Finally! Here's the finale to MapleTree! As in, the final chapter. You know what I mean.

Read it! Review it! Tell me what you thought of the story! Enjoy!

The number of reviews for the last chapter was: 2! Woot!

Chapter Twenty-One

"No." Midnightclaw whispered. He was blankly staring at the blood that was spilling out of Maplefoot's throat. It wouldn't stop. "This can't happen! Maplefoot, you-you can still make it! Don't give up!"

"Midnightclaw, I'm going to StarClan. Don't worry about me. Just protect the kits." Maplefoot whispered.

Midnightclaw closed his eyes, tears flowing like the blood from his mate's wounds. He thought of all the times they had together. How he'd been so worried about her. He helped her brother listen to reason. Now it wouldn't be worth it. They wouldn't become elders together, die together, see their kits grow up into fine warriors.

"Just know that I love you! You were always there for me. You meant the world to me. More than that. I love you." Midnightclaw meowed, hardly able to say anything.

"I love you too. I love these kits, and I want them to grow up strong, like you. I'm sorry. I never wanted to leave. I love you, mom, dad, Treespots. It's time to join Stripedkit, Minnowheart and Softstep in StarClan. Goodbye…" She licked Midnightclaw's forehead weakly.

With one last sigh, her body went limp. Her bright blue eyes clouded. The whole room was silent, except for the wimpers of her kits, and the distant thunder that boomed in the distance.

Midnightclaw was frozen. He didn't want Maplefoot to leave him. He wouldn't be able to move on. He stared at his mate's body in agony and horror. He bowed his head, teardrops falling on the soft ground.

Oaktooth, Moonwhisper, Treespots, Cherryflower and Midnightclaw stared at the young warrior. Midnightclaw gasped; it felt as if something was rubbing against him. He heard a whispering in the breeze.

"Become leader, Midnightclaw. You would be a great leader." It whispered. Midnightclaw knew it was Maplefoot.

A sweet scent of berries filled his nostrils- it was the scent that Maplefoot always carried. He nodded to himself, promising to uphold that wish.

He remembered all the times the two had together.

Finally, a black tom stood up and came over to her. "I am Midnightpaw." He meowed.

"I am Maplepaw." She mewed, not taking her eyes off of the tom in front of her. "Do you wanna fetch something to eat?" She asked Midnightpaw.

"Sure." He twined his tail with hers and they walked away.

She sat down and dropped the fish at her paws. Midnightpaw tore it in two, giving her the bigger half.

Maplepaw gazed at him. She's never felt so loved in her life.

She dug into the prey. It tasted so tender. Since the fresh-kill pile was under a heap of snow, it tasted chilled. The other scents and tasted of prey mingled with its flavor.

Midnightpaw swallowed his last bite. Although Maplepaw's face was stuffed into her fish, she could still feel his loving stare.

"Treepaw and I got in a fight. He's getting special treatment and I get mouse-dung. He didn't even do anything about it, even though he was ordered to by our parents." She recalled, baring her teeth.

Midnightpaw licked the side of her head, purring. He was trying to soothe her, but it was barely working. "Don't worry. It'll be alright."

She searched for Midnightpaw, with only her scent to guide her. His scent was close and strong. He had to be near. She followed her nose until right in front of her was

Midnightpaw, the cat she'd been looking for.

He turned to face her. Immediately, Maplepaw could sense fear and nervousness hiding away at him, biting at his soul like angry ticks. "Maplepaw, I have something to tell you. Sit down please."

"I already know that part." She chuckled and sat down right where she was. She was anxious to hear what he had to say. The ground was cold and slushy from the chilly Leaf-bare. Midnightpaw sat in front of her.

"Maplepaw, the first time I saw you, I knew you were something special. You are better than Shimmerpaw and Skypaw combined! Maplepaw, I..." he gulped, then began continuing. "I love you, and I want to be with you forever."

"Do you feel the same?" He asked. His eyes were huge and pleading. Maplepaw could tell he was nevous.

Maplepaw thought of what she might say. He gave her a bigger piece of fish and helped her deal with her brother. Also, he had the bravery to tell her how he felt. "Yes, I love you too." She smiled warmly.

"When will this happen?"

"When you're a warrior." Petalwhisker answered grimly.

"This can't happen! I won't allow it! When those foxes come, I'll protect you, even if I die trying." Maplepaw jumped as Midnightpaw's voice broke into the den.

Midnightpaw began to cry. "That can't be true! Maplepaw, how can you believe them? And why would you want to?"

"I never said I wanted to believe them. It's not like I want this to happen! And, I believe them because I had a dream about the foxes!" She wailed.

Midnightpaw sat quietly. "That's horrible." He whispered. He got up. "No matter what, Maplepaw, I'll protect you during any battle! I don't want that dream to come true!"

"Midnightpaw, you shouldn't do that. I need to learn to fight by myself. Plus, if you spend all that time protecting me, I will never be a warrior. Just... protect me when I need it."

Midnightpaw nodded and purred, rubbing against her. "Okay, but when those foxes come, I'll protect you until they all die."

"What's your problem? You're acting like Maplepaw stabbed you in the back, when she hasn't been doing anything! She's been upset about this for so long!" Midnightpaw growled, his tail lashing.

"I heard things." Treepaw mewed coolly.

"Like what?" Midnightpaw asked. His tone was curious, not angry.

"That Maplepaw has betrayed the Clan and me and Oaktooth." He snarled.

"B-Betrayed the Clan? By doing what?" He asked.

Maplepaw gasped, trying to muffle it with her tail. Midnightpaw, please don't believe him! She thought desperately.

"She was seeing another tom in LilyClan. She's just pretending to like you, only to make the Clan think she's being loyal."

"Who told you that?" Midnightpaw growled, stepping toward Treepaw.

"Birdstar."

"Why would she tell you that? She is clearly mousbrained."

Treepaw simply grunted.

"Why do you believe her?"

"Because she's the leader! Plus, you're on her side, why would I believe you about

anything?"

"Because I know Maplepaw! She would never do such a thing!"

"Whatever, I'm going back. I'm sure I'm missed." He mewed stubbornly.

"Do you want to lose your only sister?" Midnightpaw called before the tom could leave.

"No. I only will if I know she's breaking the warrior code." He mewed back over his shoulder.

Midnightpaw saw her, just after she had thought that, and Maplepaw thought of how ironic that was. "Guess what?" He meowed, ignoring the amused look of Maplepaw's face.

Maplepaw turned her head to one side.

"My mentor, Fallenpad, is reccomending me to become a warrior!" He squeaked.

"Edgefur's doing the same!" She meowed excitedly. She licked Midnightpaw. They'd become warriors together!

Midnightclaw sighed. He would never let these kits go. He would live up to Maplefoot's wish, to become leader.

-THE END-