MapleBirch au! (REWRITING)

Chapter 4

Snow fell heavily from the sky. It coated the grown in a soft layer of it. Not a single paw step messed the ground. The camp was quiet, and emotion hung heavily in camp.

Loud coughing sounded throughout the camp. Mapleshade watched the medicine den with worry. Her mother was that den, along with a few others.

Cats tried their best to keep busy. Beetail tried his best to keep cats moving. He sent our hunting and border patrols.

Mapleshade couldn't take her amber eyes off the medicine den. She wanted to bad to rush over to the den.

But the medicine cats had ordered that no one go near the den. Greencough had spread throughout camp.

Mapleshade was waiting on bated breath. The calico molly hadn't noticed her friend walking over to her.

"Mapleshade? How are you holding up?" Birchface asked. He watched the beautiful molly. Mapleshade shook herself.

Her beautiful amber eyes shimmered with tears. "I'm so worried about her...she isn't as young as she would hope."

Birchface nodded and chucked sadly. "They all think that," the dark tabby moved closer to his friends.

Mapleshade pressed herself against the strong tabby. "I wish they wouldn't. They would accept the fact that they are aging!" The calico molly mumbled.

A loud, hearty laugh erupted from Birchface, his golden eyes shimmering. "I remember a certain calico she-cat, always thinking she was a warrior already when she was only just a 'kit."

Mapleshade looked at her friend. The molly felt her face flushed with embarrassment. "Only because you lot wouldn't behave!" She said.

Birchface smiled and leaned forward and pressed his muzzle to mapleshade's head.

"You're an amazing cat. You must understand why they want to believe they are young." The handsome tabby purred.

Mapleshade looked at him, her amber eyes shining with appreciation and... love for the dark tabby male.

The pair was interrupted by a loud wail. Their eyes flashed with worry as a dark gray tom ran over to them.

"Ravenwing? What's wrong? Is my mother okay?" Mapleshade asked, question after question. Her mind raced, and her heart quickened its pace.

"Im...I'm so...I'm so sorry, she passed." The dark gray mumbled out. His dark blue eyes filled with emotions as he stared at his paws.

A loud wail filled the camp air, and mapleshade threw herself at the dark gray tom.

"HOW?! HOW COULD YOU LET THIS HAPPEN?! I TRUSTED YOU TO TAKE CARE OF HER!!" The calico molly yelled at the cat beneath her paws. Tears fell rapidly from the beautiful mollies' eyes.

Ravenwing whimpered as he was pushed to the ground. His dark blue eyes rounded with surprise and worry.

"Mapleshade?!" Birchface yelled. He rushed over to pull the calico molly off the medicine cat apprentice.

Mapleshade turned on her friend and pushed him always from her. The molly opened her mouth to say something.

But a soft said voice spoke first. "It was my fault, Mapleshade. I couldn't... I couldn't save my sister."

Mapleshade turned and glared at the cream and brown speckled molly. "SHE WAS YOUR KIN! AND YET COULDN'T SAVE HER? SOME MEDICINE CAT YOU ARE!" She screamed at the molly.

Newtspeck flinched at her kins harsh words. Water filled her green gaze. "Im so...so sorry Mapleshade."

"NOT SORRY ENOUGH!!" She screamed. Her turned to look at the shocked Ravenwing and the stunned Birchface.

A deep sorrow full voice spoke. "Mapleshade, calm down. No one is to blame. Your mother was a strong cat, and she would never blame anyone for her death."

Mapleshade growled. She turned and ran out of camp. She couldn't handle this.

She ran and ran until her paws could carry her no more. She stopped and threw herself down on the ground and sobbed.

She felt so alone. She had never known her father. Mapleshade lost her sister at a very young age. And now her mother.

She curled herself into a ball and whimpered. She closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.

The molly slept until the sun began to set. She sat quietly. Her eyes stung with tears. He looked around and realized where she was.

She was at sunning rocks. She remembered all the stories her mother told about her memories of this place.

She sighed and pulled herself up into a sitting position. She looked up at the sky. "Please look after mother, Patalspirit. Please make sure she is never sad or alone." She mumbled quietly.

Soft splashing sounded as a tan warrior swam across the lake. "Well, that's just sweet, isn't it?" He said, his voice teasing.

Mapleshade flinched at his words. "What? Are you making fun of me?" She snapped.

The tan tom looked a little shocked. "No, of course not! It sounds like you're saying goodbye to somebody." He said softly. "Mind if I ask who?"

Mapleshade looked at him. "Why would I tell you that! You are a riverclan warrior! And I don't even know your name." She hissed.

The tan warrior chucked. "I am a warrior of Riverclan, and the Name is Appledusk." He said purring.

Mapleshade looked at him. "Well, Appledusk, I'm still not telling you anything! Plus, you are on Thunderclan territory, " She pointed out.

The tan warrior giggled. "Seems I am, but it seems like you aren't. And you don't seem to be doing anything." He pointed out, looking at her.

Mapleshade chucked. "You are right." She sighed. Her eyes filled with tears once more.

Appledusk looked at her. "Are you okay? I didn't say anything hurtful, did I?" He asked.

Mapleshade shook her head. "No... It's just my.. my mother just died, and now I feel so alone."

Appledusk looked at her. "Oh, I'm sorry, that must be hard." He said, leaning forward to rest his head on her shoulder.

Mapleshade sighed and looked at him. "She was the only other family I had." She mumbled.

Appledusk purred slightly and brushed his head against hers. "It will hurt for a little bit, but it will get easier in time." He said quietly.

Mapleshade looked at him. "Are you really sure about that?" She asked her eyes wide with question.

Appledusk smiled and nodded. "Of course, everyone goes eventually. It's nothing we can change." He said. "The only thing we can do is just enjoy the moment we had with them and give joy to the moments they were alive."

Mapleshade looked at him with appreciation. "Yeah... Yeah, you're right," she said, purring slightly.

Birchface watched in horror as Mapleshade pressed herself against the tan warrior. 'What is she doing? That is an enemy warrior! Yet she is purring like they are friends!"

The dark tabby tom pressed himself to the ground. He has to keep himself for launching at the tan warrior. He closed his eyes and tried to force his flank flat.

When he opened them, he was met with the beautiful amber eyes of Mapleshade. She giggled and licked the top of his head.

"What are you doing? Pretending to be a mouse?" She asked softly. Birchface looked up at her and purred. "No, I came looking for you... Everyone was worried."

Mapleshade looked down. "Im sorry for running off like that." She sighed. "I was just upset and needed some space."

Birchface nodded and leaned forward he pressed his head into the mollies' fluffy chest.

"Let's go back to camp, Mapleshade." He purred slightly. "I'm sure everyone will be happy to see you safe."

"Okay.. Yeah... let's go back to camp. I need to apologize to Newtspeck and Ravenwing." She whispered.