. As they travel it starts to rain and she has to explain to them that Birchface is not actually their father. She tells them that Appledusk is actually their father and they will go to RiverClan to live with him. The kits do not want to cross the river but she tells them they must. They get onto the first stepping stone and she goes to follow but a wall of water comes rushing along. It sweeps all of them away and she realizes with horror she can no longer see her kits. She tries to rescue her kits but she cannot get ahold of them. Appledusk finds her and saves her and she tells him of the kits. He and his patrol jump into the water to find them as Mapleshade rests. Appledusk and his clanmates find the kits but it is top late. Mapleshade tells Appledusk that ThunderClan kicked them out and Eeltail says they must report to Darkstar. Everyone heads to the RiverClan camp where Appledusk announces that the kits are dead - and that they are his. He admits to meeting Mapleshade in secret and that when he found out she was pregnant he knew he made a mistake. He asks Reedshine and Darkstar to forgive him. Mapleshade feels a coldness spreading through her body as Appledusk speaks. Darkstar tells Appledusk that he broke the warrior code and she cannot trust him. Reedshine speaks up on his behalf saying she forgives him and so to should Darkstar. Darkstar feels that Appledusk has been punished enough but warns him he will have to earn back everyone's trust. Darkstar orders the kits buried and Mapleshade banished. When she appeals to Appledusk he blames her for the death of their kits. She suddenly feels as if Appledusk is a stranger. She reminds him that he told her he loved her and that he will regret treating her this way. She runs away and finds a hole in a Twoleg den that she sleeps in. But her sleep is troubled by the screams of her kits.

Mapleshade wakes up confused. Then she remembers her kits and Appledusk. A loner named Myler is there. He tries to be friendly and give her some fresh kill but she wants nothing to do with him. She leaves and makes her way to ThunderClan territory. She knows she isn't supposed to be there but she is so exhausted she finds a secluded spot and lies down. Nettlepaw finds her and tells her she isn't supposed to be there. He asks after the kits and she tells him they are dead. Feeling bad for her, he gives her some herbs he had collected for Ravenwing, feeling she needs them more. Nettlepaw tells her that Frecklewish saw the whole thing, but that he had hoped the kits made it across the river. Mapleshade is furious that Frecklewish watched her kits drown and did nothing. She doesn't want the herbs, but she eats them, happy to steal them from the cat she feels ruined her life. As she lies there she plots her revenge. She knows Ravenwing is traveling to the Moonstone soon and she decides that is the best time to attack him. She heads there herself, ready to avenge her kits.

I feel like this is a series of bad decisions. Mapleshade should not have had kits outside her clan, but it is not wholly uncommon. If it had been ShadowClan or WindClan I am willing to bet the clan would have somewhat accepted them. Instead it was RiverClan which struck everyone as a huge betrayal because of the deaths of Birchface and Flowerpaw.

Of course, I am used to the leadership of Bluestar and Firestar. Bluestar who accepted a kittypet, who accepted Graystripe's half clan kits. The clan objected, but they followed Bluestar's lead. And Firestar allowed Daisy to stay - which again, everyone objected to but they accepted Firestar's decision. The same with Stonefur and Brook. And now Jayfeather and Lionblaze are half clan but no one cares because that secret was revealed long after they were made warriors - and actually, none of the clans were happy that secret was revealed. Not just WindClan for exposing a truth about Crowfeather, but I imagine no one was happy because they were established ThunderClan cats and there was no reason to stir up trouble. And I know ThunderClan is almost polluted in everyone's eyes, but so was ShadowClan at first when the rogues joined them. But in the end they accepted the warrior code and were accepted by the clans. The same is true of Daisy's kits. They are accepted - until someone is pissed off at ThunderClan and then comments were made.

But I do feel as if this is almost an overreaction by Mapleshade's clan - but again, I imagine it is because not only was it a RiverClan cat but Appledusk who is guilty for the death of their two clanmates. Mapleshade should have confessed everything to Oakstar right away - while begging for forgiveness. The clan might very well have accepted the kits then.

And I understand her anger at Ravenwing but his first loyalty is to his leader. He cannot lie to him. Really, he had no choice. But Oakstar should have let her spend the night instead of kicking her and the kits out in the rain. And Frecklewish should have helped her, no matter how angry she was. The kits were innocent of their parent's crime.

I completely understand her blaming Ravenwing and Frecklewish for their deaths, but really, I place more blame on Appledusk. Appledusk who clearly has another mate. Appledusk who called his kits a mistake. Appledusk who gave the implication that Mapleshade was going to raise the kits on her own when he made a different promise to her. Appledusk who blamed her for their death immediately after saying he didn't want them. As much as there is blame for Ravenwing and Frecklewish, Appledusk lied the most and gave the biggest deception. If he had been honest with Mapleshade she could have gone to Oakstar and confessed everything and begged for forgiveness - and probably have received it for her and her kits. Instead she was rejected everywhere she went and the kits died because of it.