“I brought your favorite,” Her voice was quiet as the dim interior of the nursery wrapped around her. The back of her childhood friend facing her as gentle green eyes raised to meet the she-cats. “Thank you Nightshade, you didn’t need too,” Roses voice was just as soft as it was back when Nightshade was a kit. Gentle. Motherly. That’s always how she treated her. As if she was still a small, young, and innocent kit. Her heart swelled as she dropped the forest shrew next to her as she relaxed next to Thornpad. Just as the gentle chewing was heard, did she purr, “How are you feeling?” Thornpad said worryingly, his large ears lowering as his forest green eyes shined with concern. Quietly sighing, Rostheart raised her head to reflect her gaze up at his, “Honey I know you’re worried, but I’m ok it’s just a little cough.” Just as the words came out of her mouth a loud spew of coughs followed after. Thornpad quickly stood and with a worried step he tried to walk away, but when Roseheart reached out to gently grab his paw. “Please don’t go,” her words were broken by her gasping for air as the coughing came to an end. Nightshade softly rubbed her side as her eyes went to look at him, inner turmoil shining in his eyes. “All cats old enough to climb trees gather around high rock!” Thornpad’s eyes turned to look out the exit of the nursery his face clouded with a mix of emotion. Nightshade stood and watched him closely trying to look for some sign or hint of what was going through his mind. “Thor-” Nightshade’s words were cut short as Thornpad swiftly moved to lick Roseheart between the ears; his touch was gentle and hesitant, “I’ll be back soon.” Thornpad’s movements were stiff and gagged, completely different then how he normally was, Nightshade pointed out. Sitting next to him, Nightshade tried linking tails with him, but his body was tense as his eyes stared up at Hawkstar. “I, Hawkstar, leader 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. Vinepaw, please step forward.” Nightshade quietly gasped, eyes looking over at the Vinepaw to see her glance back at the Thunderclan medicine cat before she stepped forward, eyes looking up at the leaders. "Vinepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?" Vinepaw seemed to pause for a moment and Nightshade glanced over at her with a brow raised, ‘Would she really say no?’ she thought as her ears lowered watching the she-cat in wait. “I do” Hawkstar hummed as he dipped his head slightly, eyes staring down over the clearing. "Then, by the powers of StarClan invested in me, I give you your warrior name.Vinepaw, from this moment forward, you will be known as Vineripple. StarClan honors your courage, and we welcome you as a full warrior of Thunder-" the brown tom was cut off by a voice rising up. “NO!” a voice yowled, making her jump up and look through the crown. Vineripples mother,Deertuft, stood there tail lashing as she limped through the crowd. Nightshade’s eyes narrowed as she watched the broken she-cat stand next to Vineripple and glare up at Hawkstar.” What has she done to deserve to be a warrior? You're supposed to earn this rank!" The elder warrior spat with pure venom in her voice . "And what has Vineripple done?" Thornpad started to stand next to her, but with the rest of her tail on his back he stopped his advance. “Deertuft,I-” Hawkstar tried to quiet her when the she-cat snapped back. "Don't you 'Deertuft' me!" She snarled, tail tip flicking. "Those times are over, Hawkstar! One of /our/ daughter's is dead and yet you wish to award her pitiful sister when she only stood there and watched?" Nightshade gasped, her eyes widening, she glanced at Vineripple who seemed to be frozen in spot, not trying to move or stop the she-cats hateful words.
“And you know what?" Deertuft turned back on Vineripple, who seemed to stumble to the side and nearly fell over. "I bet Skyfall's death was no different. I bet you just stood there and watched while the fox tore him to shreds and I bet you laughed a-and you were having the time of your life-" In a blink of an eye Heronfeather was between the two she-cats, one burning with anger the other in tears body shaking. “You will not speak to your daughter like that,” he spoke sharply yet his voice was cold. Deertuft’s eyes narrowed, “She’s no daughter of mine.” Vineripple stood and ran off leaving the rest of the clan in silence. Angered mumbles fell from the elder she-cat and before she could speak again Nightshe stood up to her paws, tail tip flicking behind her as her whiskers twitched. Stalking through the whispering crowd her eyes were set on the brown furred she-cat. “Of course she’d just run away when faced with the truth-” “You don’t deserve to have the right to call yourself a mother.” Nightshade’s voice was low and steady. Her eyes were narrow as the she-cat turned to look at her with a burning glare.“Vineripple is your /daughter/ and you dare call her those things? Saying she doesn't deserve her warrior name when I know for a fact she deserved her name before I even gained mine, but you're too blind by the fact Brightkit’s dead to even see how strong daughter actually is,” her voice was sharp and if looks could kill she would already be among the stars. “Now go back to the elder den where you belong.” Turning she stalked away leaving the crowd silent, a leader speechless, and a small star covered kit smiling from the shadows of the camp.
