Mapleshade

1. Sometimes

It was raining and Mapleshade and three small bundles were sheltering in a damp hollow tree, it's bark that was once full of life was peeling away and eroding, moss forming on the inside walls. The only light coming through was already dimmed from the gray dusk clouds, filtering in from a tiny hole in the bark, barely big enough for a small cat. But with all the bodies pressed against each other in the feather lined nest, the cats were warm.

Mapleshade looked down at the three kits snuggled at her belly, between her torrtishell and white fur. In any other circumstance she would be overjoyed by this miracle of new life, but now all she felt was an overwhelming sense of impending doom and despair.

What was she thinking, these were her kits, and not just her kits but Appledusk's too. Appledusk was her mate, the only problem was, he was from Riverclan, and she was a Thundeclan warrior. She was thunderclan through and through; she would die for her clan, but she just couldn't stop herself for falling for the handsome tabby.
She looked back down at her kits. Mapleshade felt like she was falling in love all over again just looking at them.

"Oh my dear kits, what should I do with us now," she mummer softly trying to sound soothing despite the importance and dread her words carried.
One kit squirmed against his sister climbing over her to crawl under the crook of Mapleshade's front leg. She stared fondly at the Tom.
"So I see you're the fighter, huh." She chided, suppressing a mrrow of laughter as to not disturb her kits.

They were beautiful.

She new what she had to do now. She had been a loyal warrior of Thunderclan her whole life, others were even whispering she was on the path to becoming leader. She'd always liked the thought of it, but all her ambition had crumbled the second she found out about the kits. After that it was pure driven passion on how she would help these scraps.
Now she had to have faith in her clan, the cats that she had protected and that had protected her all her life to accept her feelings; she refused to call them mistakes. She had to trust them and pray to Starclan they would understand. She would bring the kits to them, tell them the truth and hope they would understand.
But Mapleshade couldn't carry three kits who's eyes weren't even open and couldn't even walk. So first she would have to wait out the night.

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Mapleshade awoke with a start to a repeated prodding to her side. She looked around wildly until she found the source. A brown tabby Tom-kit, the one who had tackled his sister to get to her, shrinking back and staring at her, his blue eyes wide.
Staring at him her heart skipped a beat and tore apart inside. His coat! It was almost a direct replica of his fathers.
Mapleshade couldn't help but let out a small surprised gasp, that she silenced as soon as it started. But the kit had already heard.
"What's wrong mama," he queried, then let out a tiny squek as his sister squirmed beside him.
"She's up!" he jumped over to her, prodding her side. Then he turned wide curious eyes on Mapleshade, "where are her eyes?" He asked.
"She'll open them soon my dear" Mapleshade responded.
He nodded as if taking it all in. The Tom looked around the makeshift den, "where are we" he questioned, then a sudden light lit his eyes and he turned to face Mapleshade with confusion "what's my name" he asked.
Mapleshade's head spun, she forgot to name them, what kind of mother was she! Mapleshade studied her kits then looked to the young tabby, his stripes were the color of the branches of a larch tree.
"Your name is Larchkit" she told him licking him between the ears. Larchkit nodded and looked up at her warmly.
"I love it!" he exclaimed
"Larchkit" he said as if he was testing it on his tongue, nodding to himself.
Mapleshade looked at the other kits. Focusing on the closet kit to Larchkit. A leaner dark brown and black Tom pressed protectively against her belly. This one is easy, she thought to herself.
Leaning down Mapleshade pressed her nose against her kits forehead "your name will be Patchkit" she purred. The Tom let out a mewl under her touch.
Then she looked at the delicate light body curled next to her, prodding at her stomach. Her coat the color of a light sunset and a fallen petal. A petal! That was perfect, light, delicate, and beautiful just like her daughter.
" Your name will be Petalkit" she told her as she leaned down to lick her comfortingly between the ears she murmured "stay strong my wonderful daughter."
As if on command Mapleshade was struck by a pair of brilliant green eyes that almost immediately took in everything around her. "Petalkit!" Mapleshade purred.
Mapleshade lifted her head to look at Petalkit who was staring with wide green eyes at her mother refusing to let the dim light get in her way. Then she looked to Patchkit who was still squirming at her belly. Then to Larchkit who was proudly murmuring his name under his breath.
Her heart swelled with love. They were perfect. Compassion coursing through her she knew she would lay down her life without even thinking, just to give these kits a chance at one. These were her kits and they were wonderful.
"Momma," Mapleshade was broken out of her thoughts by a quiet mew from Larchkit.
"Yes dear" she responded
" Your good at picking names" Larchkit replied with certainty and admiration sparkling in his eyes.
Mapleshade's heart beat faster as joy spread through her body from ears to tail tip. "Thank you my love" she meowed.