"You must promise me that you will be loyal to your Clan above all other things. What you want for yourself is nothing compared to the needs of your Clan. Nothing, remember? Do you make that promise?" |
— Mapleshade demanding Crookedkit's fateful promise in Crookedstar's Promise, page 116 |
Mapleshade is a ragged[11] tortoiseshell-and-white she-cat[12] with amber eyes.[13]
Mapleshade was a ThunderClan warrior that served under Oakstar's leadership in the forest territories and a Dark Forest member. She was apprenticed to Bloomheart and later became a warrior known as Mapleshade. She became mates with Appledusk, a warrior of RiverClan, and was expecting his kits. Mapleshade gave birth to Larchkit, Petalkit and Patchkit, and the Clan assumed Birchface was their father. However, when her kits were picked up from the river by a RiverClan patrol, Ravenwing realized who their real father was after receiving an omen with three reeds floating in a small stream that appeared in his den. This led him to revealing the truth to the whole of ThunderClan. Oakstar banished Mapleshade, and her troubles became worse when her kits drowned in the river following her attempt to escape to RiverClan. Appledusk blamed Mapleshade for getting their kits drowned and turned Mapleshade away. Appledusk then chose Reedshine as his mate, a fellow RiverClan cat who speaks up in Appledusk's defense to RiverClan. Darkstar denied Mapleshade a place in RiverClan, which fueled her anger even more.
She became obsessed with seeking vengeance for her kits' deaths and achieved this by killing Ravenwing, Frecklewish, and Appledusk, but not before being fatally wounded by Perchpaw, Appledusk's apprentice. She descended to the Dark Forest, and from there, Mapleshade continued to affect the lives of the living, such as attempting to ruin Crookedstar's life by making him give her a fateful promise, helping Tigerstar rise as ShadowClan's leader, and training Goosefeather. She fought in the Great Battle and attempted to kill Sandstorm, but instead killed Spottedleaf for protecting Sandstorm, where she was chased back to the Dark Forest. Seasons later, Mapleshade started working for Ashfur in the hopes of being able to live again. However, Mapleshade was forced to surrender after Ashfur was defeated by the Lights in the Mist and fled.
History[]
Looking for a longer overview? Find one here!
Omen of the Stars[]
- "You have everything that I wanted, Sandstorm! A mate that loved me, kits that I could watch grow up and have kits of their own, the respect of my Clanmates! I should have had all that!"
- ―Mapleshade to Sandstorm The Last Hope, page 314
The Broken Code[]
- "Well, he's the only cat to die and make it back to the Clans in a living body. Imagine that! Imagine the power we could have... the revenge we could take. It's worth putting up with him for now, if he can do the same for us. I could take over the body of a nice, young she-cat-that would do me just fine. Imagine getting to taste real fresh-kill again! Imagine raking your claws across some cat's pelt, and drawing real blood!"
- ―Mapleshade to Silverhawk The Place of No Stars (book), chapter 13
Super Editions[]
This section summarizes Mapleshade's significant Super Editions appearances. If you're looking for a full list, find one here!
- "Can you imagine what that feels like? To be rejected twice? To be a loner when all you tried to do was love? But don't worry, I made them pay. I looked for revenge whenever I could! Why do you think I'm here?"
- ―Mapleshade to Crookedstar Crookedstar's Promise, page 480
Novellas[]
This section summarizes Mapleshade's significant Novellas appearances. If you're looking for a full list, find one here!
- "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 is exiled Mapleshade's Vengeance, chapter 4
- In Goosefeather's Curse, Mapleshade asks Goosepaw if she'd been forgotten already. She teaches Goosefeather a few battle moves, insisting he needs to fend for himself. In a vision, Goosefeather sees Mapleshade leaving Frecklewish to die, and he confronts hers, confused why she helped him. She explains she seeks vengeance on ThunderClan, and that Goosefeather is already doomed.
- "Why would you want to go to StarClan? That place is full of weak-willed cowards who clung to the warrior code like ants to a leaf in a puddle. You will find much better company in the cats here, Tigerclaw."
- ―Mapleshade's opinion on StarClan Tigerclaw's Fury, chapter 7
Detailed description[]
- Mapleshade is a large,[14] tortoiseshell-and-white she-cat,[12] with a scarred[15] white muzzle,[16] and white patches throughout her pelt.[17] She is thick-furred,[18] and her pelt is ragged,[11] patched, and scarred.[19] Her fur is thick around her neck, like a mane,[20] and she has a broad muzzle[15] and face.[19] She has snaggly teeth[21] and amber eyes.[13]
Character pixels[]
Main images[]
The pixel artwork is fanart based on the canon description; undefined traits are left to the artist's interpretation. |
Alternate images[]
The pixel artwork is fanart based on the canon description; undefined traits are left to the artist's interpretation. |
Official art[]
Please do not edit this gallery |
Killed victims[]
This list shows the victims Mapleshade has killed:
- Ravenwing[22]
- Frecklewish[23] (Indirectly caused)
- Appledusk[5] (Accidental)
- Spottedleaf[24] (Spirit)
Personality and traits[]
- Mapleshade was once a brave, compassionate and loyal warrior, kind to other cats and willing to fight any enemy she encountered. As a result, she was held in high esteem by her Clanmates. Mapleshade was ambitious and enjoyed their admiration. Despite this, when she became pregnant with the kits of Appledusk – a RiverClan warrior – Mapleshade did not appear remorseful, and was overconfident that ThunderClan would accept them even after learning about their half-Clan heritage. Mapleshade also strongly believed that StarClan would be okay with her RiverClan ties, and that they were guiding her. Mapleshade also intended to raise her litter to be equally loyal to both their parents' Clans.[25]
- Initially, Mapleshade tried to keep her kits' RiverClan heritage a secret, planning on revealing her kits illegitimacy in due time. She misled her Clanmates into thinking that Birchface was the father of her litter, firmly believing that StarClan were encouraging her to do so. However, when Ravenwing learned of the kits' true heritage and exposed it to ThunderClan, they were outraged. Mapleshade however, was blatantly unrepentant. Instead of expressing remorse, Mapleshade insisted that the Clan should respect her due to her status as a queen, and claimed that she had blessed ThunderClan with her kits. ThunderClan deemed Mapleshade's lies unacceptable, and banished her and her kits as punishment, leaving her heartbroken, angry and feeling betrayed. While trying to cross the river to RiverClan, a huge wave crashed on Mapleshade and her kits, and the kits fell in and drowned, despite her efforts to save them. Appledusk and Darkstar then rejected her too, denying her refugee status and time to mourn her kits. Now a rogue, these traumatic events left a huge mark on Mapleshade. She became cold, vicious, ruthless, manipulative and obsessively vengeful,[22][5] her psyche distorting to the point of insanity.[26] Having lost everything she cared about, Mapleshade believed she had nothing left to live for, and that her only goal was to avenge the death of her kits.[5][23][22] She even turned her back on StarClan, whom she previously had great faith in, now deeming them weak for following the warrior code so strictly, and this combined with her egregious actions led to her residing in the Dark Forest upon dying.[5] Despite avenging the death of her kits, Mapleshade was dissatisfied and continued to try manipulate and influence living cats into undermining the warrior code from the Dark Forest,[1][19][9][10] fueled by the belief that the Clan cats had ruined her life.[27]
Relationships[]
Appledusk[]
- Mapleshade: "You killed our kits, and now you must pay."
- Appledusk: "What are you talking about? You killed our kits, making them cross the river. Let Perchpaw go and get out of here before I call for a patrol."
- Mapleshade's Vengeance, chapters 8 and 9
Patchkit, Petalkit and Larchkit[]
- "She had avenged her kits! Were you watching, my precious kits? I killed him for you! I hope you never see Ravenwing in StarClan. He should be in the Place of No Stars for all eternity."
- ―Mapleshade on avenging her kits Mapleshade's Vengeance, chapter 6
- After RiverClan then cast her out, Mapleshade went mad with grief, and had hallucinations of her dead kits crying out to avenge them. She killed three cats, one for each kit; Frecklewish, who watched her kits drown, and Ravenwing, who revealed her secret due to an omen from StarClan. For the third victim, Mapleshade had become delusional in her goal. She attempted to kill a pregnant Reedshine based on her own jealousy, rather than any connection to the kits' demise, to which Reedshine had none. Ironically, Mapleshade succeeds in her original plan by unexpectedly killing Appledusk, who couldn't save the kits, though she couldn't be satisfied knowing Reedshine's litter would live on. After succumbing to a fatal wound caused by Appledusk's apprentice, Mapleshade expected to be thanked by her kits in StarClan. Initially confused about being in the Dark Forest, Mapleshade quickly embraced it, as she could carry on targeting Appledusk's kin.[5]
Reedshine[]
- "Don't come any closer! What you have done here is more terrible than anything a Clan cat has done before. But you have not won, Mapleshade. Appledusk will live on in his kits, and their kits in turn. His spirit will not die. He will be part of RiverClan forever!"
- ―Reedshine to Mapleshade Mapleshade's Vengeance, chapter 9
Crookedstar and Tigerstar[]
- "I have walked beside you from the day you were born, guiding your paw steps, laying out your destiny before you. For now, you don't need to know anything else. Much, much more lies ahead of us, Tigerclaw. Be patient, and you will find out everything."
- ―Mapleshade to Tigerclaw Tigerclaw's Fury, chapter 7
Kin[]
Members[]
Former mate:
Daughter:
Sons:
Tree[]
Mapleshade ♀ | Appledusk ♂ | Reedshine ♀ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Larchkit ♂ | Petalkit ♀ | Patchkit ♂ | Willownose ♀ | Applefrost | Shyheart | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shellheart ♂ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Crookedstar ♂ | Oakheart ♂ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
See more | See more | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
= Tom
= She-cat
= Gender unknown
Appearances[]
- Mapleshade's Vengeance †
- Pinestar's Choice (Mentioned only)
- Goosefeather's Curse
- Crookedstar's Promise
- Spottedleaf's Heart
- Tigerclaw's Fury
- Night Whispers (First appearance)
- Sign of the Moon
- The Forgotten Warrior
- The Last Hope
- Mothwing's Secret (Mentioned only)
- Crowfeather's Trial (Mentioned only)
- The Place of No Stars
- A Light in the Mist
- The Ultimate Guide
- The Ultimate Guide: Updated and Expanded Edition
Merchandise[]
Toys and Plush[]
Mapleshade Large Plush Cat[]
- Large soft plush of Mapleshade.
- One of the most unique Warrior Cats plush to date, Mapleshade showcases the she-cat's matted fur and fierce amber eyes. There's no denying this plush will strike a deep contrast to the others on your shelf.
- Approximately $34.99 USD.
Mapleshade & Crookedstar - Mini Collector Figures[]
- Series 4
- Few who knew the noble RiverClan leader in life could have ever guessed the dark shadow that haunted his every step. Mapleshade faced betrayal and heartbreak in her life, and the burning need to make everyone else feel her pain followed her even beyond death. Crookedstar spent much of his life being swayed by Mapleshade's vengeful spirit, but once he realized the darkness behind her words, he turned away from her and focused on leading his Clan.
- Also included in a three-pack bundle with the rest of Series 4: Hawkfrost, Mothwing, Bluestar, and Darkstripe.
- Approximate individual price is $12.99 USD, and the three-pack bundle is $38.97 USD.
Trivia[]
Author statements[]
- Vicky doesn't think that Mapleshade was medically insane but was driven mad by grief and feelings of betrayal, and that led to hallucinations that her dead kits were urging her to commit murder.[26]
- Vicky likes the idea of Bluestar being related to Mapleshade.[33]
Mistakes[]
- There has been much confusion over Mapleshade's description. Vicky has claimed she is tortoiseshell-and-white[14] and modified Mapleshade's son's, Patchkit, description to match hers.[34] Here is a list of when she is called orange-and-white or tortoiseshell-and-white.
- Tortoiseshell-and-white: Goosefeather's Curse,[35] Crookedstar's Promise,[32] Spottedleaf's Heart,[15] Tigerclaw's Fury,[19] The Last Hope,[17] The Place of No Stars,[12] and A Light in the Mist.[36]
- She is also depicted as a tortoiseshell on the Warrior Cats website[37] and on the family tree.[38]
- Orange-and-white: Mapleshade's Vengeance,[39] Crookedstar's Promise,[40] and Night Whispers.[18]
- Tortoiseshell-and-white: Goosefeather's Curse,[35] Crookedstar's Promise,[32] Spottedleaf's Heart,[15] Tigerclaw's Fury,[19] The Last Hope,[17] The Place of No Stars,[12] and A Light in the Mist.[36]
- Mapleshade has mistakenly been mentioned with green eyes.[8]
- She is said to have broken the jaw of a pike in order to make Crookedjaw deputy,[41] although Mapleshade had actually broken the jaw of a squirrel.[42]
- Although listed as a RiverClan cat in The Ultimate Guide,[43] Mapleshade was never accepted into RiverClan[6] and was rejected upon seeking refuge after the death of her kits and exile from ThunderClan.[3][6][44]
- She is mistakenly called a loner,[3] despite her behavior following her exile – namely enacting vengeance against the Clans – being more commonly associated with rogues.[4]
- In her bio for The Ultimate Guide: Updated and Expanded Edition, Mapleshade is listed as being from RiverClan.[45]
Quotes[]
- "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 after she is exiled from ThunderClan Mapleshade's Vengeance, page 42
- "You told me you loved me! I went through the agony of bearing your kits! And now you treat me worse than prey. You will regret this, Appledusk. That is my last promise to you."
- ―Mapleshade to Appledusk Mapleshade's Vengeance, page 53
- «Mapleshade had found a place where she truly belonged. From here, she could cause more suffering than when she had been alive, and fighting her battles alone. For all eternity, Appledusk's kin would mourn the day he had destroyed the life of a ThunderClan warrior. Just as she had promised to Reedshine, Mapleshade's desire for vengeance would never sleep.»
- —Mapleshade when she joins the Dark Forest Mapleshade's Vengeance, page 88
- Mapleshade: "Don't take any notice of that old fool."
- Goosefeather: "I may be an old fool, but at least my heart is true. My heart isn't soured by bitterness or guided by revenge."
- Crookedstar's Promise, page 236
- "So what? If she can't keep herself safe then she's no use to you. Your loyalty should be to your Clan, not her! Your Clanmates are lying injured in camp yet you sneak off and risk your life to save a warrior who can't even outrun a Twoleg! She should be ashamed that she caused so much trouble. You should be ashamed that you deserted your Clan on a fish-brained mission! Did Hailstar say you could go? No! He told you to wait. Your disloyalty makes me sick. Cats who betray their Clan should be banished. They should live as rogues and loners because that's what they are!"
- ―Mapleshade to Crookedjaw about Willowbreeze Crookedstar's Promise, page 311
- "My name is Mapleshade. I have walked beside you from the day you were born, guiding your paw steps, laying out your destiny before you. For now, you don't need to know anything else. Much, much more lies ahead of us, Tigerclaw. Be patient, and you will find out everything."
- ―Mapleshade to Tigerclaw Tigerclaw's Fury, chapter 7
- Ivypaw: "Leave me alone!"
- Mapleshade: "Are you having a bad dream, dear?"
- Night Whispers, page 263
- "Mapleshade—she's a really old Dark Forest cat, and all of the others seem afraid of her, even Tigerstar—well, Mapleshade is taking a special interest in me. She trusts me now, and I'm so close to the truth!"
- ―Ivypool to Dovewing about Mapleshade Sign of the Moon, page 84
- "I'm going to make you pay for every blessing StarClan gave you! And every blessing they stole from me!"
- ―Mapleshade threatening Sandstorm The Last Hope, pages 313-314
- Spottedleaf: "Let [Sandstorm] go!"
- Mapleshade: "Spottedleaf! Why don't you let me kill her? She stole Firestar's love from you."
- The Last Hope, page 314
- "Mapleshade could never make the Clans suffer enough for what had been done to her."
- ―Narrator about Mapleshade's failed accomplishment The Ultimate Guide, page 121
External links[]
- Mapleshade's profile on the Warriors official website
- Best of the Worst on the Warriors official website (backup link)
- Warrior of the Week Gallery #30 - Mapleshade on the Warriors official website (Warrior of the Week #30) (backup link)
- Our Favorite Mapleshade Artwork on the Warriors official website (backup link)
Notes and references[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Revealed in Crookedstar's Promise, page 380
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Revealed in Crookedstar's Promise, page 479
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Revealed in Crookedstar's Promise, page 480
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Revealed in Mapleshade's Vengeance, chapter 5
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 Revealed in Mapleshade's Vengeance, chapter 9
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Revealed in The Ultimate Guide, page 120
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 Revealed in Mapleshade's Vengeance, chapter 4
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Revealed in Crookedstar's Promise, page 115
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Revealed in Goosefeather's Curse, page 156
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Revealed in Night Whispers, pages 263-264
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Revealed in The Last Hope, page 254
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Revealed in The Place of No Stars, page 151
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Revealed on the cover of Mapleshade's Vengeance
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Revealed in Erin Hunter Chat 7
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Revealed in Spottedleaf's Heart, chapter 5
- ↑ Revealed in The Last Hope, page 11
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Revealed in The Last Hope, page 8
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Revealed in Night Whispers, page 77
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 19.4 Revealed in Tigerclaw's Fury, chapter 7
- ↑ Revealed in Crookedstar's Promise, page 117
- ↑ Revealed in The Place of No Stars, page 152
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 Revealed in Mapleshade's Vengeance, chapter 6
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 Revealed in Pinestar's Choice, chapter 2
- ↑ Revealed in The Last Hope, pages 314-315
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 Revealed in Mapleshade's Vengeance, chapter 1
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 Revealed on Vicky's Facebook (screenshot)
- ↑ Revealed in The Darkest Hour, page 314
- ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 28.3 28.4 Revealed in Mapleshade's Vengeance, chapter 2
- ↑ Revealed in Mapleshade's Vengeance, chapter 8
- ↑ Revealed in Mapleshade's Vengeance, chapter 7
- ↑ Revealed in Mapleshade's Vengeance, chapter 3
- ↑ 32.0 32.1 Revealed in Crookedstar's Promise, manga
- ↑ Revealed on Vicky's Facebook (screenshot)
- ↑ Revealed on Vicky's Facebook (screenshot)
- ↑ Revealed in Goosefeather's Curse, chapter 5
- ↑ Revealed in A Light in the Mist, page 24
- ↑ Revealed on File:Mapleshade.Website.png
- ↑ Revealed on the Warriors website family tree (screenshot)
- ↑ Revealed in Mapleshade's Vengeance, allegiances
- ↑ Revealed in Crookedstar's Promise, chapter 3
- ↑ Revealed in The Ultimate Guide, page 118
- ↑ Revealed in Crookedstar's Promise, page 383
- ↑ Mapleshade is listed under RiverClan's character list in the table of contents, just after Crookedstar.
- ↑ Revealed in Mapleshade's Vengeance, page 31
- ↑ Revealed in The Ultimate Guide: Updated and Expanded Edition, page 219
Dark Forest cats | |
---|---|
Current members | Clawface • Frecklewish • Houndleap • Maggottail • Mapleshade • One Eye • Rushtooth • Silverhawk • Sparrowfeather • Stumpytail • Thistleclaw • Curlfeather |
Faded | Antpelt • Brokenstar • Darkstripe • Darktail • Hawkfrost • Redwillow • Shredtail • Snowtuft • Tigerstar |
Trainees | Crookedstar • Thistleclaw • Brambleclaw • Hawkfrost • Lionblaze • Ivypool • Mousewhisker • Birchfall • Blossomfall • Thornclaw • Tigerstar • Antpelt • Ratscar • Applefur • Redwillow • Sunstrike • Harestar • Breezepelt • Minnowtail • Icewing • Beetlewhisker • Hollowflight • Furzepelt • Larkwing • Whiskernose |