Vinepaw squeezed through the crowd , following her Clanmates as they left. She kept her eye out for Sunheart. She had seen her sister slip into a bush before the Gathering had begun and she had never come out. Vinepaw had to find out what was going on. She knew Sunheart was hiding something and she never hid anything from her. They never kept secrets from each other.
Except when I'm ordered to, Vinepaw thought as she reached the tree bridge. Sure enough, Sunheart was up there getting ready to cross. Vinepaw ran and stepped in front of her before she could cross. "We need to talk," she meowed.
"But we have to follow the Clan home," Sunheart protested.
"Now," Vinepaw insisted. Sunheart sighed.
"Fine. What is it?"
"Where were you?" Vinepaw asked.
Sunheart gave her a puzzled look. "What do you mean?"
"You know! Slipping out in the middle of the Gathering!" Vinepaw growled.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Sunheart replied calmly looking away.
"Don't lie to me, Sunheart! What's going on?"
"Nothing! I already told you! I don't know what you're talking about!" Sunheart retorted. She then turned away. "Look, I've got to go. Squirellflight is bound to want me on a patrol later and I need to rest before then." She then ran after the Clan, leaving Vinepaw alone.
Anger surged beneath Vinepaw's pelt. Fine! You'll have your secrets and I'll have mine!
"Vinepaw? Aren't you going to head back?" Jayfeather came up beside her.
"Jayfeather! I thought you left with the others," Vinepaw meowed in surprise.
"You had a fight with Sunheart," Jayfeather meowed as he leaped onto the tree bridge. Vinepaw followed her mentor.
"You saw us?" Vinepaw asked.
"Yes," her mentor answered. "She is just hiding something that'll change the way the Clan looks at her forever."
Vinepaw gave her mentor a puzzled look, and then remembering that he could look into other cats minds through the power he was given in order to fufill a prophecy along with her father Lionblaze and Dovewing. "Can you tell me what she's hiding?"
"Depends," Jayfeather answered simply. "Sunheart is afraid of everyone judging her if they find out. The question is, will you judge her?"
"Of course not! She's my sister! I would never change the way I think about her just because of some silly secret!"
"Why don't you tell her that?" Jayfeather suggested. Vinepaw thought the rest of the way home. When they got to camp she went to the warriors' den to find her sister. She found her lying in her nest, still awake. Vinepaw walked over and nudged her gently.
"Hey, can you maybe come and help me with something?" Vinepaw asked, trying to think of the best way to get her out of camp without any of the other warriors becoming suspisous of Sunheart's secret.
"Why can't Jayfeather help you?" Sunheart asked, obviously still angry.
"He's busy," Vinepaw replied. Sunheart sighed and got up.
"Fine," Sunheart padded out of the den with Vinepaw right behind her. They walked out of camp and continued to walk a little ways until they came to the lake. Vinepaw then stopped.
"Sunheart..." she began but her sister cut her off.
"I know what this is about! You're going to try and make me tell you! I'll tell you right now, you're worrying about nothing!" Sunheart growled.
"Jayfeather told me why you won't tell me," Vinepaw meowed quickly. Sunheart didn't face her or say anything, so Vinepaw continued. "You think I'll be mad or think badly of you if I find out, but I'm your sister and no matter what I will always stand beside you! It doesn't matter what you do or say! It won't change the connection we have."
Sunheart turned to her and Vinepaw expected a hard look but instead it was soft and warm. Sunheart smiled. "Thanks, Vinepaw, and I'm sorry. You're right. I have been keeping a secret."
"Do you want to talk about it?" Vinepaw asked sitting beside her.
Sunhear thought for a moment before sighing. "Alright, but only because it's you," she replied. "I've been secretly meeting Hawkfur at night."
"You've been meeting a WindClan warrior?" Vinepaw asked in disbelief.
Sunheart nodded. "I know it's wrong, but I can't stand the thought of not being with him. I love him. Please, don't tell anybody."
"Don't worry. Your secrets safe with me. Just know what you're risking, alright?" Vinepaw assured her.
Sunheart nodded. "Now can I go to sleep?" she asked.
"Alright," Vinepaw agreed with a giggle as they both got up and headed back to camp.
