"It's not much of a secret," Origanum admitted. "I'm not saying how many cats know about it, but let me tell you this." She stood in front of Wildflower. "There are more cats here that don't know about Cinder. If you try and spill it, the tribe will be against you and I have the power to banish you, so don't even think about it."

     Her heart was now racing from Origanum's terror. Fear leaked into her like a waterfall, the ice inside the Alpha's eyes spreading throughout her body, the cold nipping at Wildflower's paws. Her paws were positioned in an attack stance while her tail remained low to the ground like a snake. 

     Wildflower held her breath. I have to do something to keep my mind off of her now. Think about something else.

     "I saw that you almost made a mistake," Origanum threatened, eyes showing no mercy or sympathy. "Just because you're new doesn't mean I won't hesitate to kill you or grant you some kind of leeway."

     Her heart skipped several beats. Her paws twitched back just an inch. Her fur spiked up once again like a porcupine in danger. She bit her tongue to stop any other signs of failure show. Keeping her eyes calm was the harder part.

     Forcing her fur to lie flat against fearful waves, the scouter snarled in her head, parting the waves to reveal a barren path. The spikes fur along her back stopped where they were with a lot of effort from her part. Wildflower took the controls and lowered them, letting out a long and painful exhale.

     Endless Stars... I'm screwed! I can't be kicked out already! Not yet! Her mind screamed at her. Her life now was balanced between her and Origanum, heart twisting in ways she thought couldn't be twisted.

     "So have a nice day!" Origanum chirped. Wildflower jerked her head back up at her words. Now she was a jubilant squirrel. The Alpha had returned to her normal self and trotted past the scouter. "Remember, don't talk to anyone about that or I'll have to kick you out for real!" 

     Then Origanum left the den with a skip in her paws.

     Wildflower stood frozen in place, dazed. Finally, her brain started to work again, no longer on pause. What just happened? Was she kicked out? Did Origanum give her another order? Perhaps claiming she saw the ghost of her old friend made the punishment less strict. 

     Cinder's words rushed back into her head. Wildflower flattened her ears, hoping that it would help muffle the horrid words.

     "You'll be an Imperfect."

     Her paws felt weak. Like flimsy twigs, Wildflower fell onto her stomach. She remained there, trying to catch her breath, staring blankly at the wall. Once again, her heartbeat increased more with the words shouting and taunting in the air above, dancing freely. 

     "Failure. Imperfection. Mistakes."

     No! Those were just words to freak me out! There isn't any way that Cinder could tell what will happen in my future! I'm in charge of my path! I can decide which way I want to go! It might've been her imagination, but Wildflower heard the dead she-cats next words in her mind. Horror seeped into her, taking over her entirely.

     Wildflower couldn't hear anything besides her fear-stricken heart beating inside of her. She was encased in ice, any sound that tried to reach her was only blocked out. The only sound that welcomed her was her own mind and thoughts. All they did was torment and taunt, laughing as Cinder stood in the center, conjuring more hurtful words.

     "Oh really?" Her mind hissed. "Did you really want to enter the tribe?"

     Wildflower flattened her ears, sobbing quietly into her own paws as she tried to defeat the voices. Whether it was her own thoughts, something else entirely, or Cinder, it only made her feel worse. They would die off eventually, she knew that, but how long would they linger around her mind? How much longer would they clot her mind and poison her sight? 

     She dared to answer her own question. Yes, I've always wanted to join.

     "Then why are you making mistakes?"

     And she knew that voice all too well. It wasn't Cinder, it was her own voice speaking back to her with a twisted tongue. Wildflower thought she'd never dread the sound of her voice so much that she'd rather shove rotten prey down her throat than listen to that harrowing noise.

     "You are perfect; you entered the Tribe of Shining Suns. You shouldn't make mistakes. Yet look at what happened."

     Wildflower sat up, cleaning away any tears that might've fallen. When her head moved to the side, all of her thoughts were washed away in the tide. She regained controls to her mind and silence welcomed her. For once, she was thankful not to hear nothing.

     The scouter broke free of whatever was trying to claim her. She stormed out of the Alpha's Den immediately, leaving the icy words and haunting nightmares behind. Another patrol had been sent out for hunting and patrolling just left and the rest of the tribe lazied about, peacefully chatting with one another to pass time. All completely unaware of what just happened.

     Wildflower gulped and headed down towards Dandelion. Her mother was grooming herself peacefully, while the two kits, Bounce and Snow, raced around the old she-cat in a game of tag. Peering at the white she-kit, she thought she saw something strange flicker on the kit, but it was gone with another blink. The scouter walked by it, rendering it unimportant. 

     Her mother's ear flicked as Wildflower approached her. Her amber eyes warmed up when she saw her. "Wildflower, how can I help you?" she asked, finishing her grooming just as Bounce squealed just as Snow tackled him.

     "I just needed something to do, really. Anything you need assistance with?" She covered up her doubts.

     "You know you can explore the territory, right?" she purred, her eyes hunting with mischief. Wildflower sneered. "I remember how excited you were when you got to explore camp for the first time."

     "And Cherry was too shy to take a step out of the mothers' den," Wildflower mentioned. 

     "If you want to explore outside of the camp, all you have to do is tell Origanum that you're going to," Dandelion offered.

     The offer sounded too good to be true. Wildflower shot the Alpha a quick glance. She was beside the betas' den, talking to Razor, the top warrior without a care in the world. Origanum and the warrior were talking about something, casting looks at the entrance to the tribe once and a while before returning to their heated conversation. 

     "Could you do that?" Wildflower half-heartedly answered. Not waiting for another second, she walked away and over towards the entrance of camp. Taking another breath, she began to walk down towards the trail.

     The freedom of wandering around was better than she thought it could be. Most of the time that Wildflower had to herself, some cat was always watching her like she was a mouse. Whether it was either grumpy Hawk or bossy Spark, eyes were always on her. Now that there wasn't a certain set of gleaming eyes watching her back, she let out a purr of satisfaction, paws becoming weightless.

     And she found herself at the Fallen Tree. The Fallen Tree lay limply on its side, refusing to move as time ticked on around it, leaving it to rot and decay through time's endless sleep. Wanting to confirm her suspicions, the scouter walked over to its trunk and looked at the bottom.

     Very faintly, she could pick out bloodstains. That made her stomach flip and caused her to hurl over the side of the left tree. I guess it shows what I think of imperfection... Wildflower forced herself back up on her shaking paws. Queasiness took over her, but she examined the dried blood.

     The faint crimson blood bled onto the thick, dead, brown trunk. Small little bugs flew around the dead parts of the tree. Wildflower wrinkled her nose in disgust but investigated even more. The bugs swarmed around her freely, trying to attack the intruder. She waved them away with her paw, trying to pick up an old scent from the stain.

     The scouter shoved her nose under the tree and found nothing. No dislocated bones or patches of musty fur. Yet the screams and voices still remained captive in the trunk's cage of that fateful night. Wildflower withdrew from the tree, letting the echoes of the night fill her.

     Running. Paws kicking up mud and pebbles as she fled for her life, eyes full of fear and gleaming in the night. A limp body locked in her skinny jaws. Thunder roaring above her. The trees quivering in fear as the wind pushed against them, attempting to shove them over to fall in her path. Running, always running.

     Cries of sorrow from the other pair of kits. Her stomach dragging on the ground as her energy dwindled. Other cats pursuing her with every splash of mud. Her paws weak and aching from the chase. Miles left to go until she could get somewhere safe.

     Before Wildflower's eyes, she saw the night rewinding itself. A night where the moon wouldn't show its face. The silver rays hidden behind a dark, ominous cloud that hissed at its light. The air full of death. Rain pattered onto the forest, wailing as the clouds shouted from the cursed sky. The cat running away from her home to a dark future.

     Starvation filling her full stomach. The kit inside of her shriveling in pain as it was bounced this way and that from the run. The two kits behind her staggering behind her, hope was dwindling from them as the night enveloped their sweet mother. The forest now a dangerous place as if the spirits of the dead were coming.

     The thunder roared once again and lightning crackled in the sky. They jumped and tried to run faster, hoping to catch a glimpse of their mother's ragged, wet pelt. The kits screamed as a cat approached them from behind, sinking their razor-sharp claws into their backs. Pain spreading throughout their fragile body. 

     Their screeches of terror and pain going unheard. More cats advanced, tearing apart the two kits like prey; ripping fur, bone, and muscle. The fire spread through their bodies uncontrollably, getting warmer and warmer as the cold rain drowned them in ice-cold temperatures. Bones snapping out of place and then dropping to the ground with a clatter. Nerves exploding and blood dying their paws red.

     Tears of blood sprouted from their lifeless eyes, bulging as another cat slashed. They screamed. No cat came over at their plea. A few words, ragged ones, spat out. Blood clotted the words but a faint whisper rose into the air. The words filled the night sky but the rain falling from the sky covered the words.

     "Mother..."

     Wildflower shook her head, trying to shake the image of the lifeless corpses out of her mind. Her paw was rested up against the bark, leaning for support. 

     At least I'm in the tribe, not a runaway.

     "Are you lost?" A small voice asked. Wildflower turned her ears in the direction of the voice. On the left side of the territory, a small, golden tom stood at the border, gray eyes revealing no emotion. "If you're lost, the tribe's that way." He tipped his tail towards the tribe helpfully, looking at the tall mountain longingly. 

     "How many Imperfects are even around?!" Wildflower hissed, clearing her face from the flashing images.

     The tom looked taken back, confused about her words. "There are plenty of us, really. I just don't normally leave this territory because you know I rather like living," he admitted.

     "I'm not lost, by the way," Wildflower pointed out, making sure the Imperfect knew where he was. "I know my way around here perfectly fine!"

     "Not everywhere," the tom pointed out.

     "Really?" Wildflower challenged. She turned her eyes onto his, wanting nothing more than to rip the optimistic grin off his face. "Where do I, a cat from the Tribe of Shining Suns, not know the way around? Tell me, Imperfect," she spat out the last words with all the hate she could muster. 

     "You don't know the left side of the territory," the tom pointed out.

     "So?!" Wildflower sputtered out like an angry bird. "Who even cares what goes on over there?!"

     "Your world is so big but so small at the same time," He mused, gray eyes flashing at her with a purpose. "Are you happy where you are?"

     "Of course I am, what are you trying to do? I'm perfect and I don't want any of your filthy Imperfect scents on me!" Wildflower spat. She let her back arch and a growl split the air.

     "I know enough that you won't attack me since I'm on the left," he mentioned, gesturing a paw around him. "My name is Wasp. At least if we meet again, maybe you won't give me too many glares."

     "Fine, Wasp, I may not know the left territory and may not be able to attack you, but what are you doing?!"

     "I'm just taking a stroll, like you."

     "How do you know I'm taking a stroll? What if I'm patrolling or hunting?"

     "Aren't your rules strict and you must follow them?" Wasp questioned, tipping his head at her. "So, that means you can't be on a patrol or hunting since you're required to have more cats join you on your quest." Wildflower's ears flattened at his words. He was an Imperfect but had the knowledge of a tribe cat, which she found intriguing.

     They stared at each other for a while, no cat daring to move an inch. Wildflower gazed at him, two parts of her ripping her in half. He was an Imperfect and that meant she was forbidden to interact with him, but his eyes made her feel safe. Almost as if she was connected to him already. She stepped backward, and he turned his back at the same time. 

     Wildflower whirled around and sprang across the trail, crashing into him. They both rolled around, right into the left side of the territory. Wasp didn't struggle as she towered over him, knowing where she landed. Wasting no time, the scouter snatched him and threw the two of them onto the path, placing them in the center of perfection and imperfection.

     "You're just a lowly Imperfect," she sneered, tightening her grip around his neck.

     "I'm as perfect and imperfect as you," Wasp retaliated. His eyes locked onto her own eyes, showing no fear. Wildflower's gaze hardened and her claws dug in further. 

     He threw her off of him with an easy blow. Flying through the air, Wildflower adjusted her paws and skidded across the ground. A surge of proudness swarmed through her - until her paws fell under her weight. She crashed onto her rear and banged her jaw against the ground. Wasp had gotten to his shaky feet by then, gray eyes recording her failure.

     Wildflower scrambled up, brushing her tail at the spot where she crashed. "So imperfection is strong here, despite being so close to perfection," she accused. Her emerald eyes shot icy needles at him. 

     "A mistake means exile, doesn't it?" Wasp growled. He raised a paw in defense as she charged forward, blinded by fury. 

     Another mistake. 

     Her paw didn't hit him across the face, slipping to the left just a bit enough for her to panic. Wildflower rooted her back legs into the ground, rearing up, about to land on the Imperfect. Wasp saw the move and moved to the side, avoiding the first blow. Just as she expected, she twisted around, reaching out with a clawed paw.

     Wait...!

     Her left paw missed the attack.

     And Wasp didn't let the opportunity for escape slip between his paws. He scrambled on his feet and fled back into his part of the forest, letting it swallow him. Wildflower collapsed onto her paws in defeat just as his golden tail disappeared. 

     But he ran... she thought through clenched teeth. He couldn't stand a chance against me and took the cowards way. Wildflower looked at her paws through blurry tears, knowing that a certain Fallen Hero was definitely nearby. 

     High above the clouds, a starry she-cat stepped forward, peering down at the ruined scouter. A smile crossed her pale muzzle. Her hazel eyes closed and then walked away to let the cat deal with her problems. She was an adult now; she should be able to handle the problem. 

     "Oh, Wildflower," she muttered, casting one last look over her shoulder with a sly grin. "Even if you have everything you wanted and you're perfect, you will always have a price to pay."