Never Meant To Be





nEVER MEANT TO Be

one-shot entry for Gigglepaw's contest <3

a love story

I was ready for my next mission. I'm part of the rogue bad group that steals items out of the Clans' territory and kills Clan cats: The Resolutes. Being a resolute was pretty much my whole life. Because what else would you want to be? We steal many items, ranging from a scrawny mouse to a 3 moon kit.

"Ryan! Commander Jessica Ruth would like to see you." Matthew meowed as he passed me.

"All righty!" I walk around our base camp to find the Commander's den. I swiftly plunge through the berry bushes, strong flowers filling my nostrils. It's a mystical feeling, just un-describable. Just where you want to jump about, act like a happy kitten, and be joyous as nothing serious was going on in the world. I stop dilly-dallying and finally make my way to Jessica's den. She's sitting in front of her den, her ears pricked as if she were expecting someone. Her lithe, small frame and light brown tabby fur blew out against the wind and, as my fur ruffled against the jasmine bushes, her green parakeet gaze trapped me like a hawk.

"Greetings Commander."

"Greeting Ryan," Jessica meows, beckoning me inside the den with her tail. "I suppose you wonder why I called you. Well every cat does. Now, Master Arthur wanted you to go on a solo mission."

My ears prick and I can't suppress a mew of excitement. A solo mission! I'm special!

Jessica mrows in amusement. "Don't get too excited, though. You will be going to the Gathering and you will murder a WindClan she-cat called Lilywish. Her father, Stoneheart knows of us and is attempting wrecking us at all costs. Killing his daughter is the only way to show him he has to back off. Once you are done, bring her body back and we'll take care of how to let Stoneheart know. You are entering WindClan territory - the open moor. Any cat can see you easily. Hopefully you will be fast enough. And do not fail."

"I would never, Commander! What strategy should I use?"

"Anyone you'd like," Jessica smiles. "You must start today and return at moon-high. Now go, Ryan! And don't fail us. This food is for the kits."

I nod and run off gleefully out of camp.

It's quite quiet. I watch the sun drop over the moor before I make my run. I've been here once before with my father, Alex and brother, Jay. We were hunting a little prey but never entered camp. I skipped over the stones and finally landed in the Gathering.

And realized I was right in the open where everyone would see me. THEY DON'T RECOGNIZE ME, THEY'LL KNOW I'M A ROGUE! WHAT DO I DO?? Oh man, oh man, I'll be kicked out of The Resolutes oh my StarClan. OK. Ryan, calm down and take it easy. You have the power of lying.

"Who are you?"

Uh.

Oh.

I DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TIME TO PLAN TIME IS UP! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

I turn around awkwardly, a goofy grin playing on my gray face. "Hi." The word tumbles out quickly.

"Hi," the gray she cat smiles. It was the most beautiful smile I'd ever seen. "I haven't seen you around before. What Clan are you of?"

"I uhhhhh, I'm from WindClan."

The she-cat frowns. "I'm a WindClan warrior and I don't know you."

"Ahhh uhh sorry, my memory oh my StarClan why do I forget! I uhh...ThunderClan. I'm Stormpelt." Why do I keep on saying 'uhh'? And what kind of name is Stormpelt?

She smiles understandingly. "Short memory there, eh? Well nice to meet you, Stormpelt. I'm Lilywish." She walks past me, brushing her soft pelt against me.

I am frozen. My heart is frozen. She's the one I murder tonight.

"Let the Gathering begin! ShadowClan will start," a brown tabby she cat meowed. "We have new warriors, Russetpelt and Sandtail."

"Russetpelt! Sandtail!" Everyone chants. I join them but I don't want to as they are stupid names anyway."

"ThunderClan has a badger attacking our warriors. We will shift our territory to Sunningrocks." a gray tom meowed.

"But Pearstar, you could just kill the badger!" a ginger she cat meowed in the crowd.

"No. Cats are going to get killed in the process and that cannot happen." Pearstar nodded. The clearing erupted in worry chatter and I tune out, thinking about how I plan to kill Lilywish. It's just-after meeting her, it feels so wrong and bad....I can't explain it. The feeling of striking down her beautiful smile that lit up a million candles, to never see it again-the pain is unbearable. As if she was queued, Lilywish padded over to me, that same smile-AGH-and her beautiful silver tail swishing beautifully and her beautiful green eyes-I'm saying beautiful too much oh stop it Ryan- er, Stormpelt.

"So what do you think the solution should be?" She smiles.

"Uhhh I dunno. Solution?"

"For the badger."

"Ah right um well I think they should just kill the badger already. Badger gone, problem done!" I grin goofily.

Lilywish looks uncertain. "But warriors and apprentices will die. I think they should leave a, you know, trap for the badger and stuff some deathberries inside a large piece of tempting prey?"

My eyes light up-at least, I think they do. "That's such a great idea!"

"Oh! Really?"

"Yes, really. You should tell everyone your idea."

"Stormpelt, no. I'm pretty sure it won't work. The badger can probably smell the trick-"

"It's an outstanding strategy. Better than those ThunderClan mousebrains can think of. Go on, say it!"

Lilywish smiles a little and turns to walk over to Pearstar when she stops. And looks back at me. "Stormpelt, you just called your Clan mousebrains...."

Um. Uh oh? "I....well, you see, my Clan is sorta stuck-up you know? Right? Not much likeable."

Lilywish hesitates and doesn't seem like she's going to buy it. "Oookkkaayyy." She says before walking up to Pearstar.

"I have an idea!"

Pearstar looks at her and sneers. "You're a WindClan cat."

"So?," I call from where I'm seated. "She can still help your Clan! Unless your arrogance outweighs your willingness to save your clanmates."

Pearstar gives me a questionable look and some respect flashes in his eyes for a moment before he confronts Lilywish. "What is it?"

"Well I was thinking you could poison the badger. Stuff some death berries in some prey, mask the scent, then leave a trail to the poisoned carcass. It might eat it."

Murmurs of approval ripple through the crowd.

"That is good.," Pearstar mews thoughtfully. "We thank you very much for sharing your idea with us, Lilywish."

"RiverClan has a new litter of kits born to Dawnshimmer and Nightfish. Shellkit, Conchkit and Conekit." The RiverClan tom leader announces.

"WindClan has nothing to announce." the WindClan she cat leader states flatly.

"Gathering dismissed!" ShadowClan leader meows.

"So weird, right? Celandinestar is such a grump." Lilywish mews. I realize she is speaking of her leader.

"Yeah."

"Oh well, we should get to our Clans.," Lilywish gazes at me, smiling. "See you another time. May StarClan shine your way."

I nod, unable to speak, and as she walks away, I feel a burden lift. Like a spell being lifted; like she enchanted me with her words. Then I come to my senses. WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME? WHY AM I LETTING A CAT I AM SUPPOSED TO MURDER ENCHANT ME? Have I failed The Resolutes? Will I be sent to a lower ranking? Or the dreaded servants? I shiver. No. I have until moonhigh to bring back her dead body. And as I think "her dead body", a cold shiver runs down my spine.

I roam around WindClan territory, wondering how to find her. It's nighttime and I assume my steps can easily be heard in the moor. I approach a gorse barrier - the camp entrance, I guess. Well. Here's the moment: I have to find the warriors den, seek out Lilywish, kill her, and bring the body back. Sounds so easy, yet so hard. Right as I take a step inside the camp, I feel a figure behind me. I whirl around and smell a familiar scent. "I-Ian?"

"Yes Ryan, it's me.," a hushed whisper meowed. A feeling of cold dread swarms in my stomach as, I realize a Resolute had followed me. "Master sent me to accompany you to kill the she-cat. Now what's the plan?"

I have to think fast. "Well I was going to bring her out her from the Warriors' den and bring her here and...we can both murder her here."

"Good plan. Now go!"

Without thinking, I run swiftly into the camp, and inspect the dens. Most sheltered one: Nursery. One in center: Leader's. And-the biggest one:...obviously warriors' den. I rush into it quickly.