Vineripple paced back in forth in front of the ShadowClan cats, her tail lashing behind her as her flaming amber eyes danced over the crowd beneath her. Strikestar sat behind her on tall rock, her green eyes flashing as she waited for Vineripple to speak. “With this battle, we are looking not for war, but for an alliance.” Her voice rang out over ShadowClan camp loud and clear. She paused her pacing, facing forward and letting her fiery gaze stare at each ShadowClan member in turn. The tabby continued her pacing. “Thornstar is an imposter. A tyrant! He will only hurt your Clan, where I wish to strengthen it. With me in charge our Clans would both be mighty once more. The border would barely exist. We could give prey to whoever needed it, aid each other in battle, raise both our Clans up to be the strongest in the forest!” Some cheers went up from the crowd and she grinned viciously. “But to achieve the glory we deserve, we first need to defeat ThunderClan. And do not be fooled, for they are strong. But we,” She glanced at Strikestar triumphantly. “Are smarter.” The tabby she-cat paused for affect before turning back to the Clan gathered below her. “The first attack will be at dawn, just before the sun rises. They will be tired and slow. Our main goal in the first fight is to get in and get out with as little injuries as possible.” Her eyes raked over the crowd, harsher this time. “Of course try to injure them as much as possible, but be cautious. And when I call for retreat, you /retreat/. No questions asked. Because, that won’t be when we secure our inevitable victory.” She laughed darkly. “Oh, no.” “Hunting patrols go out in the morning and afternoon, with a break at sunhigh. We attack in the afternoon. I will lead a group through the dirtplace tunnel, and Strikestar will lead the remaining cats through the front entrance. The camp will be mostly unguarded with most warriors either healing in the Medicine Den or out hunting or patrolling. We can easily secure the camp, and as each hunting or patrolling party return, an entire Clan will be waiting ready for them.” She smirked. “Ask any and every cat whether or not they will support me as leader, and if they agree to do so, send them to me. /I/ will decide where their loyalties lay.” She glanced at the sun beginning to sink towards the horizon. “Get a good meal tonight, and sleep well. We don’t want to be groggy like them.” A few snickers rose from the crowd as she jumped down, Strikestar quickly following suit. The leader made her way over, eyes flashing darkly. “No wonder you were meant to be leader.” She purred silkily, brushing past her and disappearing into the Leader’s Den. Vineripple smirked, watching her go before glancing at the Fresh Kill pile. Her stomach clenched and she grimaced, knowing she wouldn’t be able to keep down any food on a night like this. So, she turned with a sigh, dragging her paws to the Warriors Den. /Tomorrow./ She promised herself. Tomorrow. —————————— Vineripple blinked open her eyes to find herself standing in a grassy clearing. Birds chirped above her head and dappled sunlight broke its way through the trees, warming her pelt with it’s golden glow. The brown tabby frowned in confusion, a gentle breeze tugging the her pelt as she turned. Her breath caught in her throat. There, at the other edge of the clearing, was Brightkit. She was smiling softly, her green eyes dancing joyfully and her white, gray-speckled pelt gleaming in the sun. “Vineripple.” She purred. The tabby she-cat let out a choked sob, racing towards her as she felt her heart might burst with joy. Tears of happiness streamed down her face as she ran towards her sister. But suddenly, there she ran face first into a mound of fur. Looking up, she saw Petalpaw standing there, staring blankly into her eyes. Gritting her teeth, she tried to dodge around her. But, no matter what she did, Petalpaw was still there, staring blankly ahead. Vineripple could just make out Brightkit over the gray and white she-cat’s shoulder, watching calmly. Vineripple had had enough. Petalpaw would /not/ keep her from her sister. She snarled in rage and flashed out a paw, only to have Petalpaw disappear with nothing more than a burst of blood. She was frozen for only a moment in shock before she continued to run to her sister.
But then Honeypool was in her way. She hissed, fur bristling at the yellow she-cat’s blank stare. She lashed out and once again Honeypool disappeared with a small splash of blood. She hurried on, but next it was Sheepstep. Then Nightshade, then Thornstar.. She made her way trough them easily, blood now soaking her fur and her eyes wild with rage and hunger. She /would/ get to Brightkit, they couldn’t keep her from her! She would do /anything/ to see her sister again. Her sister who was so sweet, so kind, so gentle... Her sister who shouldn’t have died. It should have been her. But then she was face-to-face with Heronfeather. He was the only one who seemed to see her, and he stared deeply into her eyes, his gaze pained and concerned. And... sad. Regretful. Mournful. Vineripple raised a paw, ready to strike. But then, she faltered. He had already suffered so much... could she really hurt him? “Don’t do this... please.” He whispered, repeating what he had told what felt like so long ago. Vineripple thought she felt her heart break as tears formed in her eyes. She was about to bury her face in his chest when she caught a glimpse of her sister behind the gray tom. She was frozen for a moment... And then, her heart hardened. /Nothing/ would keep her from her sister. Vineripple was staring straight into Heronfeather’s eyes when he disappeared, his warm blood splattering her fur. And finally, /finally/ there was Brightkit. No one left in her way. Just her and her sister. Grinning with tears rolling down her face, Vineripple ran forward, closing her eyes and about to bury her face in her sister’s fur. She thought her heart might burst with joy. Only she was hugging thin air. Blinking open her eyes, her heart seized in her chest. There in her paws, covered by the blood of the cats that had stood in her way, was... Nothing. Brightkit was... gone. She felt grief and confusion and rage squeeze at her chest as she gasped. Tears ran down her face in rivers and she couldn’t- She couldn’t /breath/. It hurt too much. She had done all of that for... nothing? But, she didn’t have time to be sad. “Mommy? Mommy!” Vineripple turned, heart warming slightly at the sight of her three kits. She had them, at least. She bounded over, only for Poisonkit to disappear. But, she still had Crushkit and Foxkit, right? She buried her face in their fur, sobbing and breathing in their scent. “I love you.” She whimpered, holding her sons close. “I love you I love you I love you.” But then, for what felt like the hundredth time in minutes, her heart seized in her chest, fear making their way into her veins. Hearing growls behind her she whipped around. In each spot where she had killed her Clanmates now stood a fox. Six in total. And their eyes were all focused on her, glinting dangerously. Vineripple tried to back away, but her paws wouldn’t move. Foxkit and Crushkit were gone. No. /No!/ Her eyes were wide with terror and she tried to scream, to yell, to /move/. But she couldn’t. Terror bubbled through her veins, adrenaline almost driving her insane as she watched them approach, unable to stop it. Unable to do /anything/. Suddenly the foxes leapt at her, and she squeezed her eyes shut. Her world went black. Vineripple blinked open her eyes, thinking for a split second that she was awake again. But, that hope quickly faded when she saw Nightshade and Thornstar. They were sitting in ThunderClan camp, their tails entwined and Nightshade’s stomach rounded with kits. Honeypool and Sheepstep and Petalpaw were also there. And.... Brightkit. Vineripple gasped. Brightkit was... fully grown. Her sister had filled out and was... beautiful. She had soft fur and bright, round eyes... She padded calmly into camp, herbs in her jaws, and smiled at the others, dipping her head to them as she walked by. They smiled and waved at her, seeming happy. Content. Feeling overjoyed once more, Vineripple ran to her sister only to... run /through/ her. “Brightkit!” She screamed, turning around to look at her sister. But, no one seemed to hear her. “Brightkit! Anyone! Don’t-Don’t you hear me..?” Her voice broke as she turned around, looking at all their faces. But, Vineripple could tell that they didn’t. They didn’t see her at all. 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: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/412339321/
