A Different Path

Shadows of the Past

Ravenwing smiled softly before sitting next to her. The four kits were fast asleep as he told her of his conversation with Birchface. He felt much better as he saw the relief and joy his words brought to the queen.

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Mapleshade nuzzled her energetic kits her amber eyes shined brightly, burning with motherly love. Patchkit snuggled closer. He never wanted to leave his mother side.

Frecklewish walked into the nursery with a big plump sparrow in her jaws. The speckled she-cat always made sure to get the best prey for Mapleshade and her kits. Birchkit ran to her, his little paws surprisingly carried him quickly to his father's kin. Frecklewish sat next down, wrapping her tail around Birchkit.

"They're growing so fast." Frecklewish purred, "They'll make ThunderClan so proud."

Mapleshade purred her agreement. The she-cat was grateful for the help but was never able to shake the empty feeling that clawed at her heart. Every day she wished Birchface was still around. The big dark brown tabby was kind and gentle. His warm and friendly mew always made Mapleshade's heart flutter.

Their secret walks under the sliver glow of moonlight that leaked through the leaves above them. Mapleshade would do anything to drink in her mate's scent one more time. She always had to comfort herself by reminding herself of her kits, her Clan's support, and the fact that one day she would walk among the endless stars with her beloved Birchface.

Mapleshade broke from her thoughts as she saw Frecklewish playing mossball with Petalkit, Larchkit, and Birchkit. Letting out an amused purr of laughter Mapleshade approached them with Patchkit trailing behind her.

Frecklewish had Larchkit hanging off her back and Petalkit on her hindquarters as Birchkit possessive covered the moss ball. The kits were getting older and so they wouldn't be able to just climb onto other cats.

Mapleshade watched as the four cats played. Her tail was wrapped around Patchkit who was more content staying pressed up against her patting an older ruined ball of moss. In a few moons her kits would become apprentices and provide for their clan.

An icy chill ran through Mapleshade. Flowerpaw was such a wide eyed and innocent apprentice who died so young. The poor little she-cat jumped in to try and save her mentor - rushing into the icy dar abyss. Mapleshade could never understand why RiverClan cats choose to swim like otters. The water tried to pull cats down into it's endless abyss and steal the air from their lungs.

She tried to push all thoughts of her kits suffering the same fate as their father or Flowerpaw. All Mapleshade could hope for was for her kits to grow old and become elders one day. She just wanted her kits to live long and happy lives.

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Another moon passed and Mapleshade watched her kits become larger. Larchkit and Birchkit started to fill out and become more hard muscled. The two looked so much like their father and were becoming impressive young toms. Petalkit was leaner but also becoming much taller and hard muscled. The she-kit was a few shades lighter than Larchkit who himself was a few shades lighter than Birchface. Petalkit and Larchkit had Mapleshade's eyes while Birchkit and Petalkit and Birchface's rich blue eyes.

Birchkit strutted around, the spitting image of his father.

Oakstar and Sweetbriar had gotten very close and often spent time sharing tongues. Birchkit had tried to get his grandfather's approval many times but the tom had been becoming more and more distant as he instead favored to spend his time with Sweetbriar. Frecklewish, however, would always give Birchkit the attention he wanted whenever she was around.

Beetail and Bloomheart were watching the kits playing happily. The two were obvious choices in being mentors for the kits and Mappleshade knew Thrushtalon and Seedpelt would also be great choices as mentors. Still she wondered if Patchkit was up to becoming a warrior or instead take the path of a Medicine Cat.

Whichever path Patchkit chose Mapleshade knew she would be proud of him, no matter what.