Main author of this chapter: ExplosionsAreFun

Smolder woke up in Stoneteller's den that next day, herbs plastered on his wounds from his battle with the hawk. He opened his eyes, blinking a few times and remembering why he was here. He thought about the little white bundle and wanted to jump up, leave and ask Red about it but instead moved slightly, flinching as his vision clouded with pain. Starling, who was watching and sorting herbs, let out a chuckle. Smolder ignored her and settled back down. He stared at his paws, letting his mind wander, until he felt something brush his ear. He looked up to see Starling watching him.

"How long are you gonna stay here? If you're awake, you're good enough to walk yourself, and your curse, out of here. Don't train today and you should be fine."

Smolder sighed, knowing he couldn't argue with the future Stoneteller. He got up and limped out of the den, wincing at every step.

As soon as he exited the den, Red greeted him. "Hello, Smolder. Feeling okay?"

"No, not really..." He settled down on the cave's floor. "Starling told me to get out, so I did what she said, but she also said I shouldn't train today."

Red nodded and got up. "Okay. I hope you're better soon. I'm gonna go on a walk with Leaf, so if you'll excuse me-"

Smolder interrupted her. "Wait. You wouldn't chase down a hawk like that just to eat it. So why did you?"

Red gazed at him. "I thought you saw, or that Starling would at least tell you...It was carrying a kit, a snow-white kitten. They named her Ice falling from sky. Moon claimed that she heard it saying that her mommy wanted her warrior name to be Icefall. And no, I don't know what a warrior is. I was there when Moon asked her what it was, and she said she didn't know. It was confusing. Stoneteller said that she could stay in the tribe, or at least until she got a sign from The Tribe of Endless Hunting that she should leave." Red turned and left the cave.

Smolder watched her leave, then exited as well. Two cave-guards, Wings that sweep the wind and Thunder that rumbles loudly, stood outside the cave, conversing. Smolder didn't overhear much, as they stopped talking to glare at him as he passed, but he could tell that they were chatting about the kit. Smolder decided to meet her for himself.

He saw a slightly familiar white she-cat with bright green eyes talking to Boulder and Cloud, Moon's kits, with Moon herself watching nearby. Smolder grabbed a mouse from the caught-prey pile and settled down not too far from the group. He watched the group, deciding not to intervene, since he'd just be sent away.

The she-kit was seated. She still had scratches from the hawk, but they looked almost healed. Smolder wondered how long he had been asleep. She was telling a story of some sort, but Smolder couldn't hear her that well. It was apparently very interesting, as both Cloud and Boulder had wide eyes.

Smolder wished he could hear the story, but if he got any closer he'd have to go clean the elder's den or something. Moon was already eyeing him warily, as if thinking the same thing. Smolder picked at his mouse. He was hungry, but if he finished then he'd have no excuse to stay.

The she-kit- Ice- reminded him more of her every second. Animated and bright, even when injured. An innocent, unassuming shade of white. Smolder shook himself. Comparing them wasn't a good idea. He might try to project her personality onto Ice.

He finished his mouse and sighed, wishing Red was there. He had no one to talk to. He glanced as Snake and Ivy walked by, both glaring at him with such hatred, and he shivered. Why him? Why was he cursed? Why not someone else, anyone else? The sisters walked out of camp without even so much as another glance. Smolder sighed.

Then Dove walked over to the caught-prey pile. She took a rabbit for herself and chewed slowly. Dove was Smolder's mother. She spoke to him somtimes, but she usually gazed at the sky. She had been delusional since Hare, Smolder's sister, had been taken by their father, who had been a rogue. Dove glanced up from her rabbit, saw Ice, and immediately abandoned her prey, dashing over to the she-kit. "Hare! I haven't seen you since your father took you! I've missed you so much!" She began to groom her thoroughly.

"Wha-" Ice began to say, but Dove shushed her.

"It's okay. Mommy's got you."

"Dove." Moon spoke up. "That isn't Hare. That's Ice. She's a she-kit we found carried in by a hawk." Dove's tail tip twitched indignantly.

"No it's not, it's Hare! You think I wouldn't recognize my own daughter?"

Smolder walked over cautiously. "Mother, that's not Hare."

Dove purred. "Oh, Smolder! It's so nice to see you. Now you and your sister are together again. I'm sure you have so much to catch up on! I love being together as a family again."

"..." Smolder felt strangely happy. His mother loved him again, and it gave him memories of a time when she had been just as action-oriented as Red, before the vacant stares and mumbled words.

Dove pulled Smolder in with her tail, bringing him close to Ice. "You haven't seen your sister in so long that you might have trouble recognizing her. She looks a lot smaller too. Must be her father not feeding her enough." She lashed her tail angrily. "Stupid, good-for-nothing tom. Oh, I'll join the tribe. Oh, I love you. Yeah, right!"

"Calm down, Dove. Let's get you to Stoneteller's den," Moon intervened. "I think you look a little ill. Are you shaking? Yeah, you're shaking."

Dove sighed. "I guess. Hare, you'll have to tell me what happened to you later!" She was pushed by Moon into the cave.

Smolder sighed. "Sorry, Ice. You look exactly like my sister, Hare that chases green shoots. Dove thought you were her. She's been depressed and slightly crazy since Hare was taken by my father, who was a rogue...But can you please play along? I haven't seen her so happy since before..." He trailed off.

Ice opened her mouth to respond, but Smolder was knocked over by Boulder, who pinned him down angrily. "Hey! You! Stupid cat! Why are you talkin' to her?! Trying to spread your curse among us kits? Get out! Go!" Boulder stepped away from Smolder, hissing. Smolder got up and backed away. Boulder nodded and turned back to Ice.

"What was that about?" Smolder heard Ice say. She sounded confused.

"Oh, that was Smolder. He's cursed. His sister was kidnapped, one of his littermates was born dead, and his mother is crazy. It seems like every cat he's close to gets hurt, so we all stay away from him. And the Stoneteller had a sign. She never went into detail about exactly what it was but she said it meant that Smolder was cursed."

Ice blinked. "Oh."

Smolder sighed. When he put it like that, it really made him seem bad. Maybe he was cursed. Maybe it was his fault that his mother was insane, and that his only friend was his mentor. He thought about going for a walk out of camp, but decided not too. He felt so useless that all he wanted to do was curl up and die. Padding into the to-be's den, he lay down on his nest, which was near the entrance of the den where the cold wind blew by, and slept, forgetting his troubles in a sweet dream.