Disclaimer: Warriors isn't mine.

Jinx

Nightstar looked over the clearing, his voice clear. "We have to accept rogues into the Clans."

Eaglestorm swallowed thickly as she heard the cries of her Clanmates, all shouting down this idea. Other Clans were shaking their heads, but a few cats nodded, she could see some of MistClan cheering their support for their leader, a few DarkClan cats had their ears pricked, and she could see the RainClan deputy, Flameleap dip his head in agreement.

Sandstar snarled, the elderly ginger tom looked disgusted as his Clanmates by the suggestion. "What weakness is this Nightstar?"

Windstreak shot to her paws, the gray she-cat glared up at the leader, tail lashing.

Eaglestorm turned to her Clanmates who were still talking and let out a yowl. "Quiet back there!"

She received a mutinous look from Foxtooth, but the Clan grew quiet. They were far from settled down but it was a start.

Nightstar had yet to respond, but did so now. "It's not weakness Sandstar it's common sense." His eyes drifted over CloudClan, and back to the leader. "There have been no kits born in six moons Sandstar. Not one leader has reported the birth of a litter. We have no apprentices, no one to learn our ways and continue them. If we do not accept rogues in we will all fall."

Sandstar lashed his tail. "I will not let some rogue boss me and my Clan around. She will not have her way because you're afraid of-"

"Of what, Sandstar?" Thistlestar spoke, his eyes dark. "Nightstar was wrong. There was one kit born since the curse. He survived but his mother did not."

Eaglestorm glanced at the DarkClan cats, trying to see who was missing.

"It was Grayfern." Eaglestorm almost jumped at Cinderfeather's voice. The DarkClan deputy had come up behind her, a usual trick for them.

"Thistlestar's mate?" she hissed back, stunned. "What went wrong?"

Cinderfeather shook her head. "Our medicine cat says he's never seen a birth so hard. He's stunned Sootkit survived."

Eaglestorm's fur prickled. "No kits since?"

"Not one." Cinderfeather confirmed. "Grayfern was expecting when the curse was placed though."

Eaglestorm's ears flattened, "Great StarClan."

Cinderfeather nodded once, and turned her attention back to the leaders on the Burnt Stump.

Willowstar was speaking now. "I have to agree with Cloudstar on some level Nightstar. What are we supposed to do, just take in every rogue we come across?"

Nightstar shook his head, flicking his ears. He couldn't reply before Sandstar did though.

"Yes, what are we supposed to do? CloudClan cats are the fastest, we have to be. No rogue could hope to be as fast as us."

Nightstar gave him a dark look. "If you would give me a chance to speak I might have an answer."

Sandstar stepped back. "Go ahead."

Nightstar let out a long breath. "I took a patrol out of our borders to look for recruits. I found four she-cats that we had previously turned away, and asked them to join."

"Did you tell them about the curse or did you keep that to yourself?" Sandstar sounded as though Nightstar had crawled on his belly to him for help.

Nightstar lashed his tail once. "I kept that to myself Sandstar. They refused, at first."

Thistlestar tilted his head. "You've got something planned Nightstar, I've lived on your border too long to think otherwise."

Nightstar made a noise, "Yes. These she-cats train other rogues, and offered us them instead."

"Trained rogues? Let's get rid of mentoring all together than." Sandstar muttered, but his ears were pricked.

Nightstar let out a breath. "This is my suggestion. Every full moon, before the Gathering they bring one trainee each. These trainees audition for us, so we can see their skills, see if they have the speed for CloudClan, the stealth for DarkClan, the ability to swim, our skills at night hunting." He nodded to the leaders as he spoke. "Then we can refuse them if we wish."

Sandstar snorted derisively, but stayed quiet.

Willowstar nodded slightly. "It could work. If each Clan could only accept one apprentice per gathering, it would stay fair."

"Could it break the curse?" Eaglestorm couldn't believe the comment had come from her, and swallowed.

All the leaders turned to her, Sandstar looked annoyed, and she shrank back.

"It's a fair question." Windstreak's support made her stand up slightly. "If we were cursed for our refusal to accept rogues, perhaps this could break it?"

The murmuring behind Eaglestorm was eager, until Thistlestar spoke.

"I doubt it." His voice was flat. "She implied that we had to do more to 'right our wrong', or however she phrased it."

Sandstar grumbled under his breath, glancing at CloudClan. Eaglestorm barely dared look, and flinched. CloudClan had not accepted this idea. Not at all.

"So we take in rogues, have them breed, and expect none of them to ask why we can't?" Sandstar meowed dryly. "If they know of the curse, they would probably fear it would spread to them."

"Sandstar, are you pointing out flaws to be helpful or is it because your pride is in the way?" Nightstar snapped.

Sandstar stepped forward, his muzzle a mouse-length from the other leader's. "Don't speak to me of my pride; you didn't let her in either. Do not act as if you are greater than CloudClan because you are letting go of all pride you had in hopes of appeasing a curse."

Nightstar stood absolutely still, before replying. "I'm not letting go of my pride, I am saving my Clan and yours."

Sandstar growled. "Very well. The rest of you approve of this idea, of this acceptance of rogues?"

Thistlestar nodded once, Willowstar hesitated before she too dipped her head.

"Very well." Sandstar stated flatly. "You may all do that, but CloudClan will not."

"Sandstar, please." Eaglestorm reared onto her hind paws. "We will need apprentices."

Sandstar spun to face his brown furred deputy, his eyes dark. "I will not hand CloudClan over to rogues for them to breed as they wish when we cannot."

"Is there any way to appease you at all?" Nightstar muttered, shaking his head.

The CloudClan leader raised his head and Eaglestorm's stomach dropped to her paws. Oh, StarClan, what is he going to say?

"A rule. If we can't breed, neither can the rogues. Let them never know of the curse, let them believe we live this way now, I don't care, but don't let them breed." Sandstar's muzzle curled up, "Nightstar's wonderful new system of recruiting can work, if he really believes in it."

Nightstar was silent, letting his tail flick slowly behind him.

Willowstar nodded, "I'll support this rule."

RainClan let out a loud cry, which Willowstar ignored.

Thistlestar and Nightstar shared a long look.

"I lost my mate to this curse." Thistlestar murmured, Eaglestorm could only tell what he was saying by leaning forward. "I'm sorry Nightstar; I don't think I could handle watching rogues rejoicing over their kits." He raised his head, "I'll support this rule."

Eaglestorm looked at the other deputies, Cinderfeather hung her head, Flameleap was muttering under his breath, his claws unsheathed, Eaglestorm turned to Windstreak.

Windstreak ignored her; the MistClan deputy turned her back, looking up the charred tree to where the leaders stood.

Nightstar shook his head, and sighed. "What choice do I have here? Let the rule pass."

Cries crossed the clearing, every cat trying to speak at once, several rearing onto the back legs to yell at the leaders. Eaglestorm flattened her ears to ease the noise.

Nightstar let out a thunderous yowl, managing to silence most of the crowd. He glared at the few still talking and they shut up.

"I'll go to the she-cats and ask them to bring their trainees next moon. We can start the Gathering at dusk, so they have time to impress us, and we have time for the Gathering."

Sandstar turned his head and spat, Eaglestorm had a feeling she knew where this was going.

"Tell only three to come. CloudClan won't be there." Sandstar stated flatly.

Everyone stared at him, Sandstar curled his lip. "We'll be here for the Gathering. Nothing else. Let's end this now and go home."

Willowstar rose to her paws, Eaglestorm could see just the hint of soot on her paws. "Very well. RainClan will be going."

"CloudClan!" Sandstar jumped down, leaving the MistClan and DarkClan leaders on the Burnt Stump.

Sandstar didn't stop to talk to Eaglestorm; the she-cat hesitated, before remaining where she was. Let the Clan follow her leader, she'd follow later.

"Not considering joining us are you?" Cinderfeather teased softly, as Windstreak was still ignoring Eaglestorm.

"No, I'll stay with CloudClan. Someday you'll have an ally there." Eaglestorm murmured. "May StarClan light your paths. Both of you." She added, with a glance at Windstreak.

"You too." Cinderfeather touched noses with Eaglestorm, as Thistlestar jumped down.

Eaglestorm dipped her head to him, "I'm sorry for your loss." She finally understood why he'd looked so worn the last few moons.

Thistlestar paused, turning his head to her. "Thank you."

Eaglestorm waited, watching MistClan and DarkClan leave; finally she was alone in the clearing.

A low chuckle made her jump, Eaglestorm spun around, a dark gray she-cat stood on the Burnt Stump. Megaera, the cause of all these problems, stood above her.

"You." Eaglestorm stepped back, afraid she'd place another curse.

Megaera's muzzle was curled up, she looked more pleased then when she'd crashed the Gathering to curse them all.

"Are you happy? Will this break the curse?" Eaglestorm asked, even as she took a step backwards.

The strange rogue laughed again, slowly walking over the stump. "Oh, I placed no curse."

Eaglestorm swallowed, "Then why-"

"I jinxed you. Difference." Megaera licked one paw, "a jinx can be undone, broken, with relative ease. If you're willing to try. A curse, curses are powerful, curses are the things broken by heroes."

Eaglestorm shook her head, not understanding.

Megaera grinned, "You cursed yourselves dear." She hoped down, walking towards Eaglestorm, the deputy sank her claws into the dirt to hold still.

"The jinx can be broken by a rogue-born cat that is loyal to the Clan." Megaera circled around her, "A rogue that is willing to risk it all for their Clan. Now the curse you've placed on yourself, making it impossible for them to breed, well, that's harder to break. You've made it a shame to speak of the jinx, a secret to hide." Megaera shook her head, grinning to reveal her white teeth. "Your pride is still destroying you."

Eaglestorm swallowed, "That's how to break it?"

"Yes, dear. Well, actually, I placed four jinxes, one for each Clan. You'll need a cat from each Clan to break it completely."

Eaglestorm flattened her ears, understanding the implication. CloudClan would never be free of the jinx. Unless… When she became leader she could accept the apprentices, explain it to them.

"Oh, one more thing." Megaera looked over her shoulder. "Can't have you talking." Her eyes glowed once more, Eaglestorm backed up quickly, feeling the pressure in the air.

Megaera's voice went from smooth honey to a rough whisper, words Eaglestorm didn't understand.

A tingle ran through her muzzle and she yelped.

"There, our little secret." Megaera's whiskers twitched.

Eaglestorm flattened her ears. "Someday this jinx will be broken." She blinked, surprised.

Megaera rolled her eyes. "No, I didn't steal your voice. You just can't speak of this conversation." Her muzzle twitched upwards, "as for the jinx breaking… Well, we'll see won't we?"

XXX

A.N.: This is the back story to a plot I'm working on.