Tigerstripe glanced back nervously as the unknown cat and Snakepelt faded from his view. Korosu padded along beside him quietly. The silence made the tom shiver as he did not know whether this was a death trap or not.

"Quit looking back," Korosu snapped as Tigerstripe turned his head for the fifth or sixth time. He couldn't help but be filled with regret and uncertainty. Korosu had not been kind in the past. Why was he trusting her now?

"Sorry," he murmured, continuing on.

He was glad the walk would not be long as the last place he'd seen Krait was on the shore of the river near the outskirts of the forest. He got a shudder thinking of Rain's dead body lying beside the river, and he prayed it was gone by now.

"Cold?" Korosu asked, noticing his shudder.

"Nevermind that," Tigerstripe growled. "Follow me."

"I do hope you remember where you last saw the she-cat. Or else I do believe certain death may come to Snakepelt," she spoke.

Tigerstripe spun around, growling at the she-cat. "Are you here to help me or not?"

"That depends. Do you trust me?"

"No, but you're the only hope I have," he grunted.

He led her down the shore of the winding river, recognizing the familiar landscape. With each step he became more familiarized with the area, and soon, he began to pick up stale scents.

"It shouldn't be that much farther now," he told Korosu.

"Oh, good," the slim feline purred.

He turned a corner and recognized the setting as where he'd last seen Krait. Korosu lingered behind him though Tigerstripe didn't let this stop him. He advanced a few steps then shuddered at the light tufts of orange fur coating some of the rocks of the shore.

Rain, he thought. Her body appeared to be gone, either floating down the river or dragged off by some animal, but the dried blood stains and bits of orange fur would be implanted in his mind forever.

"Everything okay there, Tigey?" Korosu asked.

Tigerstripe shook the thoughts away and nodded.

"She disappeared into these woods," he explained, pointing to the woods that were only a few foxlengths from them.

Korosu lifted her air to the nose and froze. Tigerstripe watched as each strand of fur seemed to stand on end on the white she-cat.

"Should we head in there?" Tigerstripe asked.
Korosu nodded slowly.

Tigerstripe quietly approached the woods, Korosu awkwardly lingering behind again. He turned around once or twice, though the she-cat always appeared to be behind him. He felt his fur begin to stand on end and wondered if this was just a secret plan of Korosu's to kill him when he least expected it.

He entered into the woods, the sound of the river slowly fading behind him. The trees soon began to enclose him and Korosu, and new scents began to enter through his nose. One was fresh and familiar, and Tigerstripe suddenly realized that Krait was nearby.

He turned around to alert Korosu, but the she-cat had disappeared. He glanced around, wondering where she could've gone.

"Korosu?" he called.

There was no answer.

Tigerstripe began to get nervous now, imagining the she-cat leaping out of a tree and striking him with her sharp claws.

"Tigerstripe?" came a quiet mew.

Tigerstripe spun around and watched Krait emerge from the bushes.

"YOU!" he spat.

"Come to kill me now?" Krait asked. "I'm surprised you didn't come after me earlier."

Tigerstripe growled and resisted all urge to shove his claws into the she-cat's throat right there. Instead, he slowly sheathed his claws and took a deep breath.

"I'm not here to fight. I'm here to talk to you," he explained.

"Talk to me? About what?"

"Like you don't know," he growled.

"I don't," she replied.

"I already know you hate me. I could tell when you threw Jetfur over that cliff. But now you've also placed a curse on Snakepelt?!"

Krait stared at him blankly. "Snakepelt?" she asked. "I've never heard of such a cat."

"But you do!" he growled. "I know you do! You placed a curse on her that erased her memory, and now, she's about to die!"

"I know of no such thing!" the she-cat spat.

Tigerstripe couldn't take it and launched at her. Krait was caught by surprise and gasped as Tigerstripe pinned her down. He unsheathed his claws and dug them into her shoulders.

"Tell me the truth!" he demanded, rage soaring through him.

Krait was quiet for a few moment.

"Fine. Let me go, and I'll tell you the truth," she growled.

Tigerstripe held her down a few moments longer before he rose from her and let her sit up. Fresh blood poured from her shoulders, though she appeared not to mind. It was at that moment when Tigerstripe wondered if her kits were nearby.

Why should I be thinking of her kits? She's a monster, he thought.

"I have often associated myself with the Dark Forest," Krait began.

"You're not even a warrior," Tigerstripe interrupted.

Krait growled slightly. "Do you not recall the forest you found me in? It was filled with dark power. I came under its influence after I lost my mate and kits. It seemed like that dark power would be the only way to help me find them."

"But you seemed so normal. How does this even have to do with the curse?"

"I am normal," Krait argued. "Or...was. It's confusing now. Everything has become blurred. It never seemed to affect me too much until after..." She paused, then glanced at Tigerstripe.

"I did not mean to deliberately put a curse on any cat. The Dark Forest's powers are strong, and sometimes just becoming acquainted with a cat and experiencing emotions can lead me to do something terrible."

"But nothing ever happened to me," Tigerstipe argued.

"I didn't feel as much power when I first met you," Krait explained. "Whatever happened to your friend, I'm sorry, but it was not intentionally done."

"Well, how do I reverse the curse? How do I stop it?!" Tigerstripe demanded.

Krait paused for a moment and glanced away.

"There is no way to cure it," she told him.

Tigerstripe paused and glanced at her in shock. If there was no cure, he'd never see Snakepelt alive again...

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