Violetshine stared at SkyClan's camp exit, her eyes narrowed. It was her vigil, the ancient ceremony that every warrior was supposed to undertake. A gentle breeze ruffled her fur as she gazed upon the exit. She was now a warrior of SkyClan. She was finally with her kin. Well, only her father, Hawkwing but still. Why didn't Twigpaw want to stay with us? Why can't we all just be together for once, in the same Clan… Violetshine shook her head wordlessly. Twigpaw made her decision. I'm sticking with mine. Violetshine's gaze was cast over the warrior's den, her paws aching for rest. No, She grumbled. You are keeping vigil and you will deal with it.
The sounds of her Clanmates' snores echoed in her ears. Her eyelids began to droop as her own soft snore started to become more apparent. Violetshine snapped her head up, forcing her eyes to widen. I need to stay up and watch the Clan for intruders. Violetshine flicked her tail irritably. Twigpaw should've been here too! She thought, an indignant prick poking at her chest. She should've been suffering alongside me, at the least! Pushing away the thoughts, she let out a soft sigh. I really shouldn't think like that. Twigpaw will have a vigil in her own time, and will understand what I had to go through without her.
"What she had to do without her." Did Twigpaw even understand what Violetshine had to go through? Living with a dysfunctional ShadowClan, living under the reign of Darktail, watching brutal murder everyday, and having to lose everyone close to her? Twigpaw would never understand. She had ThunderClan, the meddling know-it-alls that always save the day, that took Twigpaw away from her. Twice. Violetshine had to work for her place in SkyClan. Don't get her wrong, Twigpaw also helped by saving Finpaw's life from the tree falling on his tail. But Twigpaw threw it all away for ThunderClan. Why? Doesn't she care about me and Hawkwing enough to stay?
How come you left me so many times, Violetshine hissed internally. But you still say you love me? Why should I believe you anymore? A pebble seemed to lodge itself in her throat. Why should Twigpaw believe Violetshine either? After all, Violetshine was never truly there with her sister and there was no guarantee that they'd be close after all that had happened during Darktail. Twigpaw isn't the only selfish one, She realized at once. I've also been selfish. Violetshine had neglected how Twigpaw would've felt only because of Violetshine. She didn't care if Twigpaw wasn't comfortable in SkyClan, she only cared about how she felt. Maybe if I put myself in her paws I'll see why she moved back.
She sighed. Twigpaw had ThunderClan. She had a loving foster mother that wanted her. Most of ThunderClan was welcoming and friendly to outsiders, and that's exactly what Twigpaw was. Twigpaw had Alderheart, one of the cats that found them when they were in the tunnel underneath a thunderpath. She was raised with the help of Alderheart…that must explain why. A stab of guilt poked Violetshine's heart. Needletail was basically raising me…but why aren't I more attached to ShadowClan?
Violetshine knew the answer to that from the get go. ShadowClan only cared about the prophecy, and Needletail was the only one who didn't seem to think like that. Needletail was a rebel, and it always seemed like she was trying to break the tie between her and ShadowClan. Until...she did. Once Needletail had helped bring the rogues and Darktail to ShadowClan, it was clear that she didn't care much for ShadowClan anymore. It was clear as day that she'd broken the bonds she had to ShadowClan, and had moved onto Darktail and his Kin. Things got worse and worse...cats who wanted to leave disappeared, or so they'd thought. Then they found out that those cats had been drowned by Darktail himself. And Needletail supported it all… Should Violetshine be glad that Needletail had learned from it all? Well, yes but was the price of death necessary? Once Darktail had caught her giving away the herbs Puddleshine had offered to give away, he made her into a prisoner. And it was my fault! I told Darktail, and it's still my fault that Needletail died!
Violetshine felt her neck fur bristling wildly. Taking in a deep breath, she let her fur lay flat as she returned her gaze to the SkyClan camp exit. Everyone's told me that her death wasn't my fault. But it feels like it. Needletail died sacrificing her life to save Violetshine, giving her the chance to escape from Darktail and the Kin. The memory clung to her like the water droplets clinging onto Needletail's fur after her death…
"Run! Now! Make this count, Violetpaw!" Needletail had yowled to Violetshine -Violetpaw then-, the last words she would ever speak before her fate was sealed. Violetshine had ran like the wind to escape, with the rogue Raven on her tail. Needletail was killed by Darktail, Roach, and Sleekwhisker, the cats she had once looked up to so much. And I had helped cause it.
I should've stayed and helped fought them off. Violetshine growled to herself. Maybe Needletail would be alive with me, and I would still have her. A warm, gentle but rough breeze pushed against Violetshine's fur. She could feel someone's fur brushing up against her's. Casting a brief glance to her right, she was surprised to see nobody there. Yet the scent of someone was there as well. ShadowClan scent. As soon as she was about to yowl the alarm, she stopped at once when she realized whose scent it was. Needletail. Forcing her fur to lay flat, Violetshine sighed. Was Needletail with her? Did Needletail blame her for her death? Would anything be different if Violetshine had stayed and fought?
To Violetshine's surprise, a soft mew spoke into her ears. "Of course I'm with you, you fur-ball." Needletail? It had to be. "Nothing would've changed despite the both of us dying, Violetshine. You have a future with SkyClan, a good one at that. I never would've had one in the first place. But no matter what, I'll always watch over you, Violetshine. You're the best friend I've ever had, and I don't regret sacrificing myself for you in a heartbeat. We'll always be sisters, no matter what…" Violetshine blinked slowly, her breathing beginning to slow down at a steady pace. Not even the sacrifice of Needletail's life could break Violetshine. I have to keep going for Needletail's sake.