PROLOGUE
Love hurts. I say this because I know. Love is amazing. It's an incredible feeling. Love is like a friendship caught on fire: In the beginning a flame, very pretty, often hot and fierce, but still only light and flickering. As love grows older, our hearts mature and our love becomes as coals, deep-burning and unquenchable. That's how it was for me; for us. Passion... it was the atmosphere, the noise, it was the time, the taste, the smell, and the sense of being. I think it was being alive at a point where it was so joyful it could almost be painful.
But it was not something I wanted to happen. I didn't ask for it. But that's the way it is with life, as some of the most beautiful days come completely by chance. But even the most beautiful days eventually have their sunsets. Meeting her was fate, becoming her friend was a choice, but falling in love with her was completely beyond my control. It should have never happened. I should have stayed away. Because now, I'm in love with the cat I am supposed to kill.
This is the story of how it all began...
The forest was dark; the black, roiling mass of clouds far above the treetops having devoured the skies long ago. Rain fell steadily down on the forest below, soaking deep into the ground and turning the hard-packed earth into dark sludge. A gentle breeze stirred the leaves of the trees and the blades of grass that grew between the massive trunks of the forest, bringing with it the warm, comforting smell of milk to the tom's nose.
He sat silently in the clearing, his cold blue eyes staring straight ahead. He didn't seem to notice the rain, or he didn't mind, letting it seep through his pelt, slicking his fur black against his body. His tail thumped up and down on the sludgy mush that was the forest floor; the only movement the tom seemed to make. Bright eyes peered at him from the underbrush around him- cats; his Clanmates, watching anxiously as their leader sat in the center of the camp, waiting as the rain soaked him to the bone. He was excited as well, but not enough to make him smile. Not quite. His stony eyes did not waver from the tangle of brambles ahead; the nursery.
An agonized cry suddenly rang out from deep within the den, and the tom's tail stopped in its rhythmic tapping against the forest floor. Immediately following the cry, the soft mewling of kits could be heard. The tom stood. The glittering eyes of the Clan cats flashed through the heavy darkness, trained on the entrance to the nursery as a cat appeared, slinking out of the den and into the freezing rain.
"Coldstar," the cat meowed to the tom standing in the center of camp. "The kits have arrived."
Without a word, the tom strode forward, pushing past the cat standing in the entrance to the nursery without so much as a glance his way, or a thank you for delivering the kits safely. Inside, it was much warmer and drier, and the smell of milk was stronger here. Fernshade lay in the back of the den, two tiny kits nestled into her belly. She didn't look at them; instead, her eyes were locked on Coldstar.
"You've done well," the tom meowed, giving the smallest of nods. Compliments didn't come easily from him, but the she-cat barely seemed to notice or care. Her amber eyes were cold, and, though it went unnoticed by Coldstar, accusing.
"Hurry up and name them," Fernshade said, the slightest edge of venom to her voice. "Then leave."
On the other side of the den, one of the other queens lifted her head to stare at Fernshade with wide, surprised eyes. No one ever used that tone with Coldstar. No one wanted to risk it.
But the FogClan leader did nothing to scold her. His gaze was fixed on the two kits snuggled into Fernshade's fur. One was a dark brown tabby, the other a cloudy gray color. Both were good-sized kits, as Coldstar had expected them to be. They were his after all, and born for a specific reason. Even at just a few moments old, they were apart of something he had been planning for moons. They had to be strong for what lie ahead. And he, Coldstar, would make sure they were.
"The tabby is Tigerkit," he meowed. "And the gray one is Stormkit." Strong names for strong kits. The gears were turning in Coldstar's mind. The prospect of putting his plan into effect was almost enough to make him smile. Yes. They would be strong kits. He'd train them himself if he had to.
"Wonderful," Fernshade mewed tartly, eyes narrowed. "Now if you don't mind, I'd like to get some rest. I've had a bit of a long night." She was aware of her leader's plan. She had to admit, it was a good one, but she'd been forced to play her part. These kits were nothing to her. They'd be gone soon anyway, even if she did want them. Oh well. Her opinion didn't matter, apparently. On the other side of the den, the queen blinked at Fernshade, wondering what on earth she was thinking by disrespecting their leader like that. But again, Coldstar seemed unfazed by her tone.
"I will come and visit in the morning," he said, then turned and slipped out of the den without another word. The scent of milk and the feeling of Fernshade's burning eyes on him faded into the night.
The rain was falling harder now, slowly taking on the substance of sleet. The slushy rain drummed against Coldstar's back as he walked across the clearing, heading for the small cave between two rocks that was his den. The eyes of his Clanmates continued to stare at him from their dens', watching his slow progress across the camp. They knew of Coldstar's plan for his kits, and they were just as eager as he was.
This is going to work, the tom thought as he padded into the warmth and dryness of his den, water dripping onto the stone floor beneath his paws. He shook his pelt, dispelling most of the water from his fur, and then settled down in his nest in the corner, getting himself comfortable. But he was far from tired. No, he was excited. His plan was finally starting to become a reality.
Three moons, he thought as he closed his eyes, slowly beginning to drift into unconsciousness. Yes, that should be enough…
It was all beginning to come together now. Outside, thunder boomed loudly. A flash of lightning illuminated the darkened sky, and the wind howled through the forest, the sound eerily similar to a scream.
And as the tom slowly slipped into darkness, a small smile ghosted across his lips.
A L L E G I A N C E S
SeaClan
Leader- Sunstar- Fluffy light ginger tom with white tabby stripes and amber eyes.
Deputy- Icestorm- White tom with a black tail and blue eyes. Mate- Amberheart; Kits- Thornkit, Skykit, and Rosekit
Medicine Cat- Willowsong- Sleek silver she-cat with green eyes.
Warriors-
Lilyfrost- Fluffy light gray tabby she-cat with green eyes. Apprentice- Cloverpaw
Eagleheart- Light brown and white tabby tom with amber eyes. Apprentice- Morningpaw
Reedwhisker- Sleek black tom with white hindpaws and yellow eyes.
Pebblefrost- Fluffy light ginger tabby she-cat with blue eyes.
Adderstrike- Dark brown tabby tom with amber eyes. Apprentice- Russetpaw
Birdsong- Sleek blue-gray she-cat with yellow eyes.
Hazelfrost- White and light gray patched tom with blue eyes.
Echostep- Silver tabby she-cat with green eyes.
Ashwhisker- Dark gray tabby tom with blue eyes. Mate- Mistflower
Grayflower- Fluffy light gray she-cat with yellow eyes. Apprentice- Bluepaw
Robinflight- Dark brown she-cat with amber eyes.
Apprentices-
Cloverpaw- Light brown tabby she-cat with a white underbelly and paws, and green eyes. Mentor- Lilyfrost
Russetpaw- Dark ginger tom with white tabby stripes and blue eyes. Sister- Morningpaw; Mentor- Adderstrike
Morningpaw- Dark gray, white, and light gray calico she-cat with blue eyes. Brother- Russetpaw; Mentor- Eagleheart
Bluepaw- Blue-gray tom with amber eyes. Mentor- Grayflower
Queens-
Mistflower- Fluffy light gray she-cat with blue eyes. Mate- Ashwhisker
Amberheart- Dark brown tabby she-cat with amber eyes. Mate- Icestorm; Kits- Thornkit, Skykit, and Rosekit
Kits-
Thornkit- Dark brown and black mottled tom with green eyes. Parents- Amberheart and Icestorm; Siblings- Skykit and Rosekit
Skykit- White she-kit with cloudy gray paws, muzzle, tail, and blue eyes. Parents- Amberheart and Icestorm; Siblings- Thornkit and Rosekit
Rosekit- Black she-kit with amber eyes. Parents- Amberheart and Icestorm; Siblings- Thornkit and Skykit
Tigerkit- Dark brown tabby tom with white paws, tail-tip, and blue eyes. Brother- Stormkit
Stormkit- Gray tom with faint tabby stripes and amber eyes. Brother- Tigerkit
Elders-
Falconclaw- Light ginger tabby tom with yellow eyes.
Breezeflower- Fluffy black she-cat with green eyes.
Speckledleaf- Light brown she-cat with dark spots near the base of her tail and green eyes.
FogClan
Leader- Coldstar- Light gray tom with darker paws and tail and blue eyes.
Deputy- Ravenheart- Black tom with white underbelly and yellow eyes. Mate- Littleflower; Kits- Hawkkit and Fawnkit
Medicine Cat- Smokefoot- Dark gray tom with yellow eyes.
Warriors-
Tornfeather- Cream-colored tabby tom with blue eyes.
Nightflower- Black she-cat with white paws and green eyes.
Sharpfang- Dark ginger and brown tabby tom with amber eyes. Mate- Wolfsong; Kits- Thornkit, Swiftkit, and Dewkit; Apprentice- Gingerpaw
Ivyfrost- Light brown tabby she-cat with white underbelly and green eyes.
Darkstream- Dark blue-gray she-cat with blue eyes. Apprentice- Oakpaw
Thistletooth- Dark brown tabby tom with yellow eyes. Apprentice- Sootpaw
Silverwing- Silver tabby she-cat with yellow eyes.
Redfoot- Ginger tom with darker paws and blue eyes.
Fernshade- Light brown tabby she-cat with amber eyes.
Briarthorn- Light brown tabby tom with white paws, underbelly, and blue eyes.
Raggedwing- Ruddy tom with amber eyes.
Apprentices-
Sootpaw- Smokey-gray tom with blue eyes. Mentor- Thistletooth
Gingerpaw- Fluffy ginger she-cat with green eyes. Mentor- Sharpfang
Oakpaw- Cream-colored tom with yellow eyes. Mentor- Darkstream
Queens-
Wolfsong- Dark brown she-cat with yellow eyes. Mate- Sharpfang; Kits- Thrushkit, Swiftkit, and Dewkit
Littleflower- Light brown tabby she-cat with blue eyes. Mate- Ravenheart; Kits- Hawkkit and Fawnkit
Kits-
Thrushkit- Dark brown tabby tom with white paws and amber eyes. Parents- Sharpfang and Wolfsong; Siblings- Swifkit and Dewkit
Swiftkit- Black and white tom with yellow eyes. Parents- Sharpfang and Wolfsong; Siblings- Thrushkit and Dewkit
Dewkit- Light gray she-kit with blue eyes. Parents- Sharpfang and Wolfsong; Siblings- Swiftkit and Thrushkit
Hawkkit- Light brown tabby tom with blue eyes. Parents- Littleflower and Ravenheart; Sister- Fawnkit
Fawnkit- Golden-brown she-cat with amber eyes. Parents- Littleflower and Ravenheart; Brother- Hawkkit
Elders-
Tawnyfoot- Tawny-colored she-cat with green eyes.
Longfur- Fluffy light gray tom with amber eyes.
A/U: Hope you like. This was sort of a little plot bunny that popped up in my head and I couldn't resist typing it up. If you want to figure out exactly what Coldstar's little plan is, REVIEW.