Arrow burst through the bushes in a mad sprint, heading straight for the trap he'd set up. The cat behind him continued the chase, refusing to let him out of his sight. He smirked, knowing that victory had been on his side the moment he dragged the cat into his territory. The spy slipped behind a bush, waiting for the cat to stumble into the open clearing.

     The black-furred tom entered the clearing, panting from the run. His amber eyes scanned the field, trying to locate him. Arrow stayed where he was, readying himself to jump at the Imperfect.

     He did curse himself for yowling like a tiny kit and in a way, that did reveal his location and out of the three toms that found him, the black tom was the only one who chased him. Arrow instantly recognized one of the cats as the leader of the Imperfects, Python, but the other two cats were blank slates. Right now, the spy focused his attention on the tom in front of him, knowing that a battle might shake his mind clear of everything.

     Killing an Imperfect has always been a fun thing to do, he thought, claws sliding out of place as he snuck out of the bush, hiding behind a thick tree, holding his breath. Then he hesitated, peering at the black tom with one eye.

     But what if that's someone from my... Arrow flattened his ears as his mind spelled the rest of the sentence. Actual family? A wave of hatred and disgust pushed the doubt away and delivered new strength, making him silently snarl. The Imperfect stepped closer and the spy flung himself up the tree, quietly scrambling up the trunk until he was covered in the shade of the leaves, yellow eyes peering at the tom below with a murderous gleam in them.

     If that cat is a part of my actual family, then I'll be the one who kills them. I am from the Tribe of Shining Suns. Arrow lifted himself to jump, angling himself to land on the tom's back.

     "I will be perfect," he whispered for encouragement.

     He sprang onto the tom's back, sinking his claws into sides of his neck, keeping his back legs sturdy and stable. The tom arched his back and twisted around, the two locking eyes. Arrow smirked and lashed out, grabbing one of the Imperfect's ears and pulling, hearing the sound of his wretched cries split the sky. He didn't stop and held on, waiting for his strength to dwindle little by little.

     The ground spun and Arrow was thrown off, barely catching himself in time for the Imperfect to jump, tackling him on the ground, his back pressed against the ground. Pressed against the ground, he pulled his lips back and a low rumble escaped his throat. Refusing to panic and slipped under and curled himself under his enemy's stomach, cursing that his old tactic couldn't work anymore. Regardless, he ripped away, holding his tongue as the tom stomped around him, leaving him exposed. The spy didn't move in time and a clawed paw slashed across his face, momentarily surprising him.

     With an eye cracking open, he looked for signs of weakness on the Imperfect, eyeing his neck for the previous wounds. Seeing that his claws had hardly torn fur, Arrow cursed and pushed himself back up and fell under once again as the tom forced him on his stomach, rendering his paws and legs useless. He growled and looked over his shoulder with a loathsome gleam in his eyes.

     "What's a Tribe of Shining Suns cat doing so far from your precious little mountain?" The Imperfect taunted, leaning closer and Arrow held his breath, refusing to let the foul scent get to him. He stiffened a grunt as the grip around his shoulders tightened, claws easily slicing into his flesh.

     Stars, he cursed, scanning his surroundings. "You shouldn't be wasting your time," he spat, hoping his ruse would work. "Are you willing to take a gamble?"

     "Just for the excitement," replied the Imperfect. "Tell me what's on your mind."

     "Why haven't you killed me yet?" Arrow challenged, slowly situating his back legs together, gathering his strength. "A kill is a kill, but, then again." The spy glowered at the black cat and sprung away, blowing the weight off his back. Spinning in the air, he landed a few feet away and positioned himself to jump on a tree. "You're an Imperfect. You're nothing but sorry excuses and a waste of space."

     "Do you really think you can beat me?" The tom mocked, bringing a paw up to his own throat, pretending to slice into it. "Just now I had you pinned. I've learned something about your tactics: you don't finish the kill in a moment. Other tribe cats I've fought and slain go for the throat the instant they have their paws on me."

     Arrow stared at the icy paw and his eyes widened, the ridicule echoing in his head.

     "Why do you hesitate? Or is it that you like to draw out a cat's suffering? Especially when it comes to... Imperfects. I'm right, aren't I?" The Imperfect crouched and Arrow snapped out of the trance, aiming for the tree behind the black tom. "You just love to see them suffer during their last moments, don't you?"

     "Brother, what are you doing?" Cardinal whispered in the back of his head and Arrow snarled, charging forward and past the illusion of his Imperfect sister. The Imperfect didn't move and let him dash past him and jump onto the tree.

     Surprised, he whirled around and the tom sprang, ripping him off the trunk forcefully. Arrow snarled, withering as the Imperfect forced him down once again. On his back and with his paws pinned at his sides, he sent the black tom hateful looks from his blazing eyes, swearing to rip free.

     "I'm right," he hissed lowly, wanting an answer for the query he had already gained a wordless reply to, "aren't I? That's where your mistake is. You don't go for the kill. You prolong their suffering. Are you really perfect, after all?"

     Perfect. Imperfect.

     Mistakes.

     There was a flash of golden fur before his eyes, taking him back to the day when he watched his sister run with a tiny kit in her jaws. There were cats chasing after her like she was some kind of rabbit. He hadn't moved once and could only stand in horror, hearing the sounds of ragged breath and furious slashes echo around him. The golden she-cat sprung away and soon disappeared out of his sights, leaving him in an empty mountain.

     Then he came across a bloody corpse, the red blood ruining her cream pelt and the innocent look that always gleamed in her eyes. A nasty wound sliced across her throat, her killer unseen in the battle. 

     And, finally, an older she-cat stumbling across five kits; five kits that were either abandoned or had no chance of survival unless she took a gamble.

     A weed spread through the flower, choking it from the roots just by the little action. The nasty blades reached up to choke the life out of the flower, digging themselves into the stem, slowly cutting it off. Withering in the bright sun, they teamed up, making sure to overpower the tiny, hapless plant.

     Arrow blinked and the image was gone, only to be replaced by a smaller kit looking up at him, their face blurry and unrecognizable. Their pelt was matted with blood and they owned a set of identical sun-toned yellow eyes that rest on his figure. The kit's jaws moved but then stopped, trembling in place as they waited.

     "Let me put an end to your suffering," the Imperfect offered and time slowed and Arrow was able to see the tom lean in for the killing blow.

     I'm perfect, through and through... We're meant to be perfect, so why does it feel like I've hit rock bottom? He thought, staring at the open jaws, looking into the throat of the Imperfect. Arrow gulped, closing his eyes as teeth locked around his neck, slowly applying pressure, time continuing to tick.

     But... if I can't be perfect... Arrow opened his eyes again just as scarlet liquid began to rush out of his throat. Why do I try? The spy leaned his head back, making the death come faster. The Imperfect noticed and he choked as the grip tightened, his organs screaming for air.

     "Apple... Do you want to know something I t-think about you...?" Cherry mumbled, shyly looking at him with her round face.

     Oh, great, he groaned, cursing the Tribe of Endless Stars. Is this what it means to see your life flash before your eyes? I'm sick of your games. Just do what you have to. I'm just an impostor of a cat who never existed.

     "Y-you're my older brother... and truth be told, I like you a little more than Blaze." Cherry spun on her paws, jumping into his embrace. Snuggling close, she purred and chirped like a bird. "You're so b-brave and reliable... I love you, so much."

     Stop it! Arrow cursed, switching his attention to the clouds above, wishing he could reach a paw into the air and drag down the white, misty objects. The laugh of the Imperfect and the stars made a snarl erupt from him, planting his ears against his head in hopes of blocking out the sounds.

"     But I... I never want to see you suffer... I know things get to you easily and I just want you to know that I'll always l-love you." His little sister looked up at him with warm, amber eyes that were full of love. "E-even if things don't go right... do what you need to... please, don't w-worry about what others will think."

     Stop it, for Endless Stars' sake! he cried out, black starting to spread across his vision.

     "B-because even if I'm weak and useless... I'll a-always believe in you! I swear I'll never get mad at you, e-ever!" she cried, locking tearful eyes with him.

     The promise was marked by intertwining tails. The two siblings held onto each other and smiled, not saying a word as they swore. The illusion shattered like glass and brought Arrow back into reality, knowing that one of them had died and the other was ignoring the present. He gulped, feeling the vow linger over his head as the Imperfect sunk his razor-sharp teeth into his neck.

     The spy coughed, hacking up blood. You were the only one who looked up to me. Serval never looked up to a pathetic brother like me. She was always admiring Hurricane, Maple, or Blaze, but you... you stayed and listened. Why? Why did you pay attention to me? Why?

     Ever so slightly, Arrow thought he could imagine her answer, almost as if she stood beside him in the fight, watching with hopeful eyes for her brother's comeback. "Because you are my brother - blood or not, you were always there for me, and I couldn't turn a blind eye to the one who struggled with me."

     Waves of strength began to swarm into him as his breath shortened. Arrow growled weakly, and time stopped for a fleeting moment, giving him the time to get back up with renewed power. The spy snapped his head forward, flinching as teeth sliced across his throat, but pushed through, meeting the Imperfect head-on.

     Time resumed with a single drop of blood.

     Arrow snarled and locked his teeth around the Imperfect, snapping his jaws down with every ounce of strength he had left. His back legs dug into the ground to keep him up although they trembled like loose twigs. The grip around his neck faltered before squeezing, the two toms determined to see the other one fall first. 

     He didn't stop and lashed with his left paw, red claws digging into the sides of the Imperfect's face. Arrow let his other paw swing and smashed into the tom's visage, furiously attacking before the rest of his adrenaline died out. His heart thumped against his chest furiously, running away from the incoming thorns, ready to ensnare and whip it. Panicking, the spy's attacks became blind and red and black paint bled over his yellow eyes, obscuring his vision.

     Perfect... I just have to be perfect... no matter what...! The spy gritted his teeth and ripped away, taking a chunk of flesh and fur with him, spitting it out. Arrow twisted and yanked himself free, stumbling on his paws. Despite his dizziness, he kept himself on his paws, even if he leaned over like a fallen tree.

     "You..." The Imperfect choked, blood spluttering out of his mouth. Arrow curled his lips back, focusing his wet gaze on the black tom. "You finally killed..."

     "Yeah," he coughed out, ribs wincing as he did so. "Not so imperfect after all, am I?"

     "No," the black tom laughed, giving him a deadly stare with a grin splitting his face like a crack in the ice. Arrow froze, ears strained to hear his words. "You just proved it. Turned your anger into strength. You immediately went for the kill..."

     The Imperfect collapsed, blood pouring out of his neck, forming a small puddle of blood beneath him. "Just like every... Imperfect does."

     Arrow didn't have time to counter before his paws shook, giving under as well. He hit the ground with a satisfying thud, eyes struggling to stay open. His side heaved for breath as the pain in his neck spread, the fire licking away his flesh. Claws dug into him from the inside, tearing away as his organs fought for survival. The spy's body heaved as a ragged breath escaped him, eyelids becoming mountains.

     I... He couldn't think the rest of his sentence. Arrow felt himself falling and the ground swayed like an ocean, making him sick.

     Paws raced forward hurriedly, desperate to reach him. Whoever it was skidded to a halt beside him and pressed a paw against his neck. Arrow couldn't see the cat or identify their scent. The spy coughed and the cat jumped, startled. Then his eyes shut, cutting him away from the living world. 

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A/N: Sorry for the really late chapter! With school starting up once again, my activity may not be accurate compared to what I have on my message board. I will try my best to continue and balance life out and all its trials. Thanks again for reading! Have a great day/night!