Too Perfect
Everyone has a flaw. Everyone, including you. And me too, although the thought that I had no flaws, was what eventually ended my days.
Pride. It is a dangerous thing.
I grew up thinking I was perfect.
Funny thing. When you were young, you believe everything your parents say. I wasn't born pretty, what with my ragged stuck-out brown pelt and tiny yellow eyes, but my mom and dad acted like I was. They said that I was the most beautiful, most intelligent, most caring cat in the world, and I believed it all. I really thought I was superior to everyone else.
You would have thought that the leader would have tried to put a stop to it, but he didn't. He did not approve of the way I was being raised, but he always let that subject go. I guess he thought that he shouldn't interfere with personal matters like this.
I wish he had.
The other kits hated me for everything: my name, which was Sparklykit, the way I acted like I owned the universe, and my being a jerk towards my peers. Of course, I didn't care one bit. To me, they were just another bunch of idiots who couldn't acknowledge that I was perfect and they were not. Even when I earned my warrior name, Sparklymist, and my flaws became more and more evident to me, my parents still pushed them down, saying, "Just ignore them. Remember, you are special. Just remember that."
Oh, I remembered that alright.
From then on, my bossy behavior only continued. The clan despiced me. Often I found myself doing a patrol alone. No one offered to share fresh-kill with me. Sometimes I would even slack off and just sleep the whole day away, trusting that the hunting patrols will bring back enough fresh-kill for me. I was oblivious to all my faults.
Then one day, things escalated.
The deputy, Jayfoot was going out for a patrol when a monster hit him and broke several of his limbs, killing him instantly. I, being the uncaring fool that I was, was happy because I could finally fulfill my dreams of being leader. When it was time for Rockstar (heh heh) to appoint a new deputy, I was so sure that he would call my name, so sure that I would walk up into the light and claim my rightful place.
Unfortunately, or rather, unfortunately, things did not go as I planned.
When he announced that Dawnshine would be the new deputy instead of me, I raged. My parents challenged him, and we almost went to the verge of fighting, when the medicine cat stepped in and stopped the conflict. Thankfully, no further trouble was inflicted after that, but my selfish behavior continued, all the way until I died in a battle with a rival clan. I was hardly even fighting: just hanging back in the shadows, while everyone else risked their lives. When I was attacked, no one came to my aid. And when I think about it, they were right not to.
Now I stand in judgement before Starclan, and the numerous cats of the stars stood in a circle around me. I stood there, my head bowed. I knew what was going to happen.
"You, Sparklymist, will be accepted by Starclan as a member of the everlasting sky."
What? I stared. "What about my parents?"
"They both were sent to the Dark Forest." The starry cat's eyes glowed. "Their method of teaching has corrupted you, and you are lucky the influence has not stretched further."
"But..." My eyes widened. Even though what they did was wrong, I still loved them all the same. "But..."
Then I just knew what I truly deserved. I took a deep breath. "How about I go to the Dark Forest in exchange for them to go to Starclan?"
The she-cat's eyes narrowed. "That has never been done before."
"Listen." I stood up. "I should have known better. It was my fault! I was greedy, lazy, and selfish my entire life, and I'm not afraid to admit it. They did it because... well, I'm sure they have their reasons. But please!"
There was silence for a long time. But finally, it was broken a few moments later.
"Fine. I assure you that you have learned your lesson?"
