"They're coming! Notify the spies! The Imperfects are coming! The Imperfects are coming!" A brown she-cat bounced into the camp with her eyes wide. Cats perked their heads up and glanced in her direction as the she-cat whirled around, tail lashing fearfully. 

     "Deer?" An orange head poked out of a den, revealing blue eyes as wide as the moon. "What's going on?" The small she-cat leaped off of the ledge to her den, landing on her paws evenly and racing over to the other cat. "I need a healer over here, now!"

     "Origanum, it's the Imperfects!" Deer gasped, falling on her side a moment later.

      A collective gasp came from the cats in the camp. Fur bristled and they unleashed their claws at the word. The Alpha growled, keeping her voice low and looking at the entrance of the camp. Deer stood there panting as a cream she-cat hurried over to take her away. The healer pushed her toward the den with a worried look in her amber eyes and spotted a white she-cat staring after her. A quick nod and the healer had returned to the den. 

     Imperfects... now? Origanum thought, looking at the entrance. Judging by Deer's exhausted state, they weren't far. She assumed it wouldn't be long before they barged in. Her claws unleashed at the incoming challenge, heart tightening. 

     "What are we going to do?!"

     "The hunting patrol hasn't returned! Have they been taken out?"

     "Guys!" Origanum spun around on her paws, marching up to the ledge to speak. "We're going to handle this like any other raid. They are Imperfects - we can win this." With those words, her mind raced back to the stormy night and the smile a brown she-cat had given her before she knocked her out and dragging her into forbidden territory in hopes she'd survive to hide her mistake. 

     As an Alpha, I have to do my best for this tribe, she reminded herself. It doesn't matter what I want. I have to defend my home. Origanum paused. And I hate myself for doing that. Why couldn't there have been a different world where I wasn't Alpha? 

     "Bracken! Dusk! Arrow! Go out and find any news and see if you can collect any information we can use to defeat them!" The three cats got up from their spot and rushed out of the camp in a single line, determined. Origanum glanced worriedly at the other cats, knowing she was going to lose some of them from the battle. 

     The hunting patrol had probably run into the Imperfects by now and they're either being held as hostages or killed. Either way, we're down at least two cats and with Deer in the healers' den, we already lost three cats. Origanum flattened her fur. "I want two warriors, one scouter, and one guardian to hide outside the entrance. That way, we'll buy enough time to prepare. Healers, you are not to fight unless I give the command.

     "Feather and Razor, you two hide along with Brook and Ripple," she commanded, sending the group of cats off. "The rest of you, I want you to be ready. The plan is once they enter this camp, we'll ambush them from the dens. I want you to hide under your nest and don't attack until you see them lock eyes with you. Attack in sync to throw them off."

     A single cat raised their tail in the crowd. She nodded, giving them permission to speak.

     "What if you die?"

     Silence passed throughout the camp. Origanum felt her heart thump against her chest and her mind fighting to come up with an answer. 

     Come to think of it, I've never been worried about dying when it came to raids because my plans usually go so well I don't have to worry. She smiled at the cats below, giving them a shock. "If I die, then I expect you guys to avenge me with everything you got."

     "I will say one last thing." Cats leaned in to listen and she struggled to find the words to say what she wanted. Swallowing the lump in her throat, she shouted, "I don't care if you still have the fight in you, if you're injured, I want you in the healers' den. Speaking of that." She glanced in the direction of the den.

     "Healers! I want you out right now!" 

     Moments later, all of the healers swarmed out of the den with round eyes. Cats shuffled to the side to let them pass through. Climbing off the ledge, Origanum padded up to Heather, glancing at the other healers behind her in a row. 

     "Listen up, it won't take long for the Imperfects to know that your den is where the injured go, making it a weak spot. I want you guys to spread yourselves around camp and heal the injured there. Take the herbs and split them up. If you happen to run out, tell the last cat you've healed that information. Please tell them to find another healer and take the herbs they requested. If you're separated, that lowers the chance of having all of you taken out. You do have fighting skills too, so don't let me down."

     "Of course," Heather replied, and the other healers nodded in sync. 

     "And don't come out of hiding to fight until I tell you to," she reminded. "Now, get going and collect the herbs. We don't have much time left."

     The healers dashed out of the crowd and flooded their den to collect the herbs. Origanum turned her attention toward the Tribe of Shining Suns, the home she was sworn to protect. Paws shaking, she marched up to the ledge and sat back down. It wouldn't take long for the Imperfects to make their way over. She would hear hissing and snarling from the small patrol she had sent out earlier, and that would give the other cats enough time to prepare themselves.

     I hope this turns out well, she prayed. 

     A memory flooded into her head, one where Cinder was by her side. The she-cat bumped her playfully with a sly grin on plastered on her face. Origanum smiled at the warm sight of her friend. Anytime she found herself about to face a battle, the Alpha found herself recalling this like it was yesterday. It gave her a sense of hope and pride, knowing that her sarcastic friend would be with her. 

     "I'll always be with you in battle. Fighting tooth and nail beside you. I promise."

     Then, Cinder, if you're here, join me in this fight.

     Cats dispersed themselves into their dens, hiding underneath the soft feathers of their nests. Some cats met up with each other before separating their ways. One cat caught her attention, Dandelion and her daughter as they embraced one another. Origanum stared at the old she-cat, and her thoughts trailed back to Wildflower and how mortally crushed her younger sisters were when they learned what happened to her.

     How is she? Is she dead like Cinder? All Imperfects die and enter the Tribe of Never-Ending Shadows. I wonder if she's there right now. It pained her that she would never see her best friend ever again, even after her death. Separated from two different tribes and never able to hear her voice again. When Wildflower had claimed to hear and see Cinder in camp, it was more than enough to know that her friend was still around. 

     If only I could see her again, I'd be happy forever. 

     A snarl broke her thought process and snapped her to attention. A small group of cats broke through her defenses and one instantly laid eyes on her tiny body. Bunching up her muscles, she let out a snarl, lashing her tail. The silver she-cat looked amused, but studying her closer, Origanum was momentarily frozen when she saw sadness in her big, green eyes. She pushed it away with a hard shove and snarled as the cat made her way up to her, concocting a plan. 

     Before the cat could make it up any further, she sprang, her speed blowing into the larger cat and knocking them off of the ledge. Using her weight to her advantage, she shoved the other cat down, her back cracking on the stone below with a satisfying snap. Origanum's legs bent as she landed, but she remained alive, the she-cat under her paws dead from the impact; killed before she even knew what was happening. 

     Yet another Imperfect killed.

     "Drizzle!" A tom shouted and managed to throw Feather to the side. The she-cat recovered and caught herself. Steadying herself, the warrior threw herself at the tom, blowing him over with one pounce. Origanum nodded in approval and slunk off, hiding in the shadow of the ledge for another cat to come by. To her disbelief, a tom broke through Razor with a snarl and sped toward her.

     She didn't have enough time before the golden tom crashed onto her, his size and strength over-powering her. The green eyes flashed with rage and just like the silver she-cat, there was sadness tucked behind the mask of rage. She withered under his grip, slipping under him and rolling out. He was fast, whirling around and catching her by her tail, his claws sinking into the flesh. She yowled and lashed behind her, claws slicing his face. 

     He let out a hiss and pounced, blowing her over once again, head hitting the ground. Before he could lash out, she used her strength and leaned up, her teeth locking around his paw and squeezing tight. The tom thrashed around and kicked her with his back legs, claws running down her pelt and drawing blood. She refused to let go and brought her other paw up, unleashing her claws and digging it into the back of his neck. Her other paw came up and she used him to hang on, her back legs furiously scraping down his neck and chest as if she was running. 

     Her eyes flashed with rage as his strength began to weaken as her back legs continued to shred at any flesh she could. He attempted to throw her off, but she continued to attack, not letting go until he collapsed under her paws. A loud shriek dragged her attention away, and a golden she-cat lunged at her, her front paws latching on her back and slashing madly. Fire began to burn and Origanum gritted her teeth, causing her foe to squirm.

     "Let go of my brother!" the she-cat screamed, tearing away. Origanum glanced at the tom, who was losing his strength by the second. Deciding that he was as good as gone, she unhooked herself from him and turned on the golden she-cat, blowing her over. The green eyes she locked on made her freeze as the she-cat was sent flying.

     Wildflower? No, you aren't her, but you look like her. She snarled and leapt, landing on the cat and pinning her down. The little she-cat opened her eyes and just like her brother, Origanum saw pain in them. They stared at one another, not making a single move. She hesitated, trying to understand the signals she was getting from the three cats.

     Why are you guys... sad? 

     By now, the rest of the Tribe of Shining Suns had been forced out of their dens and battled the Imperfects. She caught sight of Razor tossing one black she-cat through the air and a cream she-cat racing toward him. Hissing and snarling filled her ears as cats attacked one another. Her time spent examining the battlefield became her downfall.

     The she-cat underneath her kicked with both of her paws, throwing her off. The tom had recovered and caught her in the air, slamming her on the ground like a bird. Leaning, he sunk his teeth around her neck, her paws lashing out madly as the golden she-cat got to her paws. Pain shot from her neck and her heart rate increased as his teeth sunk further.

     No! I'm not dying like this! she thought, peering an eye at the tom. 

     "Get off her!" Her eyes shot over toward the brown pelt of Blaze, who easily barreled into the golden tom and released her. The tiny she-cat jumped back and raced away, pelt disappearing into the battlefield. Origanum sagged to the ground, coughing up blood and watched it run down her neck, trying to look away from the beta to hide her shame. She looked over once and saw the beta pinned the weakened tom on the ground and had his claws sunk into his shoulders, eyes blazing with fury.

     Help, she cried, searching for a healer in the fray. 

     "Origanum!" A cream healer dashed over to her and pulled her away, her blood leaving a clean trail for them to see. She tried to fight against the she-cat, trying to use her voice. The only sound that came out was a gurgling noise. She flinched as the healer touched a paw to the open wound, getting a sense to how deep it was. 

     "Hold on, I'll get you healed up," the healer promised and turned her back, taking a pile of herbs and rolling them out beside her. She turned back, amber eyes flashing with worry. 

     "C...C---"

     "N-no," the healer begged, pressing a cobweb against her. "Save your strength." 

     Her eyesight landed on the battle. Her cats were fighting against the Imperfects, whirling around and attacking whoever was in sight. One Imperfect cat leaped on the back of Ember, only to be slashed away by Ivy, who was limping in one paw. Another Imperfect cat slunk around and threw Wind to the side, the she-cat hitting the side of the den. Before she got up, the cat lunged, sinking their claws into her neck and letting the blood pour out of the cat's jaws. 

     No... Keep fighting! she encouraged, hoping Wind would hear her. 

     "Origanum." The healer tending to her screeched as a tom approached them with a sly grin. She growled, unleashing her claws again in her position. In defense, the healer stood in front of her, shaking the presence of the other tom. Origanum squinted, trying to recognize the tom.

     "What... Who are you?" the healer demanded, her weak voice proving nothing against the massive cat.

     "Oh? What's this? Taken out so soon?" he taunted, eyeing the healer. Behind him, a white she-cat sprung and crashed on his back, yowling and going for his neck. The tom got on his paws and swung around, Icicle losing her balance with a gasp. Origanum's eyes widened as she was tossed aside and the healer shrieked, torn between saving the warrior or her Alpha. The beta hit the ground with a thud and remained unmoving. 

     No! Not you! Origanum thought, forcing herself on her weak paws. The healer whipped her head back and forth, claws sliding out of place. The Alpha snarled at the she-cat and she stopped, torn. Relief swarmed through her when Icicle's chest stirred, playing dead as she waited for an opening. 

     "I'll kill you!" Origanum threatened, forcing herself on her shaking paws. Wobbling in place, she struggled to stand straight and ignore the searing pain in her neck wound. 

    "No! Don't hurt her!" The healer screamed and pounced, landing on the tom and weakly batting at his neck, disobeying her Alpha's orders. 

     She didn't have the time to scold the healer. "Stand back," Origanum demanded, letting the she-cat fall back. Just as she backed away, she sprang, using the same move she had done on the other tom, locking her front paws around his neck and used her back legs to shred. She kept fighting, despite her exposed neck and the hungry tom trying to reach it with his paws. Her ear burned with pain as he bit onto it, trying to rip it off her head. 

     Give me strength, Cinder!

     With a final yowl, Origanum planted her feet on the ground and let go. Setting her paws down, she crouched down and sprang before the tom could catch her. His open claw scraped above her eye, drawing a line of blood. Now using one eye, she used her speed and sunk her claws into his neck, shutting her eyes as they crashed onto the ground.

     Opening both eyes and ignoring the blood falling from her face, she locked eyes on the fearful eyes of the tom below her. He was trying to wiggle out of her grip, doing what he could to escape. Rage burned inside her and she bit on his neck, seeking for a bone.

     "Leave me and my tribe alone!"