Mean~54

Instructions

        Vineripple burst into ShadowClan camp, her sides heaving as she looked around. Immediately cats got to their paws, bristling as they stalked towards her. A scarred brown tom stepped in front of her, his yellow eyes flashing.         “What’re you doing here?” He spat at her feet, unsheathing his claws. “And you’d better pray I think it’s a good enough excuse.”         Vineripple glared right back at him, lashing her tail. “I need to speak to Strikestar.”         The tom three back his head and let out a loud, barking laugh. Other cats joined in, making Vineripple bristle and unsheathe her claws as well.         “You expect me to take you to our leader just like that?” The amused light in his eyes died, getting darker as he approached her menacingly, his teeth bared. “I don’t think that was a good enough excuse.”         Vineripple was sure the tom was about to lunge at her when a sharp voice rang out over the clearing, stopping the tom in his tracks.         “Dogbite!” The tom turned along with everyone else to see Strikestar making her way through the crowd, the cats parting around her like water. “What’s going on here?” The black and gray she-cat asked, her narrowed green eyes settling on Vineripple. Strikestar didn’t seem like the same cat Vineripple had known before, but then again, neither did Vineripple.         “She just walked into our camp and demanded to see you.” Dogbite sneered, glaring viciously at Vineripple.         “Strikstar.” Vineripple mewed evenly, dipping her head in respect. “I apologize for not being ready before, but now I have an offer that I don’t think you want to pass up.”         Strikestar regarded her with suspicion before nodding, beckoning Vineripple to follow her with her tail.         “We’ll discuss this in my den.” ——————————         Vineripple quietly slipped back into ThunderClan camp, her eyes darting around suspiciously. Creekfrost immediately saw her and rushed over, eyes wide.         “Vineripple! You’ve been gone all day, where have you been??” The she-cat questioned.         The brown tabby hesitated for a moment before replying. "I'll tell you later, okay?"         Her friend frowned. "Vineripple, I know what Thornstar did, and I want you to know that it was a mouse-brained, fox-hearted move. I /know/ how much you loved him, and I even supported you in it because I thought he would treat you right. But, it seems I was mistaken."         Vineripple looked away, her eyes misting with tears for a moment. "The part that hurt the most is that he didn't trust me. He didn't even /try/ to explain to me what he was feeling, why he felt that way... I asked but he just... pushed me away." She squeezed her eyes shut as Creekfrost rested her tail over her shoulders comfortingly.         Just then, a yowl sounded over the clearing as Thornstar jumped onto highrock, summoning a Clan meeting. Vineripple and Creekfrost got to their paws and padded over, their pelts brushing comfortingly. Vineripple's heart warmed as she watched Applepaw pad up front, her eyes sparkling.         "I, Thornstar of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as a warrior in their turn. Applepaw, do you promise to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"         Vineripple could tell her apprentice was practically bursting with excitement as she answered. "I do."         "Then, by the power of StarClan invested in me, I give you your warrior name. Applepaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Appletail. StarClan honors your bravery and honesty."         The clearing errupted in happy cheers for the new warrior. Applepaw-No, Appletail-was a very popular cat.         "Appletail! Appletail! Appletail!"         The cream and red she-cat grinned as she looked at her Clan, beaming before the cheers slowly died out and the cats cleared out as Thornstar jumped down. Vineripple stared at him, their eyes meeting for a moment before she turned away, pain flashing in her chest. She and Creekfrost were just making their way to the Warriors Den when Thornstar jumped in front of the pair, his eyes desperate. Creekfrost bristled, spitting at his feet.         "Vineripple, can I please talk to you? ..Please?" The gray leader pleaded.