Mapleshade stepped into camp and sighed as heads turned to the patrol. Splashfoot had run ahead to warn Darkstar, and the RiverClan leader now sat with her tail over her paws in the center of the clearing. 

"Hello, Mapleshade. I heard you wish to speak to me," her voice was barely threatening. Petalkit, Patchkit and Larchkit were all silent, gazing around with wide eyes.

"I do. I have come to ask for a place with RiverClan, after me and my kits were driven out," she paused, and Darkstar's ears shot up in shock. Milkfur's white fur bristled gently. 

"That is a lot you wish for. May I ask why?" 

Mapleshade gave Appledusk a glance, and he returned it with a tiny nod. Mapleshade took a deep breath.

"These kits are Appledusk's. I was meeting up with him secretly. I hope you can forgive us." Darkstar's glance sharpened and flicked to the pale brown tom, who stared at her defiantly. 

"How did-" the RiverClan leader was interrupted by the wail of a dark orange she-cat. Mapleshade's fur bushed up when she recognized Reedshine. 

"What about me!? Don't you love me? What about our kits!?" her gaze was hurt and angry, but Appledusk shook his head with a genuinely sympathetic look in his eyes, mixed with regret.

"I'm sorry, Reedshine, but I do not love you. I only became your mate for no one to suspect us," he curled his tail with Mapleshade's, and the splotched she-cat gave a small purr.

"But we're going to have kits! What about them!?" her face was twisted in fury as she stared at first Appledusk, then Mapleshade. Appledusk shook his head once again.

"If you want your kits to have a father, get a different mate that will love you more than me. My heart will always be with Mapleshade, and my three kits." Mapleshade thought her heart would melt with love. 

"Mama? Is this father?" Petalkit was staring at Appledusk with huge, round eyes.

"Yes, darling." She swept all three kits to her, then froze, remembering Darkstar had been watching the whole scene. The black leader was sitting with a thoughtful look, her tail-tip twitching slightly. 

"You have broke the warrior code." She reminded when she spotted Mapleshade staring at her. She spoke to both her and Appledusk. 

"We know." Mapleshade had to stop herself rolling her eyes, she was at this leader's mercy.

"Please, Darkstar, let her in," Appledusk begged. "These kits will be valuable warriors. And I couldn't live if you drove my mate out." he glanced at the former ThunderClan cat and her kits as he spoke.

"Very well. But for the next moon, both of you will be watched by at least one warrior. Mapleshade will be in the nursery with her kits. If all goes well and nothing happens after one moon, you will all be accepted as cats of RiverClan." Her voice rang out loudly across the clearing, though there were some murmurs o disagreement. Darkstar payed them no attention, instead leading Mapleshade, Patchkit, Larchkit and Petalkit to the nursery. 

"There should be one more empty nest in there. Appledusk," she raised her voice to reach the pale warrior, "Bring her some fresh-kill later." With that she stalked into what Mapleshade supposed was the medicine den. She entered and found the free nest. Settling into it, her kits curled up beside her and promptly fell asleep and after all the things that had happened today, Mapleshade wasn't surprised. A few minutes later, sleep crashed over her like a black wave.