**The following is NOT canon to this story: How could he? How could he leave her? Vineripple asked the question over and over in her mind, her heart twisting itself into knots. She squeezed her eyes closed, trying to block out the physical pain that bombarded her senses now that she knew she'd never have Thornstar again. She'd never see him smile at her, never feel his pelt brush against hers, never have him whisper sweet nothings in her ear... She was snapped out her misery when she heard a screech. A screech she recognized all too well. Without thinking she jumped to her paws, running faster than she had in her entire life to where she had heard it. No, no, /no/, she couldn't have another Skyfall. Finally she got to the clearing and leaped at the fox, pulling's it's face away from where it was shaking Thornstar's leg. It shook it's head back and forth, trying to throw her off, but adrenaline and fear kept her hanging on as she clawed as it's eyes and ears. Finally though, she lost her grip and was thrown into a tree, the breath knocked out of her. The fox was above her in an instant, it's golden eyes flashing with fury. But, Vineripple got a glance of where Thornstar tried to get to his paws behind the creature, slipping in his own blood. Her own rage surged through her in waves and she rolled away just as the fox dived for her. Thornstar rushed to her side and together they slowly began to push the creature back into the undergrowth, snarling and biting. Vineripple was just beginning to let down her guard when the fox made another grab for Thornstar, quick as lightning. Vineripple saw the fox's teeth flash, aimed straight for the cat she love's throat. She saw him begin to try and duck away, but she knew he wouldn't make it. Instead, the only option to protect was to throw herself in front, into the jaws of the fox. She didn't even give it a second thought as she leapt forward, screeching as she felt the fox's jaws close on her back, a sickening crunch filling the air. Vineripple met Thornstar's eyes for a moment, his wide with horror and hers warm with love as she stared at him. The tabby she-cat managed a small smile before her world went dark. -------------------- "No, Nightshade, I don't want to go hunting right now. She could wake up any minute." "Can I at least get you something to eat? You haven't had anything since-" "No! Please... no. Just leave me be, okay?" Vineripple slowly blinked open her eyes to see Nightshade and Thornstar, the black she-cat's eyes hurt and pained and Thornstar's irritated and annoyed, but also worried. Vineripple let out a small, painful chuckle and Thornstar whipped around so fast she was scared his neck might snap. In half a second he was by her side, eyes wide as he watched her every movement. Slowly and painfully she lifted her head, adjusting her front legs so that she could lift herself up more. "Oh, oh Vineripple." Tears shone in the gray tom's eyes as he pressed his face into her neck, his breaths shaky. "I'm so, so sorry." He whispered. "I thought I'd lost you." Vineripple smiled, licking the tom between the ears. "Oh please, it'd take more than a fox to take me out." Thornstar let out a small laugh, still crying slightly as he pulled away, eyes warm with love as he stared at her. "Vineripple, the things I said, the things I did... I'm so, so sorry... I let someone else decide I thought of you, when I should've made that decision for myself. I'm not saying I agree with everything you did, but I am saying that I love you. I love you so, so much. I love you to the moon and back and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I know the things I said were bad, but if you could ever find it in your heart to forgive, to love me again... would you be my mate again? Please?" Behind the gray tom, Vineripple still saw Nightshade, her ears flat and eyes wide. Vineripple felt a prick of annoyance that the black she-cat was still here when it was obvious neither of them wanted her there, but she pushed it away. This moment belonged to her and Thornstar, and she would /not/ let Nightshade ruin it. Letting out a loud laugh she managed to bury her face in his chest. "Yes yes yes, a million times yes!" They both purred as they curled around each other, Vineripple managing to block out the pain in her back. She could've stayed like that forever, her face buried in his fur as she breathed in his scent and his tail wrapped around her like he never wanted to let her go again. But finally, someone broke the silence. "Y-You're choosing her?" They both turned. "After /everything/ I did for you... You're choosing Vineripple?"
"You bring me back to reality, Nightshade. To the real world where things are sad and cold... you make me feel calm and stead fast, sure, but that makes me feel like a leader. And sometimes..." He turned back to Vineripple. "Sometimes I don't want to /be/ a leader. Sometimes I just want to be someone's mate. Sometimes I just want to let someone know that I love them and know that they feel the same. Sometimes I just want to feel /free/ of any other responsibilities." Vineripple smiled at him, her eyes warm with love as behind him, Nightshade looked between them, her eyes sad before fury rose in them. She spat at them both before whipping around, storming from camp not that either of them cared. But, finally it was Heronfeather's turn to intervene, separating the two love birds so that he could tend to Vineripple, who hadn't even noticed him standing quietly in the corner. Even though he didn't say it, Vineripple saw his eyes shining with happiness and pride as he explained. If the fox had bitten down any harder, she would've been paralyzed. But, thankfully, she wasn't. Instead it would just take a long, long time to heal completely, and might never be the same again. Vineripple would do it a million times over if it meant saving even one of Thornstar's lives. -------------------- Vineripple finally managed to limp out of the Medicine Den. It had been a moon since her injury, and just a few days ago Nightshade had disappeared. It had been a while, and now it was time to appoint a new Deputy. Creekfrost and Heronfeather escorted to sit beneath Highrock as cats gathered for the Clan meeting. Thornstar's eyes met hers and she thought her heart might burst with the love he sent her way. "As all of you know," He began. "Nightshade has disappeared." A few whispered broke out in the crowd, about how she was running from her problems and couldn't handle heartbreak. Thornstar silenced them all with a vicious glare. "It's now time to appoint a new Deputy. May StarClan hear and approve of my choice. The new Deputy will be Vineripple. Vineripple couldn't necessarily say she was surprised, but she still acted like it as she pushed to her paws, Heronfeather steadying her. She bowed her head to her mate with a small smile. "Thank you, Thornstar." "However, because of her current condition, there will be a stand-in Deputy for the next moon. This time, the stand-in Deputy will once again be Sheepstep." The fluffy white tom got to his paws with a purr, dipping his head, and Vineripple's eyes caught on Honeypool beside him, the yellow she-cat's stomach rounded with kits. "Meeting dismissed." Thornstar leapt down to meet Vineripple as the cats dispersed. Vineripple rested her head on his shoulder, standing back to watch the Clan. /Their/ Clan. They were united, they were strong, and finally, after so many moons of hardships, lies and hurt, they were together. Written by @Stormstar1515 ;P Vineripple~ @Stormstar1515 Nightshade~ @FnafMangleTime Thornpad~ @Blacklist_Rogue Creekfrost~ @Endercat-uwu Skyfall~ @DJDoritoCO Honeypool~ @WarriorsSilverstream Chapter 1: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/383248637/ Next Chapter: Coming soon :3
