OVER READY

Instructions

One pawstep, I was just a kit. Though born after a great calamity of my home, I would bring forth the new age, and I would bring it on head on. With my paws, claws unsheathed and ready to take it all on! Perhaps that ever since that time, I was destined for this. It may not have been how it was supposed to go that I was taken away from The Dynasty, but I think that it was fate that I was instead ShadowClan. The clan of battling, of honour and justice, what it truly was! And ever since that’s what I have wanted to be. That’s what I have wanted to do. So I did. When you want to do something, you need to take that pawstep. And that was my first, into the world before me, which I would then face. Face my next pawstep. It must have been destiny that Quailstar had recognised my natural talent and appointed me as his apprentice! I won’t say I don’t like to brag… but I don’t count myself as someone who is arrogant. After all, I honour kindness. Though, I do quite like the spotlight! Speaking of that, I know that Quailstar saw my potential. I was always destined to be the greatest fighter, for our great leader saw so! Training with him was tough, but I expected no less, and expected no return, either. Though, I was quite surprised to see that he did in fact praise my efforts. But I am truly aware praise and buttering up shall get you no where, only the action will! So I kept going, with only the best training me. I truly hoped to uphold the honour with the work I put in. And then, I became a warrior, got my name, life went on, third pawstep- Ah, wait Something’s wrong. Born after a great calamity of my home. My true home. I was born in The Serpentine Dynasty, though I never fully witnessed it, only heard of it through the tales I was told. A sandy, scorched place, where snakes roamed the land, and only the fiercest, sharpest warriors lived. Me and my sister, Saint, would’ve fit right in. Sable with her fiery blaze of strength, and Saint with her cool light of glory. I wonder what names we would have had. Would have. Because it was not destiny for us to stay there. I had always thought that was who I was- a member of the Dynasty, despite the fact that it was no longer. But as I gaze upon the clan before me… who truly am I? I am not someone to scrape for the scraps of a fallen legacy, as magnificent as it was. I am a cat who is now, and proud of it. Yet still, it was always apart of me that I was a cat to carry it all on. But I never really did uphold it, did I? I should feel guilt. Yet nothing swam in my belly. I have met amazing cats. Holly’s Keeper… the previous leader of the Dynasty. She is so different from me. She is a Dynasty cat. I am not. But no sadness I felt. I didn’t even witness the Dynasty. I will always be grateful for it, it will always be an important part of me. But, looking at all that’s happened- I’m a ShadowClan cat! Third pawstep, I proved my worth. I journeyed alongside ShadowClan, I fought for it, I loved it. I still do. I love the way of things. I love the territory and I love the cats I have met. None of this would have happened if it weren’t for fate. Yet fate drew me to the right path. For me. And now, for my third pawstep, I will make a decision. I could stay tied to what could’ve been, or I could accept it and be at peace with what now is. And the choice is mine, all mine for the taking. All mine to face head on, just like I did as a kit, apprentice, and now… What is my fate. Because it is my fate to face it all head on, in my fiery blaze, and I will always be at peace with that- with my place in ShadowClan, with my family, friends, and all those who I have met. My expression changed into a smile, for I now know that is what I truly must do. Not a goal, not an ambition. Just for me to be… me. My warrior ceremony is tomorrow. My third pawstep. I walk upwards to where I know where Quailstar’s den is, and with my confident stance and ambitious smile, I face it head on. “Hey, Quailstar. I think I want a warrior name.”