A Different Path

A Night to Remember

Their relationship was a secret, both cats wanting to surprise the Clan with time. Mapleshade, a ginger and white she-cat nuzzled her mate, a large strong dark brown tabby tom, Birchface. The two softly purred as they cherished each second.

"Birchface, I have great news." Mapleshade purred.

"Yes?" Birchface sweetly meowed, eyes burning with affection.

"I'm expecting your kits!" Mapleshade couldn't contain her joy.

Birchface blinked a few times in shock before purring loudly, "This is great news, you'll be a wonderful mother and our kits will be great warriors, I just know it."

Mapleshade licked his chest, "Thank you. I know you'll be an excellent father too."

Birchface licked the top of her head, "I can't wait." He purred.

The next night Birchface and Mapleshade fought side by side. Beetail has sent them on a patrol to protect Sunning Rocks. Birchface was protectively fighting any cat away from Mapleshade. The tom was clearly afraid of losing her and his kits.

A loud screech echoed as Appledusk pounced onto Birchface, knowing the tom off and into the dark water below. Mapleshade stared and let out a yowl of terror as her mate was swept away.

Mapleshade seemed to be frozen in place as Flowerpaw jumped in after her mentor only for her head to also go below the surface. The she-cat rushed down to the shore to try and find her mate, Frecklewish right behind her.

To Mapleshade's horror she saw her mate and his apprentice dead on the shore. Mapleshade let out a wail of grief as she tried to get her mate to wake but but it was to late.

As cats sat vigil for the two Mapleshade pressed herself against her mate as she softly groomed his wet fur. Oakstar and Frecklewish were also deeply mourning this lost kin.

Mapleshade watched the cats leave, going to bury Birchface and Flowerpaw. The she-cat looked down at her paws and she continued to mourn him, taking his scent in one final time.

Slowly Mapleshade approached Beetail after she heard that he wanted her to go on patrol, "I'm sorry Beetail but I can't go on patrol since I am expecting kits."

Beetail seemed taken aback, "Oh you're expecting kits. I didn't see this coming. How's the father?"

Mapleshade looked down, it had been their plan to announce that they were mates together, but with Birchface gone she couldn't do it alone, "I will be raising these kits alone."

Beetail nodded slowly, "Okay, I'll have Bloomheart take your place on the patrol."

"Thank you." Mapleshade said, dipping her head before leaving to get set up in the nursery.

As she finally got ready to sleep again Frecklewish entered the den, "I heard you were expecting kits. I-I saw how close you were with Birchface and how you reacted to his death.... is he the father?"

Mapleshade looked at her paws, "We were suppose to raise them together, to tell the clan about them together." Mapleshade whimpered, clearly grieving her mate.

Frecklewish licked Mapleshade's cheek, "I promise that I'll be here to help you raise these kits. You're not alone in this."

"Thank you Frecklewish." Mapleshade purred.

The kitting was rough but soon there were four healthy kits there, three tom-kits and a she-kit, Larchkit, Birchkit, Patchkit, and Petalkit. There was no doubt about it, they were clearly Birchface's kits. Birchkit looked just like him, Patchkit had his blue eyes, and Petalkit and Larchkit were a few shades lighter than he was but still resembled him greatly.

Mapleshade smiled at her kits, watching them warmly. Still there was a huge emptiness in her without her beloved Birchface.