Cursed From Birth

This is a fanfiction by Firewind

Cursedpaw was born on the day of the Clan leader's death, thus making her 'cursed'. Even though she's not really cursed, her Clanmates blame her for every bad thing that happens to them. Though often stigmatized as an unlucky cat, Cursedpaw makes unusual friends. And uncovers a deadly secret.

## Allegiances

### FernClan

#### Leader

Tawnystar - A tawny tom with white markings on his forehead. Has light green eyes. Apprentice, Barleypaw

#### Deputy

Flickerwing - A silver tabby she-cat with a white belly, tail tip, and paws. Has azure blue eyes.

#### Medicine Cat

Twigclaw - A bark brown she-cat with dark gray flecks and amber eyes.

#### Warriors

Breezewhisper - A ginger tabby tom with a white chest and splotches of yellow. Has piercing yellow eyes. Apprentice, Cursedpaw

Stalkfeather - A gray she-cat with a white chest. Smaller than most cats; the size of an apprentice. Has warm amber eyes.

Blazefang - A pale gray tom with ginger flecks. Has amber eyes.

Grasstail - A black she-cat with a white tail. Has green eyes.

Gorseclaw - A gray she-cat with black spots. Has unusually long claws and pale green eyes. Apprentice, Flowerpaw

Heatherstrike - An all black tom with green eyes. Has a jagged scar on his right shoulder. Apprentice, Mousepaw

Smokedust - A dark gray tom with white ears. Has amber eyes.

Gladerunner - A swift tom with brown fur and blue eyes.

Wingshadow - A white tom with a black belly , tail tip, and ears. Has a patch of black fur around his left eye. Has green eyes.

Glazedpeak - A ginger she-cat with yellow eyes. Has some white stripes.

#### Apprentices

Cursedpaw - A gray she-cat with amber eyes. Has some black stripes.

Mousepaw - A pale brown tom with amber eyes. Has white splotches.

Barleypaw - A yellow tabby tom with green eyes. Has a long tail.

Flowerpaw - A pretty yellow tabby she-cat with amber eyes. Has a white chest and tail tip.

#### Queens

Oakbranch - A brown she-cat with white flecks. (Mother to Breezewhisper's kits Springkit, a ginger tom with green eyes; Hillkit, a pale brown she-kit with yellow eyes; and Featherkit, a yellow tom with amber eyes.

#### Elders

Hawkfang - A brown tabby tom with a scar snaking along his tail. Retired early due to breaching the warrior code by letting a rogue's kit drown. Has green eyes.

## Prologue

"Bladestar's dead!"

Tawnyspark's yowl echoed in FernClan's hollow camp, catching the attention of the anxiously mingling cats, warriors and apprentices alike. Wails of grief chorused, making a beautiful yet eerie song, covering up the night sounds of the forest. Glazedpeak joined in, her normally graceful voice cracking like dry rocks. Her mate Blazefang brushed his tail down along her back, making a failed attempt to comfort her. Her unnamed kit squealed, sucking her milk quietly. Her kit was gray; very much like her father, with some darker black stripes marking her face and lining her legs and flanks.

It was rare to give birth to only one kit, with no stillborn littermates. Yet the rare occasion had occurred just hours before the Clan leader had died from a mysterious illness. Tawnyspark stepped off the Highledge; which was only five cats high, where the leader's den was placed. The new leader stalked imperiously up to the nursery, and entered it, facing the three cats.

"Hello, Glazedpeak, Blazefang." He nodded in acknowledgement to each in turn. "I see your...*offspring* is doing well." Tawnyspark spat out the word "offspring" like it was a piece of rotten prey. What was Tawnyspark doing in the nursery? Didn't he have to go to the Moonstone to get his *precious nine lives*? Glazedpeak thought bitterly. She had never liked the smug and boisterous deputy, and she never would. Blazefang looked just as confused as she did. "Unfortunately, this *thing* has been born on the day the Clan leader has deceased, so it is clearly ***cursed***. Your small offspring is officially cursed, as of today and until the end of my leadership. This kit will be a disgrace to our Clan, and will never be favored, never, under my leadership"

Glazedpeak and Blazefang let out a small gasp.

"And from now on, until this kit becomes an apprentice, this kit will be called Cursedkit."

## Chapter One

Cursedpaw ducked, merely dodging a pale brown tom's swipes.

"Come on, Cursed-Cat. Don't just dodge like a coward. Fight me!" Mousepaw launched himself into Cursedpaw, pummeling her chest with sheathed claws. Cursedpaw let out a soft hiss as she got pinned. Mousepaw puffed out his chest, triumphant. "Your enemies won't be sheathing their claws during a *real* battle. If this were a real battle, you'd be c-" Cursedpaw surged up and toppled Mousepaw and put her claws on his throat. She swished her tail in satisfaction and she grinned.

"Who's the one pinned now?" She mewed, playfully and meaningfully at once.

"Get off me, you coward!" Mousepaw yelped, trying to land blows on Cursedpaw, who blocked them swiftly.

"I'm no coward. In battle, cats use tricks all the time. And I'm pretty sure you used one on Barleypaw while battle training last time." She said slyly, trying hard not to laugh as she saw Mousepaw, embarrassed, shifting his paws. She stepped off of the larger apprentice, who thankfully didn't charge at her for revenge. A hiss made both apprentices turn.

"Cursedpaw, you need to fight like a honorable warrior in battle. Don't use tricks like a sly rogue!" Breezewhisker stomped off to the camp, causing prey to scatter among the forest. Cursedpaw sighed, shaking her head. Breezewhisker was a senior warrior, but he had the most snappy personality in the Clan. Cursedpaw assumed that Tawnystar had wanted her to get depressed by the warrior's harsh comments by assigning Breezewhisper as Cursedpaw's mentor.

Tawnystar hated her.

So did everyone else.

A small gray she-cat emerged from the nearby bramble bushes. "No need to dwell on Breezewhisper's comments. He doesn't really mean all of that. He's like that to everyone, you know." Stalkfeather meowed reassuringly, flicking her tail to signal that Mousepaw was free to go. The pale brown tom nodded, his amber eyes shining like gold in the filtering sunlight. He padded quietly back to the camp, casting Cursedpaw a slightly worried look.

Ok, maybe not *everyone*.

"Thanks, Stalkfeather, but weren't you supposed to be on Heatherstrike's hunting patrol?" Cursedpaw genuinely felt better; it wasn't a lie this time.

"Yup. I'm hunting right now! I just made some time so I could be your good friend for a few minutes! I guess I can't hunt in this area anymore; Breezewhisper's scared all the prey from here to the Avian Tree!" Stalkfeather *mrrowed* cheerfully.

Cursedpaw smiled. "Well, thanks for being my good friend."

"My pleasure."

The two met their gazes for a second, as the forest's sounds were quieter than ever; partly due to a cranky warrior stomping around, and partly due to Cursedpaw drowning out those sounds, just to focus on the channeling friendship with the older cat. The two sat on the floor of the training clearing and enjoyed the sounds of the wilderness. Cursedpaw let the beautiful sounds slide into her ear and imagined a life in which she was much more happier; a life where she wasn't deemed cursed, a life where Tawnystar didn't hate her.

Minutes passed, and eventually Stalkfeather got up.

"Well, I better go." The small gray warrior mewed, flicking her tail, clearly in a good mood. "I need to hunt before the others notice I'm gone. It was good having time together."

"Thanks for taking some time with me." Cursedpaw meowed, her mood in the greatest condition ever. No one has *ever* said that it was good to have time together to her. Most said "Thanks for wasting my time" or lashed their tail in impatience, anxious to get back to their work.

Stalkfeather smiled her soft smile, which kind of made her look like an apprentice smiling at her crush. But Cursedpaw knew they were only friends. Stalkfeather liked Smokedust, and Smokedust liked the small gray warrior, and Cursedpaw thought that was for the best. (Stalkfeather was her aunt; Cursedpaw's father, Blazefang was her brother.)

"See you back at the camp." Stalkfeather purred, flicking her tail happily.

"You too." Cursedpaw meowed, letting a small smile lit her face.

She was happy for the first time in moons.

Cursedpaw hummed softly as she stalked off to the camp, letting herself enjoy the beauty of the forest.

## Chapter Two

A quarter moon had passed after Cursedpaw and Stalkfeather's meeting.

The two had met two more times, this time in a hidden clearing in the FernClan forest. They'd talked about practically everything, about the exceptionally loud snoring of several cats, how snotty Tawnystar was acting, and how peaceful the world outside FernClan was. They'd enjoyed the pure beauty of the forest, and they'd tried guessing birds' names just from their mating calls.

Cursedpaw was changing Hawkfang's bedding when the moment that would change her life came. Barleypaw was checking Hawkfang for ticks, working alongside her. Cursedpaw liked Barleypaw, he was quiet yet outgoing when she got to know him. He was friendly and didn't call her Cursed-Cat, nor glare at her in disgust. He was the closest friend she had who was her age.

Hawkfang was drowsing, snoring softly, and lashing his tail rather violently, as if he was dreaming of something. The brown tabby tom was quite young, he had to get retired early due to letting a rogue's kit drown. He seemed unsatisfied, and he actively resisted against Tawnystar because of the leader making him retire early. Hawkfang didn't care about Cursedpaw, he just called her 'Cursedpaw'.

"I miss Woodtail. He was such a good storyteller." Barleypaw sighed. He was rubbing some mouse bile against Hawkfang's scruff, removing a large tick. Cursedpaw nodded, remembering the dark brown elder. He was friendly, and he liked the kits and apprentices; he entertained them with his stories, some that had really occurred, others made creatively.

Woodtail had went to travel with StarClan three moons ago, when Cursedpaw was just newly appointed as an apprentice. The whole Clan had grieved, and the apprentices were exempted from their training for one day.

The apprentices continued on their work, a slightly awkward silence hanging over them.

Cursedpaw was almost done with Hawkfang's bedding when surprised yowls sounded, echoing along the hollow walls. The two apprentices instantly perked up, curious what all the racket was about. They could tell from the smell that this wasn't an invasion. When Cursedpaw parted her jaws to scent what was happening, she caught a whiff of- ***kittypet***?

*What’s a kittypet doing in our camp?* Cursedpaw wondered.

The two apprentices dashed out of the elder's den to spot a ginger tabby she-cat being escorted into the camp by Grasstail, Breezewhisper, and Wingshadow. The she-cat looked like was around Cursedpaw's age, nine moons or so. She had a bright red collar that seemed to be yelling 'look at me, I'm a kittypet!'. The kittypet was looking around her surroundings, seeming nervous, and she seemed like an introvert. The kittypet was herded up in front of the leader's den.

Tawnystar swaggered out, flicked his tail to shoo the three warriors away and circled the poor kittypet like a wolf hungrily gazing at a meal. The FernClan leader was showing off his power, trying to seem imposing in front of the new arrival. He finally stopped the boisterous movements and stood in front of the ginger tabby.

"What brings you here, kittypet?" He asked, spatting out the word 'kittypet' as if it were crow-food.

"I'm here to join FernClan." The kittypet mewed, lifting her chin, her voice merely trembling.

"Your name?" Tawnystar's light green eyes shone in the sun-high sunlight.

"Shore." The kittypet mewed, her bright blue eyes shining with anticipation.

That was the best moment of Cursedpaw's life.

## Chapter Three

Shorepaw was bouncing along the forest path, spraying leaf-fall leaves around the surrounding. Squirrels let out panicked yelps as they dashed back to their homes in the trees, safe and cat-free.

Cursedpaw smiled as a maple leaf attacked her, smacking her right in the face.

Shorepaw laughed, Cursedpaw fluffing out her fur and shaking her fur out to remove the red leaf.

Cursedpaw had been assigned as Shorepaw's mentor. Tawnystar had obviously thought that Shore, now Shorepaw was too much of a waste of warriors to get trained. Thus he had assigned the cursed apprentice to teach the former kittypet.

*Seriously, who'd have ever thought of an apprentice teaching an apprentice? Great StarClan!* Cursedpaw thought, her whiskers twitching. She was actually excited to have her first 'apprentice'. She wanted to show Shorepaw the hunter's crouch, how you mark the borders, how Clan cats chased off foxes and badgers.

Cursedpaw liked the former kittypet-Shorepaw didn't snap at her, she didn't care that Cursedpaw was deemed cursed, and she certainly didn't care that she was chasing off all the prey in the next five tail-lengths around her.

"Look, I know you're excited and all, but could you please try to be quiet? The hunting patrols will come and claw our ears off and-"

"*Ears*?" Shorepaw's eyes widened, and she warily looked to and fro, as if she was expecting a horde of furious cats to burst out of the bramble bushes.

"It's a Clan expression. Sorry I seemed rude. I'm not in the position to get in trouble..." Cursedpaw meowed, instantly regretting saying the last sentence out loud. She didn't want her apprentice to pity her. She liked Stalkfeather's sympathy and all, but Cursedpaw wanted another friend she could talk lightly to; a cat her age like Shorepaw.

"Oh. I'm sorry." Shorepaw mewed, the apprentice seemed to have calmed down a bit. The ginger tabby still had an energetic gleam to her sea-blue eyes.

Cursedpaw's guess about Shorepaw being an introvert was wrong. Shorepaw loved being around other cats, and loved social interactions, unlike Cursedpaw, who didn't like social interactions, and was hesitant to meet new cats. Shorepaw’s gesture of nervously scanning her surroundings when she’d first arrived to the camp probably wasn’t an action the ginger tabby had done out of nervousness.

"Could you show me the hunter's crouch?" Shorepaw mewed, breaking the silence that Cursedpaw didn't even know existed.

"Sure." Cursedpaw was surprised that Shorepaw didn't go all compassionate all of a sudden. Cursedpaw was relieved that Shorepaw had changed the subject to a light one.

Cursedpaw showed her apprentice the hunting crouch and helped the former kittypet modify her crouch. By the time they were done, Shorepaw had almost mastered the crouch perfectly. After that, the gray she-cat had given a tour of FernClan's territory, the ginger tabby bombarding her with questions. After finishing the tour, the two apprentices headed back to the camp.

As the two she-cats padded into the camp, Cursedpaw noticed her parents.

Glazedpeak and Blazefang were warned by Tawnystar not to interact with Cursedpaw, the only gestures they could exchange were awkward looks and flicking tails. Cursedpaw knew that her parents were pained to stay away from her, but sometimes, she needed someone to blame. When she passed her parents on her way to the fresh-kill pile, she silently exploded all her best insults at them, while not even giving a glance at Glazedpeak, who was stepping up to give her a ‘welcome back’ look.

*Frog-head. Piece of sparrow-dung. Don't make me look at your stupid lizard tongue.*

After she'd insulted her parents some more and gulped up a plump vole, she felt better. Cursedpaw mewed a greeting to Shorepaw, who was busily gobbling a weasel Smokedust had managed to catch. Tawnystar was reluctant to give the uncommon prey to the former kittypet, but Smokedust being Smokedust had persuaded the leader to let Shorepaw have it, claiming that it would "Enhance her chances of catching a weasel herself". Shorepaw merely nodded a reply, and continued to ingest some juicy prey.

Cursepaw entered the apprentices' den, spotting Barleypaw calmly watching the whole camp from his nest in the far corner of the apprentices' den.

"Hey." She said, a trace of awkwardness clinging to her gray fur.

"Hi." Barleypaw meowed, seeming to blush.

*Wait? **Blush**? Does Barleypaw like me? Does he know that I have a crush on him?*

Cursedpaw quickly brainstormed an 'okay' conversation topic. "How was your training?"

Great. Cursedpaw was absolutely terrible at starting good conversations, and this wasn't an exception.

"It went okay, Tawnystar taught me some battle moves. Did you know that cats could be oily and boisterous at the same time in battle? Because that's exactly what Tawnystar is." Barleypaw let out a *mrrow* of amusement.

Cursedpaw laughed, feeling like she could fly.

Maybe the handsome apprentice really *did* like her!

"I had my first session with Shorepaw." Cursedpaw said, bringing up another awkward topic.

"How did it go?" Barleypaw asked, his soft smile beating warm waves to her.

"It was okay, I taught Shorepaw the hunter's crouch, and she mastered it. I think Shorepaw will become a great warrior oneday." Cursedpaw felt proud, that she'd accomplished *something*.

*Maybe this is what it's like to be a mentor*. *Maybe Breezewhisper feels this way when I manage to do something well*.

Cursedpaw doubted Breezewhisper felt like this, because he was always grumpy, and he'd had many apprentices before her. Breezewhisper was probably bored out of his mind that he had to teach the 'cursed' apprentice.

"I think so too." Barleypaw mewed, sleepiness trailing after his voice like a tail.

"Let's go to bed before Tawnystar lectures us about the importance of sleeping." Cursedpaw laughed, Barleypaw doing the same.

The two apprentices got comfortable in their nests, which were decorated with berries and feathers they liked.

Cursedpaw curled her tail around her paws, and laid her head on her favorite feather; a blue jay's, and purred a "Good night.", Barleypaw not responding, due to him already asleep.

## Chapter Four

"I want Breezewhisper to lead a border patrol to the border by the rogues' lands. Gorseclaw, Smokedust, Flowerpaw, Cursedpaw, and Shorepaw can go along as well." Flickerwing meowed, lashing his tail in boredom.

The silver tabby was Tawnystar's best friend, and hated Cursedpaw as much as her oozy friend. She had assigned some of the most notorious cats known for hating Cursedpaw and her apprentice, Shorepaw to go on the patrol on purpose.

A moon had passed since Shorepaw's first training session and Cursedpaw's rather hopeful conversation with her crush. Shorepaw had proved to be exceptional at hunting, even Tawnystar had to acknowledge her skills. But the former kittypet needed some improvement in fighting, as she wasn't used to battling against other cats.

Cursedpaw had continued to get trained by her cranky mentor, training Shorepaw with the knowledge she had. Cursedpaw would've been exhausted everyday if it weren't for Smokedust, the respected and sly warrior.

Smokedust had appealed to Tawnystar that Cursedpaw seemed tired, and then had implied that Cursedpaw should be excused from her apprentice duties, since she was already respectful and kind. He'd also added that excusing her from her duties would help her focus on her training and Shorepaw, which would be great for the sake of FernClan. Stalkfeather had agreed, and Tawnystar couldn't say no to two of his most best warriors.

So, thanks to the two gray warriors, Cursedpaw didn't have to take care of Hawkfang, or change beddings anymore.

*At least Smokedust's in the patrol too. He's kind.* Cursedpaw tried to see this situation from an optimistic point of view. Shorepaw would be with her too. But Breezewhisper was a grump, Gorseclaw was amazing at gossiping, and Flowerpaw *loved* getting treated like a pampered kittypet and commanding poorly treated cats. Cursedpaw quickly shook her head, shooing away her pessimistic thoughts.

*I can meet Barelypaw after this. I can.* Cursedpaw calmed herself down before leading Shorepaw to the waiting members of the patrol. They were restlessly waiting in front of the bramble entrance. When the two apprentices arrived, Flowerpaw let out an annoyed hiss.

"Great StarClan! If you two were anymore late, we'd be dead!" The yellow tabby she-cat lashed her tail violently, glaring at Cursedpaw. She didn't like Cursedpaw having a crush on her older brother. Flowerpaw preferred to stay away from Cursedpaw, as she thought Cursedpaw's curse might pass on to her, but the other apprentice wouldn't hesitate to assail Cursedpaw.

"Sorry." Cursedpaw murmured, silently cursing at the apprentice.

"Not sorry! I guess *you* haven't ever been late, you spoiled rat!" Shorepaw mewed defiantly, her voice at the beginnings of a hiss. The former kittypet had clearly never gotten in Flowerpaw's temper before. Despite her name, Flowerpaw was cruel and vicious.

"You'll regret calling me a rat, weakling!" Flowerpaw growled.

"I won't." Shorepaw glared Flowerpaw in the eye. The spoiled apprentice wouldn't like that.

"I'll make you!" Then, the yellow tabby she-cat launched herself at Cursedpaw's apprentice.

Shorepaw ducked, and the yellow tabby landed with a heavy thump on the hollow's floor. Flowerpaw cursed and sprang onto Shorepaw, pinning her down. Shorepaw kicked and lashed at Flowerpaw's underbelly, but they all missed miserably. Flowerpaw slashed Shorepaw's pink nose, a trickle of blood making its way down the ginger tabby's face.

"Weak!" Flowerpaw snarled, lifting a paw up, readying to strike a fatal blow to Shorepaw's throat. "Give up now, or prepare to die."

Cursedpaw's heart ran, so fast she was surprised it hadn't burst out of her chest. Past angers rose up from her. *What kind of Clan is this? Apprentices threatening to kill each other for no reasonable motive!*

"Never." Shorepaw meowed stubbornly.

Flowerpaw hissed, "Very well."

## Chapter Five

Cursedpaw would've flung herself at the vicious apprentice if it weren't for Smokedust.

Smokedust tackled Flowerpaw, stopping the apprentice from killing Shorepaw. Flowerpaw turned on him and prepared to assault him instead.

"Flowerpaw, enough. Attacking a senior warrior is unacceptable. You'll have to attend to Hawkfang for a quarter moon after this patrol." Gorseclaw meowed coolly, no hint of any emotion in her voice.

Flowerpaw froze for a few heartbeats then relaxed her muscles and smoothed her yellow tabby fur. She seemed shocked that one of her supporters and mentor had scolded her. She muttered a quick apology that took Cursedpaw's uttermost effort to make out and put on her "don't mess with me" face and stomped out of the FernClan camp.

"Flowerpaw! Come back right NOW or else I'll rip your fur out!" Gorseclaw mewed, her usual personality showing once more. The cold version of Gorseclaw was always strange to Cursedpaw and only stood supreme when the warrior was most serious and mad. Now the grey she-cat with black spots raced off to follow her apprentice.

"Those two never listen." Breezewhisper sighed with exasperation. "Shorepaw, that tiny scratch on your nose is nothing. Come on. We need to catch up with those flea-brains."

Shorepaw looked up from her urgent nose cleaning and followed Smokedust, Breezewhisper and Cursedpaw as they exited the camp. The four cats didn't race to catch up with Gorseclaw and Flowerpaw, and rather enjoyed some of the peace without those two chatty she-cats.

They were at the Great Maple, which was dropping its beautiful red leaves, it was at the middle of FernClan territory. The leaves were sprawled on the forest floor like blood.

A few tail-lengths ahead of them, the four cats spotted Gorseclaw and Flowerpaw, ducking and dodging a... fox. As the two shrieked and yelped, the leaf-bare leaves scattered, some batting the fox's face.

The fox was not happy about that.

The fox barked in rage, and charged at Flowerpaw. Flowerpaw yowled for someone to help her, saying something about her becoming the next leader. The red and white fox yipped and managed to land a light scratch on the apprentice's tail. Flowerpaw shouted some more.

Cursedpaw couldn't stand an underdeveloped creature attempting to rip her Clanmate into pieces, even though that particular Clanmate was a spoiled rat, as Shorepaw has said. She launched herself at the fox, screeching to scare the fox. Cursedpaw landed on the fox's shoulder, and she slashed swiftly on the fox's scruff.

The fox, Cursedpaw was going to call it Rude, howled in pain and it shook itself to fling Cursedpaw off of them. Cursedpaw's claws failed to stay on Rude's red fur and she landed with a thump on the leaf scattered floor. She quickly stood up and shook out the leaves stuck on her gray pelt.

Rude jumped, letting out a dog-like roar. The fox was flying towards Cursedpaw at top speed. Cursedpaw tried to feint, but the fox anticipated the dodge and blocked her path. Cursedpaw was about to get squashed by a fox named Rude. Rude pushed her with its white, ghost-like paws and Cursedpaw landed face-first on the leaf sprawled floor, with a fox breathing hard at her head. Rude's sharp claws were piercing Cursedpaw's skin painfully. She felt blood welling up at the fox's claws. The fox eventually picked her up by the scruff and shook her, like a useless piece of prey.

Cursedpaw twisted with all her might and managed to squirm free of Rude's grip. Rude let out a fury filled bark and turned on Shorepaw. The fox was smart enough not to attack a full grown warrior. Cursedpaw could tell from the ripped ear that Rude was an experienced fighter.

"Mrrow!" Shorepaw yelped as the fox leapt at her she was scampering around, trying to confuse Rude. Shorepaw was no match for Rude. Rude would crush her.

*Why isn't Gorseclaw or Smokedust helping? Why am* I *not helping?* Cursedpaw thought, urging one of the warriors to help her apprentice. She herself was exhausted, and the claw-marks of Rude on her back were bleeding.

The fox was about to land on the former kittypet, but before the fox could assail the poor ginger tabby, a flash of gray crashed into Rude with all his might. Shorepaw pricked her ears, gratefulness washing over her face.

*Smokedust! Is he okay?*

The gray warrior was tangled up with the fox, grappling each other. Rude clawed Smokedust's belly, his snow white belly fur dyed red. Smokedust yowled in rage. He swiped Rude's face, blinding the fox for a few heartbeats. The fox yipped its rage and kicked Smokedust, hard, making the warrior fly through the filtering sunlight and landing with a heavy thud on the leafy floor.

"Smokedust!" Cursedpaw yowled, grief striking her like an invisible spear. The smart gray warrior was clearly dead. Cursedpaw wanted to go and grieve for the warrior right now, but Cursedpaw had a bone to pick with Rude.

She snarled and caught the fox's attention. Rude bared his yellow sharp fangs, readying for an attack.

Cursedpaw waited until the fox charged, and leaped, landing on its shoulders. Rude let out a snort of annoyance and shook out its fur. Cursedpaw kept a firm grip on the fox's fur, rage channeling her. She turned around to face the fox's scruff.

Cursedpaw wanted to make Rude feel pain. She wanted Rude to regret *ever* hurting anycat. She felt strange, she'd never felt this cruel.

*Who cares? I should kill this piece of sparrow-dung.* Cursedpaw dug her claws into Rude's eyes, the fox yelping in pain. The fox was going rowdy, especially now when it couldn't see anything because of the gushing blood. Cursedpaw sunk her claws into the fox's scruff, stopping her from flying off and possibly dying. It also tortured Rude. Rude was screaming at the top of its lungs, trashing like a hooked fish.

Cursedpaw decided she'd pained the fox enough. She bit Rude's throat with all her might, its red fur tickling her nose. She fought the urge to sneeze and kept on holding. Eventually, Rude's trashing grew weaker, and the yips softer. Its legs collapsed under itself, and the urgent gasps of the fox quieted. Cursedpaw let go of its scruff and checked that Rude was dead.

She dashed over to Smokedust's body, where the three other she-cats were mourning. Though Flowerpaw seemed more concerned about her dirt-caked fur.

She couldn't hold it in anymore.

She sneezed.

## Chapter Six

"Cursedpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Cursedstorm. StarClan honors your strategy and skill, and we welcome you as a full warrior of FernClan." Tawnystar rested his muzzle on Cursedstorm's head, and Cursedstorm licked the leader's shoulder.

*Yuck, Tawnystar* tastes *like an oily rabbit.* Cursedstorm thought, the depressing thoughts leaving her for a few seconds.

Cursedstorm padded over to the other newly appointed warriors; Barleystalk, Mouseleap, and Flowerpetal. They were all puffing out their chests, proud of their new warriors names. She did the same, ignoring the glare from Flowerpetal.

Not much time had passed since Smokedust had traveled to StarClan. The patrol carried the cold body of the gray warrior and placed it in the center of the camp, cats wailing their mourning. Twigclaw had cleaned Smokedust's body, rubbing multiple herbs on his pelt and removing the dirt stubbornly stuck to his pelt. Flowerpetal had insisted that she became a warrior along with her littermates, as they had almost finished their training.

Tawnystar, with his spontaneous and gullible personality, had agreed to appointing the three apprentices as warriors. But he'd no thought of letting Cursedstorm become a warrior until Stalkfeather had called on a special occasion.

She'd given the first vote on Cursedstorm becoming a warrior. According to FernClan's tradition, any apprentice or warrior could vote for what they wanted, and if four others agreed on the opinion, the leader had to do it. Unless five of any cats, including kits disagreed.

After Stalkfeather had came Barleystalk, giving Cursedstorm a reassuring gaze. She'd nodded, giving him the slightest of smiles in return. They'd grown even closer. Glazedpeak and Blazefang followed suit, surprising Cursedstorm. She had smiled at her parents, and they'd smiled back. The last vote had surprised her the most of all. Breezewhisper, flicking his yellow tabby tail in confidence, had strutted up and given a vote to his apprentice. He smiled at Cursedstorm for the first time, and she'd grinned.

Her parents and mentor *had* kept interest in her.

"Thank you." Cursedstorm had mewed, and the five cats had given warm looks to her. She had felt accepted for the moment, even though Tawnystar ruined it. "Very well." The leader had spat.

Now, the FernClan cats were chanting the names of the new warriors. "Barleystalk, Mouseleap, Flowerpetal, Cursedstorm!" The yowled, seeming quite happy after the terrible death of their Clanmate.

After the chants had died out, Tawnystar cleared his throat. "Our new warriors shall stand vigil tonight, and we shall share tongues with Smokedust for the last time. Ironically, it seems as though Cursedstorm has become a warrior by letting him die."

Meows of agreement and protest arose from the gathered cats. Cursedstorm's stomach lurched as she heard more agreement than protest.

"Maybe Cursedstorm's bad luck has brought this fox to our territory." Tawnystar added, inciting his followers even more.

"Mouse-dung! Chase her out!" Gladerunner hissed, his brown fur bristling, and his blue eyes flashing.

"Yes! I don't want her to ruin my fur!" Flowerpetal yowled, giving a hard glare to Cursedstorm. Cursedstorm almost snorted. The spoiled rat wanted Cursedstorm out of FernClan because she didn't want her fur ruined by Cursedstorm's so called "curse". How spoiled was that?

Tawnystar flicked his tail, issuing for all cats to remain quiet. "Now now, we won't exile Cursedstorm, especially now with leaf-bare approaching. Instead-" The leader flicked his tail with unusual certainty, silencing Flowerpetal, who'd opened her jaws to interrupt. "we will watch Cursedstorm carefully, and make sure nothing like this *ever* happens again."

*Oh no, if this means Tawnystar's followers will keep snooping around me, I'm not going to like this.* Cursedstorm sighed, trying to smooth her rising gray fur.

This was going to be a hard leaf-bare.

## Chapter Seven

Cursedstorm spotted a scrawny mouse and got into the hunter's crouch. Lifting her tail slightly from the ground, preventing it from stirring up any forest debris, she silently stalked up to the mouse. When she was close enough to pounce, she waggled her haunches and leapt.

Unfortunately, a branch was in her way, and the sound of it tangling her fur surprised the mouse who'd stopped nibbling on the grass stalk. Cursedstorm quickly untangled herself from the bramble bush's branch and tried to patch up the mistake by catching the mouse, but the mouse was long gone.

Shorelight emerged from a nearby elder bush. She stifled a purr. "You should've made sure there was nothing in your way."

Cursedstorm, smoothing down her pelt, tried not to show her embarrassment. "I guess I need some more practice on hunting." She mewed, licking her fluffed up chest fur down,

"Eh, you're good at fighting, and I'm good at hunting. Together, we'd make a perfect cat." Shorelight smiled, Cursedstorm laughing. Her apprentice had become a warrior two moons after she did. Cursedstorm had gotten another apprentice after that.

"Cursedstorm!" Cursedstorm heard a young cat making its way to them, through the bushes. A ginger tom emerged, and skidded to an abrupt stop in front of the two warriors.

"Flickerwing wants me to get some catmint from the herb patch. I don't know exactly where it is. So I'm asking if-er you could come and lead me there?" Cursedstorm smiled. She loved her new apprentice, hyperactive and cheerful. He was kind of like Shorelight when she was an apprentice.

"Of course." She mewed. *How dare Flickerwing make an innocent apprentice retrieve catmint, one who'd never gone to the herb patch before?* The deputy had a cruel side of that oozy personality. She'd made Cursedstorm do the same thing when she was only a new apprentice. Breezewhisper had saved her by telling her where the herb patch was when he saw Cursedstorm wandering around the territory, trying to find it.

Now that she'd thought about it, Breezewhisper had helped her through a lot, and she could see the softness in his criticism. He had a soft side, and he showed it most to Cursedstorm and his kits, Springpaw, Hillpaw, and Featherpaw.

"I'll go back to camp to see if Flickerwing has something I could do." Shorelight meowed, catching that she wasn't needed. Cursedstorm nodded, smiling at her friend. Shorelight gave her a soft grin of her own.

"Springpaw, follow me. I'll take you to the herb patch." She mewed, Springpaw nodding with a glint of enthusiasm in his eyes. Even though he seemed entirely different from his father, Cursedstorm could tell that Springpaw's eyes were shaped like Breezewhispers, and that Springpaw had a snappy edge to him when he was moody.

Cursedstorm wanted to show her apprentice that he'd done nothing wrong to get herb duties. "Great slither technique you used to get to us," She mewed, "I didn't know you were approaching until you called me."

Springpaw's emerald green eyes shone. "Really? Thank you, Cursedstorm!"

Back at the camp, after they'd gathered some catmint, Cursedstorm had just excused Springpaw so he could share tongues with his littermates. Cursedstorm herself was quite hungry after that rather exhausting day. She hooked a robin off of the fresh-kill pile and made her way to Barleystalk who was waiting for her at the sunning rocks in the camp who was waiting with a mouse.

"Hey." Cursedstorm mewed, dropping the robin on the rocks, causing a flurry of gray-brown feathers. She sniffed away a ginger feather, almost sneezing.

"Hi, Cursedstorm. I heard Flickerwing tried to punish Springpaw with the task of retrieving catmint." Barleystalk mewed, a tiny smile sliding on his face. He knew Cursedstorm had helped her apprentice.

"Yes, I led him to the herb patch. Flickerwing knew that mentors don't show the apprentices where the herb patch is on the first tour of the territories. It's only two days since Springpaw became an apprentice!" Cursedstorm stifled some curses, noticing the silver tabby deputy watching with a terrifying glow in her eyes. It was best not to get on her nerves, or else she'd end up with nest making duty for two quarter moons.

Barleystalk gave a small nod, aware of the glowering deputy watching them. He sank his first bite on his mouse and chewed quietly. He narrowed his eyes as he watched Flickerwing, who was sharing a plump squirrel with Twigclaw.

Cursedstorm started on her robin, the flesh and feather arousing in a delicious swirl. She loved robin, with all its musky scents and smooth feathers. Silence settled between the two cats, who were taking time to relish the tasty morsels of mid leaf-bare. It was a rare plentiful leaf-bare. Barleystalk licked his chops after he'd finished his fresh-kill.

"I wonder how the Clan's deputy and medicine cat got so close..." He trailed off, watching the two cats with wariness. The handsome tom's yellow tabby fur spiked with hostility. "Do they like each other? Are they mates?" He meowed.

"Maybe." Cursedstorm answered, staring at the two she-cats who were whispering in hushed voices. They both seemed giddy. Flickerwing had stopped watching them with those creepy eyes. "Twigclaw should know better. It's against the medicine cat code. We should let Tawnystar deal with them though, we don't want to put thorns on their fur."

Barleystalk smoothed his fur and gave her a warm gaze. "You're right. Getting on their nerves would be the worst thing to do, maybe besides getting on Tawnystar and Flowerpetal's."

Cursedstorm was about to let out *mrrow* amusement when she spotted a yellow tabby she-cat sauntering over to them.

*Fox dung!*

"It seems like we've got on her nerves." She mewed, nervousness flooding over her like a huge wave. She wanted to run off to the warriors' den, but that would just get the snotty she-cat's ego up. Cursedstorm had to stand her ground. Her paws trembled as Flowerpetal approached.

Barleystalk spat a minor curse as his littermate gracefully leapt up to the rock they were sunning on. He lashed his tail and mewed with a slight growl. "What do *you* want?"

Flowerpetal looked at her littermate with a fake hurt expression. "I was just here to enjoy some time with my precious older brother." Her voice suddenly changed into a menacing tone. "Cursedstorm can go and whine with her ***weak*** friends." Flowerpetal glared with such magnitude, anycat would've thought that the world was on the verge of falling. As Cursedstorm flinched, the tabby's amber eyes shone with triumph. Cursedstorm hissed at herself for giving into Flowerpetal's menace.

"No thank you."Cursedstorm mewed, surprised at how cold her tone was. She gave her own glare to the spoiled she-cat. Unfortunately, the yellow tabby didn't flinch. She was swishing her tail to and fro, her muzzle at the beginnings of an ugly snarl.

"You don't have Smokedust to protect you, Cursed-Cat. Surrender now, or you shall feel the intense pain of my assault."

Barleystalk stepped in. "You won't be attacking anyone. I don't want to have a stupid conversation with you anyway." Cursedstorm glanced at her friend gratefully, the tom replying with a nod. She was glad she had such a good friend who'd protect her. But she knew Flowerpetal would attack, and that she'd be the one who had to defend herself.

Mouseleap padded up to Barleystalk and hissed with poison laced in each word. "You'll stay here, *brother*." Barleystalk knew he couldn't attack his littermate, especially due to the fact that Mouseleap beat him every session.

Cursedstorm lashed her tail reassuringly. "I can beat this spoiled rat." *Could I? Shut up! This is no time for consulting myself. I need to beat that piece of sparrow-dung, and make her shut her lizard-tongued lies.* She twitched her whiskers in anticipation. Flowerpetal was bound to attack soon.

Flowerpetal pounced, soaring across the few tail-lengths and over to where Cursedstorm was. Cursedstorm stood up on her hind legs and managed to get a few swipes on Flowerpetal's snow white belly fur, red seeping onto it. Flowerpetal twisted and landed safely on the ground, facing her enemy.

"Let's see how *you* fight." Cursedstorm hissed, baring her teeth menacingly.

"Very well." Flowerpetal sweeped her tail side to side. Her yellow tabby fur was fluffed up, making her ugly as ever to Cursedstorm. She would never understand the expectations of "pretty".

The other she-cat charged into Cursedstorm, sending them both crashing down the sunning rocks and onto the sandy hollow floor. Both she-cats shook out their fur and stood up immediately. They began to draw a circle, keeping their distance, trying to break each other's focus.

Cats gathered in a jagged large half-circle around the circling she-cats, watching the battle of the two rivals. Tawnystar emerged from his den, stalking over to watch the commotion, urging Twigclaw and Flickerwing to follow, who were lounging on the base of the Highledge.

Cursedstorm kept her concentration on Flowerpetal, calculating her opponent's every move. She caught a moment when Flowerpetal's legs slightly buckled from exhaustion and leapt. Wind whistled against her ear fur as she tackled the other's chest, just as she'd wanted and pinned the yellow tabby down.

"Do you yield?" Cursedstorm asked, puffing out her chest in triumph. Flowerpetal knew she'd lost, she had to yield.

Cursedstorm was wrong.

Flowerpetal writhed in her grip, batting Cursedstorm's muzzle and belly, but lashing out attacks while pinned was pretty much useless. Flowerpetal couldn't muster enough strength to surge up.

"I won't yield! Somecat help me!" The yellow tabby yowled as Cursedstorm sank her claws into her belly. No cat stepped up, and it seemed like everycat was agreeing that Cursedstorm had won the fight. But Flowerpetal didn't want to lose. She yelled more loudly, making cats shut try to shut their ears. Cursedstorm wanted to do the same, but she had to hear every movement of her pinned opponent. She was about to threaten Flowerpetal some more, to get her mercy, but then, she was tackled off by a bark brown she-cat.

"Oof!" Cursedstorm was now pinned by the Clan's medicine cat.

Twigclaw snarled, showing a vicious personality Cursedstorm had never seen from the mostly silent medicine cat. "Surrender." Cursedstorm was surprised by the medicine cat's strength, holding her down on the camp floor. Cursedstorm had a plan. She smoothed down her gray fur lined with black and slithered out of the bark brown she-cat's hold. She darted through a gap between the still grieving Stalkfeather and the bored Hawkfang, and bolted out of the bramble entrance.

Cursedstorm could hear angry spits of fury and confused mews sounding behind her. She could hear Barleystalk chasing her, meowing apologies, trying to get her back.

"It's not your fault!" She mewed back to her friends. Shorelight had come chasing too.

Cursedstorm wanted some time away from the Clan, away from those glares of hate and whispers that were definitely not compliments. She wanted some time to heal and refresh her tainted feelings. So, she put on an extra spurt of speed, heading so far ahead of her two friends, she couldn't hear their calls anymore. She didn't care where she was going. It just felt so exhilarating to breathe in the cool air of the night, and to run across the springy grass of the moor.

She didn't know that she'd entered the rogues' lands, or that she was approaching a hollow.

Cursedstorm ran on, not spotting the hollow. She set her paw out for the next stride, but could feel nothing, and her weight tipped off the hollow and she tumbled into the hollow, landing with a dreadful crash.

## Chapter Eight

Cursedstorm opened her eyes to see a vast landscape unfold before her. She was in a lush forest's clearing, and she could hear a nearby stream chatter endlessly, and plentiful prey dotted the terrain. Sunshine shone innocently, as if nothing had ever gone wrong in the history of cats. Cursedstorm heard a thrush call for its mate, and the chitchatting of the plump squirrels and its offspring. Everything was so...*peaceful*. The gray she-cat loved this place immediately, but felt a lurch of panic as she realized where she was. She quickly checked her pelt, and was relieved to see her solid gray pelt with vivid black stripes.

An all black tom with amber eyes emerged from the bushes. His pelt was starry, and he wasn't all that solid. The tom seemed like he could fade any moment. Cursedstorm opened her jaws to ask him her question, but he signaled with his tail that he wanted to talk first.

"No, you're not dead." The tom's words were clear, and his voice was calm. He seemed like a cold cat. "I am Nightwing, a StarClan cat. I-I need your help."

Cursedstorm was surprised. She'd expected the StarClan cat's last sentence to be brisk and shallow. But she was wrong. Nightwing had stammered and his voice had shook. Plus the subject of the last sentence was definitely *not* brisk and shallow. Maybe Cursedstorm was terrible and guessing. She never got anything right by guessing. Cursedstorm came out of her thoughts and remembered Nightwing was still standing there, waiting for her answer.

The starry tom's amber eyes were desperate, and they were urging Cursedstorm to say something. But what did a *StarClan* cat need help with? Did it have to do with how transparent Nightwing seemed?

"What do you need help with?" She asked. Cursedstorm would have to know what she was agreeing to if she was going to help this StarClan cat.

"I-I need a friend." Nightwing sighed. He seemed to get even paler.

"I could be your friend, but *why*? Why do you *need* a friend when you could want one?" Cursedstorm said, curiosity taking over. Her friendly part would have to wait its turn.

"As you can see, I seem to be on the verge of fading. In fact, that's the truth. I'm fading, and if I fade completely, I disappear from StarClan-forever. I wouldn't exist *anywhere*. I know, it seems selfish, but yesterday-yesterday, my mother faded. My father faded away five moons ago. Both my parents-they faded away, and I can't see them ever again. I don't want to fade like that because no living cat remembers me." Nightwing's eyes were tearing up. He quickly dried them with his left front paw.

Cursedstorm wrapped her tail around the StarClan tom comfortingly, and the black tom seemed to calm down. "I can be your friend. I'll remember you." She smiled. "I'd be honored to have a StarClan friend. I'm Cursedstorm by the way."

"Thanks." Nightwing croaked. "I'll never forget you too, Cusredstorm."

"That'd be great. Thanks." Cursedstorm grinned, and Nightwing managed a small smile. The black StarClan cat seemed more solid, and Cursedstorm could make out some more features of the handsome tom. Then, a fat mouse scuttled over to the two cats, squeaking and bumping into Cursedstorm, letting out a yelp of terror and charging off, only to crash into Nightwing's front paws, falling unconscious. Cursedstorm neatly killed the extra-plump mouse, relieving it from its pain. She pierced it with her claws and offered a bite to Nightwing who shook his head in a no.

"Erm-are all StarClan prey this stupid?" She asked, tearing off a juicy piece of meat, wolfing it down gratefully. She didn't realize she was hungry until now. This mouse was quite different from all the mice she had ever tasted. This one was just...perfect. It had no parts that were too tough or chewy, no parts covered in forest debris, and certainly no parts its fur was too matted to the part that she had to spit it out. She didn't know if all StarClan prey were like that, or if she'd just got a lucky catch.

Nightwing shook her head once more. "Some are, but not all. We like challenges, since we have about an eternity, until..." The black tom's voice trailed off, and Cursedstorm didn't need any hints to know what the rest of his words were. "Never mind. Sorry." Nightwing murmured, self-shame dripping from every word.

"No need." Cursedstorm meowed, watching a yellow bird chirp happily with a leaf-green one, both seeming overjoyed. She'd never seen birds like those, and she suddenly wondered if StarClan also hosted dead prey. She hoped not, because that would mean she'd killed that fat mouse forever. She shut those thoughts down, chastising herself that she couldn't pity for her prey. Cats needed to eat meat for their survival. They couldn't help it. Cursedstorm quickly gave thanks to StarClan, even though she was visiting it.

A new thought occurred to her. "Did the FernClan cats find me after my...fall? Or am I on the verge of dying alone?" Cursedstorm didn't care if she was alone. She could survive without anyone, but FernClan... "I'm not keen on going back to FernClan so soon after the fight."

Nightwing nodded in understanding, straightening his spine. "From what I've seen from the looking pool, FernClan failed to find you. But remember, you were on the rogues' lands when you fell..."

"So a rogue, or rogues found me? I hope they aren't bad." She wasn't sure if she wanted wake up and see a bunch of evil rogues who could kill her any minute.

Nightwing had a mischievous smile on his face. "I hate to sound so ominous, but you'll have to find out."

"Sparrow-dung." Cursedstorm said, playfully flicking her gray tail tip side to side. Nightwing laughed, become as solid as a StarClan cat could. Both cats were happy. Cursedstorm wanted things to stay that way, but she knew she'd have to continue her life and experience some more unfortunate stuff.

"Well, good bye. Um, and see you in my dreams?"

"Of course. Good bye. See you in your dreams."

Then, Cursedstorm's world went dark.

~

Cursedstorm opened her eyes. She quickly registered her surroundings to find a bark brown tom cocking his head in curiosity. The tom had surprisingly manipulating yellow eyes, and it seemed like they were slowly peeling off Cursedstorm's fur, observing her every move. She felt uncomfortable. This cat seemed definitely evil.

"I'm glad you're awake." The tom finally mewed. His tone was cautious, like Cursedstorm might be a badger ready to attack him. Both cats were wary, and brown and gray bristled as they looked into each other's eyes, issuing a silent staring contest. Cursedstorm was miserably terrible at those. She tried her best, and glowered, widening her amber eyes, hoping it would increase her chance of winning. She was wrong, like always. Her eyes dried up even faster, demanding for a relishing blink. Cursedstorm couldn't do much to stop herself from blinking, so she gave up and blinked.

"Who are you?" She asked, forgetting her wariness with this strange tom.

The brown tom smiled the slightest of smiles. "I'm Sun. Nice to meet you, FernClan cat. Welcome to my hollow."

"Um-thanks. Do you want to know what my name is?" Cursedstorm meowed awkwardly. She was unnerved by the fact that this tom knew that she was from FernClan.

Sun purred. "Of course. I'm quite intrigued."

"Cursedstorm. My name is Cursedstorm." She blurted. Sun, the bark brown tom nodded, like he already knew.

"Are you hungry?" Sun asked.

Cursedstorm nodded.

Sun slipped out of the shaded den and hauled over a fat rabbit. He dropped it on the den floor. "Mind if we share?" Sun sat down next to Cursedstorm, waiting for her answer.

"No." Cursedstorm mewed, biting off the rabbit's front leg. She knew it seemed rude, but she was quite hungry. It seemed like the StarClan mouse hadn't helped with her real-life hunger. She looked over at the brown tom. Sun looked like he was lost in his own thoughts. He didn't even notice when it was his turn. "Your turn." She mewed, Sun perking up.

"Ah yes. Sorry, thinking about something else." Sun tore off a chunk of meat and chewed, resuming his thoughts.

The two cats finished their meal. Cursedstorm stepped out of the den to see the sun setting, hiding lower than the trees of FernClan. It was evening, and FernClan would be sharing tongues. A pang of grief pierced Cursedstorm's heart. Although she'd acted like she didn't want to be in FernClan, she missed her friends. Stalkfeather, Barleystalk, Shorelight, and even cheerful Springpaw. She swung around, spotting Sun gazing at her, his yellow eyes boring into her gray and black fur. From what Cursedstorm seen, Sun seemed like a good cat. Maybe he'd let her go back to FernClan.

"You want to go back to FernClan, don't you?" Sun was gazing at the Avian Tree. Even though Cursedstorm was quite far away from it, she could hear birds chirping in the boughs of the tree.

"Yes." Cursedstorm wasn't unnerved this time. She had gotten used to Sun knowing practically everything. But she wanted to know *how* Sun had gotten that information. "How do you know about FernClan?" Cursedstorm narrowed her eyes. She assumed that the bark brown tom had spied on her Clan somehow.

"Border patrols. They jabber on and on about your Clan." Sun had a mischievous smile on his face.

Cursedstorm still didn't trust Sun. The tom just seemed... *odd*. She stood up, her fur ruffling in the breeze. "Nice meeting you, but I have to go back to FernClan."

Sun nodded in understanding. "Very well. You can go."

Cursedstorm let a sigh of relief. Sun wouldn't coop her up in his den. He wasn't going to capture her. "Bye." She meowed. She quickly stalked over to Sun's camp entrance, which was made of ferns. Cursedstorm was pushing through the ferns of the entrance when she heard Sun call, "Wait!". The brown tom ran over to her in the entrance.

"Yes?" Cursedstorm knew what was coming next.

Sun hesitated.

"Go on, I'm listening."

"I-I want to join FernClan."

Cursedstorm didn't like this Sun cat.

A suspicious tom who knows almost everything about her and her Clan? Not favorable. Plus, wants to join her Clan? Extra suspicious. Cursedstorm almost let out a heavy sigh when she noticed Sun was watching her intently. "Joining won't be easy as it sounds." She said incredulously. Sun didn't seem, at all like a Clan cat.

"I really want to join." Sun pleaded. "I really do."

"Why do you want to join FernClan?" Cursedstorm lashed her tail violently. She wanted to get on with this.

Sun drew in a big breath. "Well, I'm lonely here. And I fear foxes and badgers might attack, since I'm alone. Plus-I want some good friends and contribute to the Clan. I can hunt well, and I'm decent at fighting."

"I see no point in arguing with you, stubborn pig. Come along. Don't be disappointed when Tawnystar deems you cursed or something like that." Cursedstorm sighed, her coat of gray and black rippling with the evening breeze. The sun was gone from the dark sky, and instead, a silver crescent moon resembling a claw was creeping up from who-knows-where.

"You're wrong." Sun let out a *mrrow* of amusement. Cursedstorm didn't purr along.

*What does he mean? That he's not a stubborn pig? Or maybe that he won't be deemed cursed?* Cursedstorm shook her head. *That doesn't matter. What* does *is that I can meet my friends again, soon enough. Even though it means I have to take this suspicious rogue along.*

The bark brown tom was cocking his head in somewhat concern. "You okay?"

"Of course I am." Cursedstorm snapped. Sun didn't flinch as she'd expected, which was a relief. She hadn't meant to sound that cranky. But she didn't want to apologize to this tom either. She knew that Sun had done nothing wrong. He'd saved her from an almost near-death experience. But something about him made Cursedstorm hate him.

*I should stop being rude to him. Just because I don't like him for no reason doesn't mean I should act like I do. If I did, I'd be like Tawnystar, judging from a cat's own feelings. I have to keep my proper judgement, one of my best qualities.*

"Well, then. Lead the way, Cursedstorm."

## Chapter Nine

Cursedstorm didn't realize that her whole body was aching from her fall until she set out for FernClan territory with Sun. She searched her pelt and spotted a few superficial cuts and scrapes, most of them covered up with marigold poultice. She quickly thanked StarClan that she didn't have any serious injuries.

Sun grinned. "I treated you myself." He flicked his brown tail in pride. "Don't bother to thank me." He smiled as Cursedstorm opened her mouth to call him an oozy piece of bark. She thought better of that, remembering her earlier thoughts and closed her jaws.

The two cats walked in silence, finally entering FernClan territory as the moon kept marching across the sky.

"You know about every cat in FernClan haven't you? Especially if you heard Gorseclaw and Grasstail's gossip." Cursedstorm asked as she eyed Great Maple, which marked the middle of the Clan's land. They would arrive at camp soon enough.

Sun nodded. "Indeed. Very discerning of you to catch that detail." He purred.

"I'm *always* discerning." Cursedstorm muttered under her breath. She wanted to slash this tom's ears off. He kept getting under her skin. Cursedstorm was afraid she'd soon lose her cool with Sun. She wondered if Tawnystar and Flowerpetal could stand this. No, scratch that. They would *love* the attention and oozy compliments. The three of them would be a perfect match.

"What was that?" Sun glanced towards her.

"Nothing you need to know." Cursedstorm mewed hotly. One more annoying mew from Sun today would mean she'd lose her mind. Fortunately, Sun seemed to sense that Cursedstorm wasn't in a mood to put up with his annoying-ness.

*That annoying furball! Wait-* Cursedstorm immediately perked up and sniffed the air.

"What's wrong? Got cotton up your nose?" Sun stifled a laughed.

Cursedstorm's fur bristled, spiking up like thistles. She tried her best not to react to Sun's last comment. "You smell like many cats. You-you lead a group, don't you?"

Sun sighed heavily. "Yes, I used to. But they... kicked me out. My cats- they didn't appreciate what I did for them. Swirl, a cat who hated me to the core challenged me to a duel."

"And you lost," Cursedstorm mewed, Sun nodding sadly.

"It's only been a quarter moon since I've started living on my own."

Cursedstorm didn't like this tom very much, but she felt a pang of understanding. She knew what it felt to be cast out by other cats. Even if she had good friends, many others thought she was cursed, and hated her.

"We're here." Cursedstorm meowed.

"Hm?" Apparently, Sun was having thoughts of his own.

"We've arrived at FernClan's camp. Look." She signaled with her muzzle to the bramble entrance, where Wingshadow was peeking out with wide green eyes.

"Cursedstorm! You're-you're back! Who's that with you?" Cursedstorm was glad that Wingshadow didn't lash out at her. The mostly white tom seemed to be neutral about Cursedstorm. That she was grateful for. She didn't want to encounter Flowerpetal on guard duty, especially not so soon after their messy fight.

"I'm Sun. A pleasure to meet you. I am here to join FernClan. I also saved Cursedstorm's life." The brown tom meowed smugly, glancing over at Cursedstorm with shining yellow eyes.

Wingshadow's eyes widened even more. Cursedstorm was concerned. She didn't want his eyes to pop out because of Sun The Annoying Furball.

"Unfortunately, that was the case. It *had* to be Sun who saved me." Cursedstorm rolled her eyes.

"Hey!" Sun was smiling, like, well, a sun.

*At least he has a sense of humor.* Cursedstorm thought, trying her best to be optimistic about this situation.

"Cursedstorm is back! With a rogue called Sun!" Wingshadow called over his shoulder, bringing over friendly faces, and some that were not.

"Cursedstorm!" Barleystalk charged over to her, purring and nuzzling her with his yellow muzzle. The handsome warrior smelled like fresh-kill, Shorelight, and...guilt, mixed with happiness. The latter was fresher, which seemed good news to Cursedstorm.

Shorelight followed with an equally fast speed. "It's great to see you back!" The ginger tabby's fur was a tint darker than Barleystalk's, but Cursedstorm still thought they looked quite similar. The thought brought other thoughts, which were... not that happy.

Cursedstorm knew it was wrong to be jealous, especially since she'd scared her friends to death, but still... Cursedstorm felt a pang of sharp, ugly envy as she saw her former apprentice stand so close to Barleystalk, purring and rubbing against each other.

"Are you okay?" Barleystalk asked warmly, pointing his tail to a scrape.

Cursedstorm inhaled, willing herself not to cry. If Barleystalk and Shorelight were in a relationship, why was Barleystalk still so kind with her? Didn't he realize Cursedstorm had loved him? Cursedstorm felt a sharp but weak pain pierce her nose from her sadness. She couldn't cry, not now! "I'm okay. How-how long was I away?"

"Three days." Shorelight meowed gently.

*Three days! I pass out for three days, and I come back to see my best friend snuggling all over the place with* my *crush! Am I really cursed? Can't I be completely happy for once?* Cursedstorm's welled up. She couldn't help it. When she wanted to cry, there was no stopping it.

"Are you okay?" Barleystalk meowed in concern. That hurled into her like a twoleg weapon.

"Like *you* care." Cursedstorm hissed, stomping out of the camp entrance and into the forest. Her voice had come out squeaky and weak, just like a weak kit. When she was out of ear-range, she let tears slip form her amber eyes. She sat at the banks of the Yellow River, with its swirling dirt and dust.

*Hmm... Maybe I should jump into this river... What's the point of living when I'm heartbroken?* Cursedstorm immediately jolted. *No! Think about Springpaw! Yes, and- Wingshadow! Maybe* he's *interested in me? And Sun will probably need me if he's really going to join the Clan...*

"Cursedstorm!" Barleystalk crashed over, his fur ruffled with leaves and bramble thorns. "What's wrong? Of course I care about you!" Barleystalk slid his yellow tabby tail down Cursedstorm's back, making her feel even more miserable.

"Why are you doing this to me? Why have been so nice to me all those moons, wh-when..." Her voice cracked and trailed off.

Barleystalk's eyes widened. He obviously didn't know what Cursedstorm was trying to say. For the first time, Cursedstorm wished Barleystalk had some of Sun's sense. "When what? I was nice to you because you were my best friend!"

Cursedstorm's stomach plummeted. She regretted eating so much of Sun's rabbit. She didn't feel so good. Barleystalk had just proven that he had not liked Cursedstorm. Her stomach seemed to harden like rock.

*Then* why*? Was the handsome yellow tom so nice to every friend?* Choruses of *why*s arose from her thoughts, buzzing angrily like a hive of bees, ready to attack someone.

"So admit you didn't like me?" Cursedstorm sniffed. She was quite annoyed with herself. Why couldn't she stop from breaking down? Why did she have to run away from camp two times in one quarter moon. She didn't want to seem weak. Maybe she *was*. The thought made her *even* sadder, and she had to use pure will to not cry out loud. It was enough that she was bawling like an immature kit.

"Um... yes?" Barleystalk mewed, his eyes widening when he realized he was meowing the wrong words. "I-I like Shorelight. But- I still like you. You are my bestest friend."

Cursedstorm laughed, even thought she still felt like sinking into the earthy floor of the forest and staying there. "Don't you know *bestest* is not even a word? I would have used *closest*, or even *best* alone. Best means... *best*. Like totally superior or- or most. Or top, *finest*."

"Do *you* realize how much you emphasize when explaining a definition?" Barleystalk was grinning.

"Well, best has many definitions." Cursedstorm smiled. "But now, time to go back on track. I was going to say, I thought you liked me, since a kit, and I loved you all those times..."

The atmosphere got heavy. Air seemed to be weighing on Cursedstorm's shoulders, though she knew she wouldn't want to experience that for *real*.

”Oh.” Barleystalk said, flicking his tail to and fro awkwardly. He seemed different now he’d revealed that he liked Shorelight. More awkward, more smaller and like a kit. Maybe admiration had cast the tom’s flaws away.

“It’s okay. It was stupid of me to run away again. There are other toms in the Clan. Look, I-I’m happy for you. You to go well together. Enjoy your life with her. I’m not being sarcastic. But I have something or things to ask you.” Cursedstorm meant all that, and her voice was calm, and clear. That was great, because these were the last things she’d say while she liked Barleystalk, as a tom.

”W-what is it?” Barleystalk was spreading nervous energy all over the place, and the energy was making *Cursedstorm* nervous.

”How long have you liked Shorelight, if you haven’t liked me all those times?”

”I was interested in her for a half moon, but-but I really bonded with her when we were searching and worrying about you.” Barleystalk stared at the leafy forest floor, not able to look at Cursedstorm properly.

”Well, time for the second question. Just think about this: what would’ve been different if I hadn’t run away?" Barleystalk seemed shocked, unable to say anything. Cursedstorm knew she was just being selfish, but she wanted to say it anyway. "I'm sorry for being selfish..." Cursedstorm's voice trembled. Then she slowly padded back to camp, leaving Barleystalk to think.

## Chapter Ten

"Nightwing!" Cursedstorm purred. "It's nice to see you again!"

The black tom shook his head sadly. "Cursedstorm, I'm sorry, but- you should wake up. Today will be a terrible day for FernClan. Today will be a start for many miseries." Cursedstorm's eyes widened.

"What is it? Is someone dead? Or dying? Nightwing, tell me!" Cursedstorm's ears perked up with alarm. Nightwing's urgency told her that something serious was happening.

"I am sick of saying this, but you'll have to find out." Nightwing's voice was full of pity, anxiety, and... fear. "Hurry, wake up *now*!" The tom shrieked, lashing his black tail in fear.

Cursedstorm quickly opened her eyes to see that the others were already awake. They were all out in the center clearing of the camp, eyes widened in fear. She dashed out of the warriors' den to hear shrieks that were not from Nightwing. They were from Tawnystar, who was... being hauled around in a circle in the center clearing by... Hawkfang. "FernClan, help me! YoWCH! Hawkfang, I order you this *instant* to stop this!" Tanwystar was yowling desperately for help, but someone was keeping the cats from helping their leader.

Five huge creatures were keeping watch on the Clan cats. They had sharp gleaming fangs, menacing glares, and ghostly white claws ready to slash anyone who dared try to stop Hawkfang. Black, brown, tan coats were lined smoothly against the body line of the dogs. Apprentices trembled in fear, Stalkfeather, who was shocked out of grieving for her mate comforting them. Heatherstrike stood protectively in front of Grasstail, who was expecting his kits.

*How did Hawkfang get* dogs *to help him?* Cursedstorm thought, watching in horror as Hawkfang stopped hauling his leader around and pinned Tawnysatr to the floor. Then, her question was answered as Twigclaw, the medicine cat stepped out from the crowd of terrified cats, and stalked over to the five dogs, barking a language only dogs could understand.

Fear shot up Cursedstorm's spine. Hawkfang wasn't alone in his rebellion. He also had a medicine cat who could speak Dog on his side.

"Oh Tawnystar, why would I want to stop killing you? *Especially* after you made me retire to the elders' den, just because I saw a kit drown!" Hawkfang laughed coldly, purring as Tawnystar trembled in fear. "See? FernClan, do you *really* want this coward as your leader?" The brown tabby pierced his claws into the tawny leader's throat, making Tawnystar scream desperately for help.

"I will reward you if you help!" Tawnystar yelped. But that only made *more* blood pour out.

Hawkfang purred in satisfaction as Flickerwing came up to flank him, beside Twigclaw. "Even your deputy and medicine cat doesn't think you're worthy of being a Clan leader."

Tawnystar coughed up blood, spluttering. "Fli-Flickerwing?" For the first time, Cursedstorm felt a little sorry for the dying leader. He had just been betrayed by two of the cats he'd believed in.

"Yes, Tawny*star*. I think it's time for a change of power." Flickerwing mewed, lashing her silver tail.

Tawnystar's eyes widened, and he gave a last gurgle as his annoying light green eyes glazed over and rolled into his head. Finally, Cursedstorm's long-life enemy, the cat who'd made her life miserable, was dead.

"No!" Flowerpetal yowled out in grief. Cursedstorm almost snorted, because she knew the spoiled she-cat only missed the dead leader because Tanwystar loved keeping Flowerpetal's fur clean. Otherwise, she wouldn't care a mouse-tail what happened to him. But Cursedstorm knew the current situation was serious. Hawkfang, Flickerwing, and Twigclaw had taken over FernClan, and she didn't know what the three cats would do to the Clan.

By the looks of it, it didn't seem like Cursedstorm's life would get better at this point. "Rats." Oops. She had felt so miserable, she'd sounded out her real feelings out to the world. Now she would get feed to the ravenous dogs out there.

"Speaking of prey, I'm hungry. Cursed-Cat, get me a vole. And make it fast." Twigclaw sniffed like she was suddenly leader. Which was, kind of true.

Cursedstorm sighed. "Yes, your Majesty.", She muttered under her breath.

"What did you say? I didn't catch that." Twigclaw smiled innocently, her eyes boring into Cursedstorm with malice. Cursedstorm silently cursed for letting *that* slip out. She also thought she should stop using those serious curses. *Sparrow-food* was plenty colorful of language, she decided.

"Oh? Uh, nothing." Cursedstorm managed to keep her voice from quivering like a mouse tail. She trotted over to the fresh-kill pile and hooked out a plump vole. She reluctantly dropped the chestnut brown fresh-kill at the medicine cat's paws and watched as Twigclaw tore chunks of meat and ate voraciously. Cursedstorm's stomach growled softly, reminding her that she hadn't had breakfast.

Hawkfang strutted up to the Highledge and cleared his throat. "Now, time for the more *important* matters. As you've all seen, Tawnystar was a weak leader. We will be taking charge of FernClan." The former elder lashed his tail violently, signaling for a cat to get up. Cursedstorm gasped as she saw Sun puff out his chest as he strutted out of the nervously mingling cats. His yellow eyes shone brightly, reflected by the sun. A glint of red shimmered on his eyes, possibly showing how evil Sun was.

"S-sun? You were on this plan the whole time?" Cursedstorm's thoughts shrieked with anger, about how she couldn't have a rest and how she couldn't have a peaceful, happy life for once. Her heart felt like it was torn up like Twigclaw's vole.

*First Barleystalk and Shorelight, now Sun? Why can't I like a cat without them betraying me?* Cursedstorm wanted to shout at the unfair sky, at StarClan about how they dare smile when life was so unfair for certain cats, but she knew she'd look crazy to other cats. Also, there were five dogs snarling at her and the other cats of FernClan, so she thought better of that.

Flickerwing laughed, her voice dripping with fake sympathy. "Oh yes, Cursed-Cat. Sun is on *our* side, along with his forces." The deputy emphasized on the word *our*, like there was going to be some kind of war soon. Which, may be true. Cursedstorm's mind was whirring with new plans for getting back at those annoying frog-heads who called her Cursed-Cat. They *would* pay soon, in the form of pain, physical or mental, Cursedstorm didn't care much about that. But there was something bad to the tone of *forces*, like a piece of rotten prey, (which was really bad, unless you wanted to taste some yarrow).

So naturally, Cursedstorm echoed, "Forces?"

"Yes." Sun purred, whipping his tail to and fro, signaling to two other cats to come out of the surrounding bushes of the hollow. Two cats slid out of the surrounding ferns and gracefully leapt down to the hollow floor. One was a silver tabby she-cat with many scars crisscrossing along her pelt, while the other was an orange, black, and white calico tom with an usually long tail. Both did not look like potential allies. "Cats of FernClan. I, Sun, shall introduce you to the Planets!"

A wave of shocked murmurs arose from the anxious cats, warriors and apprentices alike. Flowerpetal stalked out of the crowd and hissed bravely at Sun.

"What in the name of StarClan? What is a *Planet*? Get your mouse-dung friends out of here, you yarrow-face!" FernClan cats shifted nervously. Mouseleap tried to tug her back into the crowd, but Flowerpetal was stronger than she looked. She kicked her littermate in the face with her hind legs, Mouseleap tumbling onto the floor like a helpless leaf-fall leaf. Cursedstorm thought that was rather violent, but since she didn't care much about both cats, she decided not to interfere on that matter.

Hawkfang climbed down the ledge and faced the obnoxious warrior nose-to-nose. "Watch your language, princess. It would be a shame if you lost your mother." Flowerpetal arched her back in fury.

"You. Will. Not. Harm. Grasstail."

"Brave words."

"I don't need your mouse-brained compliments." Flowerpetal seemed truly fearless. Even Cursedstorm had to admit that Flowerpetal was brave. She herself couldn't have done that alone.

Sun's smile was even broader with murder laced into the seemingly innocent expression. "Last warning. Unless Grasstail wants to be tortured by Saturn here. Or Uranus. Both need more practice in torture." The brown tom pointed first to the calico tom, then to the silver tabby she-cat in turn. Grasstail's green eyes widened in fear, while Flowerpetal's flashed with stubbornness and determination to shred the rebels.

"Where are the other Planets?" Shorelight asked abruptly.

"Hm?"

The former kittypet's tone indicated challenge. "There are eight planets. You only have two of them. Then how can that be a full Solar System?"

*Planets? Solar System? What in the name of StarClan is that?* The foreign words danced through Cursedstorm's brain. She wanted to ask her friend what those words meant, but due to the current situation, she had to savor that for later. If they all survived this rebellion.

*If.* If we all survived. Cursedstorm had used to love that word, the word that opened dazzling universes and possibilities. But now... Now, the word *if* was like a rabbit that couldn't be caught. Just when it was in Cursedstorm's reach, it would sprint faster, disappearing from her sight.

It seemed that she had zoned out, because Hawkfang meowed, "We'll be enforcing some new rules for FernClan." Cursedstorm perked up immediately. She'd wanted to hear Sun's answer. Perhaps the other Planets could've been allies.

"What did Sun just say?" Cursedstorm asked Wingshadow, her possible future mate.

Wingshadow snorted quietly. "That the other Planets were killed or exiled because they were *too kind*. Can you just imagine? FernClan had outrageous stuff too, but it seems it's going to get a whole lot weirder."

"Oh. I won't be looking forward to the new leaders then. The best we can hope for is that-" Cursedstorm's voice was cut off by Hawkfang.

"Cursedstorm, Wingshadow? I want you two to clean out all the dens in the Clan. We need a fresh new start, don't we?" Hawkfang meowed. He'd seen the two cats whisper about something, and now they had a punishment.

Cursedstorm and Wingshadow sighed. "Yes, Hawkfang." They mewed in unison.

Then they got ready to clean out dens.

## Chapter Eleven

Cursedstorm and Wingshadow was right.

FernClan *did* get a whole lot weirder. And crueler, of course.

First of all, the five dogs always kept watch on the cats. So did Saturn and Uranus. One paw out of the line and they would immediately report back to Twigclaw or Sun.

The cats of FernClan would get apprentice chores for doing little stuff that displeased the new leaders. That was the new definition of 'lucky'. Most cats needed to starve a day for their punishment. Or do worse things for doing 'major traitorous actions'.

Also, the cats of FernClan had to hunt for themselves. There was no fresh-kill pile in the middle of the hollow anymore. Now there was a tall one in front of the leaders' den. The cats also needed to give a portion of their catches to the leaders, as 'tax', whatever that thing was. Not paying tax meant starving a few days.

Plus, the three leaders always looked for Cursedstorm when there was an empty space for annoying apprentice tasks. A cat would see this and think she was probably an apprentice again. How many ticks could a cat remove in a lifetime? She was getting too tired of changing bedding, gathering herbs, and most of all: checking the leaders' pelts for ticks.

And there was one of the worst new rule. Kits would now become apprentices at 3 moons. That might sound bad, but Cursedstorm knew as a firsthand mentor how much pain and death that seemingly simple rule would bring. Every time she thought about this, she'd swear she could hear the screeches of pain from Shorelight and Springpaw. She shuddered in horror how cruel this new set of 'rules' could be.

It had been a moon since the change of power, since Tawnystar had died. Nightwing was right. That day had been a start of many miseries. Fortunately, no cat had died yet, but Cursedstorm knew that at least one would perish. She felt guilty for being sure about this, but living in the wild had grown her instincts. Now they were almost never wrong. For the first time, Cursedstorm wished her wilderness instincts weren't that accurate. Maybe they'd all be lucky and survive through this. But what if 'this' never ended?

*Stupid if! Don't think about if. Don't think about how Shorelight is expecting Barleystalk's kits. Don't think about deaths and horrible futures that might happen... Focus on the present, and how you can change it. Changing the present will affect the future.*

Cursedstorm's thoughts whirled and buzzed through her mind, forming new and more complicated thoughts until she shook her head to clear her mind. A comforting white tail with a black tail tip wrapped around her.

"Cursedstorm, you okay?" Wingshadow asked with a worried look in his eyes. A small pang of grief stabbed at Cursedstorm's chest as she remembered that it was similar to the look Barleystalk used to give her.

*No, Wingshadow is better. Not as courageous as Barleystalk, but smart and quick to understand. He knows when it's time to hide or bow down to a stronger force, even when he's planning to rebel against them. That's what we're doing. We're planning to uproot the new leaders.* Cursedstorm thought in pride. She was doing something good, something that was helpful to her Clan.

Cursedstorm looked up from her robin. "I'm ok. I was just... thinking." She knew how lame it sounded, and that Wingshadow knew that she was thinking about the horrible new leaders.

Wingshadow nodded solemnly. No words were needed to express the sorrow they felt. The silence between the two weren't as awkward as between others. It felt like they could have a conversation without words. Right now, the white tom seemed to be saying: *If you have any good ideas that might be a possible plan, let's discuss it.*

She shook her head. Unfortunately, her mind which was usually full of creative ideas was empty and full of useless thoughts. Where are those great ideas when you need them? Cursedstorm wanted to groan in irritation at her annoying head, but just then, her father shouted rather loudly.

"Hawkfang! Don't be a coward and fight me! If I win, promise to change the Clan back to the way it was. This... This is not a Clan!" Blazefang roared bravely. He was on a strike for a quarter moon. Since his strike had started, the leaders restrained him from eating, and he'd got so thin Cursedstorm could see his ribs. His pelt had lost its sheen, his voice weaker, but his fiery amber eyes still shone like before. A couple of others had joined her father too, but they'd subjected to the leader's rule only a few days after the start.

Cursedstorm was pretty sure that the leaders weren't killing him on purpose, to see him die in pain form starvation. Hawkfang *did* come to fight Blazefang every dusk, but only gave him a couple of painful superficial cuts that would heal quickly.

*That's even worse. The leaders* want *their Clanmates to suffer. They're monsters, rogues.* Cursedstorm thought in fury. She wanted to join in her father's strike as well, but Wingshadow had reminded her that she needed to be strong to be useful, and that it was suicide to join. Well, he was right. Blazefang looked like he could fall over at any moment, and Cursedstorm was afraid everyday that it may be her father's last day on the earth.

Glazedpeak had tried to join multiple times, but Cursedstorm had convinced her that she had to stay strong as well. But it seemed that her persuading skills didn't work on Blazefang. Every time she told her father gently that he should do what the leaders said. he just stubbornly shook his head.

"I will *never* give in to those pieces of mouse-dung. I've learned my lesson. I never should've given in to Tawnystar." Blazefang hissed in determination. Cursedstorm could sense regret from her father's voice.

*He's regretting letting Tawnystar bully me for all those times...* Cursedstorm had never known how her parents had felt about how badly the former leader had treated her. She'd thought that maybe they didn't care how much she got hurt by those stinging words, that they merely felt little pity for her name. Now, she knew. Her parents *loved* her truly, and would never give up on her again.

That made her even *more* sorry for Blazefang. If that was possible.

This caused a major debate between her sorry instincts.

*You need to save your dad, Cursedstorm! If you don't, you're no better than Tawnystar!* Screeched a brave part of her pitiful mind. Then, a terrified yelp came back from her logical side. *NO! Cursedstorm, you do NOT want to die. Not right now. Causing a major heartbreak won't be good for anyone. Except... maybe the evil leaders.*

Cursedstorm had a big decision in front of her, and she had to choose. But before she could do anything, Hawkfang's reply to the challenge came into ear.

"Do you really think you're in a position to propose a deal to me, Blazefang?" Hawkfang snorted.

Blazefang nodded with a streak of a rebel in his eyes. "Of course I do."

Worried cats crowded over to see the confrontation between the two cats. They seemed confused to say the least.

Hawkfang snorted. "You've gone mad from starvation."

"No, it is the truth. Without you terrible leaders, FernClan could be a peaceful and better Clan." Blazefang's glared somewhat accusing at Hawkfang. Cursedstorm admired her father's bravery. He was the only one to stand up against the new leaders.

*I should join my father! I have to!* The braver part of Cursedstorm shouted, louder this time. Maybe Cursedstorm should listen to this part. But she'd definitely get killed, and that would be no help, just like Wingshadow had said. Cursedstorm finally decided to stay put, where she was, safe, while her father was not.

*This is for the good of the Clan. FernClan needs strong warriors if we're going to throw off the bad leaders.* Cursedstorm's heart seemed to rip apart by itself. It was more painful than betrayals from cats whom she thought was friends, more painful than getting attacked by Rude. She couldn't stand watch her father suffer from hunger and pain, while she was plump from prey she and Wingshadow had caught.

"I do not accept your offer. Instead, you'll get punishment for your crimes." Hawkfang curled his upper lip, showing pure white, sharp fangs.

Blazefang didn't step down. "What *crimes*? For telling the truth? For standing up for what's right?"