if Mapleshade's kits lived

Chapter 34

Patchstar blinked open his eyes, "hi, Patchstar, since you were stressing out, I brought you some chamomile flowers to help, that kit of yours knows a lot about herbs, she may be best to move to the barn to heal others when she's older." his brother, Larch dropped tiny white flowers by his paws, he leaned down and swallowed them. "Thanks, Larch, you're a big help, but I wish Petal were here, if only she hadn't turned into the monster she is now."

Larch narrowed his eyes, "weirdly, it didn't even look like she was in control of herself, like.... she's suffering inside...." Patchstar's heart skipped a beat, he hated to admit it, but Larch had a point, Petal was sweet at first, but then she murdered her own kits, all of them except for Sunrise.

"don't worry about that, you're not supposed to be stressing too much, it's awful for you." Patchstar sighed, his green eyes glazed. "I can't help it..." Patchstar admitted, "I can't have a good life after I saw what I did to Mapleshade. And what happened to Destiny..." Larch grinned, "it's okay, I know you are grieving, but you can't stay in here, you need sunlight or else you'll not be healthy." Patchstar hesitated, but nodded, "I guess you're right, I can't just stay here, if I'm depressed, then I can't just cope with it, I need to try to get better,"

He grinned, ready to take a small walk around the river. He went onto the highrock. Looking at the clan, did he really need to announce this, maybe he did. "For a while, Larch is in charge." He announced, cats nodded, and he headed out. He never wanted to kill her, he seemed to just be deep in rage at that moment, the thought of him sinking hard into her flank, and the blood pierced him like ice, and the way everyone looked at the blood slashed on his face, and his paw was permanently broken.

He thought of his father, he had been the only one to believe he would destroy Mapleshade, as he walked on, his throat was dry and his belly growled in hunger, so he headed down to the river, he buried his muzzle in and lapped at the liquid, his throat was clearing from the dryness, and he headed into the ice-cold water, shoulders rising as the water pierced at his chest. He felt slimy scales ripple across his pelt, that's when he knew he needed to grab it, he held his breath and dunked his head under, watching the trout swim by, remembering the traumatizing moment of nearly drowning, he attempted to build up bravery, but he felt himself gasping for breath, "help! I'm drowning!" He screeched. 

Suddenly, he felt teeth clench his scruff and toss him onto shore, he got scraped by the pebbles but he was okay. Patchstar spotted two she-cats looking at him, a joking look in their eyes. "That water was so shallow!" A gray tabby snorted. Patchstar smelled them, "You're from RiverClan... I'm guessing," they both nodded, he stood up, the other one stepped in front of him and took a whiff of his pelt. "He's a loner, Willownose, we must drive him out." she whispered, the gray tabby nodded.

Patchstar shook his head, "Wait, do you know Appledusk?" the gray tabby nodded, her blue eyes clouding, and she looked back at him. "He was my father, but this she-cat Mapleshade, killed him." Patchstar widened his eyes. "Did Reedshine tell you about Patchkit, Petalkit, and Larchkit?" Willownose nodded. "How do you know my mother...wait...are you? who are you?" Patchstar grinned. "Well, remember when your mother told you about Patchkit? well...you're standing right in front of him." Willownose jumped back in surprise. "Well, Reedshine never told me why and how we're related, tell me now!" 

Patchstar held his breath, was Willownose even surprised that they were half-siblings? "Appledusk was mates with Mapleshade--" "That can't be true, Appledusk was always Reedshine's mate!" he narrowed his eyes at the other she-cat, her blue-gray fur spiked with fear. "What are you saying?" the she-cat asked. "Quiet, Duskwater, I need to know more before questions."  Duskwater winced, but kept her muzzle shut.

"Okay, well, on with it, uhm, Appledusk and Mapleshade were mates, but...Appledusk knew this was wrong, and he soon cut ties with her and fell in love with your mother, but Mapleshade was expecting kits, and later had me, Petalkit and Larchkit, but ThunderClan exiled her once they found out, Mapleshade was still in love with Appledusk at this time so she asked him for help once she told us to cross the river, but Appledusk denied her, saying he doesn't love her anymore, so we met Myler in the barn and we became a clan, which she named after herself, MapleClan, along with RogueClan, we all got new names Patch, Larch, and Petal, but Mapleshade refused to change her name, and Mapleshade was the leader, but soon after, us and RogueClan fought, and Petal was in this clan, Larch attempted to jump off the gorge, Mapleshade attempted to save him for her plan, but she drowned while doing it. When she was in the place of no stars, she asked us to train, little did Petal know, she trained with her, and she gave birth to her kits very early, after that, her kits were dead, just Sunrise lived, and my mate Destiny was killed and I had to raise my kits on my own. So, in the end, I ended up killing Mapleshade."

Willownose grinned. "Well, Patch, you avenged Appledusk, Ravenwing, and Frecklewish, they'll all honor you." Patchstar grinned back. "Yeah, thanks, anyways I have to be going..." Duskwater stopped him. "Wait, I need to ask you something, uhm, can we visit a little more? Maybe just once every day," Patchstar nodded. "Okay," he couldn't help but feel a little warmness under his fur for Duskwater, she was beautiful, blue-gray fur was shiny, and her white chest sparkled as she moved.

"Bye, Patch!" Willownose mewed. "Oh, anyways, I became leader, I'm Patchstar, but you can call me Patch." Willownose nodded. "See you around," she called over her shoulder.