Full Summary:

There is a sinister cat prowling through the forest. SaffronClan doesn't like the new threat, so they send out a patrol of warriors to deal with the cat. Everything seems fine. But one of the cats, Stonestreak, comes back seemingly dazed and with unfocused eyes. He begins to act strangely. A few members of the Clan begin to get suspicious, but the leader, medicine cat, and deputy are not among them. And then one cat takes a wild guess - the sinister cat cast a spell. This theory travels around the Clan, striking pure fear into their hearts. No cat is brave enough to face that cat again, except the fiercest warriors. And they come back just fine after 'dealing' with the cat. Or so the Clan thinks... The cats of the Clan begin turning on one another, causing a war within. And this is just what that cat wanted. How can SaffronClan possibly be saved?

W-e-l-c-o-m-e

t-o

C-r-i-m-s-o-n

The repetitive sound of chirping crickets echoed through the dim forest. The moon was hidden behind a dark cloud, casting only a glow down to the earth below. A cat was making her way through the forest, paws crunching on the leaves and undergrowth that littered the ground. There were three more cats behind the leader, all creeping stealthily through their territory like prowling, dark panthers.

These cats were making their way towards a border. They were the moonhigh patrol, sent to check whether the enemy SnowClan was keeping on their side of the scent border. And indeed, the moon had reached its highest, and everything was fine.

Indigofeather, the leader of the patrol, halted right at the border. Her nostrils flared as she took in the scent of the opposing Clan.

"Well done, everyone," she whispered. The she-cat was barely visible because of her dark grey pelt. The only things that made her visible were her glowing blue eyes. She blended into the night like a raven in the shadows.

"Let's go back and get some rest, shall we? Everything is peaceful right now," Indigofeather went on. "Come on."

Stonestreak, a light grey tom with darker streaks, nodded. He just wanted to sleep after his big day. His mate had just had her second litter of kits, and her first litter were now warriors. His heart felt like it would burst with joy.

Indigofeather flicked her tail lightly and continued towards the camp, keeping a sharp lookout for anything suspicious. Her eyes scanned the area with accuracy similar to a hawk. The night was peaceful and calm, with the crickets keeping them company during their silent trek.

Stonestreak blinked, twitching his nose. He had thought he caught the scent of a rogue. But it didn't smell normal. This wasn't just any rogue. The scent… it smelled purely evil, emptying the tom of pride and filling him with fear.

The light grey fur on the back of Stonestreak's neck rose slowly. He unsheathed his claws and scanned the forest around him with narrowed eyes, pushing down his fear.

"Stonestreak? What's wrong?" Indigofeather asked, glancing at his neck fur. The other two warriors, Sparkshine and Cinderblossom, nodded their agreement.

"I can smell a rogue. Do you want me to go and check it out?" Stonestreak asked nervously. Deep inside, he really didn't want to. But he kept his voice calm and his objectives focused on the safety of his Clan.

"That would be great, thanks." Even Indigofeather looked uneasy now, her blue gaze darting back and forth. "We'll meet you back at camp, okay?"

Stonestreak swallowed. "Alright," he meowed. That was kind of cowardly… he thought. Then he turned and trotted off between the dark wooden trunks of the trees before he could change his mind.

Stonestreak put his nose to the ground, inhaling deeply and trying to track the danger. The rogue's scent filled him with fear. It had a dark, evil taste to it. Stonestreak was beginning to regret his decision, but something forced his paws to move forwards and find the rogue. He convinced himself that it was nothing more than loyalty to his Clan. I'm doing this for my Clan. I'm doing this for my Clan.

Stonestreak broke through the thick trees and into a small clearing. The ground was covered in long green grass that swayed in the sudden night breeze, like snakes preparing to strike. There were small coloured flowers dotted through the sea of grass, bleached silver by the moon.

But what scared Stonestreak the most was the dark figure standing on the opposite side of the clearing, hiding among the tree trunks. He couldn't see the figure's eyes, but he could make out that it was a cat. He had found the rogue.

Sudden terror filled him. His tail bushed up like the quills of an agitated porcupine. He had to run. But then the cat spoke. His voice was silky and kind, willing Stonestreak to stay, stay with him…

"Welcome, Clan cat. I see that you found me, and I expect you will chase me out." The cat hadn't opened his eyes. His tone was low and emotionless.

Stonestreak tried to break through the haze that was fogging his loyalty. "Yes. I will chase you away, and you will not return!" he meowed fiercely. What was going on? Something wasn't right, and a sense of doom settled over him, a blanket of darkness.

"There, there, don't be so angry. After all…" the cat meowed. "I mean harm to your Clan. And after tonight, there will be absolutely nothing you can do about it." His face spread into a smile, and Stonestreak could feel the malice flowing from him, a pounding waterfall of emotion.

Stonestreak bristled with fear. "What are you talking about?" he asked angrily. Nothing could take him away from his Clan, his mate, and his kits. Nothing… right?

The cat took two steps forward, into the moonlit clearing. He was not a small cat, nor a large cat, but merely in between. "Oh, you'll see," the cat purred darkly. Then he snapped open his eyes.

Stonestreak let out a strangled gasp as he saw them. Even the night breeze seemed to stop. The eyes were a dark crimson, the colour of blood. And they were sucking him in, drowning him, drowning him in calmness and enchantment. His mind was growing fuzzy… He couldn't think, couldn't move. His legs became an anchor that tied him to the ground; he was a prisoner of the eyes…

"My name is Nox." The voice seemed to echo around his head. Suddenly, Nox snapped his eyes shut and Stonestreak could think again, think terrified thoughts. Deep fear settled inside his heart. SaffronClan was doomed by this cat, this Nox. With powers like that… whatever they were, no cat could stand a chance.

"I want to take over your Clan. What could be better, a large number of cats that have all been trained to fight? I made enemies in my time, and I intend to deal with them. Nothing, I repeat, nothing can stop this. Now, it's time to get down to business," Nox purred. "Hold tight."

He took some more steps, getting closer and closer to Stonestreak; enjoying the action. Yet the grey warrior could not move a muscle. He was like a mouse trapped by a snake, paralysed with fear.

Finally, Nox was standing right in front of Stonestreak. His eyes were still shut. Stonestreak was terrified of those eyes, those eyes with the power to destroy his Clan. He wanted to look away, but he couldn't move… the last time Nox had done something, it must have affected Stonestreak's capabilities.

"Now… just look at me and everything will be fine," Nox sang in a sweet voice, opening his eyes slowly and purposefully. Stonestreak quickly looked down, but claws lashed across his muzzle, forcing him to lift his head. Stonestreak's eyes met Nox's, and suddenly he was drowning again.

A red haze spread across Stonestreak's vision, and his mind grew fuzzy. The eyes were even more powerful this time. He couldn't think, he couldn't breathe… The eyes held him captive once more. He was the servant of the eyes; they were his master and he would obey them…

No! Stop… stop thinking that way! You can't… let this villain take over!

Something was pressing into Stonestreak's mind. Vaguely, he could hear chanting from the villain in front of him. But he filled with calmness and obedience at the voice. A sense of peace spread throughout his body. Stonestreak collapsed onto the ground, flanks heaving as he tried to fight it. But he couldn't… he couldn't fight it. He had no resolve left.

The fuzziness spread through his whole body, taking charge and leaving him with no control. Yet there was nothing the warrior could do about it. He was a puppet, just a puppet on the strings of those eyes… that cat.

SaffronClan is doomed.

That was Stonestreak's last thought before his mind gave way, collapsing into darkness that was tinted crimson. He succumbed to the eyes, the fuzziness, the spell.

AN: Welcome to Crimson, my new fan-fiction. Every review is greatly appreciated; flames will be used to make the story better. Don't nag me for updates and... I hope you enjoyed the prologue. Five reviews and I'll update the story - I already have chapter one written.

- I s s y