Wildflower stared at her paws, still trying to process what happened three days ago. Storm's life simply ripped away from her paws without a second chance. It was fair, she argued, the warrior had chosen to fight on, even if it meant she knew that she'd be killed at any chance given. Now the tribe was down a Warrior, yet no cat seemed to care. 

     "This is your world, Wildflower." For once, she was grateful for the voice in her head. The statement of having a conversation with yourself was better than she imagined. It was even the softer voice, one that soothed her worries instead of picking her piece to piece like a vulture.

     So? It's common to see a cat get killed in a challenge.

     "Then why are you in shock at her death? You say it's common, but why are you locking yourself up in the scouters' den?"

     She didn't have an answer to that question. Her mind remained as silent as the den. Perfection is the way. There is nothing better than it. It's simple. If you aren't perfect, you'll get killed.

     "So then you should die." The hiss of the taunting voice came back to claim her. She felt its shadowy paws wrap around her mind, imbolizing her. "You say if you aren't perfect, you're to be killed. So you should die."

     And what choice do I have? I'm not going to die to satisfy your nonexistent needs.

     "Oh no, no, no. They're also your needs. You want to be perfect so bad, but you aren't.

     Nobody knows so I'm not imperfect.

     "And when they find out? What are you going to do then, huh?"

     I'll worry about it when it comes closer. I don't need you.

     Wildflower pushed herself on her paws, exiting the den, hoping that would make the voice vanish. It did momentarily in the sunlight. The camp had been moving on regularly ever since Arrow's arrival and the challenges in place, welcoming their latest member and the warriors continued their daily activities, paying no attention to their fallen member.

     In that eventful evening, Snake had gone up against Panther. Snake had lost to Panther, demoted down one rank in the spy ranks with Goose becoming the second spy. Storm had fought Juniper, was killed in the fight, and the tom had moved up one rank. Clover had gone up against Shade in the Scavenger Hunt and lost, causing her rank to drop to down one. Then Dandelion had gone up against Rabbit through the Night-Hunt Challenge and won. 

     While Wildflower had moved up one rank in the Scouter, Crow had switched to become a Warrior to take Storm's place and a few other ranks had been bounced around by Origanum's command. She lifted her head to see Creek standing by the Alpha's side as she was drawing in the dirt. Blaze wasn't anywhere to be seen and Dandelion was out on a hunt. Maple was by Bounce's side with Heron watching her only surviving kit play. Snow by herself, staring off into the sky, eyes in a distant world she.

     She padded over to the meeting that was in session. Instantly, Creek whipped his head up at her, casting daggers at her. The other betas seemed to be irritated about her arrival while Origanum was the only one with oblivious joy. The Alpha stepped out of the way and toward her.

     "Hi Wildflower! Finished your patrol yet?" she asked, tipping her head to the side.

     "Does she not know that Wildflower's on night shift?" A beta whispered. Creek shrugged, letting Origanum continue.

     "I'm on the night shift." She nodded towards the other beta who had brought it up. "I was wondering if I would be allowed to explore the territory. I've got nothing else to do so I figure I'd try and chart the territory in my head."

     "Sure! Love the idea!" Origanum said. "Make sure you're back and, if possible, catch me a mouse out there!"

     "That's a hunter's job..." The same Beta whispered to Creek.

     "Eagle! I'm not deaf!" Origanum snapped, wheeling around to face the brown tabby. Eagle, the one that Wildflower had no opinion on or knowledge about, lowered his head. "We're all perfect! Even as a scouter, she can hunt for me! Got it?!"

     "Yes, Origanum," Eagle answered. Creek didn't say anything at all, pretending he wasn't there along with Ember. 

     Wildflower turned around without another question, heading toward the exit. Her journey was halted by a fairly new spy.

     "Ci--- Wildflower!" Halfway at the exit, she turned to see Arrow racing down. The spy skidded to a halt beside her, standing taller. "Listen, if you're out doing something extra, I'm not going to be outdone!"

     "Relax, Arrow," Wildflower soothed. "I'm just going out for a walk, nothing extra. Relax, my little sibling."

     "Don't call me that," Arrow protested, glancing around them for eavesdropping cats. "I'm a grown cat and worthy of being in this tribe. It's improper to call me your little brother."

      "Really?" Wildflower acted dump, frowning at him. That gave him a surge of strength, eyes flashing with pride. "If I remember correctly, you're still younger than me. Therefore, making you my adorable little brother."

     "You sound like Blizzard," the calming voice pointed out. Wildflower felt the bile rising in her throat. Forcing the bitter liquid back down her throat, she made it so its foul scent would stay down. "Is it that her personality has grown on you?"

     You have no right to say that. Wildflower growled at her mind.

     "Just get this straight - I'm going to be better than you. One day or another, I'll be the superior!" Arrow hissed.

     "And taking a walk makes me better than you...?" she snickered, causing Arrow's pelt to bristle. Messing with him again made her spirits rise just the slightest and she thought spending time with him against wasn't so bad. 

     "Don't you know what my job is?!" Arrow hissed, refusing to give her a chance to talk. "As a spy, I'm supposed to patrol with you from the sky! I'm also supposed to collect any herbs I'm told to get!"

     "Arrow, relax," Wildflower said, embracing him. He flinched from her pelt, rearing back from her striped fur. She didn't let him escape and stood there, waiting for him to lower his guard. "I'm just going out for a walk." She hoped that her reassurance would be enough for her sensitive brother.

     Growling under his breath, Arrow slipped away, stalking up back into the camp. Always giving her an irritated glare over his shoulder. She smiled, knowing that he'd always be fighting with his siblings for praise or to outshine them in Dandelion or Origanum's eyes. A part of her would miss the quiet days where she lazed with Blaze as the two shared conversations since their younger brother would barge in and seek for some kind of enjoyment - not that he'd openly say it to them. 

     Her shoulders dropped and she padded out. Once again, she was by herself and the voices in her head. She braced herself to hear the snarky one snap and chant curses on her but instead, neither came out. Wildflower let her paws drag across the dirt path, watching how they dug up the perfectly good trail. 

     She exhaled a breath, watching as she saw the misty substance float into the air and join the clouds. She passed past the Fallen Tree, glancing at it briefly before continuing. No cat was following, the scents didn't pop up. No cat seemed to be out as well, leaving her to wander in her own mind.

     Wildflower saw the tip of the Training Den over the trees. The sun was setting behind the massive gray figure and caused the mountain to look black. Against the lush green trees, she found the moment intriguing.

     Then a certain cat had to come and ruin her thoughts. He materialized out of the left side of territory like a spirit. Wildflower's ears titled towards the noise and the scent began to flow into her nose. She forced a groan down her throat as her blood began to stir.

     Wasp was looking out at her from the left. Her fur stood on the edge and Wildflower turned around, washing away the emotion from her hazy gaze. They made eye contact and unlike last time, the Imperfect smiled.

     He had grown a lot bigger, a little bit bigger than her now, making her stomach churn that a disgraceful Imperfect could tower over her. Wildflower turned around in disgust at the tom. Wasp sat down calmly, his eyes not giving her the signals of an ambush or that he was angry at her. 

     "Hi Wildflower," he meowed. Wildflower walked up towards him but stayed a few paw steps away from the Imperfect. It bothered her that he was sitting there like it didn't matter. How could he not see that only perfects were allowed on this territory? 

     Yet it was something that intrigued her. Wildflower's eyes returned to their normal emerald pools. Wasp didn't seem like one that would scorn her or pick a fight - one that he would ultimately lose. She didn't feel the intense, burning heat of hatred towards him like how she felt around Blizzard. The lust for killing him never came to mind like a normal Imperfect cat.

     I don't get it. You're an Imperfect cat. Why I don't feel like I want to kill you? Was it because he was brave? Brave enough to face a perfect and be himself, mistakes and all? It could've been the fact he hadn't stepped foot in her territory just yet and respected his boundaries and it could've been her that was spitting fire. Wildflower thought all the choices were reasonable except for the latter.  

     "It's not like you've been yourself. You've been wearing a mask this whole time to cover up your mistakes," her mind whispered. "He's an Imperfect that seems all right with the Tribe of Shining Suns over his head. Why's that?"

     "Do you need something?" Wasp asked, snapping her out of her thoughts. "You keep staring at me."

     "What? From an Imperfect?! No!" Wildflower hissed, flattening her ears. She arched her back, readying herself to attack.

     He saw through her disguise. "You don't want to attack me, I know you don't." Wildflower's eyes widened and her claws were withdrawn back. Her breathing became steady once again. "Are you starting to see?"

     "Would you just stop?!" Wildflower demanded. "I'm not having a particularly good day."

     "Are you starting to learn about what mistakes are?" He asked, striking a nerve in her body. Wildflower froze where she was, staring down at her paws for an answer. Wasp smirked at his victory. "So, looks like I'm right?"

     "Who says you were right?!" Wildflower spat, lashing her tail after collecting herself. "Nobody said you were correct, Imperfect!"

     "Your mask is horrible," Wasp commented, flicking his tail at her. Wildflower lashed out but he didn't flinch. Instead, her paws slipped under her and she found herself falling, chin smashing against the ground. The Imperfect stepped out of the forest and entered the path, leaving him in a dangerous position.

     Afraid he'd touch her, Wildflower sprang like her fur was on fire and scrambled away from the Imperfect. She looked away grimly, keeping her eyes focused on the ground and not on him. 

     Wasp huffed. "I really thought you started to see mistakes and the other side, but if you were surrounded by the tribe all the time, that makes things hard." Groaning, Wildflower turned around. "I've seen you make mistakes, just a couple, but isn't that enough to make the tribe kick you out---"

     "You don't know that!" Wildflower snarled. "I'm perfect! You aren't! You'll never understand what it means to be perfect!"

     "That may be true," Wasp growled. "But at least I know what it means to be imperfect."

     "Why would I ever want to be an Imperfect?! Give me a good reason!"

     "Do you know what the word, 'original' means?" Wasp challenged.

     "It means you are yourself. What's that have to do with anything?!"

     "Are you 'original' then? Are you yourself all the time? Can you make mistakes and not have any cat yell at you? Can you be you without being perfect all the time?"

     "I am who I am!" Wildflower countered, almost lunging at him. "Being perfect is my goal in life. I don't care who I kill, as long as I'm perfect!'

     "Then why haven't you killed me?"

     With that, Wildflower lunged at him but the leap wasn't powerful enough. Her back legs didn't give her enough spring to get her the distance she required. Wasp stood there, watching as she crumbled to the ground in defeat. Wildflower buried her head in her paws, holding back her sobs a moment after she crashed - at least her landing was perfect. 

     After some time, the Imperfect coughed and looked at the Tribe of Shining Suns. "Wildflower, you're making mistakes. I have no right telling you this since we barely know each other, but I can tell you that pretending to be something you're not isn't good for you."

     "Never ever run from your mistakes," Wildflower countered. Wasp didn't look convinced or swayed with her reasoning. "Don't hide your mistakes because they'll find you and burn."

     "Become an Imperfect."

     "No, never in a million years."

     "Do you know what makes up imperfect?" Wasp questioned.

     Another mind game? Wildflower thought grimly, flattening her ears. This was supposed to be a relaxing walk by herself. Instead, Wasp had to come in and ruin her only time alone. 

     "Let's see: mistakes, failure, and the left," Wildflower replied, holding back the venom in her words.

     "Think about it. You say you aren't imperfect---"

     "I'm perfect!" Wildflower hissed. "How many times do I have to repeat myself? I'm in the Tribe of Shining Suns. I'm perfect. Nothing can stop me."

     "You just said, 'I'm perfect', and if you think about it, imperfect sounds a lot like those two words if you mash them together. When you say, 'I'm perfect', and you put the two words together." Wasp locked eyes with her, his gray eyes flashing with confidence that Wildflower envied. "You're also saying you're imperfect."