Crookedstar’s Promise

He staggered, lifted by the force of her blow, and stumbled to the ground. He spun away in time to knock aside another strike. Claws outstretched, he hooked Mapleshade’s pelt and flung her backward. She scrabbled at the dark earth with her hind legs, recovering her balance in a heartbeat and throwing herself at him, forepaws stretched out, claws glinting like pike teeth. Crookedstar ducked and slid underneath her, swiping her hind legs away. Then he turned and leaped, twisting in the air, kicking out his hind legs, swiping with his fore, landing on her back as she struggled to find her paws. Mapleshade groaned beneath him but he held her hard and snapped his teeth around her spine.

She pushed up with a force that shocked him. Crookedstar lost his grip. Flying backward, he turned, reaching for the ground. It hit him before he found it, knocking the breath from him. He grunted as he felt her weight on his back. Her claws pierced his pelt as she pinned him to the earth.

“Go on then, kill me!” Crookedstar hissed. “I’ve got nothing left to live for.”

“Oh, no.” Mapleshade’s honeyed mew dripped in his ear. “Letting you live is far better revenge.”

“Revenge?” Crookedstar twitched. “What did I ever do to you?”

Mapleshade jerked him backward and stared into his eyes. Her gaze flamed with hate. “You were always destined to become leader of RiverClan. It was never anything to do with me. Your path was marked out by the stars countless moons ago.” She thrust her muzzle closer. “But who cares about destiny except fools? I should have been ThunderClan’s leader! But ThunderClan cast me out when I took a RiverClan mate.” Her lip curled. “Familiar, eh? Oakheart isn’t the only traitor you know.” She gave Crookedstar a vicious shake, her claws hooking deeper into his flesh. “Our kits were perfect!” Her eyes blazed harder. “But they drowned. After ThunderClan cast me out, I tried to carry them across the river to their father’s Clan. But the water snatched them from my grasp and carried them away.”

Crookedstar tried to wriggle free.

“Oh, no!” Mapleshade yanked him back to face her. “You must listen to the whole story.” Her rank breath bathed his muzzle. “Their father blamed me

! And RiverClan cast me out, too. Can you imagine what that feels like? To be rejected twice? To be a loner when all you tried to do was to love? But don’t worry, I made them pay. I looked for revenge wherever I could! Why do you think I’m here?” Her gaze flicked around the clearing. “I earned my place in the Dark Forest. But what made it worse was that the father of my drowned kits took a RiverClan mate! He promised he would only love me! They had a daughter, and she had a son, and do you know who that son was?”

Crookedstar shook his head, trying to keep up.

“Shellheart,” Mapleshade snarled. “Your father.” Her paws were trembling. “Do you see now? Do you understand?”

“Understand what?”

“You mouse-brain! My kin should have been the leader of RiverClan, not his! If ThunderClan hadn’t driven me across the river, my kits would never have died. If RiverClan hadn’t rejected me, I’d be their father’s mate, not some fish-hearted RiverClan queen.” Her breath was coming in gasps now. “I’ve endured so much betrayal! So many cats have hurt me beyond measure. And then you came, destined for so much greatness, when you should never have been born!” She shoved him away from her. “I wanted to test your loyalty,” she hissed. “I wanted to see if you were as weak and disloyal as your kin. I wanted to see if you’d betray me like they

did.” She circled him, her lip peeled back. “Do you remember what I said? Do you remember my exact words? I can give you everything you ever dreamed of, power over all your Clanmates, if you promise to be loyal to your Clan above all other things. Do you make that promise? And you did! You promised! You chose to sacrifice every cat you ever loved. Your mother, your brother, your mate, and now your own kits: From that one promise, I could take them all!”

“You’re crazy!” Crookedstar whispered.

Mapleshade thrust her muzzle close. “But I’m also dead.” Her gaze glittered wildly. “Which means you can’t hurt me!” She barged past him and Crookedstar woke in his nest with blood welling on his pelt.

Chapter 40

Crookedstar nosed his way through the moss draping his den. Dawn was flooding the sky. Timberfur was already beside the reed bed organizing the patrols. Frogleap, Echomist, Owlfur, and Lakeshine clustered around him. Reedtail and Skyheart hurried from their den, closely followed by Blackclaw and Loudbelly. Crookedstar watched them listen to Timberfur’s orders. All of RiverClan’s warriors, keen and ready for duty, loyal to their Clan and expecting nothing but the same from their leader.