"Run, Wildflower," Dandelion whispered outside of the camp. "You have to sneak out of the camp with Snow."

     "I don't want to go back!" she argued, fearing if she stepped a single foot on the mountain a swarm of arrows would come at her, ripping away her fur and leave her to the wild - not that she saw that being a possible outcome. Wildflower shivered, her mind unable to come up with an effective plan.

     "And you want Snow to get killed?!" Dandelion snapped back. "I don't like seeing my daughter kicked out of the tribe either, okay? All of you mean the world to me and sending you off again when I'm not around..." The hunter paused for a brief moment before she hardened herself. "If there was any chance my kits could survive death, I'd take it."

     Wildflower growled, raising her fur. "I'm not saying that I want to---"

     "So, since you've labeled yourself an Imperfect you aren't able to do anything good?" Her mother interrupted, exploding. "I'm sure there are Imperfects out there that aren't as bad as you think."

     Why do you seem so sure about that? She thought, suspicion rising around her mother. Wildflower shook her head, her fear coming back in waves. She looked back at the camp, most it was filled with cats murmuring about her mistake. Origanum might've been told about it. She was pretty sure that she was ready to banish her.

     Maybe a beta would kill her or Arrow, Maple, and Blaze. Who knows about them? If anything, her older brother would be more concerned about her feelings and hesitate to raise a paw to strike down the little sister he knew and loved. There'd be her younger brother, completely mindblown she made a mistake and would be quick to scorn her. Her sister would try to deny it, hoping to protect her younger sister.

     There was one flame that heated vibrantly, yearning for her. Snow.

     "Come on, maybe you can save one life."

     Snow would only suffer afterward. Wildflower could only hold onto for about four more moons. After those nights were over, the she-kit would be killed. Though there might be another way to save her but crossing into that path risked both of their lives. 

     She questioned, wondering if dying by the paws of family was better than one of an enemy's.

     "Do it, please," Dandelion urged. "Heron spoke to me and noticed your attitude change. She said if there was a way to save her kit, she would gladly take it. Do it. She won't be mad."

     "And what about Crow? He'll be---"

     "A mother and a father would do anything for their kits. If Snow had any chance of survival outside of this camp, they'd take it. But they can't just dump a kit in the middle of the forest. Where you escape, she has a better chance with you."

     "I'm no mother," she whispered, paws trembling. 

     "But you remember the skills of a mother," Dandelion said. "When dusk falls, right before the night of your decision, take her and run."

     Wildflower gulped, gathering her courage. Her paws felt light. She felt sick to her stomach, no longer having the strength she needed. The hardest part would be facing her family members, their loving faces turning hurtful. With her own paws, she had torn away two of them, their faces becoming distant memories against her will.

     It will be a last goodbye. Wildflower glanced towards the left side of the camp. Imperfect territory. How much different would it be from the Tribe of Shining Suns? She figured if a mouse-brain like Wasp could survive, she'd have a better chance with her skills still coursing throughout her system - even if they were full of mistakes.

     Mistakes were accepted over there, right?  

     The scouter stepped closer towards the entrance towards the camp. At first, it made her heart soar into the clouds and dance in the air. Her whole life was one endless journey to get into this place. Now, taking one single paw in the territory made her feel like she was walking straight into her deathbed. There was no way to cover up that stumble. In the presence of the glowering mountain made her feel like a tick.

     Her heart hammered against her chest. It begged her not to enter that place. Anything but enter that place. Her legs shook uncontrollably like she was a small newborn fawn learning how to stand. Her stomach was twisting into knots. Wildflower could already see the golden gates close before her as sharp winds sliced past her eyes, causing her to yowl and fall back into imperfect.

      "Can you tell me something before I leave?" Wildflower asked her mother without looking at her.

     "Go ahead," she replied.

     "Did you ever... find your mother after that?"

     "No," Dandelion replied sadly, shaking her head. "Several times, Otter and Falcon would come over and try to take me back. I was too blinded by perfection to accept it. My claws blinded my very own sister's eyes.

     "Moons later, a battle was fought. Otter and Falcon were there. I watched Falcon die in one swipe. Then Otter... my own claws and fury killed him."

     "So, is that why you were so strong about me and my siblings getting along, Mother?" she managed out, trying to look anywhere but Dandelion's pained expression.

     "Yes," Dandelion confirmed. "Ever since that battle, my eyes were open to the horror I'd caused. I retreated from battle, choosing life as a hunter. Yet, every day, I look at Imperfect territory. Hoping, that one day, I'll see my mother and my younger brother again."

     Wildflower took another step into the path. Her courage was decreasing at each step of the way. Dread kept rising up in her stomach like water. She felt lightheaded, barely able to stand as nausea swarmed over her, threatening to give out - though she felt no bile collecting in her mouth. 

     Perhaps the only reason she didn't pass out was because Dandelion stood at her side, keeping a strong eye on her daughter. She did enjoy the silent walk with her mother, trying to keep this dreadful memory for the long run. 

     The moment she entered camp, questions loomed in as cats pushed their way forward to speak with her. Wildflower held her breath as they fought, practically shouting and spitting in her face.

     "Did you make a mistake?"

     "You know Origanum knows, right?"

     "I can't believe I would see another mistake in my whole life."

     "You're... you aren't perfect..."

     "You're an Imperfect!"

     "Stop," Origanum growled over the commotion. As soon as the Alpha spoke that simple command, the camp went silent. Each cat was dead silent as the small she-cat trailed down from her den and towards Wildflower. Cats parted for her arrival and the scouter stood there, trying her best not to flinch at her. 

     "Wildflower," Origanum said, not facing her in the eyes. "Care to explain?"

     "Do it. Throw away that future of yours," her mind hissed.

     "Face yourself, don't hide away. Get up from the ground," the other voice urged.

     "Choose your fate, my daughter." 

     Wildflower could almost hear her family telling her different things. Dandelion's comment seemed the most comforting. Before her eyes, she stood on a different cliff, facing two sides of the problem. One side had her family, up to Blaze's worried look and Cardinal's crying face. The other side had a shadow cast over it, but five cats stood on the cliff, each staring at her with different expressions.

     "It's your choice, but choose wisely, one more mistake could be your last,"  warned Blaze. She could tell he was hurting yet he stuck to his belief of the tribe and clung onto the sun, refusing to let her back in. Wildflower dropped her ears.

     "This can't be, you have to stay with us! I'll smooth things over with her, just come back to us!" shouted Maple. Her voice was cracking like Cardinal's, shattering like glass, something that she hardly saw her sister do, always sticking to a brave face without relying on others in fear of losing them. Wildflower wished she could've seen her older sister break under different circumstances. 

     "You can't be like that! Where's the sister I always looked up to?!" snapped Arrow. His amber eyes were breaking as he stared at her, utter horror and disgust swarming through his face. Wildflower assumed the next time they met - that is, if she wasn't dead before then - they'd lock claws in battle, something she dreaded, knowing her brother would be fighting her and himself.

     "No! You said you would visit us, I understand if you didn't visit us all the time, but that doesn't mean you run away!" begged Lark. Just looking at her little sister made her heart crack, knowing that they would never get back the time she'd lose. Wildflower tried to remember her sister's desperate face, but soon enough, the image faded and was replaced by a smaller, brighter she-cat.

     "Please... stay with me! I just want to be with you and l-love you...!" cried Cherry. On the verge of sorrow that flooded forests and fear that sent even the strongest cats into hiding, her littlest sister trembled, lips quivering as she held back tears. Wildflower said nothing and with her own claws, slashed through the image, wishing with all her heart never to see her sister ever again and pull her close into the tightest embrace. 

     And she looked to the left cliff, the outlines of the shadowy figures becoming clear to reveal the Storm Siblings, their eyes scornful - except for one. 

     "Is this really the world you want to live in? A constant battle between perfection and imperfection?" Firestorm pushed. The orange tom turned his back and disappeared with a blazing fire that swallowed him whole. 

     "You always claimed perfection was so much better but now you're on the receiving paw instead of giving. Do you finally see what's going on?" Blizzard growled. Then she turned around and a raging snowstorm ruffled her fur, the silver she-cat fading away into the storm.

     "Tell me if you're willing to sit down. If you're willing and I feel like it, maybe I'll get the chance to show you what you've been against for so long - I think that sounds nice, doesn't it?" Tsunami sneered. A rushing tidal wave came behind the cliff with a loud roar, the wave crashing upon the cliff, sweeping the black and white calico off her feet. 

     "Only a fool would make a mistake of being perfect. However, you might be worth some time now that you've realized what the feeling of inferiority is like, don't you think?" Lightning gloated. Several electrical bolts came flying out of the dark clouds, striking the cliff, causing a disaster before the light-colored tom disappeared with a single blink.

     "I've tried so long to get you to listen to me! Now you can and I'm not losing this chance when it's so close, got it?" Wildfire expressed. Another fire swept across the ruined surface, licking away the rest of the cliff along with the tiny, golden she-cat. 

     Wildflower was stuck in a floating abyss of darkness. Two paths were woven over her eyes, revealing the marvelous paths. One, the one of the left was like a walk in the Tribe of Never-Ending Stars. Dark clouds stretched across the sky like a blanket, clotting the air with an ominous cloud of misfortune. The trees were bare and the rivers were none, leaving a desolated place for the living.

     The other side seemed like the Tribe of Endless Stars. The sky was a bright blue with fluffy white clouds. The air was fresh, singing along with the bird's melody overhead. The trees were tall and proud, branching out to absorb ounces of sunlight and the rivers were flowing ever so gently.

     "Come on, you've got to choose," her mind urged her.

     C-choose? What will happen? Her paws shook like a newborn fawn learning how to stand. Wildflower could only hear the sound of her ragged breathing and the quivering pitter-patter of rain.

     "I..." she choked out, washing away all of the images of the Imperfect cats. "No, there's no explanation of what happened."

     Shocked exclaims began to shoot out like a swarm of angry bees. Origanum said nothing the whole time, only keeping those icy blue eyes on her. The scouter stood there as harsh attacks flew past her ears, threatening to break her bones. She did her best to avoid Blaze, Maple, and Arrow's expressions. 

     "Traitor!"

     "Disgrace to all of us!"

     "Kill her!"

     "Let her rot in the shadows!"

     "This can't be true..." Blaze growled through gritted teeth, refusing to move as cats surged forward, fueled by rage and fear. 

     "Wildflower...!" Maple choked, trying to teach her as cats began to swarm towards her, her older sister breaking.

     "I can't believe you're this cruel..." Arrow hissed, flattening his ears to his skull, wanting to block out the shouts. 

     "Fine then," Origanum stated, no longer the happy Alpha she once was. "You've made a mistake. Your punishment is executing by the whole tribe." She held up her tail to pause the wave. "But, if you can make it out of camp and away from us, we'll leave you alone to die in the left territory."

     Wildflower made a break for the mothers den in seconds by leaping on Goose's back, using his back as a springboard to the den. Angry pawsteps followed after her, each trying to lay their thorns into her. Her energy was screaming at her, ringing in her ears to let them kill her. Let them become the savage animals they were. 

     Wildflower snatched up Snow in two seconds, who didn't complain. Heron didn't protest, and stand in front of her as she took her kit. Bounce was hiding behind his mother, frightened at what was going on now. He noticed his sister in her jaws and let out a scream, which was quickly drowned out in the cries of enraged cats. The cats nearly trampled the mother in their blind rage to reach her.

     Snow didn't complain at all. Heron didn't say much and tried to stay clear of the rampaging cats. The scouter tried to weave her way out of the crowd, fighting for the exit now. Some cat managed to get on her back and another cat tried to slit her throat. Wildflower growled, clenching onto the kit's pelt tighter. 

     Wildflower never imagined she'd have to run for her life from a tribe she called home. Her legs continued to pump harder, forcing her to leave and avoid warriors and hunters. She shut her eyes, praying that something would help her. She could almost feel their rage and claws sinking into her pelt. She wiped the image of her spirit flying free and falling into the Tribe of Never-Ending Shadows.

     Origanum was by the exit, ready to attack. Against the Alpha, she'd lose in seconds. Not to mention, as soon as she was down, the rest of the crowd would attack. Already, she felt her energy dwindling as she continued to jump, avoiding full-blown attacks but suffered from minor cuts. 

     Dandelion slipped by, tripping one of the cats in their rage. To Wildflower, all she could hear was cats screaming at her. Nobody noticed the hunter do so and she continued to work behind the scenes, easily escaping with the swarm of pelts chasing her. 

     The crowd turned, now confused on what was going on. Another cat threw themselves up into the air, attacking the cat Dandelion tripped. The crowd was split into two groups, attacking Wildflower or the other cat. Origanum's eyes flickered off her for an instant as she darted downhill with Snow tossing and turning in her jaws.

     Fear and adrenaline pumped through her whole system. Run! Wildflower screamed at herself, curling her tail under her back legs in fear. Some cats still gave chase to catch down the mountain, using the hill to their advantage. The Alpha was too distracted by the crowd, trying to sort out what was going on with the second attack group, leaving Origanum out of the picture. 

     Her heart was ready to break out. Her muscles were tight and her thoughts remained scrambled. Rolling down didn't help either. Wildflower crashed into the trail face-first but forced herself on her paws. Snow was bleeding in the leg now, knocked out as well. The scouter broke off towards the left side of territory as soon as she got up on her wobbling legs, every part of her shouting to cross into the disgraceful territory. 

     But they weren't ready to move no matter how loud or hard her mind shouted, each giving out due to exhaustion, causing Wildflower to fall. 

     One cat managed to jump onto her. They both rolled into the left side of territory, the scouter's left eye scraping against a twig, forcing it shut as it swelled up. Through one eye, she saw a white she-cat towering over her, Icicle. The lowest-ranking beta. The scouter bunched up her muscles and tried to fight back against her opponent. 

     Icicle snarled, lashing out, her claws slicing across the side of her neck. Wildflower flinched, unable to fight with Snow lying in her jaws. Blood began to drip down like rain onto the little kit's pelt. Wildflower tried to defend herself, but pinned down and with her strength long gone, the beta had the advantage.

     "Tell the Tribe of Never-Ending Shadows I said screw you," Icicle hissed.

     Something blew over her. Wildflower closed her right eye, bracing for the next impact. Instead, she heard Icicle screech under some other growling cat. The scouter rolled over, letting Snow out of her jaws. The little kit rolled to the side, sound asleep as blood ran down her face. 

     I'm... sorry... she thought toward her. The effects of adrenaline still lingered in her system, not giving in until she was safe. Her heart was still beating faster than normal, but now, her breath was coming back to her. Wildflower lay sprawled out on the ground, her lungs gulping massive breaths. Her mind was still scrambled around, but her eyes landed on Icicle and the cat that was fighting them.

     What...? Why would...?

     Wasp was pinning the withering beta down, who wasn't giving in. Despite the tom being smaller, he managed to hold his ground against the white beta. The Imperfect threw the she-cat across camp and sprung after her, unleashing another attack on her. Icicle yowled, unable to defend herself as the tom stood over her, holding her paws down. Eventually, he chased her onto the trail, spitting venom.

     "Get out of here! This is our territory!" Wasp snarled at her. The white beta stumbled on her paws, casting Wildflower a glare but turned her tail in defeat. He sighed, letting his shoulders relax, then turned around, gray eyes meeting green eyes. 

     "Wildflower!" He cried, running over to her.

     Her vision was going blurry, darkness swarming in. If she was dying, well, at least she could see Cinder again. The Imperfect cat stood over her, trying to help her up, but by then, Wildflower had slipped into her own world. 

     Not even a single ray of light broke through the snare, but for once, she was glad for peace, silent, and darkness.