Take the initiative following quiet appeal (5)
I believe the answer is:
plead
'appeal' is the definition.
(I know that plead is a kind of appeal)
'take the initiative following quiet' is the wordplay.
'take the initiative' becomes 'lead' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'following' says to put letters next to each other.
'quiet' becomes 'p' (music symbol for 'piano', ie soft or quiet).
'lead' after 'p' is 'PLEAD'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for plead that I've seen before include "Argue (a position in court)" , "Appeal humbly (to)" , "Respond to charge" , "Claim; entreat" , "Supplicate" .)