It's amazing how much damage can be done when you have nothing but good intentions.
I lay there, my silhouette almost unseen against the dark shadows of the night sky. The moon was perfectly full, only one day past the full moon, shining brightly amongst a few shining stars. The sky was alive with color; a perfect ombre. The beautiful dark blue, tinted silver-black at the top, was melting down into lighter shades, and the best part, near the sun, the sky was blurred into a pale orange, red and pink color. It was so beautiful, it was mesmerizing.
Pulling my gaze away, I stared at the lake ahead of me. It was so shrunken. Not worried about getting yelled at by RiverClan, I padded forward to the very center, touching at the tiny part of lake left. I reached out a soft paw and gently touched the water, watching the ripples that had been created. The force of that single touch had caused the reflection of the stars and moon to vanish slightly, blurring into a beautiful abstract of blue, silver, and yellow. The waves from the lake lapped at the edge of the shore, and my eyes shimmered as I watched them.
My dark, thin silhouette was almost unseen against the shadows of the evening sky. The moon, a perfect full moon, Heart aching with loneliness, I lay down, pressing the side of my face to the cool, damp sand. I shivered slightly as the wave slapped me on the side, drenching me in water. I didn't move however, but laid even more still than before. I watched the movement of the water, the twisting, dancing movements as it lapped at my fur.
It was so peaceful but relentless at the same time I had to pull away. I hadn't realized how heavily my bones ached with exhaustion. Growling with frustration at my tiredness, I shook myself, sending drops of water flying. I watched them as they sparkled in the air, blinking and reflecting all of that around them. I was mesmerized for a moment, before jerking myself back to reality.
I shook my head once, narrowing my eyes and focusing my vision on one thing. I gazed across the lake, my dark blue gaze fixating itself on the island. The gathering island. The gathering that my sister had been allowed to go to yesterday, and I hadn't. I scowled with frustration. My sister. Perfect Dovepaw. Great hunter, apparently even had been good enough to go on a quest made for strong warriors. Not apprentices. I scowled fiercely into the beach. As if.
I shivered, loneliness creeping into my heart again. I was so alone right now, I didn't know what to think. Firestar had stated that two cats were to go on a miraculous adventure, a heroic quest, to bring back the water. I had hoped to go, but of course I knew I wouldn't get to go. In fact, I thought no apprentice or even new warrior would be able to go! It is dangerous, heroic, and life-threatening after all. I bit back a snarl. That was, except for my perfect sister.
Dovepaw gets to go on the quest. With Lionblaze. Lionblaze I can understand, being a fit, strong warrior. But what was so special with Dovepaw? Just because she thought of the idea? Any kit could have thought of that idea! Would that mean they get to go? I realized I was ranting, but I clenched my jaw. I didn't care. It was just so unfair. When she came back, she would be a hero! She would be even more in the spotlight, and what would I be?
Nothing. That's what. Irrelevant, tossed aside, not thought about. Lost in my sister's shadow. It just wasn't fair. They could at least treat me with some respect, instead of all of the senior warrior's, and even Firestar for StarClan's sakes, padding after Dovepaw and acting as if she was StarClan's gift to us! She was just a regular cat. My sister. My sister. My flesh and blood. My sister.
I drew in a shaky breath. Loneliness flooded into me again, and a wail fought its way in my throat. Despair clenched my heart tightly, and my gut twisted. I had pretended to be asleep when Dovepaw left, just to not have to say goodbye. I then had come here, to relax. But I couldn't. Worry seeped into me. I had been so jealous and resentful I hadn't gotten to think about it properly. Dovepaw could die on that quest!
"No…" I gasped, my chest heaving. What if she died? I never got to say goodbye! How dare Firestar, sending her on such a dangerous quest? What if she disappeared? If I never saw her again… I choked on my loneliness, eyes glistening slightly. I loved Dovepaw, as much as I hated her. Even if she got all the attention, I knew that she still tried to spend time with me. She was my sister and my best friend!
A streak of light broke me from my thoughts. My jaw dropped open with awe. A shooting star! The star blazed across the sky, leaving a trail of bright light in it's wake. It was miraculous and beautiful at the same time.
Make a wish!
I squeezed my eyes shut. Nothing came to my mind. And then two things at once. I prayed that this shooting star would work, because I wanted these two things more than anything. Normally, I wouldn't make a wish. I knew that, there was something that could go wrong. Wishes found loopholes, and your mind often thought of things you really didn't want.
Be careful what you wish for, because you just might get it.
This time, however, I realized it was worth it.
Please let Dovepaw be safe, and please let Dovepaw disappear…
The shooting star shot away from vision.
from the spotlight for a while.
I let out a gasp of horror.
It didn't let me finish my wish.
I wanted to just have a bit of time in the spotlight! But the shooting star only got the first half. That Dovepaw would disappear. Suddenly, I changed my mind. I wished that the shooting star was all a big lie, that it really didn't work. If it did work, and my sister did disappear… A strangled noise came from my throat. I stumbled backwards from my spot on the lake, looking at the mark my body left in the sand.
I pulled away, running blindly into the forest. If it was true, and shooting stars really did work… Then I had just condemned my sister into death. No, wait. I had asked for her to be safe. I had made it so my sister would disappear, and not come back. All I wanted was for her to come back, but instead of her being fully in the spotlight, for me to get some of that light as well. I wanted to shine for once. But not it was all ruined.
Why was I so stupid?
Why did I wish on that stupid star?
Now I would never see my sister again. I didn't even get to say goodbye.
I stared miserably forward, my ears flattened and my eyes dark with sadness.
Why was I such a horrible sister?