“I wanted to show them the river,” Mapleshade meowed. She angled her body so that the kits were bundled behind her, out of earshot. She could hear Larchkit asking Patchkit what it had been like to swim so far out.
Appledusk leaned forward until his muzzle was almost touching Mapleshade’s cheek. “They are wonderful,” he breathed. “Strong and brave, and as confident as any RiverClan cat in the water. I am so proud of you.” He straightened up and raised his voice. “I don’t want to see you or these kits anywhere near the river again,” he meowed. The longing in his eyes told a different story.
Mapleshade bowed her head. “Of course, Appledusk. Thank you for bringing Patchkit back.”
Appledusk glanced once more at the kits, then headed back into the water.
“Those kits are not old enough to be out of the nursery!” Milkfur called across the river. “What were you thinking of, bringing them here? They could have drowned!”
“You may have won Sunningrocks, but the river still belongs to us,” yowled Spiketail. “Appledusk has been merciful this time, but from now on, stay away from our territory.”
Mapleshade herded the kits into the bracken. They were bouncing on their paws—even Patchkit, whose fur was fluffing up like thistledown as it dried.
“That was the best thing ever!” squeaked Larchkit.
“When can we come here again?” Petalkit asked. “Swimming is way more fun than jumping!”
“I swam the farthest, didn’t I?” mewed Patchkit proudly.
Suddenly a dark shape blocked the path. Mapleshade looked up and met Ravenwing’s searching blue gaze. The medicine cat glanced down at the kits. “What were they doing in the river?” he asked.
Mapleshade’s paws started to tingle. “Did . . . did you see them?” she whispered.
Ravenwing nodded. “I saw everything. What’s going on, Mapleshade?”
Before Mapleshade could reply, the kits tumbled over themselves to tell him about their adventure.
“A RiverClan warrior had to save Patchkit—” mewed Larchkit.
“He did not! I was just resting!” Patchkit interrupted crossly.
“It’s fine, no one was in any danger,” Mapleshade meowed as Ravenwing narrowed his eyes.
“The RiverClan cat was really nice!” squeaked Patchkit. “He said I was very brave, and a really good swimmer!”
“Did he?” mewed Ravenwing. “What else did he say?” He took a step closer.
Mapleshade curled her tail around the kits. “Come on, little ones, time to go home.”
Ravenwing didn’t move out of the way. “I’ve seen an omen, Mapleshade,” he murmured. “I wonder if you know anything about it?”
There was something in his voice that made Mapleshade’s fur prick. “Why would I know anything about an omen? I’m not a medicine cat.”
Ravenwing stared at her without blinking. “A tiny stream appeared in my den, in a place where no stream has run before. It carried with it three pieces of water reed.” He swept his paw over the ground as if he was tracing the path of the rivulet. “Water reed doesn’t grow in ThunderClan territory,” he went on. “It doesn’t belong inside our boundaries. Do you understand?”
Mapleshade shrugged. “There’s been so much rain this leaf-fall, bits and pieces must be washing all over the place.” She tried to keep her voice light but there was a cold, heavy feeling in her belly, as if she had swallowed a stone from the river.
Ravenwing watched the kits play with an acorn, shuffling it from one to the other with their paws. “I think this omen means that the river has washed three strange cats into ThunderClan—three cats who don’t belong there.”
Mapleshade’s heart was pounding so hard, she could hardly breathe. “What are you trying to say?” she whispered.
Ravenwing gazed at her, and suddenly he didn’t seem like a young, inexperienced cat anymore. Knowledge glittered in his eyes like frosty stars. “Birchface is not the father of these kits, is he? Rabbitfur told me what happened today, how they showed no signs of being able to stalk or pounce like him. And don’t tell me that they take after you instead,” he added, cutting Mapleshade off as she opened her mouth. “You tread as lightly as any ThunderClan warrior.” He looked past her, at the river splashing beyond the shade of the trees. “I watched your kits swim in that river as if they were fish. I think these kits were fathered by a RiverClan cat. Appledusk, I’d guess, judging by the color of their fur and by the way he spoke to you when he brought Patchkit back.”
Mapleshade felt the ground sway beneath her paws. “ThunderClan is blessed to have three beautiful, strong kits,” she hissed. “The truth will be revealed at the right time. It’s not my fault that everyone assumed Birchface was their father.”
“I cannot let you lie to our Clanmates!” Ravenwing spat. “And now that I know the truth, I cannot lie, either.”
“I have told you nothing,” Mapleshade mewed through clenched jaws.
“You have told me plenty,” Ravenwing responded, and there was sadness in his sky-colored eyes. “The truth must come out.”
“Please don’t say anything!” Mapleshade begged. “These are ThunderClan’s kits!”
“They are half RiverClan,” Ravenwing corrected, his voice as hard as ice. “Our Clanmates deserve to know. I’m sorry, Mapleshade. Sorry for you, but even sorrier for these kits. They will end up suffering for the lies that you have told.” He whirled around and vanished into the bracken.
Mapleshade stared after him. StarClan, help me! For a moment she considered taking her kits and running deeper into the forest, hiding her kits away from any cat who might harm them. But then she looked at Petalkit balancing the acorn on her head while her brothers tried to knock her off her paws and dislodge it. ThunderClan loves these kits and won’t do anything to hurt them. I always planned to tell them the truth. It’s just happening sooner than I thought.
CHAPTER 4
By the time they reached the path leading down to the ravine, the kits were dragging their paws with weariness. “Nearly there, little ones!” Mapleshade mewed encouragingly. She hoped she would be able to settle them in the nursery and give them a feed before Ravenwing came looking for her.
Patchkit stumbled on the pebbly slope so Mapleshade let him lean against her shoulder and took almost all of his weight as they descended to the gorse tunnel. Petalkit let out a huge yawn. “I’m so sleepy!” she murmured.
“I’m hungry,” Larchkit squeaked. “My belly is rumbling louder than a badger!”
They pushed through the gorse tunnel, ducking their heads to keep the sharp twigs out of their eyes. Mapleshade followed, nudging Patchkit in front of her. When she emerged, Larchkit and Petalkit had stopped dead at the entrance. “Come on,” Mapleshade urged, her attention on Patchkit as he swayed on his feet.
“I think something’s happening,” Petalkit whispered.
Mapleshade looked up. The clearing was ringed with cats, all staring at them. Oakstar stood on Highrock, silhouetted against the trees. Ravenwing was crouched below him, his gaze fierce. The deputy Beetail was next to the medicine cat, his striped coat ruffled as if he had been interrupted mid-groom. Mapleshade started to tremble.
Patchkit pressed himself against her. “What’s wrong?” he whimpered.
“Nothing for you to worry about,” Mapleshade told him. “Go stand over there.” She pointed with her tail to a clump of bracken at the edge of the clearing. The three kits trotted over in silence and huddled together.
“Come here, Mapleshade,” Oakstar commanded.
On legs that seemed to be made of stone, Mapleshade walked forward until she was standing in the center of the clearing. “What is it, Oakstar?”
The dark brown tom twitched the tip of his tail. “Who is the father of your kits?” he asked. “Tell the truth!”
Before Mapleshade could speak, there was a flurry of ginger fur beside her. Frecklewish pushed past a cluster of warriors and joined Mapleshade below Highrock. “We know it’s Birchface!” she
called up to Oakstar. “Why are you asking this?”
“I want Mapleshade to tell us herself,” Oakstar mewed, his voice soft with menace. “She let me believe that my son Birchface was their father. I cannot imagine that one of my warriors would dare to tell such a lie.”
Mapleshade shifted her weight onto her hind paws so she could hold the leader’s gaze. “Any Clan would be proud to have these kits grow up to serve them,” she declared.
“Even if they knew the kits were half-Clan?” Ravenwing meowed. “We deserve to know the truth, Mapleshade. Appledusk is their father, isn’t he?”
For a moment, the whole forest seemed to hold its breath. Then there was a screech of pure horror and Frecklewish launched herself at Mapleshade. “Is this true?” she yowled, clawing at Mapleshade’s face. “What have you done?”
Mapleshade stumbled backward. “Stop!” she gasped. She tried to raise her front paws to shield herself but Frecklewish had pinned her down.
Suddenly the weight was lifted from Mapleshade’s belly and she opened her eyes to see the she-cat being hauled away by Bloomheart and Seedpelt. Mapleshade staggered to her paws. Blood pooled in her eye from a torn eyelid, and her cheek stung from a well-aimed blow. All around her, the cats hissed and muttered.
Frecklewish shook off the warriors and glared at Mapleshade. “You have betrayed my brother’s name!” she spat. “You have betrayed us all with your lies and your disloyalty. You don’t deserve to be called a warrior and nor do those . . . those half-Clan creatures.” She curled her lip toward the three kits, who cowered beneath the ferns. “Their father killed Birchface and Flowerpaw! Get them out of here!”
Mapleshade shook scarlet droplets onto the grass. “Why does it matter who their father is?” she demanded furiously. “I have given ThunderClan three fine kits. I am a queen and I should be treated with respect. StarClan knows we need more warriors, and here they are!” Have my Clanmates gone mad, that they would turn against me like this?
Oakstar bounded down from Highrock and stood in front of her. His yellow eyes gleamed with hatred and he thrust his head forward until his breath blew hotly on Mapleshade’s muzzle. “Have you forgotten that Appledusk murdered my son and Flowerpaw? Of all the cats, why did you have to choose him? You cannot possibly expect my forgiveness.” He stepped back and raised his head. “You have betrayed the warrior code and lied to your Clanmates. We will not raise these kits within the walls of our camp, nor the boundaries of our territory. Take them and leave. You are no longer a warrior of ThunderClan.”
Mapleshade stumbled backward. “You can’t mean that! These kits belong to ThunderClan! You have to let us stay!”
Oakstar shook his head. “No, I do not.” He gazed around at the Clan. “Ravenwing told me about an omen he received, a mysterious stream of water that washed three pieces of reed into his den. Reeds don’t belong in our territory, and certainly not in the heart of our camp. These kits will bring nothing but danger!”
“Get rid of them!” screeched Frecklewish. “Drive them out!”
“Oakstar’s right, they don’t belong here,” growled Bloomheart.
Mapleshade stared at the gray tabby in horror. “You were my mentor, Bloomheart! You know I would never betray my Clan!”
“You already have,” he replied gruffly. “I am ashamed of you.” He turned away, and Mapleshade felt her heart break into pieces.
“I will never forget this,” she hissed, slowly turning to glare at each one of her Clanmates. “You have betrayed me and my kits. You will live to regret this day forever, ThunderClan, and that is a promise.” She stalked over to her kits and swept her tail around them. “This is no longer our home,” she told them. “Come.”
She prodded them back through the gorse tunnel and up the path. Petalkit fell over and grazed her nose on a stone, but was too tired to protest. She simply picked herself up and stumbled on as if she knew there was no point in complaining. Mapleshade felt her heart break a little more.
“Why don’t they like us anymore?” whimpered Patchkit as they headed into the trees. It had started to rain, and fat drops thudded onto the ferns around them.
“Because they’re mouse-brained, bat-blind, and fox-hearted,” Mapleshade hissed.
“Those are bad words!” Larchkit mewed. “You’re not supposed to say them!”
“It’s the truth,” Mapleshade answered grimly.
“What were they saying about our father?” Petalkit asked. “Don’t they like Birchface either?”
Mapleshade felt an overwhelming urge to lie down and slip into the darkness of sleep. “I’ll tell you everything later,” she promised. “First we must get across the river.”
“We’re going swimming again?” chirped Patchkit. “But that RiverClan cat said we had to stay away from the water.”
“Everything is different now,” Mapleshade murmured.
When they emerged from the shelter of the trees, the rain was pelting so hard that Mapleshade could hardly keep her eyes open.
“I don’t want to go swimming anymore,” Larchkit moaned. “I want to go home.”
“I wish we were in the nursery.” Petalkit sniffed. “It’s too wet to be outside.”
“We have no home!” Mapleshade snapped. She had to raise her voice over the pounding of raindrops on the shore. “Forget about ThunderClan and the nursery.” She stared at the river. The tops of the stepping-stones were just visible among the wind-stirred waves. “We don’t have to swim all the way,” she told the kits. “Do you see those rocks? We just have to swim from one to the next until we get to the other side.”
“But then we’ll be in RiverClan!” Patchkit squeaked. “We’re not supposed to go there!”
“It’s all right,” Mapleshade mewed, trying to sound calm. “Your father will be pleased to see us.”
Larchkit tipped his head on one side. “I thought our father was dead!”
Mapleshade took a deep breath. “Remember that nice RiverClan cat who helped Patchkit today? He is your father. Not Birchface.”
Larchkit wrinkled his nose. “But that doesn’t make sense. Our father can’t be from RiverClan. We’re ThunderClan cats!”
“You’re half RiverClan,” Mapleshade told him. “That’s why you liked the water so much today.”
The three kits’ eyes stretched wider until they were like moons. “Is that why our Clanmates are mad at us?” asked Petalkit.
“Yes,” mewed Mapleshade. She felt the hackles rise along her spine. “But they are wrong,” she growled. “They’ll change their minds soon and until then, we’ll live in RiverClan. Everything will be okay.” She nudged Petalkit closer to the river. “Come on, we need to cross before it gets dark.”
The little brown kit hung back. “I don’t want to!” she wailed. “There’s too much water!”
“You’ll be fine,” Mapleshade insisted. She herded Larchkit and Patchkit alongside their sister. “I’ll be right behind you.”
Patchkit looked over his shoulder. “Promise we’ll be okay?”
“I promise.”
The ginger-and-white tom stepped bravely into the waves. Almost at once the water washed over his head but he fought his way up, spluttering. His littermates followed him. Mapleshade watched the three small heads bob to the first stepping-stone. They scrambled out and stood belly-deep in water, shivering.
“Wait for me!” Mapleshade called. “I’m coming!” Gritting her teeth, she waded into the river. The water sucked at her fur, chilling her to the bone. She forced herself to strike off from the shore and churn her paws, propelling herself toward the stepping-stones. I have to do this for my kits, she told herself, hating every moment.
Suddenly there was a roar from somewhere upstream. “Swim faster!” screeched Petalkit. “Something’s coming!”
Mapleshade glanced sideways to see a wall of water bearing down on her, sweeping branches and debris ahead of it. She paddled furiously but the current was dragging her away from the stones, not toward them. “Hold on!” she
screeched to the kits as the wave crashed over her head.
Mapleshade was thrust to the bottom of the river by the force of the flood. Branches thudded against her and when she opened her eyes, she saw nothing but bubbles and churned-up pebbles. With her chest screaming for air, she clawed her way to the surface and burst out, gasping. Her flailing front paws struck something hard; unsheathing her claws, she managed to haul herself onto the rock. Somehow she had made it to the first stepping-stone. She looked around.
The kits had gone. Mapleshade stared into the water in horror. My kits! Where are you? Any hopes that they had struck out for the second stone vanished when she saw three tiny shapes being swept downstream.
“Help!” wailed Petalkit before a wave pushed her under.
Mapleshade launched herself off the stone and paddled furiously toward her kits. A pale shape bobbed in front of her. She reached out and managed to hook one claw into sodden fur. It was Patchkit. His eyes were closed.
“Wake up!” Mapleshade screeched. “You have to swim!”
A faint mew came from somewhere beside her. Mapleshade lifted her head and peered through the waves. Larchkit was clinging to a branch that hung into the river. Gripping Patchkit in her jaws, Mapleshade battled her way over to the tree. She tried to boost Patchkit out of the water but he was too heavy and he slipped out of her grasp.
“No!” Mapleshade yowled as he vanished into the black river.
Larchkit lost his grip on the branch and splashed into the water beside her. Mapleshade sank her teeth into his scruff but the pull of the current was too strong. Larchkit was ripped away from her and swept away with just one tiny cry.
“Mapleshade! Mapleshade! Grab hold of the branch!” There was a frantic shout from the shore. Mapleshade saw Appledusk wading into the river, his fur fluffed up in alarm. He gestured with his tail to the overhanging tree. “Hold on and I’ll drag you out!”