Mud

Instructions

Vineripple stomped into camp, tail lashing behind her and mud covering her pelt. Catching Creekfrost’s eyes, her anger only flared as she saw her friend holding back a laugh as she trotted over. “Vineripple, what happened?” “I was hunting by the river.” She muttered grumpily, trudging past. “It didn’t look like the ground would just give away beneath me.” Creekfrost threw her head back and started laughing, making Vineripple’s ears burn with embarrassment. “Vineripple, that’s one of the first things mentors teach their apprentices. Whenever the snow melts, the mud there gets really soggy and is a lot deeper than it looks.” “Yeah, I think I figured that out, thanks.” She growled, bitterly flicking mud off of one paw. “Well come on, let’s get you cleaned up.” Creekfrost purred, a laugh still bubbling in her voice as she led Vineripple over to a group of other cats, the latter not realizing exactly who these cats were because of her fur. Oh, her poor, poor fur. And she had taken such great care this morning cleaning it in hopes that Stagleap might notice—StarClan forbid anyone know that, though. Just then she looked up and her eyes caught on the deputy. She quite literally felt her heart jump in her chest—a very painful feeling—as the golden-furred she-cat looked her up and down, an amused smirk lighting her face as Vineripple’s pelt burned with shame, finally sitting down as she and Creekfrost reached the others. As she realized just who she was sitting with she felt her shoulders slouch. “Oh, joy.” Thornpad, Nightshade, Skyfall, and Honeypool were all giggling or holding back laughter as they looked at her mud-splattered pelt. “Vineripple, what did you do?” Honeypool purred, eyes sparkling with amusement and tail gently wrapped around Sheepstep’s, who looked much more sympathetic than the others. “It’s a long story.” She grouched, settling down and beginning to wash herself off, wrinkling her nose at the sour taste. Creekfrost also began to lick the mud off, talking between strokes. “Oh, just a little hunting accident.” She nudged her shoulder playfully and Vineripple sent her a glare as the rest of the group burst into fits of giggles. “Here, let me help.” Honeypool got to her paws and padded over, laughing as she began to wash her fur. “How does someone have *that* bad of an accident?” Skyfall was practically rolling on the ground, showing Vineripple not even a hint of mercy as he laughed at her despair. “It was slippery!” She snapped. “I remember when *you* got stuck in brambles when you were an apprentice.” “Well, I was only an apprentice.” She muttered something unintelligible and turned away grumpily to continue working on her fur. “Oh, this is gonna take forever to get out.” She whined. Nightshade laughed kindly and stood up. “I can try and help with that.” Immediately all eyes turned to her, shocked and appalled, and one pair specifically telling her she’d claw her if she even tried. So, the black she-cat let out a defeated sigh and sat back down. “Well, nevermind.” There was an awkward silence for a moment before Thornpad cut in. “Well, Nightshade and I went down to the ShadowClan border this morning. We didn’t meet anyone, but we smelled Icestar and her patrol.” Skyfall laughed. “Why is it always Icestar patrolling the border? Doesn’t she have other leaderly duties to attend to?” Vineripple and a few others snickered while Nightshade cut in. “I think it’s good for leaders to participate in regular activities. They’re not necessarily better than anyone else in the Clan, and it shows that they’re willing to put in the work to better the Clan just like everyone else.” “Well yeah, but I don’t think it’s a coincidence that it’s always *our* border she’s patrolling.” Creekfrost countered. Vineripple snickered, pulling her gaze away from her tangled fur for a moment to see Nightshade rest her head on Thornpad’s shoulder. She rolled her eyes. /The kits are practically on the way./ Skyfall and Creekfrost also seemed to take notice and giggled, playfully shoving each other as Creekfrost continued to work away at Vineripple’s fur. “So, Nightshade, Thornpad,” Skyfall started. “Are you guys, like, a thing?” All eyes turned to the pair who jumped apart, faces flaming as they glanced at each other unsurely. “I-well, we’ve really only been friends..” Nightshade started. “Yes, but like, I wouldn’t be against ever being something more-” “Of course, of course, we just haven’t-I mean-” “Talked! Talked, we-we haven’t talked, um..” “About that, so-” “So, we don’t really know, but uhm-” “Great StarClan!” Vineripple cut in, spitting out a clump of mud at their paws. “I would literally rather talk about anything else.” She sent Skyfall an angry glare. “*Never* ask that again.”