Mapleshade's Vengeance/Cliffnotes

These notes are brief, noting major events and minor events from the novella Mapleshade's Vengeance that will be of consequence later. They are intended to be used as a reference for those looking for specific events for re-reading and in book discussions.


 * A Gathering takes place.
 * Mapleshade pushes through a crowd of RiverClan cats, where Rainfall reminds Mapleshade of the recent battle over Sunningrocks between RiverClan and ThunderClan.
 * He reminds Mapleshade of the death of Birchface and Flowerpaw, of how Appledusk sent Birchface into the river and Flowerpaw went in after him. Both cats drowned.
 * Mapleshade finds Appledusk, who is her mate. She reveals that she is expecting kits.
 * She will raise them alone.
 * Reedshine, a RiverClan warrior calls for Appledusk and presses against him. Mapleshade is jealous of this attention.
 * The next day, Mapleshade tells Beetail, the deputy that she cannot do normal duties as she is expecting kits.
 * Frecklewish is delighted, and asks why she’ll raise them alone.
 * Mapleshade lets her assume that Birchface, Frecklewish’s brother is the father of these kits.
 * Mapleshade declares she won’t be raising these kits alone.


 * Mapleshade gives birth to her kits.
 * Ravenwing, the Medicine Cat stresses if she’s okay, and Mapleshade remembers that his mentor Oatspeckle died two moons ago and this is the first birth he supervised alone.
 * Mapleshade thanks StarClan for these kits, and Ravenwing says ThunderClan thanks her.
 * Mapleshade is certain that when it’s time for ThunderClan and RiverClan to learn, they’ll unite together.
 * Three sunrises later, Oakstar the Leader comes to meet the kits as he thinks they are kin.
 * Frecklewish exclaims she can see Birchface is every one of them, which only counts for Larchkit as he is the only one who has dark brown fur like Birchface.
 * Mapleshade reveals to the leader she has named her kits Patchkit, Petalkit and Larchkit, stating she wants her kits to be judged for who they are, not an echo of a warrior.
 * Mapleshade asks Frecklewish to tell Appledusk first about her kits, stating the murderer of Birchface needs to know that ThunderClan is stronger than ever.
 * Oakstar says they will raise them like their father, and one day they will avenge his death.
 * Mapleshade is certain that when they learn of the kits RiverClan blood, ThunderClan will accept them and already love them.


 * The kits are two moons old, and Patchkit states to Mapleshade he never wants to leave her.
 * Rabbitfur, an elder offers to Petalkit and Larchkit a jumping game.
 * They are clumsy, unlike Birchface.
 * Mapleshade is furious that her kits are being compared to Birchface, and takes them away.
 * She takes them to the river.
 * They are surprised and dazzled by the river, and prove to be natural swimmers.
 * As Patchkit rests on a floating branch, a RiverClan patrol arrives, and Appledusk is part of it.
 * Mapleshade calls her other kits back as Appledusk guides Patchkit back.
 * Appledusk states she took a risk bringing them to the border, but Mapleshade says she wanted to show them the river. Appledusk is proud of his kits.
 * On the way back, Ravenwing reveals himself.
 * He saw everything.
 * Ravenwing says he saw an omen, of three water reeds washing into his den.
 * He thinks that the kits are those reeds, and they do not belong in ThunderClan.
 * He figures out that Appledusk is the father of these cats, not Birchface.


 * Mapleshade and the kits return to camp to find the Clan has gathered.
 * Ravenwing has told the Clan the truth.
 * Oakstar banishes Mapleshade and her kits.
 * She flees with her kits from ThunderClan camp.
 * She tells her kits they are angry because Appledusk is their father, not Birchface.
 * Mapleshade takes them to the flooding river, in hopes of reaching Appledusk and his Clan for shelter.
 * The kits are hesitant but go in. They are instantly washed away.
 * Mapleshade tries to vain to rescue them, but Appledusk manages to rescue her.
 * The patrol his with races off to rescue the kits. They recover the kits’ bodies.
 * They all are taken to RiverClan camp where Darkstar can decide what to do.
 * Appledusk reveals his relationship with Mapleshade, calling it a mistake and that it was her fault that the kits drowned.
 * Reedshine defends Appledusk, so Darkstar agrees to let him stay and to let her warriors bury the kits.
 * She banishes Mapleshade, and Mapleshade promises to Appledusk that he will regret this day.


 * Mapleshade collapses in a barn where a kittypet named Myler tries to help her.
 * Mapleshade refuses help and flees the barn.
 * She reaches ThunderClan territory, where she remembers Ravenwing and blames him for the deaths of her kits.
 * Nettlepaw, A ThunderClan apprentice finds Mapleshade.
 * He reveals that Frecklewish followed Mapleshade and her kits to make sure they left the territory and saw them fall into the river.
 * He gives Mapleshade some herbs that were meant for Ravenwing, and it strengthens the she-cat.
 * Mapleshade decides that she can attack Ravenwing at the Moonstone when he goes at the half-moon.
 * She catches a rabbit from a WindClan patrol before moving on.
 * At the Highstones, Mapleshade rests as she waits for the half-moon.
 * She catches a mole and is ready for Ravenwing to come.


 * Ravenwing finally arrives with no other medicine cats.
 * Mapleshade follows him into the Mothermouth and to the Moonstone.
 * At the Moonstone, Mapleshade attacks Ravenwing, blaming him for killing her kits.
 * She thinks there is nothing to say to him, so bites his throat and kills Ravenwing.
 * Two fellow medicine cats arrive and not spotting Mapleshade, drag Ravenwing’s body to the surface.
 * Mapleshade finds that they tried to bury his body at the Highstones.
 * Remembering the watery territory her kits are buried at, she uncovers his body.
 * She leaves it for a hawk.
 * She can only hear and see Patchkit and Petalkit now.
 * Only Larchkit has been avenged.
 * Mapleshade remembers what Nettlepaw told her, and blames Frecklewish for their deaths.
 * She plans to use Snakerocks to have her revenge on Frecklewish.


 * Mapleshade waits near the Twolegplace for Frecklewish.
 * A patrol comes, but none of them are Frecklewish.
 * Mapleshade heads in, catching a mouse before moving on.
 * She finds Frecklewish, and makes a scent trail using the dead mouse.
 * Mapleshade leads Frecklewish to Snakerocks, where she makes sure adders can come out.
 * Mapleshade attacks Frecklewish, where Frecklewish threatens to call for a patrol.
 * Mapleshade says Frecklewish let her kits die, taunting that she prefers watching kits die than fighting.
 * Frecklewish thought her kits would be saved and never meant for them to die.
 * She wishes that Mapleshade is dead instead of her kits as Mapleshade destroyed her brother’s name.
 * An adder appears and bites Frecklewish, blinding her.
 * Despite the help from a patrol, Mapleshade knows that even if Frecklewish survives, she’ll never see again.
 * Mapleshade can only hear Patchkit’s wails now.
 * She is ready for the final cat to die.


 * The final cat is Appledusk.
 * Mapleshade heads to RiverClan territory.
 * She waits up a tree for Appledusk.
 * He appears, but with his apprentice Perchpaw.
 * Reedshine also arrives, and reveals she is carrying Appledusk’s kits.
 * Appledusk is very protective of his kits, insisting he can’t let Perchpaw pounce on the queen because it might harm their kits.
 * Mapleshade feels Patchkit beside her, and is more determined to kill Appledusk.
 * Mapleshade wakes up later to find Perchpaw playing with moss.
 * She catches him and hides in wait for Appledusk.
 * Appledusk arrives, looking for his apprentice.
 * Mapleshade insists to him that he killed her kits.
 * She gives Perchpaw back and challenges Appledusk to a fight.


 * Appledusk doesn’t want to fight Mapleshade.
 * Reedshine appears and asks what Mapleshade is doing there.
 * Mapleshade lunges at the she-cat, insisting she and her kits must die.
 * Appledusk jumps in the way, taking the blow to his throat.
 * Perchpaw attacks, biting Mapleshade’s neck before sliding off.
 * Patchkit stirs next to Appledusk’s body, and announces they are free.
 * Reedshine tells Mapleshade she has not won, as Appledusk will live on in his kits and their kits.
 * Mapleshade swears to haunt them, and his vengeance will never finish.
 * She flees back to the barn.
 * She thinks she can see Patchkit’s face, but it’s Myler.
 * Myler tries to stem the bleeding from the wound Perchpaw gave her.
 * There is too much blood.
 * She offers to sit with Mapleshade, but Mapleshade refuses.
 * Mapleshade dies of her wounds.
 * She finds herself in the Dark Forest.
 * She’s not unhappy, but overjoyed.
 * She swears to avenge the death of her kits, and haunt Appledusk’s kin.
 * The novella finishes with the line: Mapleshade’s desire for vengeance would never sleep.