Maples and Beech Trees [Maplepaw]

Beechface picked at a few sprigs of chervil with a sigh, adding them to the small bundle of already-collected herbs. It was the start of greenleaf, and the warm sun filtering through the trees made the medicine cat want to curl up in the cool darkness of her den. Too bad that herbs still needed to be collected, and Muddythorn was keeping an eye on Birdsong back in camp. It was obvious that her daughter was far more intimidated by Beechface than she was by her cousin, and it... stung. Things had been awkward to say the least, and Beechface was trying to avoid stressing the tabby warrior any more than needed. Birdsong wasn't complaining about being stuck in the medicine den healing, but it was obvious that she shared the rest of the family's dislike of staying cooped up for any amount of time. Not that Beechface could blame her for that, stars knew nobody enjoyed being cooped up in the medicine den, but it was necessary. It would do Birdsong no good to reopen still-healing wounds.

The fluffy medicine cat paused to inspect a small clump of marigold. Not quite mature enough to be of use, she noted. She'd have to remember the spot and come back later for them. With a soft huff, she continued onward, pausing as her ears caught soft pawsteps nearby. One of her clanmates, based on the scent, though the knowledge that the peace and quiet was about to be interrupted made her tail twitch in irritation.

Maplepaw quietly made her way over to Beechface, having taken a moment of absence from Tornshadow to annoy her half sister. She had just discovered that Beechface was her half sister not a couple of sunrises ago, and the discovery unearthed a lot of understandings for Maplepaw, notably why the medicine cat seemed so unwelcoming of her and her siblings arrival into this world. It bothered the young molly, just enough to keep her up at night, and she found herself craving to interact with Beechface more and more. She needed her side of the story, needed more reason to distance herself from her parents. Needed a reason to be closer to Beechface.

The apprentice saw her half sister eyeing some young marigold, obviously attempting to gauge its age and usefulness. Medicine cat duties intrigued Maplepaw; they seemed so simple yet so integral to the heart of the clan. Undoubtedly the position was important- they kept cats alive- but it seemed like such a small and overlooked duty. Announcing herself with a small grunt, Maplepaw crept her way to Beechface’s side.

"Maplepaw," There was a wariness to Beechface's tone that wouldn't have been there for Primroselight or even Ravenclaw, as strained as their relationship had become after... It didn't matter, not here at least. Ravenclaw was a true, loyal Skyclanner, whose only crime was that she had wanted to helpl Maplepaw and her siblings were innocent of the crimes their parents had committed, but that didn't make Beechface like them any more for it.

They were a reminder that Bloodstrike might as well have cast Beechface and all her siblings aside... And Smokefeather, though logically she understood that things had been over between her parents before Briarthorn had come to Skyclan. Didn't make it sting any less. Beechface tried to ignore the resentment burning in her chest as she eyed the young apprentice.

"Did you need something?" She asked after a tense moment, turning to inspect a bush with small daisy-like flowers. Feverfaw, and this plant was ready to be harvested. Beechface set about doing just that, trying to forget about the unwanted companion she'd apparently picked up. Where was Tornshadow? She should be training her apprentice, not letting her wander off to pester the grumpy medicine cat.

Maplepaw plopped herself down next to the grumpy medicine cat, smiling to herself at Beechface's huff. Did this cat really dislike her that much? She didn't do anything, not really- it was her parents. Her parents were the one who went against everyone's wishes, broke the code. Not her. Not her siblings. Though, Maplepaw didn't have any say over Beechface's feelings about her and her siblings, no matter how much it irritated Maplepaw. Everyone dislikes her for what wasn't her fault, anyway. It seemed to be a constant.

Was it even Briarthorn that Beechface disliked? Was it Bloodstrike, his promiscuity, his jump from Beechface's mother to another she-cat? Maplepaw understood completely. She really did. She herself felt angry about her own parents, her mothers own promiscuity, not to other cats but to her clan, to the people who loved her. Bloodstrike didn't sit to well with her either; he had aided and abetted in a conspiracy against people who truly cared.

Maplepaw was angry. So was Beechface. Perhaps that would bring them closer.

"I just want to talk, Beechface." Maplepaw sighed, picking at some strange flowers with her outstretched claws. "I just wanted to see my older sister."

Maplepaw knew that would get a rise out of her. Maybe she hasn't grown much from the annoying little kit she once was.

Beechface's tail tip twitched restlessly as Maplepaw sat next to her, and it took a concentrated effort to not stalk away from her. She didn't want to be forced into kitsitting an apprentice, especially not one that had been a bratty kit to begin with. She wasn't Maplepaw's mentor, and to Beechface the younger she-cat was nothing more than a clanmate.

Sister? ...No. Time to nip that in the bud, and quickly. "We aren't sisters. We're not family." She bit out, tail continuing to twitch back and forth unhappily.

Maplepaw stretched languidly. She was just trying to rile up Beechface at this point, nothing more, but the apprentice really did want to talk to her half sister.. as much as she could. Talking to Beechface is like talking to a rock.

"Oh hush, sure we are." Maplepaw grinned, but immediately broke it. She moved herself closer to Beechface, seriousness etched in her tone "I need to talk to you. I really do."

The apprentice continued to talk, and Beechface's tail continued to twitch in agitation. She didn't want to talk, she didn't want to spend anymore time than necessary with this kit that supposedly shared her blood. Surely Maplepaw had better things to do, hunting, battle training, chores... Anything that wasn't pestering the medicine cat, right? It appeared not.

Yellow-green eyes flicked to Maplepaw, watching the grin drop away from her face as she continued. Foxdung.

"Alright, fine. I'm listening, so talk." Keeping the frustration out of her tone had always been something Beechface had found difficult, and confronted with Maplepaw that didn't make it any easier. She was a clanmate in the end, so Beechface owed her that much, but she wasn't going to do anymore than what was necessary. She could say what she had to say, then run along to bother someone else.

Amber eyes looked right back as confident as possible, refusing to back down. It felt almost like Beechface was challenging her- trying to get her to give up and leave. Maple wouldn't stand for it, or let it get to her. She had to ask Beechface what she felt, even if she wasn't the best to talk to. Going to Newtpaw would just break his heart, as it would for any of her sisters, and talking to her parents- or any other SkyClan cat- made her shudder.

"I was wondering something.. is it possible to.. leave a clan? I mean- if you're unhappy somewhere, could you go somewhere else?"

Maplepaw knew Beechface was annoyed with her, had no intention of bonding with her, but Maplepaw needed to know this. Needed to know if she had a chance at escaping this life. Beechface had to know, right? She wasn't ancient by any stretch, but she was much older than Maplepaw. She must have seen much more.

Maplepaw's question caught Beechface off-guard, and she looked at the apprentice, truly looked at her for perhaps the first time. She didn't look like a cat who enjoyed where she was... And Beechface supposed she couldn't blame her for that. It must hurt to be the talk of the clan and to be treated as an outsider, despite having done nothing wrong herself. If it was affecting her so much she wanted to leave, well... Who was Beechface to stop her?

"An elder, Tinylegs, he stayed with Riverclan after they let us stay in their camp after the fire destroyed our territory. That and your mother are the only two cases I know of to switch clans willingly. Lichenblaze lived on his own for a while, though I still don't know how he managed that with Asylum crawling all over our territory. An old medicine cat even left the clan to become a kittypet at some point, if you believe the elder's tales. It's not common but it does happen." She eventually responded. She chose not to mention that exile was always an option too. Doubtless she'd already heard of Dawnhawk's banishment, at least.

Beechface looked at her, really looked, and with her stare came understanding. Maplepaw had tried to sound vague, tried to distance herself from her question, but it was clear that she did not fool the medicine cat. Beechface knew she wanted to leave- would she tell anyone? Will Maplepaw get in trouble for this? Does Maplepaw even care? She was tired of being treated differently for something she had no control over. She was tired of feigning loyalty to a clan she could not care less about. She wanted out, and Beechface had just told her it was possible. Ecstatic was not a strong enough word for how the apprentice was feeling.

"Beechface.. I want to go to ShadowClan. It's where I belong."

"I can't exactly stop you from going." That was a lie. Beechface could stop her... But she didn't exactly care to. She didn't like these half-Shadowclanners, and if any of them wanted to leave, Skyclan was better off for it. They didn't need reluctant warriors, especially not reluctant warriors who also weren't loyal to the clan.

"Did you need something else, or am I free to continue gathering herbs in peace and quiet?" Her tone was likely sharper than it needed to be, but Beechface didn't care. Maplepaw had admitted she didn't want to be in Skyclan, and Beechface saw little reason to try changing her mind or persuade her to stay. If she left her alone, she'd be happy with that.

Maplepaw smiled at Beechface’s typical grumpiness, beginning to find her attitude endearing. She’ll miss Beechface, she really will, and she hopes they’ll be able to see each other again, if not soon then sometime in her life. It took no time for Maplepaw to think up a plan; she was going to ask Tornshadow to take her to ShadowClan, but not before saying goodbye to her siblings. Her parents? Her clan? They don’t get the luxury of seeing her out.

It’s exactly how she wants it.

“Thank you, Beechface. That’s all I needed to hear.” Maplepaw said after a moment, quieter than usual. Was she really going to miss her half sister, who hated her?

No matter. SkyClan doesn’t need warriors who hate their place in the clan. Getting pack up onto her paws, Maplepaw slinked away back to her mentors, preparing to tell the mentor her plan.