"Everything looks perfect!" River said, smiling at her warmly. Wildflower felt sick to her stomach getting up out of the nest, knowing she'd have to go out and try to hide her little mistakes. No matter how hard she tried - and no matter how hard she banged her head against a tree -  she couldn't get Cinder's high-pitched crackle out of her head.

     Don't let her words get to you...! Wildflower thought grimly, keeping her claws sheathed. She barely even made eye contact with River as she pushed her way through and into the campgrounds. Her dull eyes landed on the rest of the scouters and she skipped over, trying not to draw attention to herself. 

     Thunder looked at her arrival. "Wildflower? It's not normal that you're late," he uttered stoically towards the weakened cat. 

     "I slept in just a few minutes," she covered, forcing her expressionless pools of green to meet his. "It shouldn't be bad, considering that Clover often does it."

     The orange she-cat scowled at her in disgust. Her eyes had been switched into a snappy mood already, taking the offense more seriously than Wildflower thought she would. "At least I'm a higher rank than you," she declared, whipping her tail. "And I'm not always looking up to my family for assistance!"

     "That's enough!" Shade snarled at the two of them sharply. Her words silenced the argument with a simple command. "You aren't kits anymore, you're scouters, and I will not allow dirt thrown on our name. Clover, stop acting like a spoiled kit. Wildflower, watch your tone." Wildflower and Clover shared a rivalry silently through the air but eventually, they backed away.

     "Is the fighting over now?" A happier voice squeaked beside Wildflower. She didn't need to lift her eyes or flick her ears in the direction of Origanum's voice. By now, hearing her voice was like the plague. Each time the Alpha was near, she was bound to screw up and, somehow, go unnoticed. 

     "Looks like you'll be Imperfect after all," her mind suggested bluntly. 

     "It's too bad; you were so focused on being perfect," another part answered.

     "Look what happened? You screwed up!" The first voice mocked.

     "What's even better, you can't make it up!" The second voice added like a happy kit. 

     They clashed together in an ongoing storm of confusion. Her mistakes only showed up brighter than any star or sun. Right after Cinder told her about becoming an Imperfect, the starry she-cat tossed the seed and she, unknowingly, planted it and the plant sunk its dangerous roots into her body. If she didn't see that forsaken cat, she wouldn't have to deal with the voices in her head. 

     Wildflower flattened her ears in an attempt to shut out the voices. What is it? Why am I hearing them now? Cinder hasn't shown her face to me ever since that day!

     "Wildflower?" Origanum asked, stepping closer towards her. Wildflower looked at the Alpha, covering up her pain once again. "Did you hear me?"

     "Yes," she lied. The best she could do was cover up her pain until nightfall came and only then could she rant to her nest about it.

     "Okay then, I want you to patrol with just Shade today." Origanum looked at the scouter. Shade's eyes flashed determinedly at her orders. "That way, she can test you and see if you really are a scouter." 

     "Ready to go?" The black she-cat asked coldly. Wildflower briskly trotted after the scouter, as her pace was faster than she interpreted. The top scouter and lowest scouter left the others behind to deal with the hyper Alpha.

     Shade stepped a paw onto the trail and headed forward, her black fur soaring like a raven. From the small view she had, Wildflower saw the Training Den's faint outline against the green trees and the bright, blue sky overhead. The colors bled together, casting out a gray cloud in the sky, streaking stripes down the blue air.

     A calm breeze brushed by gently as Wildflower picked up her pace, noticing how much harder it was for her to keep her paw steps even with Shade's. On the dirt ground, she could see the small prints that the scouter left as she trod. The elegance and grace the older she-cat had while running made it look flawless.

     Of course she's flawless. She's a cat of this tribe and the top scouter! Wildflower looked at her paws in disgust, pounding them harder. And there's me, who is making mistakes beyond belief. It doesn't make sense, I thought sleeping on Cinder's words would let things fly by. Why is she still haunting me? The young Scouter skidded to a halt once Shade stopped. In front of them, she could see the Training Den a bit clearer.

     If only she could reach her paw forward and stretch it all the way to that place, hoping to catch a glimpse at her siblings. Seeing Apple's competitive side once again, Lark's jubilant eyes, and Cherry's kind spirit. Just thinking of all of them comforting her gave enough warmth in her situation. Wildflower opened her eyes from the illusion and they were blown away by the wind. The spirits of them floated far away and toward the sun.

     The heavy burden that Wildflower carried increased as she watched her siblings fly high above her head. Not that she'd show it, but the thought of seeing Cherry excel at a faster and better rate than her chipped away at her heart. She was supposed to be an older sister that they could look up to, not look down on. Wildflower found loose cobwebs as a solution, reassuring herself that the mistakes would fade away over time.

     But even trees fall. Wildflower looked up at a fallen tree. It once stood high in the sky, shining just like the sun and blocked away all of the sunlight that the smaller trees needed. Then a storm came by and shook the ground. The trunk smashed into the ground and the other trees kept growing; not noticing their fallen friend.

     The image alone was enough to scare her.

     "If you're just going to stare, go back now," Shade snarled. Wildflower snapped her thoughts away and focused. "We've got a job to do and I'm not going to tolerate you slacking off."

     "I'm sorry, Shade," Wildflower apologized weakly.

     "Are you sure you're okay?" Shade asked. "It's only been your third day here and you don't look so good."

     "N-no! I just told you, I overslept!" Wildflower sputtered, trying to keep her pelt cool. The black calico shrugged it off and turned around, flicking her tail. That was the signal for Wildflower to go, make sure the scents were clear, and remark. She obeyed without a single hesitation and left, taking the time to ponder. 

     She was swallowed up by the looming trees and sat down beside a tree on its right side. Her back rested up against its sturdy surface, wanting to sink into the rough surface. How would it feel if she were to sink into it now? Would cats miss her? Would anyone miss her? Wildflower peered up at the sunlight streaming through the leaves. The sun was looking for her through the cracks, but she stayed hidden in the shadows.

     I've always wanted to be perfect, so why can't I seem to be able to be perfect now?

     "What's your definition of perfection, dear Wildflower?" A voice echoed in her head.

     Wildflower groaned, sinking her head into her paws irritatedly. It wasn't like she had enough trouble carrying her mistakes everywhere and having to hide the fact. That dreadful voice kept coming back to talk, always seeking for thing only. She flattened her ears, biting her tongue and softly banged the back of her head against the trunk.

     "I said what's your definition of perfection?"

     Simple, it's not making any mistakes. I've got to keep my paces even with the others ahead of me during a patrol. When I go out and hunt, I must bring back at least one piece of fresh-kill if I'm not told otherwise. If I was a healer, I have to make sure I don't let any cat die under my paws. Right now, I should be checking the territory and making sure that the scents are fresh and not talking to you! She hoped that last sentence was enough warning for the voice. 

     "I'm Wildflower, silly." Hearing them reply, her heart sank to her stomach and she scowled, finding it hard to believe.

     No, I'm Wildflower, you're just my mind. Good day. Wildflower heaved herself back up on her paws. Instead of feeling the energy she normally had, she felt dragged under the water, barely surviving. Her paws were heavy like she was in a river, trying to run across the terrorizing waves that threatened to never let go, or she was a butterfly stuck in the wind, tossed around in the harsh gusts.

     All of it made Wildflower want to give up.

     She pushed herself towards a smaller tree. From the looks of its sprouting, it was only a few moons old. Tiny, green leaves poked out of the ground shyly as if anything would come down and kill it off. Wildflower knelt down by the sprout, touching her nose to it. It tasted just like the fresh scent of dirt. Wildflower touched it with her paw and it wiggled like it was dancing.

     "Taking time to smell the trees?"

     You again, I told you to leave.

     "And if you tell any cat what not to do, they'll do it."

     Fine. Then tell me your real name, at least.

     "I told you, I'm Wildflower."

      I'm calling you something else, Wildflower. Wildflower looked stupid, partially glad Shade wasn't around. It's like I'm talking to myself.

     "You are."

     You're not helping me, you do know that?

     No answer. Seemed as if her mind had decided to leave her. Wildflower sighed, looking back at the little sprouting. It still grew there, unharmed or dazzled by her presence. She leaned down and touched her noses with it, letting the small leaves tickle her nose.

     "Listen, it's stupid to be talking to a tree, but it's the only company I've got now." She took a deep breath and blurted out to the little tree.

     "I understand, you've hidden in the dirt for so long, just waiting to come out and join the others. I've always yearned to be perfect and join my family in the Tribe of Shining Suns. Now you've finally come out after moons of waiting and gathering up your courage."

     Her eyes darkened at the next part and her claws slid out, the fur along her spine rising. "But life doesn't always go how you planned. I thought my life would be perfect but so far, I'm making mistakes. You're still growing but could easily be washed out in a single wave of water or I could end your short life right here and now."

     She raised her paw beside the tree, determined to crush it. The plant swayed in the wind. If it could talk, Wildflower guessed it would tell her she's crazy and evil. Her heart was being played, her decisions no longer hers to make. The only more reason to show she was in charge of her life.

     "I'm going to be perfect. Nothing will stop me, it's my life. I choose to be perfect and that's what I'm going to be!" Wildflower snarled, whirling around and stomping towards the trail angrily, leaving behind a small tree that didn't have the chance to taste its first sunlight in the mud, mutilated and squashed.