In this fanfic, Ravenwing was murdered by Mapleshade the day they were caught meeting Appledusk with her kits. Mapleshade, Appledusk, and their litter continue to live happily in their clans separately. What challenges will they face?
"Mama I'm tired!" Petalkit complained as she dangled from Mapleshade's mouth. Mapleshade had waken them before sunrise so they could spend some more time with their father but Petalkit had complained all the way. While Larchkit and Patchkit slept on Mapleshade's back Petalkit couldn't do so due to all the rocking. "I'm sorry Petalkit, there's not enough room on my back for you to fit." Mapleshade apologized as Petalkit began whining. Thank goodness Appledusk had found them. "Hey Mapleshade! I didn't expect you to come before sunrise." Appledusk greeted Mapleshade with a lick on her head. "I had forgotten patrols are sent out at sunrise." Mapleshade said exhausted. "Papa!" Petalkit squeaked quietly. "Hello my little mirror." Appledusk joked. "Do you have a place where they could rest?" Mapleshade asked. Appledusk looked around for a short second before looking back at Mapleshade with a smile. "I have an idea!" he bounded toward the pond as Mapleshade just trotted. "Y-Y-Your shak-k-king me!" Petalkit complained shakily.
Appledusk began to dig a hole in the ground right next to a bush where it was well hidden. "No one comes here much.. So I thought maybe we could make a small den for us both." Appledusk said panting between some words. Mapleshade was grateful for Appledusk's efforts and put down the kits, making a small bed for them on the ground. Petalkit sighed in relief and then fell fast asleep. Mapleshade padded over to Appledusk with a smile and began digging with him "I know your tired Mapleshade, just relax with the kits." Appledusk nudged his mate gently. "Nope, I'm helping." Mapleshade said continuing her digging. Appledusk sighed. "If only I could give you the world." Mapleshade jerked up and looked at Appledusk with stern eyes. "You and the kits are my world!" She rubbed her head under Appledusk's chin. They both smiled then continued digging.
"Finally done." Appledusk looked over to Mapleshade, she dipped her paws in the water to get them clean. "Don't even think about touching those kits with them paws." Mapleshade joked. Appledusk smiled and dipped his paws in the water before getting bored and jumping into the water, splashing it on Mapleshade. "Eugh! The kits might be half-Riverclan but I sure aint!" Mapleshade shook her pelt off as Appledusk laughed away. "I wanna join!" Larchkit leapt on top of his fathers back. "Hey! I thought you were asleep!" Appledusk flipped over to his stomach, floating in the water as Larchkit used him as a raft. "A warrior never sleeps!" All the kits said in unison as they leapt on top of Appledusk. The kits paddled in the water trying to move Appledusk, "Alright kits, scoot over!" The kits slid down in between Appledusk's legs as Mapleshade swam over to Appledusk and laid on top of him. "There's no room!" Patchkit giggled. "I'm sure its fine." Mapleshade smirked as she touched noses with Appledusk before swimming off as he started to sink.
"Were going down!" Larchkit jumped on his fathers face and his siblings followed. Appledusk put the kits on his back and turned around so he could swim back to the shore. "No swimming on an empty stomach." Appledusk let the kits jump back on the land and rub their wet pelts on Mapleshade, "I'm going to go get some food for the kits." Appledusk said. Mapleshade nodded her head as Appledusk walked along the river after the pond. "Where is papa going?" Patchkit frowned. "Well aren't you hungry? Your father went to get you some food." Mapleshade looked down at the kits that laid at her feet. All of a sudden a Thunderclan patrol shows up and stares at Mapleshade for a seconds or two, then the leader Oakstar speaks up. "Mapleshade?! What are you doing out here with the kits? Ugh.. Nevermind." Mapleshade was in shock, it was still before sunrise and there was already a patrol?! "Why are you guys out here...?" Mapleshade asked shakily. "Ravenwing recently went missing, and we just picked up a Riverclan cats scent. Now go with Frecklewish, she will take you home." Oakstar signaled his patrol into the same bushes Appledusk had went into the other day. And just like that, the patrol was gone. "Come on kits." Frecklewish said as she padded toward camp. As the kits followed Frecklewish Mapleshade looked back at where Appledusk had left and there he stood with 2 mice in his mouth, he dropped them down and then gave her a reassuring smile. Mapleshade felt bad, why did Oakstar have to ruin it all? Mapleshade waved goodbye and Appledusk waved back, walking back home.
"I wanted to stay at the pond!" Petalkit pouted. "Yeah.. I miss papa." Patchkit whimpered. "Its okay kits, we will go back when the patrol returns." Mapleshade licked her kits and smiled, even though she felt guilty for leaving and missed Appledusk as much as they did. "But until the patrol gets back, why don't you all play?" Mapleshade nudged the kits with her nose. "Last one to the high rock is Crow food!" Larchkit shouted getting a head start to the rock. Petalkit and Patchkit followed him shouting 'wait for me' or 'not fair'. Mapleshade was proud of the kits development. Patchkit had become much more social to his clan mates and wanted to play with his siblings more. It made her proud. She had just wish he would be able to spend time with Appledusk, all of them! If only the warrior code hadn't stopped her. Her thought stopped when she saw Rabbitfur with her kits again, she quickly ran over and stepped over her kits, protecting them. She hissed "Stay away from my kits Rabbitfur." Mapleshade knew that Rabbitfur was catching on to the kits identity.
"You know, these kits seem no where near related to Birchface." Rabbitfur hissed, staring directly at Petalkit. If anything she looked the most off out of the litter. "Everyone in the clan knows these kits belong to Birchface!" Mapleshade hissed with her claws unsheathed as she turned and padded away, ushering the kits to the nursery. "Ah yes Mapleshade. Everyone knows. But they don't know its a lie." Mapleshade stopped for a second as the kits began to play in the nursery. "What makes you think its a lie Rabbitfur?" Mapleshade came back over to the elder and went their face, glaring at them. "Simple, none of the kits look anything like their father. Petalkit looks a lot like Appledusk, and they are as clumsy as fish in a pine forest. These kits are Mistakes." Rabbitfur hissed. Mapleshade began to rise with anger but was also filled with worry. Just from a single look at her kits he could tell the kits were not Birchface's kits.
"Don't you ever talk about my kits like that again! They are Thunderclan kits and soon well learned warriors! Be grateful."
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