Author's Note: Finally, my return to fanfiction!

Anyway, I'm back with a slightly experimental fanfic. It's based around the romance genre, though there's gonna be some hinted dark violence and maybe some sexual scenes, if you know what I mean. To be perfectly honest, I'm not too much of a fan of crack pairings, but I decided I wanted to have a go at writing a romantic story around a slash pairing between two she-cats. So yeah.

Summary says all.

Hope you enjoy it!

The Curse of Beauty: (Chapter One)

A gentle breeze blew through the forest, rustling the branches of the trees. It was sun high. There were no clouds to smother the light of the sun, so it was blistering hot. An ageing oak tree stood in the middle of a clearing: it cast a shadow over all the other trees nearby. It was highest point in the whole forest. From the ground, it seemed as if the tree was touching the sky. This was the Ancient Oak.

A cat sat on the highest branch of the tree. She stared straight forward, completely silent. It was female, quite a young one at that. The she-cat had only become a warrior a moon ago. She sighed a little, before unsheathing her claws and digging them into the bark of the tree. She let her mind wonder. I wonder what's happening back at camp. She mused. All the toms are probably going mental at my absence. Especially Toadclaw- he's probably having a fit because he hasn't seen me for more than two hours.

The ThunderClan she-cat came to this place a lot. It was really the only place in the forest that she could truly relax. She growled in frustration. Ever since I became a warrior, all I've heard is, "Oh, Shadepetal, will you be my mate!" I don't ever get to do the duties of a proper warrior. Oh no! No tom could possibly bare the thought of me getting hurt! She shook her head. I don't understand why I get all this attention anyway. I'm not that even that pretty.

This wasn't entirely true. Shadepetal was very pretty. In fact, she was strikingly beautiful. She was a lithe, and slender she-cat, with a pair of enchanting cerulean blue eyes, along with a smooth and silky jet-black pelt, the same colour as the night sky. Her tail was very long; almost as long as her whole frame, and her head was in perfect proportion to her body. She was, without doubt, the most attractive she-cat that had ever lived by the Clans.

This was a fact that Shadepetal was most certainly not proud of.

It wasn't like her life was terrible though. Oh no. Shadepetal lived in luxury- bathed in praise and love. She thought this was incredibly stupid. Honestly, sometimes, she believed that a lot of her Clan mates were more loyal to her than ThunderClan!

It was ironic really. Many she-cats would wish for the kind of attention that Shadepetal got: if someone asked her to swap lives with them, Shadepetal would without hesitation agree. All she wanted to be was a normal warrior, in a normal Clan. Was that too much to ask for?

Plus, her life had started going down hill ever since she fell in love. In her case, you would've thought it would be easy to get a mate, that with all the toms that loved her… but Shadepetal wasn't interested in toms. To be honest, she never had been.

Shadepetal was in love with a she-cat.

She had been for awhile now. Whenever Shadepetal stepped near her, she felt her heart quicken. Whenever they talked Shadepetal found it hard to breathe- and since they were best friends, they talked a lot.

Redpelt. She purred as the name rolled off her tongue. Shadepetal imagined her soft, dark red fur, and deep mustard eyes. The ThunderClan she-cat had never told anyone about her feelings for Redpelt, because she wasn't sure how they would take it. When she had first realised, she had been confused. She hadn't known anyone who was in love with a she-cat. As far as she knew it, was un-heard of.

But to be perfectly honest, Shadepetal didn't give one.

Her mind wondered back to think about how ThunderClan were reacting. I'd better be getting back. She thought. Turning around, she leapt down from the branch and started making her way down the trunk of the Ancient Oak.

'Where is she?'

Redpelt rolled her eyes as she heard the leader of ThunderClan, Rootstar, talking with hushed voices to his senior warriors down beside the fresh-kill pile. She snorted and tucked into her mouse, savouring it's delicious flavour.

'The last time I saw her it was in camp yesterday.' Snakescar told him, as if this was a total disaster.

Redpelt tried to ignore them- she turned her attention away from the two cats and focused on a group of apprentices milling about round the warriors den. Her anger levels rose when she realised that they were talking about how Shadepetal was the most beautiful she-cat that ever lived.

She blinked and looked down, feeling the familiar burning sensation in her stomach. She tried to ignore it, but her jealousy was uncontrollable. It had been ever since she and Shadepetal were kits. The only thing she ever heard nowadays was how Shadepetal was amazing in every way.

There's never anything about Redpelt. I'm just Shadepetal's best friend. Redpelt thought bitterly.

She shook her head and finished her mouse before licking her chops and getting to her paws. I have sun-high patrol. She reminded herself, distracting herself from the matter of Shadepetal. Her eyes distant, the she-cat padded up to the group of toms gathering around the camp entrance, waiting to leave. They consisted of Flamescar, Flowerpaw and Toadclaw-

Oh no. Not Toadclaw! She groaned.

Toadclaw was the worst of all the toms in ThunderClan. He adored Shadepetal. Literally: Redpelt thought that he might go and commit suicide if she told him that she didn't love him. Shadepetal had told Redpelt again and again about how annoying Toadclaw was… the only problem was that everyone expected Shadepetal to become mates with Toadclaw. He was the leader's son, plus he was probably the most handsome of all the toms in ThunderClan, which he made sure everyone knew.

And he hated Redpelt, for the fact that she was closer to Shadepetal that he was.

The leader of the patrol, Flamescar, stepped forward and glared at her. 'Where've you been?' He snapped.

She stared at him. Flamescar had only arrived there a few seconds before Redpelt. 'I was finishing my fresh kill pile. It is okay to eat you know.' She told him, slowly.

Flamescar opened his mouth to reply, but Toadclaw cut in. 'Well you should have eaten faster.' He spat, as if this patrol was the most important thing in the world. My father told us that as well as patrolling the ShadowClan border, we had to keep her eyes out for Shadepetal.' He puffed out his chest, but his eyes were tainted with worry.

Redpelt met his eyes. 'Are you generally kidding me?' She said incredulously.

'Shadepetal is gone!' Flowerpaw squeaked. 'We have to find her before dark, when all the badgers and foxes come out.' The small apprentice shuddered.

Redpelt stiffened. That was another thing that annoyed her about Toadclaw. Flowerpaw was Toadclaw's apprentice. Toadclaw was far too young to be given an apprentice. Rootstar should have most definitely given the apprentice to either Redpelt or Shadepetal- and since he couldn't bare for his sons, future mate, to be put through any stress whatsoever, he had given Flowerpaw to Toadclaw, without even considering Redpelt.

'You guys,' Redpelt told the three toms matter-of-factly. 'She's been gone for about two hours. It's seriously no big deal. Shadepetal likes to go for walks in the forest. It helps her relax-'

Toadclaw's eyes widened, before his pelt bushed out threateningly and he unsheathed his claws. Redpelt backed away little in shock. 'Why didn't you tell us this earlier?!' Toadclaw yelled, making several members of ThunderClan turn and look at him. 'Where does she usually go?'

Redpelt opened her mouth to speak, but at the last moment decided against it. She remembered something that her best friend had told her when they were apprentices. Shadepetal loved to go to the Ancient Oak and sit on the highest branch. It was the only place in the forest that she could be alone. Shadepetal had made her swear that she never told anyone else about her secret place.

She shrugged. 'I don't know.' She murmured. 'She just kind've, enjoys walking, y'know?' She told them.

Toadclaw glared at her for a little longer, before sheathing his claws and turning around. 'Still, you could've told us she went for walks.' He said, sourly, before turning around and gesturing to the other two members of the patrol. 'Come on! We're leaving.'

Redpelt felt defiance rush through her system. Flamescar is a senior warrior! She thought. Surely he's the leader of the- She stopped when she remembered Rootstar's special treatment of his son. Redpelt sighed, and bounded after them into the forest.

Toadclaw and the rest had bounded ahead, and clearly weren't slowing down, so Redpelt eventually gave up running and slowed her paw steps down so that she was walking through the forest. She knew it was a border patrol, but since she knew it would save a lot more time and effort for her to go and find Shadepetal, she changed her path and headed off in the direction of the Ancient Oak.

It didn't take her long before she was standing beside the huge trunk of the seemingly endless oak. She craned her head backwards till it hurt, seeing if she could get a decent view of her friend. 'Shadepetal?' she called out.

The branches of a shrub rustled from behind, and Redpelt spun around. 'Hello?' She called out. 'Shadepetal?'

The bush rustled again and Redpelt's eyes contracted. She padded forward-

Before a black blur of fur erupted from the bush and met Redpelt head on. The dark red she-cat let out a mrrow of amusement as she realised it was Shadepetal. The two of them rolled about on the ground like kits, play fighting. Shadepetal had the upper hand, and her movements were swift and agile, but the beautiful she-cat had always been better at hunting than fighting. Redpelt, however, excelled in fighting and sucked at hunting.

Nevertheless, Shadepetal had the advantage of surprise. Soon enough, Redpelt was lying on her back, with Shadepetal grinning down at her, her eyes sparkling in the sun. 'I win.' She purred.

Redpelt rolled her eyes playfully. 'Okay, okay.' She said, smiling. 'You win.'

'A usual.' Shadepetal smirked, batting at Redpelt's face with her paws.

Redpelt rolled her eyes. 'Yeah, yeah, of course.' She purred. The she-cat shoved her off. 'How you doin' Shadepetal?' She asked, sitting up and running her tongue down her pelt to remove the dirt from her fur.

'Fine.' Shadepetal replied, she too beginning to wash herself. There was silence for a moment. 'I suppose ThunderClan is going haywire cause I've been gone?' She asked Redpelt.

Redpelt nodded vigorously. 'Even more than usually!' She stopped. 'Especially-'

'Toadclaw?' Shadepetal guessed, finishing her sentence.

Redpelt tilted her head to onside, in mock confusion. 'How in StarClan's name did you guess?' She said, sarcastically, causing Shadepetal to let out another mrrow of laughter.

Redpelt stepped closer to her. 'Red Petal?' She asked.

Shadepetal nodded. The dark red she-cat reached forward with her paw: Shadepetal did the same. Both their paws met softly in the middle, and their claws curled around the other's. The gesture was something that the two she-cats had done every since they had declared themselves best friends while being apprentices. It was a sign of friendship. Their friendship to be precise. If either Shadepetal or Redpelt asked to do the Red Petal sign (as they called it) it was something to represent how good friends they were. They often did it in greeting to show how much they appreciated the other, and sometimes they did it when they were overflowing with emotion and needed a friend to comfort them.

The two of them drew apart, ending the Red Petal. Shadepetal was staring into Redpelt's eyes. Over time, the Red Petal had become something spiritual between the two of them. It was a sign of great respect as well.

Soon, Redpelt found herself becoming uncomfortable with Shadepetal's emotion filled gaze. She looked away, and coughed. 'So, um…' She looked around, feeling awkward. 'Nice weather today?' She tried eventually.

Shadepetal's eyes diluted with confusion, but luckily Redpelt was saved when a huge yowling echoed through the undergrowth. Redpelt looked to her right and saw three cats erupt into the clearing. Shadepetal yowled in surprise as one of them barrelled into her. Redpelt instinctively unsheathed his claws and growled at the attackers, ready for a fight, when she suddenly realised it was the sun-high patrol.

Toadclaw was the one who had ran into Shadepetal. He was covering the she-cat in licks. 'Oh Shadepetal!' He yowled. 'I was so worried about you.'

Redpelt could hardly stop herself from bursting out laughing. Shadepetal stiffened awkwardly under Toadclaw's touch, and she quickly kicked him off of her. 'Yeah, um, I'm glad to see you too.' She muttered.

Flamescar let out a long sigh of relief. 'I'm glad we found you in time.' He said.

'We thought you had been taken prisoner by ShadowClan!' Aspenpaw piped up.

Redpelt ears twitched and she smirked. 'Yeah…' She said, sarcastically. 'That's definitely the most likely option.'

Shadepetal snickered, and her tail flicked along the ground impatiently. Toadclaw, on the other hand, didn't find Redpelt's joke very funny. He glared at her. 'You never know.' He snarled. 'What if she had been hurt?'

Redpelt glanced at Shadepetal. 'She can take care of herself just fine.' She retorted.

'And besides,' Shadepetal added. 'I go out tonnes for walks. You really should be used to me being away for a few hours.' Her eyes narrowed a little. 'Anyone would've thought you cared about me.'

Toadclaw, without even heeding Shadepetal's hint, padded forward to muzzle her cheek. 'I couldn't bare it if you got hurt.' He said softly, his voice brimming with emotion.

For some reason, Redpelt felt a pull of jealousy flare up in heart as Toadclaw made contact with Shadepetal's cheek. She wasn't really sure why though. She quickly shook her head and put it down to the fact that, as usual, Shadepetal received more attention that she ever did.

The patrol turned around and began to head back to camp, all the toms in the patrol chatting excitedly about how well they would be rewarded for finding Shadepetal and bringing her back home. Redpelt hung back with Shadepetal at the back of the patrol. They talked about what Shadepetal had, "meditated", up in the tree. When she was in her secret place, Shadepetal usually came back with a new realisation about life that Redpelt always found interesting.

A huge crescendo of male yowls echoed around the clearing as Shadepetal and Redpelt entered the ThunderClan camp shortly after the patrol. Instantly, half the members of ThunderClan were on their paws, and greeting Shadepetal back. It was clear that the other half of the camp couldn't care less about Shadepetal return. This group were the she-cats.

Rootstar stepped forward. 'Where did you find Shadepetal?' He asked, the question directed solely towards his son, the cat he had named the leader of the patrol.

Redpelt rolled her eyes (this particular action was becoming her signature move), knowing that she wouldn't get any praise for being the first to find her. She almost laughed as Toadclaw went onto describe how Shadepetal had been at the Ancient Oak, surrounded by dogs that the patrol had to fight to get to her-

Wait, what?

Redpelt and Shadepetal exchanged glances as he carried on. Toadclaw's obviously fake story seemed to be receiving quite the reception from the other ThunderClan warriors; even the she-cats seemed impressed by Toadclaw's so called bravery.

Redpelt opened her mouth to speak and tell Rootstar what had really happened, but Shadepetal whisked her tail across her best friend's mouth. 'Don't.' She murmured. 'We both know who Toadclaw will believe.'

She felt a burning anger in her stomach. But he hasn't ever mentioned me in any of this! She thought angrily.

Ignoring her annoyance and frustration at ThunderClan, Redpelt padded away and followed Shadepetal into the warriors den. She sat down in her nest, just beside Shadepetal's. It was already getting dark outside, and both the she-cats liked to get an early start in the morning.

As Shadepetal's breath slowed down, and Redpelt realised she was asleep, the dark red she-cat wondered about the two cats friendship. She wanted to be friends with Shadepetal. She really did! But nowadays, it was getting harder to be everyday. The days they did get to spend together were being shortened because of the amount of time Shadepetal was harassed by tomcats.

She sighed and turned over in her nest. She felt that jealousy once more. You have everything I could've wished Shadepetal. She murmured in her sleep. And yet sometimes, I wonder if you wish to have the life that I have.

What do you think of the opening? Please RR!