Zari glared at the sight below. A pair of unicorns chased each other through the mud, not at all concerned with how filthy they were getting. The wet earth covered their hooves and was splashed into their manes. The dragoness began to groom herself. It was noon, and all the colors of the rainbow and more appeared to radiate from her white scales. She carefully looked over her wings, removing any feathers that didn't shine bright enough in her opinion. Zari's mane resembled her scales and wings: it was white with tiny crystals turning sunlight into vibrant colors entwined in the fur. Her eyes were the color of sapphires. Zari was a prism dragoness.

Tonight was going to be an important night. She was at last a century old and would be going to the Sky Tower. Prism dragons gathered there once every ten years, invited by a family of gold dragons. Zari had never seen a gold dragon before. They acted as the kings and queens to all other types of dragon.

They were sure to like her, the dragoness thought. How could they not upon seeing the wide variety of colors that gleamed from her hide? Zari was, as usual, confident. She enjoyed the sunlight until the sunlight was nearly gone. As dusk came to the land, Zari went back inside her family's lair.

–

Mosspaw moved silently across the outstretch of grass that laid between her and a squirrel. This area was fairly deserted at the moment, although it didn't help the she-cat much. Her dark tabby fur did not blend in. At all. The squirrel retreated before she could get close. Mosspaw sighed and left the park. Maybe she could find prey elsewhere.

She did manage to kill a bird as twilight came to the city. She easily passed several roads on her way back to the camp. She entered a dark alley and moved behind an abandoned Human building. The structure was made from bricks, and was slowly crumbling. Mosspaw walked through the small hole in the building's back wall.

On the inside, she saw the only home she'd ever known. A pile of debris existed in the middle of the white stone floor. There were a few large pillows in the room to her left. She carried her prey into that room, where she saw Graveltail. The grey feline observed her kits playing with each other. Two were black and white. Their sister was a grey tabby.

Mosspaw dropped the bird and spoke. "I brought you something to eat."

"Thank you, Mosspaw."

"Featherkit, Coalkit, and Icekit seem to be doing well." She mentioned as Graveltail ate.

"I just remembered! Darkwood wants to speak with you."

"Did he say why?" Mosspaw questioned, surprised that their leader would request her presence.

"No, but he said it was important." Graveltail replied. "He also wanted to see Fogtail and Rainstep. I think they're waiting for you."

"Then I'll go immediately." Without waiting for a response, Mosspaw ran out of the room.

She met the other two outside a different room. Fogtail was grooming his white fur while irritation filled Rainstep's light blue eyes. "It's about time you showed up!"

She ignored the siamese and called to Darkwood, who answered, "Enter."

He was a tabby with a very dark pelt, darker than Mosspaw's. The stripes that patterned his fur were were barely noticable. One eye was a lighter shade of blue than the other. It was evident that he was once a housecat, and left for a good reason. He had no front claws. He was sitting on a table when the three came into the room.

"Rainstep," He began. "You joined our unnamed Clan long ago. You lived with Humans before, like myself. While not the best hunter, you have great strength. You both will and have fought for the good of the Clan. Fogtail, you were always a stray. You haven't seen your real family in moons. But you care about your Clanmates as if they were your family. I know we can trust you. There is no doubt."

Fogtail and Rainstep raised their heads proudly, and Mosspaw felt insignifigant compared to them. Why was she called for this meeting?

"Mosspaw..." She heard Darkwood's voice again. "You were born in this Clan. You have not yet fought for it. You have not yet learned all you need to know." he jumped down from the table. "You have not done anything of great importance."

So why am I here? She thought as she looked down at her paws.

"However," Darkwood went on while trying to make eye contact with her. "I believe you will be one of the greatest warriors we've ever known. I've chosen you three to help decide the future of the Clan."

All three stared at their leader with excitement and curiosty. "What do you mean?" Rainstep asked him.

"We call ourselves a Clan. Ever since we heard about Clans, we've tried to be one. But what sort of code do we follow? What kind of ranking system do we have? For the sake of all rats, we don't even have a name!"

"This is true." Fogtail agreed.

"We need to organize ourselves. But how can we? This building is falling apart and there is barely enough food to go around. We're going to find a new place to live. Can I count on you to help find a new territory?" Darkwood knew he didn't need to ask that question. He already knew their answer.

"Of course!" They answered at the same time.

"Good. Now follow me." They went back to the main part of the building. "Let all cats of our Clan gather 'round the Rubble Pile for a meeting."

Darkwood stood atop the pile while cats surrounded him. Mosspaw paid little attention. Did the Clan leader really think so highly of her? She would do what she could to help, but the tabby couldn't help but doubt that she would be amazing as Darkwood said. Her golden eyes met his again for a moment and Mosspaw thought she could see encouragement in them.

–

Light emenated from the golden orbs that hung above Zari like chandeliers. She and her parents were in the Sky Tower. Many other prism dragons were here, although none quite as beautiful as herself. She spread her wings and a billion prisms glimmered. She knew the reason for the others' staring was because of her beauty. Why else would they be staring at her?

"Hello." said a prism dragoness with emerald colored eyes.

"Greetings." She replied.

"Your wings are very pretty. They are vibrant." Zari felt pleased at the compliment. "But... you seem to like them too much."

"What is there not to be fond of? They are perfect, as are my scales and mane! Even my talons are flawless!"

"But your aura is not."

"My aura!" She laughed. "The only thing that matters is that my appearance is breathtaking! Your wings barely have any prisms at all compared to mine!"

"Perhaps it is the only thing that matters to you, but many would disagree."

"Who? Those who are blind?" She laughed again. Before the other dragoness could reply, they heard another voice that was louder than the rest.

"Welcome!" It was a gold dragon. He stood in the doorway next to a dragoness. Two small hatchlings stood in bewteen them, looking around at the crowd. "For those of you that are here for the first time, my name is Cavvile."

"I am Nakir." The gold dragoness said. "This is Niz and-"

"Javaraa!" The other hatchling exclaimed before her mother had the chance to finish.

Zari looked with disgust at the one called Niz. She did not have radiant scales and wings like her family. While her black talons didn't appear to have any cracks, the gold hatchling's wings were missing many feathers. Scales were broken and scratched around one dull purple eye.

"Is something bothering you?" Cavvile's tone was challenging.

It took a moment for Zari to realize the question was directed at her. "Yes. About those hatchlings, why does one them have such horrid wings?"

Shocked and nervous voices filled the room. She heard her mother say, "Silence, Zari!" from not too far away.

"I told you this was a mistake, Jiara."

"No, no," Cavvile said to Xiu. "It would seem the mistake was not adressing this at an earlier time. I've heard much about you, Zari."

The gold dragon's voice was menacingly calm, which only made the crowd more uneasy. Zari felt no fear. "Then you must be happy to finally see me and my amazing scales, wings and mane."

"Oh yes." The dragon glanced his mate, who nodded slightly with her silver eyes full of anger. "I am happy to see you, the most vain dragoness alive."

As the anger in his voice sounded throughout the room, everyone moved away from Zari. Only her parents remained beside her as Cavville drew closer. "Cavvile, she's only a century old." She heard Jiara say.

"And what is that supposed to mean?" Zari questioned. "I was only wondering why that hatchling has terrible looking wings. And her scales are so dull!"

"Zari," Xiu said.

"What?"

"Stop talking!"

"There is a reason for her injured wings and broken scales. But that is a story I don't think you deserve to hear." Niz and Javaraa watched with clear nervousness. There was also sadness in Niz's purple eyes. Zari's words had clearly bothered her.

"Cavvile," Jiara spoke quietly. "What ever you're thinking of doing..."

"Too late. I've made up my mind." To Zari he said, "Step forward."

She did just that. Still unafraid, the dragoness came forth. Cavvile was not even slightly impressed by her beauty, and this confused her greatly. "Perhaps I have met someone who is blind."

Her words were so quiet that she was surprised to hear Cavvile whisper back, "You are the one who is blind." Then the gold dragon's voice was loud enough for all else in the room to hear. "Zari, the prism dragoness, never before have I met one so vain. You think so highly of your appearance, that you think less of anyone who doesn't admire it."

She at last felt fear upon seeing the black, wispy vortex that began to surround her. "You will no longer have vibrant white scales. Fur will cover your body and it will be dark and dull. Your talons will no longer shine like pearls. They will be jagged and broken. Your eyes will never be sapphire blue again. And your wings, which you hold so dearly, will no longer exist!"

"You will live in a world where you are seen as a pest! A mere inconvenience! Zari, I banish you to a human realm!" By now, the vortex completely encased her and she couldn't see her own snout. She was frozen in place, and could only helplessly listen to Cavvile's words. There was a pause before he spoke more calmly. "But there will be hope. Follow the brightest star that you see and it will lead you to a place where you can live peacefully."

Suddenly, she felt herself falling into the void. Her wings turned into crystals and then shattered. Her scales were becoming fur. Suddenly her talons felt small and brittle. Her entire body felt light and frail. She heard Cavvile one more time before fading into unconsciousness.

"And perhaps this will make you change for the better."