Mapleshade's Revenge

Chapter Twenty-Eight

A dark shadow hung over the forest, seeming to choke the life out of every living thing that crossed Mapleshade's path. Each pawstep sent a new shriek of pain through her heart.

Nothing. I have nothing left. Starclan has taken everything from me!

Clan, kits, mate, and family...Mapleshade had been robbed of everything that had ever mattered to her. Mistpool had revealed her biggest secret to Thunderclan, causing Mapleshade's excile. The river had savagely drowned her three innocent kits. Appledusk had betrayed her and had taken another mate behind her back. But above all, Starclan had taken her clan, her family, her dignity, and her hope. They had stolen everything.

"Curse you!" Mapleshade yowled into the night sky,"Curse all of you fox-hearted starry fools!"

Three lonesome stars shone in Silverpelt. They dimly twinkled, their light barely visible.

Kits? Could that be you? Mapleshade thought longingly.

Did you let me die for nothing? Leafkit's small voice echoed, You made a promise to them, will you fulfill it?

Mapleshade perked her ears with realization. There was one thing left she had to live for, and that was revenge.

~ • ~
A chilly wind buffeted Mapleshade's tortoishell fur. Green, grassy hills rolled about in front of her. The air was crisp but sweet, tasting almost like starlight itself.

There's only one place I can be, Mapleshade thought with a growl, Starclan.

"Mapleshade."

She whipped around at the voice, hackles raised and claws unsheathed. Her fur flattened as she recognized Eaglestrike.

"Well, what did I tell you," Eaglestrike mewed, circling Mapleshade," And now look what has happened."

"Tell me?" Mapleshade growled, "What did you tell me?"

Eaglestrike lashed his tail, "I told you to contain your heart and keep it from straying over the borders! Of course, you ignored me, and now look at this mess!"

Mapleshade leapt forward, teeth bared, "It's your fault! It's Starclan's fault!"

"How? I warned you!"

"You let this happen- when you saw what was going to happen to me, you should have prevented it from happening!" Mapleshade seethed. Her amber eyes blared with ferocity and vengeance.

"Starclan doesn't stop things from happening," Eaglestrike meowed softly,"Every cat has free will to do what they feel is right- they have choices. You made the wrong choice, Mapleshade, when you took Appledusk as a mate. That's your fault, not ours."

Mapleshade let out an ear splitting screech and launched herself forward. She barreled into Eaglestrike and let her claws effortlessly sink into his neck. His eyes flickered before falling shut. His starry figure began to slowly fade.

No regret or sadness was felt in Mapleshade's heart as she watched her former friend fade. She could hear the sound of her kits' cries, blocking out any emotion she could feel.

"You are only the beginning," Mapleshade snarled," of my glorious revenge!"

~•~

Mapleshade's eyes flew open. She panted, trying to catch her breath. The stench of blood was heavy in the air, making it difficult to breathe. Mapleshade let her gaze drift over her "den". She had taken refuge in an old oak tree with a large gnarled hole in the front. She hadn't even bothered to collect moss to lie on the floor, so the moldy wet leaves were plastered to her fur.

Her encounter with Eaglestrike was fresh on her mind. She could nearly feel the feeling of his soft neck fur tearing beneath her claws. He hadn't even struggled...

He was just one measly obstacle, Mapleshade thought with a hiss, My true revenge is soon to come.

Mapleshade sat up in the damp leaves, shaking out her cold, bloody fur. She barely winced as she accidentally rubbed a large gash on her flank against the tree bark.

"I must have struck a rock while I was in the river," Mapleshade huffed to herself, not bothering to lick the sticky scarlet drops from her pelt.

An odd feeling stirred in her heart. It was like nothing she had ever felt before. Grief was no way to describe it.   It was a cold fire that yearned for vengeance- a vengeance that would only be satisfied by death
~ • ~

A mist hung over the stretch of reeds like a cloud. The small water droplets made it hard to make out each pawstep, but Mapleshade didn't care. She had waited a quarter moon for this day. Today she would accomplish yet another step in her quest for vengeance.

She had found a small clearing outside of clan territory; there she had hunted and rested, regaining her strength. After what had seemed like a season, her wounds had healed and she had received newfound strength from her grief. An icy flame burned her heart urging to avenge her kits, and herself.

My kits, today you will be avenged, Mapleshade growled silently.

She silently stalked through the reeds, careful not to make a sound. After spending many moons with be Appledusk, she new that he usually led the dawn patrol. She hoped that Rainstar would choose this crisp morning to send him out.

"He won't see it coming," she whispered," I will cherish every moment of this." Mapleshade licked her pure white fangs, imagining them in Appledusk's pelt.

Mapleshade continued creeping through Riverclan territory. The sun barely peeked above the horizon, casting small rays of light through the trees.

At last, fresh Riverclan scent reached Mapleshade's nose. She spotted a patrol in the distance consisting of three cats, including Appledusk.

She froze as a small voice echoed around her, I'm dead, Duskkit's voice called, because of him. My litter mates and I walk the stars alone- because of him.

Mapleshade unsheathed her claws, "Not for long, my love. He will pay," She let out a snarl," With the highest price possible..."