This story is a remake of 'The Shadowed Cat', which I have now deleted. I started doing that story from the POV of a cat called Swanpaw, but then I realised I could make this story much more interesting if it was from Wildkit, Icekit and Firekit's POVs. And plus, the other story was a pile of crap. So if, by chance, you ever actually read 'The Shadowed Cat; and if, by chance, you actually managed to remember anything about it, then good for you. You now have a tiny bit of a head start.

Anyway, on with the story.

Title: To Bear a Curse

Genre: Suspense/Angst

Rating: T (just in case)

Summary: The war rages on. Battles are fought frequently. Deaths are reported at every Gathering. StarClan have a plan to stop it once and for all, but what must they sacrifice in order to succeed?

SettingClan

Leader

Shadowstar – black tom with green eyes

Deputy

Spiderstripe – dark grey tabby tom with amber eyes

Apprentice: Specklepaw

Medicine Cat

Sharpsight – black tom with amber eyes

Warriors

Patchflower – calico she-cat with amber eyes

Apprentice: Fallenpaw

Dustclaw – mottled brown tabby tom with green eyes

Apprentice: Autumnpaw

Stormwhisker – white tom with vivid amber eyes

Simba – golden tom with hazel eyes

Lightsky – grey tabby she-cat with white on her chest and blue eyes

Apprentice: Tawnypaw

Frosteyes – swift dilute tabby she-cat with blue eyes

Tinyleap – small black and white tom with blue eyes

Apprentices

Fallenpaw – long-furred dark ginger tom with green eyes

Specklepaw – mottled brown tabby she-cat with amber eyes

Tawnypaw – dark brown tabby she-cat with amber eyes

Autumnpaw – mottled brown tabby tom with amber eyes

Queens

Vividmist – dilute tortoiseshell she-cat with vivid amber eyes

Mother of Tinyleap's kits: Dovekit (grey and white she-kit with blue eyes), Wildkit (cream tabby tom-kit with blue eyes) and Fernkit (pale grey tabby she-kit with blue eyes)

Darkfire – swift tortoiseshell she-cat with green eyes

Mother of Stormwhisker's kits: Icekit (swift white tom-kit with vivid amber eyes), Cloudkit (white tom-kit with green eyes) and Firekit (ginger she-kit with green eyes)

Applefern – mottled grey tabby she-cat with green eyes

Elders

Greyspots – dilute tortoiseshell she-cat with blue eyes

Cavepelt – grey tabby tom with blue eyes

*...*

RushingClan

Leader

Pebblestar – brown she-cat

Apprentice: Redpaw (ginger and white tom)

Deputy

Eclipsesky – black and white tom

Apprentice: Swiftpaw (calico she-cat)

Medicine Cat

Risingdawn – calico she-cat

Apprentice: Cloudflight (grey and white tom)

Warriors

Sunfire – ginger she-cat

Poolwhisker – calico she-cat

Apprentice: Lightpaw (tortoiseshell she-cat)

Pantherrun – black tom

Apprentice: Spiritpaw (torbie she-cat)

Gustclaw – silver-grey tom

Apprentice: Blazepaw (ginger and white tom)

Nettlefang – black tom

Apprentice: Jaggedpaw (black smoke and white tom)

Salmonsplash – silver tabby tom

Bramblepath – brown tabby and white tom

Sandshadow – cream tabby and white she-cat

Whitefur – albino she-cat

Queens

Auburnpelt – tortoiseshell she-cat

Mother of Timberfur's kits: Loudkit (brown tabby tom-kit with a bright nose), Bluekit (grey tabby she-kit) and Ashkit (dilute tortoiseshell she-kit)

Kitefeather – brown tabby she-cat

Leafspots – silver tabby she-cat

Mother of Pantherrun's kits: Stormkit (silver tabby tom-kit) and Yellowkit (black smoke she-kit)

Elders

Timberfur – brown tabby tom

*...*

ShiningClan

Leader

Waterstar – spotted chocolate torbie she-cat

Apprentice: Oakpaw (brown tabby she-cat)

Deputy

Brawnheart – fluffy cream tabby tom

Apprentice: Birchpaw (brown tabby tom)

Medicine Cat

Coyotetail – seal point tom

Apprentice: Rainpaw (grey and white tom)

Warriors

Robinclaw – brown tabby tom

Apprentice: Fuzzypaw (fluffy black she-cat)

Breezetail – fluffy black and white she-cat

Apprentice: Mosspaw (black tom)

Ravenfeather – black tom

Eagletalon – grey tabby tom

Apprentice: Dawnpaw (brown tabby and white she-cat)

Queens

Springfrost – brown tabby and white she-cat

Mother of Polarfur's kits: Woodkit (brown tabby tom-kit), Dewkit (white she-kit) and Mousekit (brown tabby and white tom-kit)

Umberflower – red tabby she-cat

Waterstar – spotted chocolate torbie she-cat

Mother of Eagletalon's kits: Jaykit (grey tabby tom-kit) and Greykit (spotted grey tabby she-kit)

Elders

Frogleap – cream tabby and white tom

*...*

WhisperingClan

Leader

Freezestar – white tom

Deputy

Tabbypelt – torbie she-cat

Apprentice: Tigerpaw (brown tabby tom)

Medicine Cat

Mythsong – red tabby tom

Apprentice: Brightpaw (ginger she-cat)

Warriors

Tanglepath – long-furred brown tabby tom

Apprentice: Blackpaw (black tom)

Greenfang – black she-cat

Apprentice: Rowanpaw (dilute tortoiseshell she-cat)

Possumtail – grey tom

Canyonleap – red tabby tom

Apprentice: Thornpaw (long-furred brown tabby and white tom)

Mothflight – tortoiseshell she-cat

Apprentice: Heatherpaw (calico she-cat)

Ferngaze – silver tabby she-cat

Haretrail – cinnamon tabby tom

Apprentice: Squirrelpaw (tortoiseshell she-cat)

Singepelt – dark cream tabby tom

Beetleclaw – silver tabby tom

Spottedpelt – mottled silver tabby she-cat

Queens

Blossomheart – calico she-cat

Mother of Freezestar's kits: Sorrelkit (brown tabby tom-kit) Berrykit (white tom-kit) and Rabbitkit (brown tabby and white she-kit)

Firstripe – brown tabby she-cat

Mother of someone's kits: Bearkit (brown tabby and white tom-kit) and Starlingkit (small black she-cat), and also caring for Singlepelt's kit: Dustkit (chocolate calico she-cat)

Elders

Huskfur – black tom

Torntail – mottled brown tabby tom

Wolftooth – black tom

Fawnblaze – fawn tabby tom

*...* PAGE BREAK *...*

Prologue

A silent pool in a forest. The water itself was still, rarely disturbed except by the occasional soft breeze, which created small, neat ripples across its surface. It was clear enough for the bottom to be seen, which was a blanket of brown and grey pebbles. Around it the grass was well trodden from many visitors, but not dry or muddy as might have been expected. The trees surrounding the pool were like silent guardians, keeping out the worst of the wind and rain. The only sound, aside from the birdsong and scrambling of small rodents, was the quietest whisper of the wind.

It was a place where many deceased warriors would gather, either for socialising and relaxing or formal meetings. Today it was the latter. Four cats were meeting to discuss a problem that had arisen, not in their world, but in the world of the living. These problems would always be put first, which was why it was treated with such urgency. It had been looming over them for some time now, and a recent event had caused an epiphany – it couldn't be left any longer.

The first to arrive was a small, black tom. He seemed suspicious and took great precaution by searching the area to any possible intruders and spies before being seated by the pool. Even then he didn't rest. He was on a constant guard, never relaxing for even a second and eyes flicking from place to place. Not that there was anyone for him to see. It was just about dawn, the assigned meeting time, and most cats were still tucked in their nests.

Next came a larger, grey tom. His arrival was very different. He strode in, calm and collected, and sat down next to the black tom. He was perfectly at ease, and didn't seem concerned of any danger that there could possibly be. Turning to the first tom, he broke the silence.

"Hello, Whisper," he meowed formally, his tail wrapped neatly around his paws. He clearly had the build of a cat that had lived in a harsh place, not so much by lack of food but by the skill that was needed to move around with ease. He had a sturdy build with particularly strong limbs.

Whisper almost snarled as he responded with, "Greetings," barely glancing at his acquaintance, if that was a fitting term. His build was almost the opposite; his small, light build was perfect for the night hunter he was. He could easily disguise himself amongst the shadows and strike the element of surprise at his back.

Neither of them said anymore until the last two attendees appeared. Both were she-cats: one hosting a flame-coloured pelt and a fiery attitude to match, the other a beautiful cream tabby who was just as bold. The red she-cat was large with a muscular build for fighting, and the cream she-cat had the long limbs of a fast runner. They made their way over to the pool and sat together, opposite the two toms.

"Just like you to be on time," Whisper sneered. It was after already after dawn.

The red tabby bared her teeth, and retorted with, "And I bet you were here moons early to check for intruders. What are you, afraid?"

"Who would dare intrude on us?" the other she-cat added, "We are the original leaders of the Clans. Most cats are too afraid to even look at us!" Her blue eyes burned with passion.

"Enough!" the grey tom growled. "Look at us! We're no better than rogues! Arguing like this won't get us – or the Clans – anywhere!" Even though his voice spoke of fury, he remained almost unmoving below his face.

"If the Clans fight, we fight," Whisper stated. "That's how it is and has always been, Rush, and you know it."

"And if we fight, the Clans fight," Rush shot back. "Fighting like this will only make things worse." His ears were pinned back as he glanced at everyone.

"Well, how do we solve this problem?" the cream she-cat asked, obviously having doubts. "We've already tried sending signs, but they just start fighting again after a few moons."

Whisper glowered at the two she-cats as he added, "And trying to have the Clans form alliances between each other only worked in one case, and only made the fighting worse. Maybe if you two weren't stuck to each other that might not have happened!"

The red she-cat glared back and hissed, "It wasn't my idea!"

"Of course it wasn't, Sunset, you're too mouse-brained to even find your own tail!" Whisper dug his claws into the ground, arching his back.

"For StarClan's sake, can we stop arguing for long enough to think of another idea?" Rush growled.

"I don't think that'll happen unless we think of something fast," the cream she-cat meowed. "I mean, you two" – she gestured to Sunset and Whisper with her tail – "are too busy stepping on each others' tails, and you" – she looked at Rush – "are spending all your time trying to shut them up. I'll be able to think of something better than you three, but I'll still need you to listen so that you know what the plan is."

"And there you go again, twisting the situation to make you look good," Whisper hissed. "Honestly, Shine, I don't know how Sunset can stand you."

"How hard is it to just shut up for a moment a think of something?" Rush asked indignantly.

"I did that on the way over here," came the reply of Shine. "I think everyone's doomed."

After a pause, Sunset meowed, "If the Clans were threatened, wouldn't they unite to face the danger?"

"Are you suggesting we deliberately put the Clans in danger?" Rush asked in disbelief, "Especially after we worked so hard to forge them?"

"If we don't do anything they'll destroy each other anyway!" Sunset pointed out.

Shine turned to her, "I thought of that, but I wasn't sure of we could pull it off."

"Sure you did," Whisper muttered too quietly for her to hear.

Rush sighed. "I guess we'll have to try, but if it doesn't work there'll be nothing else we can do."

*...* PAGE BREAK *...*

Tonight the moon was almost full. Its silver light washed a hard, stone pathway that cut its way between the forest and rising hills. The Thunderpath was quiet at night, and even at day it wasn't too busy. Under the shadowed canopy of the trees, two cats sat together under the stars, their tails entwined.

"The stars are beautiful tonight," the she-cat meowed. "They look so close, I feel as if I could reach out an touch them."

"They're still not as pretty as you though," the tom purred, reaching up to lick her ear. His smaller size was quite embarrassing.

"You're just saying that," she purred, licking him back.

"I mean it."

"Then you must be blind."

The tom sighed, and was about to reply when he saw a light zoom across the sky. The she-cat saw it too, and meowed in amazement, "It's a moving star!"

"It's a shooting star," the tom told her. "I heard a story that it's actually a StarClan warrior leaving their hunting grounds so that they can watch their loved ones."

And he was half right. A StarClan cat had emerged from the sky, but not to see family or friends. These cats were long dead. No, this spirit was travelling to deliver something important to a very important cat. But what was this important thing, and to whom was it being delivered?

The spirit moved quickly, finally finding the Clan camp. She had no worries about anyone seeing her white, starry pelt and, now on the ground, padded confidently to the nursery. Within its walls, a queen had given birth to new life, and was now covering her kits in affectionate licks. A father stood at the sidelines, eyes shining with indescribable glee.

The StarClan warrior gave a sad sigh, wishing she didn't need to crush the happiness of the family. To be the bearer of the knowledge that she held with her the claw that would rip them apart was difficult to accept. And then to know that she had to use it in order for a greater future – it was the worst thing. But it had to be done.

Swallowing her negative emotions, she stepped forward and placed her paw upon one kit. It didn't matter which kit it was, but she felt an especially strong attraction towards the kit she had picked – almost as though it had meant to be this kit. She felt a weight in her stomach leave her as she passed what would be the its doom on to the kit.

She removed her paw and turned to leave, but not before whispering, "I'm sorry that you must bear this curse, kit. If you ever join us, I hope you can forgive me." She leaped away into the night.

And so the countdown began.

Forty-two moons to go.

Well, I think you can understand enough of the prologue to put it together with the summary and work out what this story might be about. And in case you were wondering, I don't plan to count each moon individually. I'll skip a few with each one so it isn't so tedious for you, and there won't be one in every chapter.

Please review and tell me what you think. I really want to get better at writing so any constructive criticism will be welcomed. If you flame my story then I'll probably just laugh at you so don't bother with it.