Stepping up to them, she felt her heart sink when neither of them turned around to greet her. They surrounded Cardinal, heads lowered in respect. 

     Finally, Dandelion noticed her and welcomed her close, letting her lean against her. Maple stared at Hurricane with a mix of anger and astonishment, still torn up at the body of her sister at her paws. Blaze kept his gaze away from her and planted them onto Cardinal below, focusing on the healer too much. Arrow lifted his head, his eyes filled with venom and hatred while Serval kept her face buried in cream fur. 

     She shook her head, pleading with him not to start a fight. After some time, Dandelion reached over with a paw and touched Serval's shoulder. The muddy-brown she-cat whirled around, face full of rage but instantly died down when she realized it was her mother. Sadness replaced the rage in her blue eyes and she looked down at Cardinal, a spot of fur damp. Hurricane swallowed back the tears coming to her eyes and walked up to her sister, touching her nose to her pelt, whispering her silent apology.

     "Wildflower," Arrow hissed. 

     "My name isn't Wildflower anymore," she retorted, keeping her nose against Cardinal. "My name is Hurricane."

     "Hurricane..." Maple echoed, narrowing her eyes. "Why are you even here?" Hurricane lifted her head and locked eyes with her sister, not flinching.

     "Am I not allowed to be here when my own sister died? Even if I'm what you guys call an Imperfect, I'm still your sister. I feel the exact same way you guys do," she argued, letting the words sink into their ears. And probably, a lot worse than you. Arrow rolled his eyes at her, her words not getting to him. 

     Then her eyes drifted to Icicle's body a few feet away. "Did you guys even know about that?" she muttered, keeping her gaze lowered. "I didn't even know that, but the moment Icicle attacked me... I learned the two were in love. If you guys didn't notice when you had moons to discover, why did I figure it out in seconds?" They exchanged disgusted glances at each other. 

     Serval glared at her, peeling her lips back. "I thought she was fine because I was with her. I would visit her because you weren't there and broke your promise to us. You turned your own back on us, your family, for Imperfects!" She pointed toward the Storm Siblings, who sat a distance away from them, all of them staring as the family conversed. 

     Wasp was by their side but didn't seem interested in the conversation; his eyes drawn toward a small boulder in camp that destroyed him more when it hit the ground.

     I love all of them, but there isn't any way for them to join one side permanently. Hurricane stared at her birth family and then the cats that she saw as one. Both families lost a sibling and one family was about to lose another one. She sighed, wishing she could've opened her eyes sooner. 

     "Why did you choose them?" Maple asked, disbelief painting every word. "Why... I know you made a mistake and we can't let you back in because of that, but why are you choosing them over us? We're your real family. Why them?"

     "Maple, the day I left the Tribe of Shining Suns was the best and worst day of my life. It was the worst because it meant I wouldn't get to see my family ever again - freely, that is. I never went back there because I wasn't allowed, and I had them." Hurricane pointed to the Storm Siblings and they all jumped to their feet.

     Arrow snarled at the four of them, spitting in their direction. The four of them - minus Wildfire - flattened their ears and turned their backs around to avoid a fight. The youngest stared at the tom, shaking back and forth. Shutting her eyes, she turned around and sat by Lightning, who curled his tail around her back, casting an icy look at her brother, starting a silent rivalry.

     "Stop," Dandelion snarled. "Acting like this won't solve a thing. This is probably the last time you'll get to see your sister."

     "I'm not a sister to an Imperfect," Arrow declared, fur rising along his back. "The moment she made that mistake, she was no longer my sister. Mistakes are the reason cats go to the Tribe of Never-Ending Shadows. The fact that she's standing here - may I remind you, a camp for perfect cats - is a question. I half expected you to get struck by lightning when you first set paw here."

     "It was also the best day of my life because I met the Storm Siblings. All of them care for each other as we care for each other... They were patient with me, Firestorm, Blizzard, Lightning, Tsunami, and Wildfire when I put up a fight against them. They let me into their home despite not trusting me." Hurricane took a deep breath, collecting her thoughts. She felt all of their eyes planted on her back, giving her courage. 

     "I assume one's dead?" Blaze asked, putting pressure on her. "I only see four cats over there when you named five." Hurricane squeezed her eyes shut and tried to not think of the black and white calico. Instead, she felt the presence of something beside her and tried to stomp out the memory. 

     I lost two family members in a single day, she thought. I just want this day over with, please... Hurricane looked at her older brother and nodded. "Tsunami fought until the very end. I couldn't have wished for anyone better than her."

     "That leaves one less Imperf---"

     "Don't talk about Tsunami like that," Hurricane threatened. "She might've resented me when I first arrived and didn't approve of the idea of a perfect cat coming into her family, but she's suffered from the past and from her father. She reminded me so much of you, Serval." Her sister blinked and hissed, showing her hate of being compared to an Imperfect.

     The hunter scoffed, spitting on the grave of the Imperfect. "It sounds like she was a selfish cat. Why would you ever compare an Imperfect to a perfect cat like me?!"

     "Because you both have strong opinions on the matter of imperfection and perfection," Hurricane explained, remembering how Tsunami reacted when she told her that Serval came to mind when she first met the Imperfect. Then she looked at the ruined camp, heart aching to see her previous home in pieces. "You guys were doing fine without me---"

     "Not all of us," Maple interrupted. "I couldn't bring myself to chase you and hunt you down. When Icicle came back from a fight, she told us you escaped. I never resented you for leaving us, I just didn't want you to forget about us. I prayed that you would live but wasn't expecting you to join the group of cats that tried to kill us way back then." A smile cracked on her sorrowful face and startled Hurricane. She returned the grin and the two sisters giggled, giving the Imperfect a small sense of happiness. 

     "Join the group of cats that tried to kill us. You've always been strange, haven't you?" Maple bumped her shoulder. In her ear, she whispered, "But I will say, the moment you think Blizzard is a better 'sister' than me, we're going to have problems."

     "I love you both," she argued. "It's funny, I'm looking into a mirror when it comes to you guys and the Storm Siblings. They're like the Imperfect versions of all of you." Arrow shook his head, lashing his tail angrily at her while Blaze glanced at the Storm Siblings, locking eyes with Firestorm and Blizzard, who stared at the beta with an emotionless face.

     Then Serval spoke up. "It looks like my partner did the right thing and died." At that, Hurricane unleashed her claws when Dandelion put a stop to her, scolding her to back down. "We're the better ones, Hurricane. Perfection is the key."

     "I also learned on that day that making a mistake isn't going to send you to the Tribe of Never-Ending Shadows," she growled through gritted teeth. Arrow's fur spiked out and he began to spit curses at her. Serval growled, grabbing her brother and forced him to keep his mouth shut. Dandelion didn't look surprised at the news, her face represented peace, something that Hurricane was glad to have. 

     Blaze shook his head in disbelief. "Explain that," he asked. "Have you met an Imperfect that is the Tribe of Endless Stars?"

     "Of course she hasn't because all Imperfects go to the Tribe of Never-Ending Shadows!" Arrow snapped a little too loudly. Hurricane scrambled to her paws and slammed her paw across his jaw, silencing him and prayed the Imperfects wouldn't hear that. Her hopes sank when they got up and her brother ripped out of her grip, shaking his pelt and grooming himself with a nasty look in her direction.

     Lightning growled, staying where he was but Wildfire whacked him over the head with her tail, signaling him to follow her as she ran after her older siblings. Firestorm and Blizzard let out a sigh and padded over, the silver she-cat stood over Arrow, towering over him as he pulled his lips into a snarl, threatening to attack. 

     "I want to tell you something," Blizzard snarled through her teeth. "Not all Imperfects will go to the Tribe of Never-Ending Shadows." 

     "You don't know anything!" Arrow spat. "Your heads are filled with lies!"

     "It might be the other way around or you could be right," Hurricane hissed, flattening her ears against her skull. She shook her head, refusing to worry about it now. Letting out a long sigh, she faced Arrow. "Listen up, Arrow---"

     "I don't have to listen to you, Imper---"

     "I've had enough of you," Dandelion commented. "Would you stop acting like a kit and listen to her?!"

     Hurricane turned on her brother, hoping that she could still grab his full attention. "Arrow, don't you remember when we had a lecture each day telling us that perfection was the key and Imperfects were a disgrace? We believed it because we had nothing else. Our stubbornness is blocking a different side of the story we don't want to see." She locked eyes with him, keeping the spy under her paws. 

     "Way to make it sound believable," Serval growled. "That still doesn't change anything. Had you not come and joined them, this battle wouldn't have happened and Cardinal wouldn't have died!"

     She didn't say anything. 

     "And neither would Tsunami," Lightning countered. "If Hurricane hadn't joined us under Wildfire's request, my sister wouldn't be dead."

     "So Wildfire's to blame?" Serval snarled, unleashing her claws and advancing on the little she-cat. Wildfire scrambled behind Firestorm and the orange tom stood in front of his sister, glowering at the hunger. 

     "Nobody is to blame except this tribe," Hurricane muttered and Arrow exploded again.

     "There is nothing wrong with this tribe! Nothing! You're not my sister! Get out of my sight!" he ordered, claws waving in front of her eyes. Dandelion shoved him to the side and growled, muttering words into his ears while the tom clenched his teeth together. 

     Maple groaned and spoke. "If you don't mind me asking, but why are you telling us this? If you're trying to get us to become Imperfects, it's going to fail. I have no interest in living with you guys." Serval nodded in agreement, standing closer to Maple. 

     I don't want to leave you again. 

     "I'm willing to bet that there have been Imperfect cats that have gone to the Tribe of Endless Stars," Firestorm suggested, looking at Blaze, who seemed interested in hearing what the Imperfect had to say. "I don't think they're worried whether if a cat's deemed 'perfect' or 'imperfect'. I think it matters on our actions."

     "Then all of you guys are going there because you're making mistakes. Mistakes are actions, aren't they?" sneered Serval, flicking her tail in disgust, pointing it toward the exit of the camp. "I think the best thing for all of you is to leave before the tribe decides what to do next. Well..." The she-cat smirked. "Your father did say he'd kill you guys when you returned, so which would you rather die by? Him or us?"

     "I'm dying at my home and getting buried by Tsunami," Wildfire declared.

     "If anyone cares enough," Serval growled, and Wildfire let out a screech and lunged. Like dodging a falling leaf, the muddy she-cat stepped aside as the Imperfect crashed. 

     "We might as well leave if our words aren't going to reach you," Firestorm growled, picking up Wildfire and hoisting her on his back for her to lay on. Her shoulder had reopened from the fall and Hurricane hurried over and inspected it. Lightning, the only cat who had said nothing, turned away without another word.

     Blizzard nodded at her family respectfully, surprising Serval and Blaze. Dandelion and her older brother were the only ones who nodded back. Maple and the silver she-cat shared a brief smile before walking over to Arrow. 

     There was no love in Arrow or Serval's eyes, only hatred. Dandelion gave her an embrace and  Blaze and Maple joined her as well. In their embrace, Hurricane felt tears rising, knowing she was surrounded by her kin. She forced it down with a painful swallow and bid them farewell, resting her emerald eyes on Cardinal. 

     She padded toward her sister one last time, leaning her head down and touching her nose to Cardinal's pelt, breathing in her cold scent. "I'm sorry this happened. I hope you can find it in yourself to forgive me one day. One day, okay? I love you, my sweet Cardinal." 

     Fighting against the longing to stay, Hurricane pulled away and touched her tail on Serval's shoulder, causing the she-cat to jump. Before she could hear a remark, she whispered, "Farewell". To Arrow, she mouthed the word, who looked away with a grunt, cross.

     Her paws landed on the exit of the camp, the rest of the Storm Siblings standing at the bottom and waiting for her to join them. She looked back one last time, blinking away the tears falling down her face.

     "Goodbye, everyone... I love you."