Mean~62

Instructions

        Vineripple paced, her tail lashing behind her as her mind raced.         Where was Sheepstep, and more importantly, what was he doing? She was 70% sure that it wasn't anything good for her. The tabby she-cat squeezed her eyes shut, cursing herself. She was so /stupid/! How did she not realize that Sheepstep was going to betray her? Of course he was, he was so shifty when he joined, how did she not see this before?         Just then, she heard pawsteps racing into camp and turned to see Thornstar, Nightshade, and Sparrowcall burst into camp. Vineripple whipped around, her eyes flashing maliciously as their eyes widened in shock. She grinned.         "You didn't think that first small battle was the real thing, did you?" She sneered, approaching as Bluetooth and Stonebite stepped behind them, blocking the exit.         "Vineripple!" Nightshade screeched, leaping towards her with unsheathed claws. A ball of gray fur barrelled into her, and in a moment Eagledash was standing over the black she-cat.         Vineripple slowly approaching, grinning maniacally. “Nightshade.” She purred silkily, standing over her enemy.         “How many times do you have to betray the Clan to satisfy your greed?”         The tabby she-cat threw her head back and laughed. “Only once only once, Nightshade. Don’t you get it? This was the plan all along. Have a small, insignificant battle and then a big one. And you were /dumb/ enough to believe the first one was real. We were /winning/ in the first battle, Nightshade. And you all /fell/ for it.”         “W-What?” Nightshade breathed, her eyes wide.         Vineripple snickered, turning her back on the black she-cat. “Oh, Nightshade. Don’t act so surprised, I’ve always been smarter than you.”         “Vineripple..”         She stopped at the sound of Thornstar’s voice, smiling sadly with her back to her love.         “Don’t-Don’t do this. Please... don’t you want your old life back?”         “The thing is... no. I don’t anymore. I’ve finally become the monster this Clan has made me to be, and I won’t be ignored any longer.” She finally turned around to see pain in Thornstar’s eyes as he stared at her. “Take them to the Apprentice’s Den. And make sure they aren’t planning anything.”         The ShadowClan cats nodded and did what she said, escorting the patrol to the den with the next narrowest entrance. Only one cat could go in or out at a time.         “The only cat we don’t have now is Puddlestep.” She announced, sitting down and wrapping her tail around her paws neatly. “But I think he’ll be here very soon.” ——————————         Vineripple’s head jerked up from where she sat with her kits in the Nursery when she heard a screech. She was at her paws in a heartbeat.         “Stay inside.” She ordered her kits, her kind, playful tone of voice gone. “Whatever you do, do /not/ leave this den. Do you understand?”         Her children nodded their heads hurriedly, eyes wide. Vineripple flashed them a small, comforting smile before slipping into the clearing. Immediately Firefly rushes up to her, Spiderfall close on her heels.         “What’s going on?” She snapped, heart hammering in her chest.         “The entirety of RiverClan is coming for us.”         Vineripple could’ve sworn her heart stopped.         /Sheepstep./ ——————————         “Everyone, block the entrance. I want two thirds at the main entrance and the rest at the dirtplace entrance. Don’t let them get to the prisoners, no matter what!” Cats began to shuffle around, but not quick enough.         In less than three heartbeats RiverClan cats began pouring in, their claws unsheathed and eyes hungry for battle. The lines they had only barely began to form were immediately brought down, and in moments fighting broke out. Cats were clawing cats and blood was starting to spill. Vineripple cursed loudly before turning and finding a RiverClan pelt to latch onto. She saw a brown tabby tom and leapt at him, digging her claws into his back with a snarl. He whipped around, his orange eyes flashing at he clawed at her face. She ducked down, feeling a sting as his claws connected with her ear. Vineripple hissed and dug her teeth deep into his shoulder. The tom screeched, trying to shake her off but to no avail. The tabby she-cat felt blood pool in her mouth and she was reminded of her cough, making a mental note to not yell or scream and trigger her coughing attacks. Finally the tom gave one last jerk and threw Vineripple off. She hit the ground with a thud and when she got to her paws, he was already gone.