Author's Note: So, Tigerstar and Hawkfrost are still alive? When will they quit? Darkstar is about to call an emergency gathering. Let's see how this goes...


The next day, Darkstar had the clans meet at their gathering place.
"Why are we here?" Leopardstar asked.
"Yes." Spottedstar said, "It's not even a full moon."
"It's very important." Shadowclaw said, "It threatens all the clans, and possibly even the clans at the lake."
"Last night, Darkpaw became a warrior and changed her name to Maplepounce. But right after we chanted her name...she tried to kill Mollystep. Luckily, I distracted her instead. It cost me two lives, but at least it saved my clan from further suffering. Then, she killed Brightpelt. Tigerhawk and Hawkclaw died trying to protect him."
"But she's on the loose, now. We have no clue where she is, but hopefully she's not here."
"Darkstar, look behind you!" Leopardstar said.
Darkstar looked behind him and saw Maplepounce, grooming herself.
"Hello, Darkstar. Isn't it a lovely morning?"
"You're so calm...how can you be so calm when you've killed a cat last night?"
"What are you talking about?"
"You know what." Shadowclaw said, "Brightpelt is dead."
"He is? That's awful."
"Yes, it is. We hope we can find out who did it." Darkstar said.
"Me too! He had no enemies. How could a cat kill him?"
"I don't know."Shadowclaw said.
"Beware of Maplepounce at night. She's very dark then, and stops at nothing to kill."
The cats started to return to their camps.


"Tigerstar! Hawkfrost! Brokenstar!" Maplepounce called.
"Yes? You called?" Tigerstar said.
"Last night, someone killed Brightpelt."
"Oh yes, him..." Hawkfrost said.
"Yes, about that..." Maplepounce said, "Who did that? Was it to help me become leader?"
"No. It is a curse, Maplepounce."
"A curse?"
"Yes. During the day, you are a normal warrior. But at night...the darkness takes over."
"How can I stop this?" She asked.
"You can't. It's too late to stop it. If you were still an apprentice, we could have done something...I'm so sorry..."
"Then that means...I killed Brightpelt, didn't I?"
Tigerstar nodded.
"But now, the curse is unstoppable." Hawkfrost said.
Tigerstar and Hawkfrost walked back into the Dark Forest.


Maplepounce woke up in fright.
The curse can't be true...
She looked up at the sky. The sun was beginning to set.
Oh no! I better find a safe place.
She spotted a tunnel and began to walk into the entrance.
"I'll get lost in here, and by the time I regain control...it will be dawn."
There was a large network of tunnels, going in different directions.
Tonight, no cat will die. Hopefully.


As the moon began to rise, Darkstar looked up at the sky.
"I hope Maplepounce is safe." Shadowclaw said.
"Me too." Hollynose added.


Maplepounce looked up at a hole above her head. The moon was beginning to rise.
"I wonder where this tunnel leads." She said, looking at one of the tunnels.
She walked through tunnel after tunnel for what seemed like hours. But when she looked up at the sky, she realized that the camp was not far away.
"Maplepounce! What are you doing here?" Shadowclaw asked.
"Don't worry," She said, "the curse only happens during the darkest of nights."
"Well, I'm glad you're not going to pounce on me."
"That's not going to happen for a while."
The two nuzzled each other.
"I'm glad." Shadowclaw said.
"I love you, Shadowclaw. Never leave my side."
"Okay. I won't. Besides, I like it better here with you."


Author's Note: Okay, I feel like I have to explain a bit what this curse is for.

StarClan created a curse after the Battle Against the Dark Forest to prevent any more cats from training with any cat from the Place of No Stars. During the "darkest of nights" (AKA New moon and claw moon) any cats with this curse will attempt to kill any cats nearby and may have a cat from the Dark Forest control their own actions. There is only one way to lift this curse, but for now I'll leave that as a mystery...