"Stay focused and alert" A trio of lioness stalked the savannah, footsteps light and precise. "We can't afford to lose anything else today."

The comment was said with an underlying tone of accusation, though only one lioness looked bothered by it.  'It's not like I meant to' Aura thought, black tipped ears flattening against her skull. 'Every lion miss's prey, is it fair to bully me about it?' To the adolescent, it seemed overly harsh, especially since this was only her fourth hunt. But Sora wasn't known for her kindness and was always tough. Because she was the prides lead huntress, she was particularly brutal with her words on hunts. So, despite being a newbie, Aura wasn't spared harsh words and am even meaner sideways glare. She ducked her head despite her thoughts, trying to ignore the flare of embarrassment she felt as Harmony -the other lioness in the trio- gave her a sympathetic glance.

"Sora!" A call made the group look up, as a tan colored lioness bounded over. Sunny was small but quick, the perfect scout. "A herd of gazelle northwest from here. It's a small herd, seven with three calves."

"We're moving" Sora flicked her tail silently telling the group to move closer at her flanks. This way, it would be easier to give commands without the need to speak loudly. Aura kept to one side, a little nervous since her previous screw up.

With Sunny in the lead, the group soon came across the gazelle. The tan lioness dropped back, letting Sora take her rightful place in the front. 

"We'll take that one" The four crouched, hidden carefully. Sora's voice was barely audible, causing Aura to strain her ears to hear. She zeroed in on a wandering calf, who was just far enough from the herd. It wasn't quite a baby, but still clearly younger than the rest of its herd.

"Sunny, you're the fastest, so get ready to run and cut it off from the rest of the herd. Harmony will go with you ask back-up"

The two nodded, slinking off with care.

"Sora" Aura couldn't help but whisper. "What about...me?"

"You'll watch. We can't afford to miss this."

Aura flinched at the words, stung. But what was she supposed to do, talk back? Of course not. So, she dipped her head submissively, eyes lowering. "Yes, Sora"

"Good" The larger lioness growled, gaze darting to the left. Her tail tip twitched, and the grass to the side exploded in movement.

Aura watched as Sunny and Harmony darted out from their cover, fangs on display. They roared in unison, shooting for the small gap between the herd and calf. The ground shook as hooves collided with the earth, the herd looked wide eyed and fearful. The calf seemed frozen in fear, letting out a helpless wail for its mom. However, the mother was unable to get to her baby, Sunny and Harmony blocking its way. The two snarled and snapped, fending off the braver herd members whilst dipping between hooves. 

Aura's gaze was taken from them as Sora in front of her suddenly moved. In only a few moments, the speckled gray lioness had leapt, using her body weight to throw the unsteady calf down. Sharo fangs pierced its throat, and it began to kick out with its legs. The attempt didn't work, with Sora keeping a firm grip. 

A solemn sense of understanding seemed to wash through the herd as Auras ears twitched with a sorrowful call, the gazelle fleeing. Sunny and Harmony ran them off several yards before whipping back around and returning. By the time they'd gotten back, the battle was over with Sora the victor. Even from afar, Aura could see that the calf's breathing had slowed considerably, and as she emerged from her spot to creep closer, could no longer see its chest rise and fall.

"Good work" Sora said, giving a short nod to Harmony and Sunny. The two exchanged happy looks and though she wasn't able to help this time, Aura felt a surge of pride and happiness as well. Her pride would be fed, which was the most important part.

Sora bent down to grab the now dead calf by its neck, and the group began their slow journey back home.

There are many sure things in this world. The turning of the seasons, the cycle of life and the development of everyday life. Another certainty is the growth of plants, flowers and food. It is a cycle that should never be ceased, or the world would surely fall to ruins. After all, what would the world do without plants?

"Magnolia"

The day was simply beautiful, perfect for flowers to truly thrive. High above the earth in the Guardians Realm, a large field was meeting the sun's gaze with raised heads, looking seemingly fine.

"Magnolia"

However, upon closer inspection, one could see that the flowers were not doing as well as they should. Tips of petals darkened, and vivid colors were mellowing out. Bright green stalks mixed with shades of brown and black, and some plants were bending over the heat.

"Magnolia!"

A creature akin to a winged lion finally rose their head from their spot beneath a towering tree. Blue eyes focused, and they rose to their paws.

"Were you calling me?"

Infront of the lioness stood a cheetah, long legs and a lean frame. Their golden fur was bristled, golden eyes aflame in anger. 

"Yes!" Their voice was full of barely concealed exasperation. "I've called you three times! Why were you sleeping?!"

Magnolia sat on her haunches; brown tipped tail curled around them. "I was just dozing, why?"

"Dozing?!" A sort of heat blazed from the cheetah, a sweltering hot fury from within. "More like not doing your job!" They gestured to the field of flowers, which seemed to weep their sorrows with even more lowered heads.

"It's summer" Magnolia gazed at the flowers without understanding. "The flowers will wilt as they must. Though when they die, their sprout-kin will leap up to take their place. That is the way of the Garden-of-Growth."

"You're spouting nonsense!" The cheetah bared their fangs with a snarl. "I am who makes the sun turn 'round every day, and I know what the earth should look like! But this-" She turned her furious glare onto the plants, then to Magnolia. "This is not it!"

"Dash" Magnolia heaved a sigh from the seemingly depths of her soul. "It is you who makes sure the sun fills the sky every day, but it is me who cares for the flora. I understand your concerns, but they are unneeded. I am the caretaker of this garden, and I know how to do my job."

"Do you really?" Dash took a challenging step forward, tossing a glance over her shoulder. "Because it doesn't seem like it. You neglect your flowers in favor of napping when it's hot, or experimenting with you should be watching! I've spoken with the other guardians, and they all feel the same. You are not fit for this job."

"What?" For the first time, Magnolias eyes widened, even more so when from the entrance crept the other guardians. 

Some couldn't meet her eyes of disbelief, and some glared at her; murmuring quietly.

"I do my job" Magnolia's voice rose slightly, stretching her wings. "I cannot be replace. The ones on earth would perish without me."

"They're perishing already." The guardian of life and death -Mono- remarked. "These plants are not only to look at and admire, but they create food for many living things. I am in charge of both life, and death; so trust me when I say that a concerning amount of animals have been starving."

"Yes" The guardian of fauna -a delicate looking deer- frowned. "They are hungry, from the bunnies to the animals that eat them. If the plant-eaters fall, then so will everyone else. We have to do something, before chaos ensures."

"And I know just the thing" Dash circled Magnolia, teeth in a grimace. "We get rid of the problem. Her"

"You wouldn't...you couldn't!" Magnolia cried. "I'll do bet-OH!" She twisted out of the way, avoiding Dash's lunge.

"Get out! Get out! Get out! Get out!" 

A cry rose from the crowd, and the pink lioness spread her wings to propel herself forward, swept up in a wave of emotions. Fear, anger, hurt, confusion.

She ran; far and long. The realm of the guardians did not stretch on forever though and when she saw the edge....she leapt.

Falling.

Falling.

Falling.

She was falling.

"Aspenflight, you cant be serious!" Sunstreak cried, voice filled with shock. "Hes our son! We cant kill h-"

"We have to, its our duty to the clan" For the first time in awhile, he met her gaze head on. "Blueblaze is right." He dropped Sparkkit, making the kit wail, and Sunstreak rush forward to cradle her son. "We cannot put one cat over everyone else. If he really will grow up to be an inferno, we should stop him now."

"Whats wrong with you?!" Sunstreak spat, fear ebbing away to anger. "That isnt fair! Theres only one cat who can decide his future, and its him! Why should we listen to Blueblaze?!? Hes never been right in the head, you know that!"

"Gingerstars words are the law" Aspenflight said simply. His voice was devoid of emotion, there was no reasoning with him.

"But he's your son! How could you even thin-"

"That cat is no son of mine." 

Those words broke her, shattering her heart. The empty space created a steely determination as she straightened, drawing herself up to her full height. 

"Then you are no mate of mine. You're a monster, and everyone who wants my son dead is too. I will not allow anyone to take him. Anyone."

Aspenflight met her glare with a blank expression. "Then you'll be exiled."

"I will turn my back on starclan as they have done to me" The declaration was strong, but a mothers love knows no bounds. Sunstreak knew that what she said could never be taken back, but she didn't care. Her kit, her only kit, was hers and hers alone. She wouldn't allow his fate to be decided by the stars above.

"If you won't, then I will" And the brown tom lunged, claws out.

Sunstreak met him halfway, allowing her fury to lash out with wild abandon.

Blood splattered the clearing as Sparkkit whimpered. He could barely see, and barely walk. But the fight infront of him screamed danger, he was scared. Crawling on his belly, he hid underneath a thorn bush, the darkness hiding him. Two blurred figures fought, and the brighter one fell first. 

Mother.

The second one paced around, snarling the name he knew was his. But he did not dare make a sound, shaking. Soon the second figure was gone, leaving the first.

Mother, are you okay?

He struggled out of his hiding spot, sniffing. The smell was scary, so he turned around and heaved himself in the other direction. He felt something urge him away, away from the blood and fear.

Step after step he moved, until he could no more. Exhausted, scared, lonely and hungry. Sparkkit cried, head resting on the ground. His eyes closed as he wailed, too weak to stay open.

"Hey, it's a kit!"