Redeem

A/N: This is a Warriors AU about Mapleshade. It'll be worked on as a side story apart from Please be Careful, as that as my main project rn. The AU is that Darkstar accepts Mapleshade into RiverClan.

Chapter One
"Hello?"

A dripping wet tortoiseshell she-cat stood in the camp, and she was carrying three kits. A black she-cat leaped down from her rock, with a horrified expression on her face. "What happened?"

She realized these kits were dead. "Oh my - WHO IS THIS?"

Appledusk, one of the toms of the Clan, snarled, "Oh, this is just Mapleshade. She was my former mate. I don't care about these kits."

The last part seemed to be added towards Mapleshade. He took a step closer. "Nor do I care about yo-"

Mapleshade looked shocked, and the black she-cat interrupted. "Appledusk! You mouse-brain! You can't abandon your mate - even if she was from another Clan, or a rogue!"

Appledusk hissed, "You can't tell me what to do, Darkstar."

Darkstar smiled in a malicious way. "But I can exile you, if you don't get yourself under control."

He resigned, snorting. Darkstar padded up to Mapleshade. "Are you okay?"

Mapleshade had tears ringing her eyes, and she looked like she had been crying her eyes out. No wonder, these kits were dead. "No," she whimpered.

"What happened?"

"I was exiled from my Clan for having kits with Appledusk... and... I came across the river to get here, and this happened."

She put her kits down. Darkstar looked into her eyes. "Ok. My Clan and I shall hold a vigil for them tonight."

Mapleshade looked slightly more happy at this fact. "Oh, thank you."

Darkstar turned her head to Appledusk, and slowly padded towards him. She wanted to slaughter this tom, but she held herself back. "Appledusk, I will think about whether I will exile you or not," she snarled.

Appledusk snarled, "Why would you exile me, one of the best warriors, for this worthless she-cat?"

Darkstar was ready to claw his face off. "Because you're disobeying me, and you've killed three innocent kits. Maybe that will put you to humbleness."

He snarled. "I'd be happy to leave you and your stupidity. It's horrible, knowing that we can trust a bird-brained leader that thinks she can exile me for this strange she-cat."

"Exile."

Despite his words, Appledusk looked like he wanted to eat them. He looked like he wanted to beg for mercy. He looked like he never believed Darkstar would exile him. "Goodbye," he finally snarled.

Darkstar could hear the choking behind his farewell. "If I see you again on my territory, any of my patrols have the right to torture and kill you."

Mapleshade stood awkwardly, and looked almost guilty. Appledusk hissed in her ear, loud enough for all to hear, "This is all your fault. I'll come back to kill you someday."

Mapleshade's jaws twisted in a snarl. "Not under the watch of the whole Clan."

Appledusk looked undignified as he ran off, tail between his legs. Darkstar watched with amusement as he stumbled and tumbled his way out of RiverClan camp. "So, Mapleshade, welcome."