Mapleshade gazed up at him. Oh my precious warrior. I love you with all my heart. “There’s something you need to know,” she mewed.
Appledusk was looking over her head, toward the pool of moonlight where his Clanmates stood.
“Can’t it wait?”
“I don’t think so.” Mapleshade took a deep breath. “I’m expecting your kits.”
There was a flash of green as Appledusk opened his eyes wide. “Are you sure?”
Mapleshade nodded. The RiverClan warrior curled his tail over his back. “I’m going to be a father,” he purred. “Incredible.” He tipped his head to one side. “But these kits will be half-Clan.
Half RiverClan. How will your Clanmates feel about that?”
“They won’t know,” Mapleshade answered. She noticed Appledusk flinch. “At least, not at first,” she went on. “I will raise them as ThunderClan until they have been fully accepted. Then every cat will be able to cope with the truth. Why should it matter that their father lives in a different Clan?”
The fur on Appledusk’s shoulders twitched. “You have great faith in your Clanmates,” he murmured.
“No, I have faith in StarClan, and in the warrior code.”
“You think StarClan approves of what we are doing?” Appledusk narrowed his eyes.
“I think our warrior ancestors know that our Clans need kits and we are providing them. How can our innocent kits not have their blessing? They will grow up to be fine warriors, loyal to ThunderClan and RiverClan equally.” Mapleshade turned away before Appledusk could say anything else. “I must return to my Clanmates before they come looking for me. Perhaps it’s best if we don’t see each other again until after the kits have come.” She looked back over her shoulder. “But I will be thinking of you every day, my love.”
As she padded into the shadows that ringed the hollow, Mapleshade heard rapid paw steps.
“Appledusk! There you are! I’ve been looking for you!” Mapleshade stopped, hoping her white patches weren’t glowing in the moonlight. A dark orange she-cat was pressing herself against
Appledusk’s shoulder. “One of the ShadowClan elders is telling a story about a cat that swallowed a live frog,” she mewed. “Come and listen, it’s really funny.”
With a worried glance at the shadows where Mapleshade crouched, Appledusk followed the she-cat back to the cluster of cats. The orange warrior curled her tail until it was resting on Appledusk’s back.
Mapleshade curled her lip. Stay away from him, Reedshine. He’s mine! These kits will make sure of that!
“Mapleshade, wake up!” A small ginger face poked through the branches that sheltered the warriors’ den. “Beetail wants you to go on the dawn patrol. You’re late!”
“All right, Nettlepaw, I’m coming.” Mapleshade heaved herself to her paws. Last night she had felt the kits stirring inside her for the first time. Is it because your father knows about you now? She craned her head around to lick the rumpled fur on her flank, then pushed her way out of the den. She felt strangely heavy, unbalanced by her swollen belly.
The air in the clearing was still and cold, tasting of old leaves and damp earth. The little orange apprentice bounced around Mapleshade. “Hurry up! When did you get so slow?”
Mapleshade flicked him lightly with her tail. “What would Deerdapple do if you spoke like that to her, hmmm?”
Nettlepaw looked down at the ground at the mention of his mentor. “She’d probably make me pick ticks off Rabbitfur for a moon,” he admitted.
Mapleshade purred, too full of joy about her kits to be short-tempered. “You’re lucky that I won’t punish you, then. Now, off you go and let me speak to Beetail.”
The apprentice scampered off with a squeak. Mapleshade headed over to the ThunderClan deputy, who was standing beside the entrance to Oakstar’s den. The dark brown tabby nodded as Mapleshade approached.
“I’d like you to join the dawn patrol, please,” he meowed. “Frecklewish is leading it.”
“Actually, there’s something I need to tell you,” Mapleshade began. Her paws tingled. “I won’t be able to carry out my usual duties for a while. I’m expecting kits.”
Beetail blinked. “Oh. Right. I… er… wasn’t expecting that. Well, you must only do what you feel up to. Does Oakstar know?”
“Not yet. Why don’t I help out in the camp today?” Mapleshade suggested. She couldn’t resist glancing at the curve of her belly. “I could fetch some soaked moss for the elders, if you like.”
“That would be great,” mewed Beetail. He shifted his paws. “And, er, congratulations.”
“Thank you,” purred Mapleshade. “It’s wonderful news, isn’t it?”
“Indeed,” Beetail meowed. “And these kits… their father…?”
“I will be raising them alone,” Mapleshade answered firmly.
The deputy looked startled for a moment, then dipped his head. “May StarClan light your path, and the path of your kits.”
Still rumbling with delight, Mapleshade turned and headed back across the clearing. Since she wasn’t needed on the dawn patrol, she could go back to her nest until the rest of the Clan stirred. She knew she had to save her strength for when the kits arrived.
She was dozing in dappled sunlight when she was roused by paws thrumming outside the den.
Frecklewish burst in, her speckled golden fur fluffed up and her eyes sparkling. “Beetail told me your news!” she purred. “I’m so happy for you!”
Mapleshade sat up and curled her thick white tail over her paws. “Thank you.” You see, Appledusk? My Clanmates will only be delighted to have new kits in the camp!
Frecklewish stood beside Mapleshade’s nest looking uncharacteristically shy. “Beetail also said that you would be raising these kits alone,” she mewed.
Mapleshade tensed. She had not anticipated questions about her kits’ father so soon.
Frecklewish looked down at the floor of the den. “Is… is that because their father is dead?” She lifted her gaze, and Mapleshade almost winced at the blaze of hope in her eyes. “Are these
Birchface’s kits?” Frecklewish whispered. “Is my brother going to live on through you?”
The air in the warriors’ den was suddenly so thick that Mapleshade couldn’t catch her breath. Is StarClan offering me a way for my kits to be accepted by their Clanmates? I can’t lie, not if I want them to know the truth later. She stared at Frecklewish, unable to speak.
The golden she-cat didn’t seem to need a response from Mapleshade. She nodded slowly, and the light in her eyes burned even more brightly. “I’m right, aren’t I? Oh, thank StarClan! And thank you, Mapleshade. You will never know how much this means to me. I… I thought I would never be happy again after Birchface was killed in that terrible battle. But now I can help you to raise his kits, teach them that their father was a true ThunderClan hero, watch them take his place in the Clan…” She broke off and stepped gently into the nest until she was crouched beside Mapleshade. She stretched out her front paw until it rested on Mapleshade’s orange-and-white flank. “I hope Birchface can see us,” she murmured.
Mapleshade took a deep breath. I have not lied out loud. This was all Frecklewish’s doing. But I cannot turn down this chance to have my kits welcomed with the love they deserve. Appledusk will understand that I have to put ThunderClan first, for now at least. She unfurled her tail until it was resting on Frecklewish’s shoulder.
“You have answered my prayers, Frecklewish,” she mewed softly. “My kits and I are no longer alone.”
Frecklewish’s dark amber gaze shone back at her. “Never,” she vowed. “These kits will be the best thing ever to happen in our Clan.”