rants for the warrior cats series

mapleshade

To delineate the rest of this, I basically feel terrible for Mapleshade, simply commiserating with her. (So that's is the perspective this should be read under in case it can't be discerned..) Here's why:

These are actually pretty trivial and straightforward claims, BUT THEY'RE TRUE! To begin with, Mapleshade must've mated with Appledusk BEFORE he caused the death of Birchface and Flowerpaw. (So she couldn't have predicted it...) (I mean I think she did especially since Birchface was long enough to fuel his brother's deception/misperception.)

Besides Appledusk hadn't deliberately murder them; it was the stream/river (idk that drowned them). Appledusk had inadvertently shoved Birchface (if my memory serves me correctly (gosh it's been years)) and the disobedient Flowerpaw (like Swiftpaw and Cinderpaw etc. xD (rant on that later too)) had followed suit when she shouldn't have.

I don't believe that Mapleshade was the first cat to break the code even after it was set. I think the only issue was that the cat she'd incorporated was none other than the dubbed murderer. (^^which I defended). But another factor in that issue was that she'd evidently lied to her entire clan...

^^Except she never declared Birchface as the birth father of her kits -full on- through her own jaws. Frecklewish was lowkey determined to believe so, twisting the she-cat's words in his grief. That tom even incredulously whined "aReN'T yOu gOinG tO nAmE oNe oF yOuR kiTs aFTeR tHeiR faTHeR'?!?!". (Like fleabag, Mapleshade didn't even name one after herself).

Lastly, "weren't the clans supposed to nurture and rescue kits no matter their clan or heritage according to the warrior code?" (unless Mapleshade's adversities occurred too early on in history). It was not right for Oakstar to exile Mapleshade.

^^I understand that they simply wanted Mapleshade gone for good and that they couldn't have expected to have kits left behind while their mother (who was still intact, breathing, and flowing with blood & passion) existed (in other words they couldn't have ostracized only one half of them with a monopolizing mother), but couldn't the clan have waited a moon? (Sorry if that was an absurd tentative suggestion though as I sometimes scoff at the ones of others).

I guess that you could wonder why Mapleshade didn't try seeking her kits out from Starclan and instead resorted to ultimate cruelty... (I don't know how to counter that~) Also.. I guess that the utmost drowning of her kits might've been caused by her (as she should've been cautious of the swelling banks) but that only makes her grief even more unbearable all the more~

Besides Ravenwing must've fueled her on, cynically stating that her kits "swam like fish" (even if that was to emphasize how they couldn't jump). (To justify the three original murders she oversaw, 1) Ravenwing was supposed to be a caring medicine cat despite his duties (and that reed-ful vision of three entities that didn't belong) and 2) Frecklewish shouldn't have attacked Mapleshade thinking she dishonored his brother's name when he was the one to do so (or at least instigate it) himself.)

Likewise Appledusk was just a horror, my second least favorite cat (after Foxheart). Truthfully I don't think that Riverclan would've turned down Mapleshade if she'd still been nursing kits (as that clan wouldn't have been blinded by revulsion). I think that they banished her request only because she was barren and 'perfectly capable of managing herself'.

^^I think that Appledusk might've also been more accepting if Mapleshade's-his- kits were still alive (although he never even asked for their names and didn't hesitate to pull Reedshine under his wing).

^^However, he had no right to blame Mapleshade for their death (and he had no reason to shrug all the responsibility of his wrongdoing off his back without a second glance). Like Mapleshade herself believed, Riverclan - the adept swimmers - could've saved the kits 'if they'd tried harder'! However if the raging currents were unable to be overturned, then Mapleshade would've shared the blame and contempt with Riverclan (she shouldn't have been regarded alone in my opinion).

Overall, it must've just been some wildly unfortunate event for Mapleshade that snowballed after one paw was placed out of line.

~

I've always harbored flickers of remorse for Breezepelt, Brokenstar, and Scourge for their afflictions as well. (Those are the only four cats I lament over). Thistleclaw, Tigerclaw, and Hawkfrost simply seemed like some cat's with no explanation for their ambition so I have no comments (good or bad) for them.

^^The one villain I absolutely loathe is Ashfur, however. This abomination had an ulterior motive, except it was none either than 'ruthless rejection'. Like how inane can that be? A cat who's too weak to even handle rejection who then lashes out? I can't believe people can feel bad for THAT. (more detail rant on Ashfur later...)

I know that Mapleshade's troubled past does not excuse the fact that she slaughtered Spottedleaf all of Crookedstar's family (however it does justify the three cats she'd originally terminated for vengeance).

Personally though I've encountered many people who dote on Crookedstar and therefore felt bad for him and abhorred Mapleshade as a result (and I understand that). However, people adoring or respecting Spottedleaf is usually rare so I was astounded to find someone declare their lingering resentment for Mapleshade as a result of killing that Mary Sue.

(**this is a personal opinion of mine but** So many more deaths were tragic in the Last Hope, like Hollyleaf, Ferncloud, and Sorreltail (and the Fiery ultimate Firestar, even though I lost interest in him after the 1st arc and his super edition as the lesser members of Thunderclan failed to depict him as well as he conveyed Bluestar himself in the 1st arc), so why Spottedleaf??)

Except I do recognize Spottedleaf as kind-hearted except for the extent she sought out the cat who deemed her his first-love who happened to be the clan's savior. It was still a shame she was cold-heartedly butchered (especially since she went down defending the cat who fulfilled the tom she supposedly 'loved').

**random here but~** Whenever I think of Mary Sues, my mind actually screams 'Star Flower' instead of Spottedleaf (rant on that specific atrocity later UwU). Mulling over that she-cat, I start to believe that Mapleshade should've assasinated Star Flower instead of Mapleshade. (That is if she still existed, idk how long it took for ancient cats to fade permanently but I think the founding leaders still remained due to their veneration (as shown in 'Long Shadows' with 'Shadowstar'). (I think it was the middle generations that dissipated first).)

To begin with, Star Flower had been a traitor, no sugar coating there at all. Nevertheless, she was forgiven and even enabled a high rank in her clan and -dammit- kits. That was because she'd managed to pull an entire susceptible leader under her spell.

Spottedleaf didn't pop out any kits or have a confirmed mate (and was never required forgiveness), and medicine cats are typically special among their clan. Star Flower on the other hand didn't deserve the bountiful load of fortunes she was showered with (like the ability to watch her kits grow up). Therefore it would've been so much reasonable for that she-cat to have been the one annihilated by Mapleshade.

**just a little connection I made there^^** Overall I still don't find Mapleshade's movement plausible given all the appalling crimes she's committed. However I still can't help but grieve over her treatment, even though she's a villain with a deep-seated grudge.