"Ahh..." She struggled to her paws to reach the white she-cat. A part of her wanted to yell at the beta for being so stubborn and jumping into the fight instead of listening to her. She had begged her before the fighting had even started to hide with her and wait for the battle to end on its own, even if it meant disobeying Origanum. However, Icicle had argued and told her she was going to fight to protect her. Any time she heard those words gave her a sense of happiness that made her heart flutter.

     Now, Icicle was injured and she had been injured from her fight. Getting over to her was her primary goal. Shoving herself to her paws, the healer got up and trudged over to the beta's side, resting beside her and rubbed against her white fur. The pelt stirred, sensing another cat's presence.

     Shifting around, the white she-cat lifted her head and raised a paw to defend herself. When their eyes locked, she lowered her paw and let her head fall to the ground. Purring, she rubbed her nose in the pelt, avoiding the wounds that stood out. At last, Icicle lifted her head and rested it on her paw, facing her.

     "Cardinal..."

     "You're still injured. I'll find some herbs for you," she promised, heaving herself on her paws. The she-cat placed a paw on hers, stopping her in her tracks. Blinking, she leaned closer to hear her voice.

     "Don't. Heal yourself, please," Icicle begged with a raspy voice.

     "No, you're important to me. I'm healing you and---"

     "Found you!" Cardinal abruptly shot up just as a golden pelt smashed into her, knocking her away from Icicle, who snarled at the sudden attack. World spinning, she couldn't defend herself, and the attacker came in again, knocking her to the ground.

     Please... stop! Cardinal lifted her head and stared at the enraged she-cat. She had definitely seen this cat before, but no memories came to her. Her instincts came back in small waves, readying herself to attack if needed despite the shaking in her paws. The golden she-cat curled her lips back in a snarl, unleashing her claws.

     "You're Cherry, aren't you?" the she-cat snarled, waiting for an answer.

     "How... how do you know my old name?" she asked, pushing herself to her paws and facing her enemy. "Nobody but---"

     "My sister told me. She's not your sister anymore," she snapped, confusing Cardinal. "I'm Wildfire. I think we might've met long ago when you guys forgot to kill us."

     "F-Forgot? When? Wait---" Cardinal's eyes widened as she remembered the day Citrus had found a group of Imperfect cats while she was searching for Serval during their training. The smaller golden cat then matched the cat standing in front of her now. She stepped back, not wanting to fight her now, remembering how badly she lost back then.

     "So you do remember me!" Wildfire accused, lashing her tail. "I'm here to tell you one thing and one thing only - Hurricane's my sister now. She doesn't care about you!"

     "Hurricane...? Wait, you're an Imperfect...! My sister... she was banished and now she's..." Cardinal jerked her head around the battlefield in search of her older sister's pelt in the midst of battle. Her heart sank to the ground when no cat other than Origanum stood out, but her heart tightened, hope replacing the desire to fight in her. "A-are you saying she's here? In this battle?"

     "Yep!" Wildfire nodded, unleashing her claws. "I've already killed one of your allies. I've been super eager to fight you ever since I heard about you, you know!" The Imperfect curled her lips back in a menacing snarl. "Finally, it's time for us to fight."

      "Stop! How did I ever bring harm to Wildflower?!" Cardinal demanded, stepping away from the cat as she approached closer. Her paws shook and her legs trembled. Wildfire grinned at her fear while Icicle struggled onto her paws. The golden cat drove her further away from Icicle, the one cat she felt safe around other than her family, leaving her exposed unless she fought.

     But she didn't want to fight this Imperfect. 

     "She regrets leaving this tribe all because of you! I don't want to see her in pain or regret anything!" Wildfire explained, bunching her muscles up to pounce. Cardinal screamed as she leapt, claws outstretched toward her. She lashed a paw out and heard a yelp from the attacker. Opening her eyes, her paw had scraped the she-cat in the eye, giving her enough time to escape.

     She adjusted her paws to run. "I didn't mean to make her suffer! If anything, it should be the other way around!" Cardinal explained, watching as Wildfire got back up. "I love Wildflower with all my heart! I may be her real sister, but I don't mind sharing her with you! Honest! I have to share her with Blaze, Maple, Arrow, Serval, and Mother! I don't mind if I have to share her with you as well!"

     "You're going to steal her!" Wildfire shouted from the ground. "She's mine! I'm sticking by her side now that Tsunami's gone!"

     "Tsunami...?" Cardinal frowned, trying to think back to the day she first met Wildfire. A silver she-cat that tore Wildflower up as if she was prey. A golden tom that matched Arrow's strength and an orange tabby that was just as strong as Blaze. There was a black and white calico that reminded her of Serval. Taking the time to look around, her eyes widened when she didn't catch sight of a cat that resembled the one in her memory.

     Did she die...? Her lips parted, understanding. She took a deep breath and approached the Imperfect and Cardinal wrapped herself around the cat, closing her eyes and hoping Wildfire would accept it. The golden cat froze, unsure what to do.

     "I'm sorry she died," she whispered. "I'm really sorry, she must've been an amazing sister."

     "She was," Wildfire agreed, voice cracking. "I don't want to see my family suffer---"

     "B-but, if Wildflower was suffering because of me, don't you think that killing me would make her suffer more?" Wildfire stopped crying and leaned back, staring into her amber eyes. "I may be her real sister, but if she chooses you over me, that's fine."

     No, it isn't, she softly whispered.

     "I... Hurricane..." Wildfire was lost for words and Cardinal gave her a smile.

     Hurricane, that's a pretty name, she thought. "Can we stop fighting and try to find an end to all of this?" Wildfire blinked in surprise at the request. The two she-cats looked at each other and Cardinal shyly smiled, touching her forehead to the Imperfect's, breathing in her warm scent.

     Wildfire choked. "C-Cardinal... I... I'm sorry...!"

     "It's okay," she responded. "I know most of my tribe would call me crazy for not fighting, but I've never been one to fight." 

     Nodding, Wildfire sagged to the ground, out of energy and Cardinal's heart slowed down, no longer afraid. She leaned over and helped the cat to her paws. The golden she-cat was heavier than she expected, but it didn't bother her. 

     "Can we be friends?" Wildfire asked, a bright smile on her face. "I know this isn't an ideal place to ask that, but we're both the youngest one in our families, right?"

     Cardinal's heart elevated at the sound of that. "Yes! Friends!" she repeated with a swift nod. Her eyes warmed at the sight of the Wildfire and her golden pelt. It reminded her of the shining sun. Heart bursting inside, she did her best to keep her emotions under control. She loved Icicle through and through, and the cat standing in front of her was just a friend.

     M-maybe this can be proof... she thought, staring at Wildfire warmly. I'll have to tell Icicle about her, though. Once this battle's over and maybe if she survives, I can sneak out and meet with her. I'm sure Icicle won't mind... I don't want her to suffer though if she feels lonely. 

     Her eyes drifted over to Icicle and her heart picked up once again, seeing a cat approaching her with an outstretched paw. Fear took over her and she broke away from Wildfire, throwing herself at the tom coming for the beta. The white she-cat let out a gasp and forced herself on her paws, lunging at the tom as well alongside the healer.

     "Let her go!" Icicle roared, slashing a paw across the tom's face.

     "Stop! I won't let you hurt her!" Cardinal shouted, biting the tom's ear and pulling.

     To her dismay, time slowed down as she was thrown to the side. Her body flew in the air like a leaf and smashed onto the ground. Cardinal's face twisted in pain from the impact. Her amber eyes landed on the tom and Icicle, the Imperfect overpowering the she-cat as she yowled for her safety. Fear coursed through her body and numbed her pain in her shoulder. The healer rolled onto her paws and dashed over, screaming the Icicle's name.

     Wildfire was running behind her, telling her to slow down. She ignored the protests and ran as hard as her paws could take her as the tom caught Icicle off guard. Her eyes widened with horror as he snapped her neck in two, her eyes that were once staring at her now staring into the air. The tom dropped her body and turned toward the incoming she-cat. Cardinal's paws skidded to a halt and she fell on the ground, tears coming out of her eyes at the limp body of her beloved Icicle.

     No! I won't lose you! Icicle! No! Cardinal staggered over to her body, pressing her nose into her fur and breathing in her sweet scent. Already, her body was going cold, life draining out of her. "Icicle... Come on, it's me! Cardinal! Get up! Get up! Get up!" She threw her head back and looked into the sky, her voice ringing over her own pain.

     "Icicle!"

     "Cherry!"

     "W-what?!" Cardinal gasped, jaw dropping open at the sight of her missing sister running toward her. She blinked several times to make she wasn't dreaming. Then her attention dropped to the body of Icicle below, crying into the white pelt of the she-cat.

     "Cherry!" Wildflower fell beside and embraced her. At once, her amber eyes were full of tears, and she sobbed into her sister's pelt. She cried, wishing she could turn back time to where Icicle was still alive so she could wake up knowing the warrior would come to her each morning. She wished she could turn back time and be at the Training Den, waking up her family with a bright smile on her face.

     Now, her sister had returned and her mate was dead.

     Cardinal broke under the mess that was happening, not knowing what to say besides crying. A cold trade: Icicle's life for the chance to see Wildflower. Something inside her snapped, causing the world to numb and lose its color. She lifted her eyes, feeling tears prick at them, the wind around her felt colder, and she gritted her teeth, feeling something run out of her eyes as her fur trembled.

     "Get away from Jay!" Wildfire screeched and her amber eyes shifted over to the Imperfect, her newest friend lunged at Razor, who was already dragging the limp body of her lover's killer away. The Imperfect snarled, lashing out to attack the top warrior with the strength of a blazing fire. 

     "Cherry, I'm here," Hurricane insisted, leaning in, digging her nose into her soft pelt. Cardinal stared at her, jaws quivering into a pained frown. 

     "I... I know... I don't know what to say... M-my world's gone." Cardinal stared at the warrior's cold body. Just like an icicle, the snow-colored cat was as cold as ice. She rested her head on her pelt, hoping to hear a soft pulse. 

     "Cherry---"

     "My name's C-Cardinal," she said through sobs, facing her sister. She was glad to see Hurricane, she had changed since the last time she had seen her leave the Training Den. The dead body at her paws outweighed the relief knowing she was still alive even after she was banished. 

     "Cardinal..." Hurricane repeated, giving her a sweet smile. "That's a nice name."

     "Hurricane..." she whispered, digging her face into Icicle's pelt. "She's gone. She's gone. She's gone. My world...!"

     "Cardinal, you don't understand, there's a ton of---"

     Something else snapped inside her, burning her organs. Cardinal faced her older sister, feeling something ooze out of her as dense fog. Tears streamed out of her amber eyes, her heart aching as the words tumbled out of her mouth. "No... you're wrong..." 

     "Cardinal..."

     "Maybe it's you who don't understand. We may live in a perfect world, but my perfect world was her! What kind of world do I live in now?!" she snapped, turning on her sister. The dense fog around her increased, turning shades of hateful purple as her eyes glowed, flashing with rage and sorrow. Her mind shut off and she got on her paws, feeling her claws slid out against her will.

     "Cardinal---" Hurricane paused and she saw her sister's unaware look through blurred lens. 

     She didn't feel right. Her body was strung up by invisible strings, forcing her paws to advance, her heart and voice screaming for mercy. Cardinal advanced and Hurricane's fur rose, slowly inching away as she approached, eyes wide with fury. Sounds began to die off except for the sound of her heavy breathing, her paws trembling as she positioned herself, squeezing her eyes shut as a wave of power lashed around her, the fog surrounding her as a prisoner. 

     She staggered and choked. "No... fight... fight..."

     "What's happened to you?!" Hurricane demanded, fear pricking her voice. 

     Cardinal jerked her head upward, glowering at her beloved, older sister with demoralized eyes. Blood raced through her system and she lifted herself. "Fight... we have to...! Help me...! Please!" she begged, unable to understand herself anymore. 

     "S---"

     "Hurricane," she interrupted, feeling herself readying to jump. "I... I'm sorry, big sister."

     She sprang into the air, claws reached for the sister she knew she could never put up a fight again. Hurricane doubled back and stuck to a defensive stance, making her heart lunge. Cardinal whirled around just as she landed, using her back leg to lash out instead of her front paws, successfully fooling her sister and sliced her paw across the golden she-cat's jaw. She didn't stop and swung around, bashing her front paws into the Imperfect, knocking her down with the healer on top, pinning her. 

     Hurricane twisted underneath her and gnawed at her paw, making Cardinal snarl and grab a hold of her ear, biting hard. Her sister yowled and she nearly backed away with that sound. Instead, her body didn't run and pushed her forward, slicing a claw down the golden she-cat's right eye and her sister shut both of her eyes a second before it came crashing down, leaving a scar. Seeing the damage, the healer tightened her grip and slashed weakly, screaming at her body to stop as she mutilated her sister, watching as scarlet blood poured out. 

     Then the Imperfect snapped her jaws around her paw forcefully, yanking Cardinal off her feet. She stumbled and crashed on the ground, knowing her mistake. She didn't let that stop her and pushed herself back up, the two sisters facing each other with their teeth bared, their eyes portraying two different expressions. 

     "Cardinal, stop this! I know this isn't you!" Hurricane desperately begged, backing away from the fight. 

     "..." Cardinal stayed silent, sides heaving. Hurricane... Please, stop me! Stop me! Fight back! I... I don't know what to do anymore! With that final thought, the healer threw herself at the Imperfect again, locking herself around the she-cat. She quickly scrambled and twisted them both on the ground and slammed a paw on her throat, her claws unable to deal the finishing blow. 

     Hurricane peered at her with one painful, green eye. "... Please, Cardinal... Listen to me...!"

     "You don't know me," she snapped sorrowfully. "What am I, Hurricane? Tell me what I am. I... I don't know! Someone, answer me, please!" Cardinal yowled, her tears washing away the blood on her face. 

     "I don't want to hurt you any more than I already have," choked Hurricane, no longer putting up a fight. "But I want you to know... I regret forgetting about you for eight moons."

     Forgot... me...? she thought, heart taking another attack. 

     "I'm so sorry, Cardinal," she apologized, a river of tears flowing out of her left eye. "I'm so sorry."

     "All I w-wanted was to l-love you," she managed to hack out. Cardinal still didn't let go, keeping her paw placed on Hurricane's throat. "But..." She held her tears back, her claws starting to dig into her sister's throat unintentionally. "This... this just means I'm stronger than you..." 

     "What?" 

     "P-please, stop," she begged. "I don't know who to fight. I don't know what to do anymore. I just know... I just know what I'm forced to believe..." Cardinal laid her tear-stricken eyes on her again. "Fight me... Hurricane... fight me with e-everything...!" She could still feel the dense fog surrounding her, keeping her prisoner and forced to watch as her body moved on her own, the only thing she could control was the broken words that flew out of her mouth. 

     Her sister gained a surge of strength and the two sisters met in a battle, their claws digging into one another's shoulders. Her smaller size and petite frame gave Hurricane the advantage, as the Imperfect threw her down with a single swipe. She crashed and lashed out, claws scoring across the white underbelly, making the she-cat rear up. Cardinal sprang, using the moment and ripped a chunk of fur out, failing to grab flesh. 

     And Hurricane slammed her head on the ground with a painful crack, her own screaming filling Cardinal's ears. Another thing inside her turned on and the healer glared at her sister, reaching a paw up and raked her claws down the side of her neck, barely scraping skin. The Imperfect released her and bounded away, wobbling on her front paw. 

     This time, her sister was the first to move, jumping toward her at full speed. Cardinal braced herself and dodged the attack but Hurricane twisted in midair, her paw catching her on the neck, causing her to choke. The grip was released and the healer stumbled, momentarily distracted. Then the Imperfect lashed out with a sheathed paw and the cream she-cat growled, using one paw to deflect the attack and the other to swipe at her throat. 

     Cardinal surged forward and grabbed her sister again, the two touching noses as they looked at one another. She jerked away from the touch and coughed, causing Hurricane to hesitate and lower her guard. The healer coughed again and dove under the she-cat's stomach, rolling onto her back a moment later and thrust her four paws up, digging her claws into her kin's underbelly. 

     S-stop... she thought as blood trickled down her cream paws. Stop...!

     Hurricane yowled and leapt away, lowering herself to the ground. Cardinal scrambled to her paws and raced forward, raising a paw to strike her. 

     Then Hurricane lifted her head and she noticed her claws slide out of her paws. As she ran, Cardinal felt the world slow down and despite the powerful force controlling her actions, she felt herself let out a sigh of relief. With her amber eyes puffy from sobbing and her fur matted with blood, the healer switched her attention to fighting herself with every ounce of strength she had left. 

     At the last moment, her paws skidded to a halt, her body leaning forward at the sudden action, leaving her neck in the path of Hurricane's incoming attack. 

     And when her sister's claws smashed into her neck, the world regained its color, no longer black and white and everything around her rushed in, her amber eyes returning to normal with the last of the fog dispersing into the air. 

     Her body hit the ground with a loud thud and she cried, choking on her blood and sobs. Hurricane shouted her name and her golden sister was beside her once again, embracing her. She couldn't move, regretting that she couldn't hug her beloved sister. Cardinal blinked and struggled to look at the Imperfect. 

     "C... Cardinal! Why did you...? Why did you stop?" Hurricane demanded, spitting venom at her. "Why?! Why in the name of Endless Stars did you?!" 

     Thank you... Cardinal thought as an answer, unable to speak. Her eyes finally landed on Hurricane, trying to offer a forgiving smile. 

     "Cardinal! You can't die! Don't you dare! I don't want to... I love you too much! I don't want to be the reason you die! Stay alive!" ordered Hurricane, her voice becoming distant. 

     The healer stayed quiet, eyes starting to shut. A strangled purr escaped her throat and Cardinal let herself fall, knowing that she was by her sister. The sister she loved with all her heart. The sister she cared for and wished every night that there would be a day they could meet again. The sister who had killed her. 

     "Met you..." she coughed weakly, voice becoming no louder than a whisper. "So glad..." 

     "Cardinal...!" Hurricane threw her face into her pelt, her tears washing away some of the blood on her cream pelt. 

     "Hurricane..." Cardinal shifted just the slightest, indicating she was still with her. Black began to spread across her vision, blocking out her sister's face. She struggled with her voice, fighting with the last of her strength. 

     The cream she-cat looked at Hurricane and did her best to smile the same way she always did when they were younger. She always greeted her older sister with a welcoming smile with each morning and a soft farewell each night they slept. 

     Today was no different. 

     Cardinal nodded, one last tear slithering down her pale face. "Hurricane... I love you..."