
⭒ "Congratulations Sleek, I am proud to give you the rank of Scout, and consider you a full fledged adult." The crowd of cats meowed in applause. "Congratulations Tenebre, you will be a fine Warrior, protect this clan with your full heart now that you also are an adult of our clan."

⭒ Both of them up there, proud. Tall. and she was still down there. Waiting. Knowing that the stars will never let her be considered an adult of the clan. She will always be considered crippled. Unable to hunt, fight, or help her fellow kin. Mother would never let that happen. After all, she was up there congratulating the two friends she held near and dear. The two felines who were her age. Yet they were adults. And she was still a child.
⭒ This anger filled her, filled her bones enough to make her run. Go. Go to the end of the clan's camp edge, beyond that to the canyon, to the cliffs they used to play. Her heart was full of hate, rage, and jealousy. All the times of being told she would never amount to anything flooded her mind. She was supposed to be happy, but she knew the truth.
⭒ "Hey."
⭒ Sleek had come to check up on her, and when she snapped out of it to see him, the sun was setting. The world was spinning, and her heart was thumping loudly. Sleek seemed so calm though, so steady on his feet. "What's wrong? Are you okay?" The short furred Tom purred softly in an attempt to help calm her, but she seemed to not relent.
⭒ A hiss escaped her lips, she was mad not only at herself, not only at her kin, but at him for ignoring her for all these moons. "You fool! You never take a hint do you!" Yes, this was what she needed, a punching bag. "Just take one for once. You bigot." This caused Sleek confusion, but she didn't stop, but instead stomped closer to the newly appointed scout. "You just ignore me cause you believe the others. You've abandoned me, you don't believe in me. I hate you."
⭒ Shock hit him hard. "Wolf, I only mean well, If I..." The wind blew so hard it was as if his words flew into the canyon. Instead, he tried to get close to her. Tried to purr louder, tried to comfort her.
⭒ "I hate you I hate you I..." Tears ran down her face. She went to push him away but couldn't. He held onto her. "I..."
⭒ "it's okay."
⭒ She knew better though, he was lying to get her to stop. While it was working, he had treated her with such distain as they grew. Ever since she showed any interest in Tenebre, he started to push her away. So why was he here now?
⭒ "Tenebre!" He pulled away. "I didn't think you actually would... I mean I..." His face was red. Wait. Were they meeting in private. First he takes her pride, her skill, and now her love interest.
⭒ "Yeah. I wanted to be honest with you." Tenebre always seemed so straight forward. Confidence filled their steps, but glances towards Wolf seemed concerning. "I..." They stopped in discomfort and proceeded to stare at Wolf.
⭒ With this, Sleek looked to Wolf as well. "Can you give us a mome-"
⭒ Rage was still within her, she was not going to give away everything. She was up for a fight. Tackling Sleek she bit him on the side. "What are you doing!" Sleek proceeded to fight back. kicking legs tossed them back and forth. She mostly wanted to make a point that she could fight too. That she didn't need to be treated like a damsel. That the only reason she wasn't up on that pedestal was her mother didn't believe in her. That no one believed in her. The fight went to far.
⭒ She never meant for it to happen. Just a normal tussle. A fight to prove her strength, nothing more. To show off to Tenebre. Not for Sleek to fall. He did fall, deep into the canyon. She even tried to save him. Tenebre screamed in horror. Wolf also screamed.

⭒ "MURDER." This hurt her so much. But she knew it to be true in her heart. She had killed Sleek. She should run. She should become a rouge and survive on her own. Yet... she couldn't. She was frozen in deep fear. She surely hoped there was angels down there, cause she didn't want to be banished. Despite everything she wasn't going to leave. Despite it all. She couldn't. So no, for Tenebre's sake, for her sake. She must take her punishment.