Mapleshade’s vengeance rewrite/ Dark Forest cat back story (OLD VERSION):
Note: I do not condone Mapleshade’s actions AT ALL. Grief isn’t an excuse to kill people. While I hate cheaters, Appledusk didn’t need to die. I love Mapleshade but I don’t condone her actions.
Mapleshade and Ravenwing were born to Deerdapple and Oatspeckle. She was born during leaf-fall, and maple leaves and raven feather had lined the nest during her kitting. She had other two littermates that were stillborn. She and Raven were spoiled by her parents as a result.
She loved training under Bloomheart and was a model apprentice. She had a fierce rivalry with Frecklepaw. Birchpaw often had to break up the fights. During this time, she met Applepaw and Reedpaw at a gathering. She latched onto Applepaw instantly. She also gained a sister when Deerdapple gave birth to Doekit.
Oakstar made Mapleshade a warrior pretty early, when Frecklewish and Birchface got their names.
The events in Mapleshade’s vengeance occur like normal except more interactions with her mother, Mapleshade and Frecklewish becoming mates, and the rising tension between Mapleshade and Ravenwing. Mapleshade starts to see her kits as tools somewhat to rein in Appledusk.
During her exile, Mapleshade isn’t stupid with crossing the river. The Floodwatchers practice was dying out and she had no idea it was going to flood. Patchkit is the only one to make it. She takes Patchkit to the barn and stays for a while with Myler.
Mapleshade wants revenge and the “calling” of her kits start. She kills Ravenwing for betraying his kin.
What Mapleshade doesn’t know is that Petalkit lived because Doepaw managed to save her against Frecklewish orders. Doepaw begs Ravenwing to help her and he begrudgingly does. Deerdapple and Doepaw take care of Petalkit. Petal trains as a Thunderclan warrior but is constantly harassed for being half-clan.
Mapleshade kills Frecklewish who was Petalpaw’s mentor which causes some cats to blame Petalpaw for the murder. She is banned from gatherings and is a prisoner in her own camp.
Patch after training under Mapleshade goes to Thunderclan and is recognized by Ravenwing and Deerdapple. He is allowed into the clan and has the name Patchshade. He gets close with his sister, Petaldusk and is one of the only cats who talks to her. Patchshade keeps some eyes on Nettlebreeze, knowing that he helped his mother live.
Patch and Petal were in a constant brawls with their half siblings Applefrost and Willownose, shyheart was soft and was kind to them. Patchshade took Deerdapple, Petaldusk, and Doefeather to see Mapleshade. Mapleshade has become an unknown terror in the clans for attacking cats at night. She is mates with Myler. (Maple gets spayed). She was overjoyed to see that her daughter was alive. Deerdapple had a few choice words for Mapleshade, she figured Maple killed Raven and Freckle. Petaldusk had her own two cents for Frecklewish’s death while Doepaw was just happy to see her big sister.
Oakstar needed an heir since both his kits were dead. He took Petaldusk as a rather unwilling mate and had Pinekit. Patchshade and Nettlebreeze got together (more like Patch kinda manipulated Nettlebreeze during his grief over Dawnfeather dying) and had Rookkit through a surrogate (sired by both toms through Starclan’s magic). Rook took the brunt of the insults about Mapleshade while Pine didn’t since he was the leader’s kit.
Mapleshade has died at this point from killing Appledusk and Perchclaw killing her like he did in the book (biting/clawing the back of her neck <- that’s how she died, her throat WAS NOT CLAWED OUT)
Patchshade wanted to help Petaldusk since he was furious at Oakstar and it gave the chance for Doefeather to become leader since Pinekit was too young and sickly. Patchshade had killed Bloomheart for his “betrayal” of Mapleshade. Patchshade felt powerful so he and Petal came up with the plan to kill Oakstar.
They settled on using deathberries since full on attack wouldn’t work. Patchshade would sneak them away from Cloudberry or find them himself. Oakstar kept both cats on a tight leash mostly Petaldusk and had her eat most if not all of her meals with him. Petaldusk took the time to plant the deathberries. She would avoid the seeds and kept yarrow around if needed. Oakstar slowly lost the rest of his lives and since Pine was too young, Doefeather became Doestar.
Petaldusk died from greencough and Patchshade died fighting against Applefrost. Both earned their spot in the dark forest along with their mother. They were there to give Pinestar a life.
Petaldusk, Larchkit, and Patchshade were reincarnated as Stonestorm, Mistyfoot, and Mossthorn. Bluestar is very aware of this fact as is Mapleshade.
Goosefeather became aware of his lineage to Mapleshade when he talked with Rooktail.
Patchshade is Mistyfoot. They started saying “Mapleshade is the best mom ever” Both Stormjaw and Bluemoon knew who she was talking about.
Larchkit is Mossthorn. Moss had a fear of water for the longest time say “they didn’t want to drown like last time”. It freaked everyone but Bluemoon out.
Petaldusk is Stonestorm. Was very uncomfortable around Tiger for a while but stopped during his last apprenticeship but never let his guard down.
The cats can/could talk with their past lives. Reincarnations have a mark from where their past life died. Only Mistyfoot has a mark since Patch’s death was the only physical one while Stonestorm and Mossthorn had/have cough issues.
Here’s Mistyfoot and Patchshade:
