Cowboy Mapleshade

* Complete MAP
* MAP Call

## Resources

**Cowboy Mapleshade** is the first finished MAProject to be featured in the CCU. It tells the story of Mapleshade, one of Warrior's most infamous villains, and her descent into madness.

## Blurb

*This M.A.P (Multi Animator Project) is about the tragedy of Mapleshade's story and how she turns to violence.*

## Detailed plot description

Mapleshade is seen walking through an empty desert landscape, dehydrated and panting as we zoom in. She collapses on the ground and glares at the viewer. The title appears on the screen.

Mapleshade is then seen walking through ThunderClan territory when she accidentally steps into a mudpuddle, her face contorting in disgust as she looks at it. When she picks up her paw, she looks up and finds herself in Snakerocks by chance. She then smiles menacingly to herself while wiping the mud from her paw onto her face.

Mapleshade is now walking through the forest, pausing to catch her breath before looking up at the sky and cursing StarClan for her misfortunes. She then starts walking forward until she sees an empty minefield ahead of her, at which point she walks into it while looking back at the entrance.

She creeps beneath the rail cart that had been blocking the entrance. While adjusting her eyes, she notices that she was in the cave looking for the moonstone, and the cat she was looking for was there alone, not realizing she was right behind him. As she looks at him, lightening begins to appear on screen, and she begins to recall why she was there in the first place.

Ravenwing then appears with Oakstar on the high rock, staring at her as she cowers around her three kits. A sea of unknown cats surrounds them as Frecklewish begins to yowl angrily at her for what she has done, Mapleshade attempting to defend herself weakly. Appledusk and Reedshine then appear, staring at her with hatred in their eyes, while Mapleshade looks disbelievingly at the dead bodies of her kits in front of her.

As Mapleshade walks through the desert, the figures of Appledusk, Ravenwing, and Frecklewish appear on top of the mountains, all staring at Mapleshade with hatred in their eyes. Mapleshade then collapses from exhaustion, the world surrounding her in what appears to be an ocean-like landscape; she struggles to stand and looks around curiously, wondering where she is.

She looks up at the landscape before an oarfish swims by, her gaze following it as it disappears into the abyss. Perchkit, Larchkit, and Petalkit then emerge from where the oarfish vanished and rush towards her. Mapleshade begins to cry and smile as she opens her arms to hug all of the kits. She appears happy, content with where she is right now as she forgets all of her worries, though she is then transported from the familiar ocean landscape to an empty gray abyss. Her shocked eyes open as she wonders where she was and where her kits had gone.

Her fur moves with the wind as she stares off into the distance, tearing up a little before noticing something behind her. Mapleshade is startled by this and turns around to see the forms of all the cats she was holding grudges against huddled up together side by side.

Frecklewish is the first to speak, with Mapleshade looking on, understandingly, as she looks towards Ravenwing, who then speaks about what Mapleshade had done to him. When it comes to Appledusk's turn to speak, he says nothing to her. She becomes perplexed, but then notices that it is raining, and as she looks up into the sky, she sees a demonic form of herself appear and yell at her.

She wakes up furious as it begins to thunderstorm all around her, downpouring as she begins to run in the opposite direction. She curses to herself while swearing that she will exact revenge on those who have wronged her.

It then jumps back to where we left off with Ravenwing and the Moonstone, with Mapleshade pouncing on him but missing because he moves out of the way. She tries to catch herself before falling off the cliff's edge. He crouches over it, searching for her, before she menacingly pulls herself up as he begins to recognize her. As Ravenwing begins to flee, she grabs his tail and throws him into the pit of sharp crystals below. Larkkit's soul flashes through his eyes as she walks away from his dead body.

It then cuts to Mapleshade, who is now completely covered in mud and is running through ThunderClans territory to create tracks. Frecklewish discovers them and begins to inspect them before noticing Mapleshade run behind her and begins to pursue her. When Frecklewish finally catches up to her at Snakerocks, Mapleshade disappears into the cave within it, leaving Frecklewish terrified as the snakes emerge from behind her. They begin to wrap themselves around Frecklewish's body, suffocating her as the soul of Pealkit flashes in her eyes before fading away. Frecklewish begs Maplesahde for help as she walks away, smiling to herself as one of the snakes tightens its grip on Frecklewish's neck, dealing the final blow.

It then cuts to Appledusk and Reedshine searching for Perchpaw, both of them smiling at each other before Perchpaw's unconscious body falls from the tree, with Mapleshade close behind, smirking. Appledusk then cowers behind Reedshine before Mapleshade pounces on him, and the two of them roll into the river as she attempts to drown him in it. As Perchkit's soul appears in his eyes before he dies, Appledusk manages to land a blow on Mapleshade before sinking her claws deeper into his throat.

Reedshine and Perchpaw watch in horror as Mapleshade towers over Appledusk's body, both of them fleeing as Mapleshade transforms into a more demonic form and begins to pursue them. They both begin climbing the canyon when Perchpaw tells Reedshine to leave without him so he can try to slow down Mapleshade, though his efforts are futile as she simply hops over him.

Mapleshade then finds Reedshine at the top of the canyon, near the edge of the cliff, and smiles to herself before jumping onto her, but Perchpaw arrives just in time and pushes Mapleshade off the cliff. As she slowly drowns in the water, her kits try to save her before disappearing as the bodies of her victims surround her.

## Trivia

* This is Cheeteh Z's second MAProject featuring Mapleshade as the main villain, the first being 'Mama Told Me.'
* According to Cheeteh Z, the thumbnail was inspired by the cover of The Lonesome Crowded West. Which album contains the song featured in the MAP.
* Almost 70% of those who signed up for the MAProject were able to complete it on time, despite the 8-hour deadline.
* The MAProject has been in production for two weeks (excluding general production days).

## Publication history

* Teaser Trailer - August 7, 2021
* MAProject Call - August 13, 2021
* Complete MAProject - August 28, 2021

It took 2 weeks and 1 day for the MAP to be complete.

## Gallery

Thumbnail for the Complete MAPThumbnail for the MAP CallThumbnail for the Map Call Teaser Trailer.