“I will never forget this. You have betrayed me and my kits. You will live to regret this day forever, ThunderClan, and that is a promise.” -Mapleshade when she’s exiled.
Mapleshade is a ragged tortoiseshell-and-white she-cat with amber eyes. Mapleshade is a character from Warriors who lived in ThunderClan as a loyal warrior until she got exiled for having a mate in a different Clan. She died from excessive blood loss caused by Perchpaw. She was sent to The Place of No Stars, or the Dark Forest, instead of StarClan. This is because she was a brokenhearted cat who looked for vengeance.
Mapleshade’s Vengeance
Mapleshade is shown at a gathering where she talks to a RiverClan tom named Appledusk. She tells him that she is going to have his kittens and Appledusk is excited. She named her kits Petalkit, Larchkit, and Patchkit. Frecklewish, the daughter of ThunderClan’s leader Oakstar, asks Mapleshade if the kits’ father is her deceased brother, Birchface. Mapleshade agrees since she knows she can’t tell the Clan that the father is Appledusk, the cat who had accidentally killed Birchface and his apprentice Flowerpaw. Soon the medicine cat, Ravenwing, figures out that the kits’ father is Appledusk after seeing how well they swim instead of leaping as excellently as Birchface. Ravenwing tells Oakstar and Oakstar tells the Clan. The Clan is furious with Mapleshade, Frecklewish being the most furious since she had thought the kits would be like her brother. Oakstar exiles Mapleshade and her kits and Mapleshade says that “ThunderClan will live to regret that day forever.” When she tries to go to RiverClan, her kits drown because of the river flood. Mapleshade begs the RiverClan leader, Darkstar, to let her stay in RiverClan. Darkstar asks Appledusk if he has loved Mapleshade and he denies his feelings, sitting close to Reedshine, a RiverClan she-cat, and glaring at Mapleshade. Darkstar tells Mapleshade that she can’t stay in RiverClan and tells Appledusk that he won’t be punished for breaking the warrior code because the death of his kits should be punishment enough. Mapleshade leaves and stays in a loner’s, Myler, barn until she can seek her revenge for her kits. She murders Ravenwing at the Moonstone, leaving ThunderClan without a medicine cat. She goes on to murder Frecklewish with an adder as well, since she had watched the kits drown and hadn’t helped. Finally, she tries to murder Reedshine and her unborn kits. But Appledusk protects her and Mapleshade ends up killing him by accident. Appledusk’s apprentice, Perchpaw, fatally wounds Mapleshade on the back of her neck. Mapleshade runs back to Myler’s barn and dies there. She ends up in the Dark Forest, seeking her vengeance.
Mapleshade in Crookedstar’s Promise
Mapleshade appears in Crookedkit’s dreams after he runs away from RiverClan. She makes him promise to remain loyal to his Clan above everything else. Mapleshade takes Crookedpaw as her first Dark Forest apprentice. This means that anytime he fell asleep, he would have extra training from Mapleshade. She convinces him to leave his mother, Rainflower, to save his Clanmates from a dog and breaks a squirrel’s jaw to fake an omen signaling Crookedjaw as deputy. When Crookedjaw discovers Mapleshade is actually from the Dark Forest, he attempts to break ties with her. After Crookedstar’s nine lives ceremony, Mapleshade exclaims they have won. Crookedstar blames her for the death of Willowbreeze and two of their kits, and Mapleshade reveals her past, how she lost her kits and mate before being exiled. She vowed revenge on her mate’s bloodline, including Crookedstar. Later, Mapleshade tells Crookedstar his punishment is complete after Silverstream’s death, but Crookedstar insists she lost, and he has his kin waiting for him in StarClan.
Mapleshade in Omen of the Stars
Mapleshade is one of the oldest members of the Place of No Stars and several of the senior members respect her word. She initially doubts Ivypool’s loyalty to their cause but grows to trust her. Mapleshade is still determined to settle scores from her past against the Clans and suggests killing kits in the final battle. During the Great Battle, Mapleshade attacks Sandstorm, jealous of everything she has, but Spottedleaf throws her off. Mapleshade kills her, and as Firestar mourns, Sandstorm chases Mapleshade away, and the Dark Forest she-cat disappears from battle.
Mapleshade in The Broken Code
Willowshine and Rootspring come across Mapleshade and Silverhawk walking through the Dark Forest. The two discuss their dislike for Ashfur taking over the Dark Forest. Mapleshade longs to live again, contemplating helping Ashfur if she gets a living body. Later, Mapleshade follows Ashfur’s orders in the Dark Forest and helps guard him along with Thistleclaw. She participates in the battle against the living Clans and fights against Bristlefrost.
Source: Warriors Wiki— Mapleshade
