No.

Please not me.

Please don't pick me, not me.

My mind was racing. My heart was pounding. Tears of fear streamed down my face.

The Dark Forest were about to choose the ShadowClan tributes. The cats who will most likely die.

"Applefur." Mapleshade meowed, gesturing for the she-cat to step forward. Applefur trembled, obeying.

"I don't want to die." Applefur whispered, staring up at Mapleshade.

"Dawnpelt."

"Ferretclaw."

"Sparrowkit."

"Littlebird."

"Tawnypelt."

I saw several cats give the tributes pained glances.

They know they won't survive! I realized with a start. They put a kit into The Hunger Games? Are they wanting poor Sparrowkit to die?

"Now for the RiverClan tributes!" Hawkfrost smirked, stepping forward.

"Duskfur."

A few kits mewed helplessly, trailing behind Duskfur, whom I was guessing was their mother. She gave the kits a reassuring lick on the head before climbing the tree to sit behind Hawkfrost.

"Icewing."

A Dark Forest recruit. Hm. She knows their tactics; she's dangerous. Icewing leaped swiftly up the tree and sat beside Duskfur, trembling.

"Minnowtail."

I didn't know the RiverClan she-cat very well, I didn't care whether she lost or won. Though I'd prefer it if she died, to give a ThunderClan tribute a chance to win. By the time my thoughts stopped, Minnowtail had already sat down.

"Mistystar."

The blue-gray she-cat leaped up, giving a yowl of protest. "I have nine lives! The other tributes have one. It's unfair!" she pointed out.

"Before the Games, we'll take away eight of your lives," Hawkfrost assured her, nudging her onward.

"Mothwing."

What's up with RiverClan tributes and she-cats? I thought as I realized all the RiverClan tributes were she-cats. And why a medicine cat? Mothwing slithered up the trunk and sat down next to Mistystar.

"Reedwhisker."

Yikes! What'll RiverClan do if Mistystar, Mothwing, and Reedwhisker die? The black tom leaped up the tree, sitting down next to Mothwing. The deputy, also the son of Mistystar. Uh-oh.

"Now, for the WindClan tributes!" Tigerstar yowled, stepping up.

"Ashfoot!"

Again, a deputy.

"Breezepelt!"

He deserves to lose. He's a mouse-brained, arrogant coward.

"Crowfeather!"

They're sending in kin again? This is going to be interesting.

"Furzepelt!"

Eh.

"Emberfoot!"

Why can't they pick a seriously popular cat for a tribute?

"Heathertail!"

Finally! I thought as yowls of protest rose from the crowd. A mouse-brain and a popular cat.

"Now, for the ThunderClan tributes." Snowtuft meowed in a voice that sent chills up my spine.

"Birchfall!"

I froze as I swallowed back a wail. The brown tom stepped forward, casting a glance full of sorrow at me.

"Brightheart!"

I hate the Dark Forest! They chose my kin!

"Thornclaw!"

I didn't even bother to glance up this time, just stared at my paws.

"Ivypool!"

NO! I thought.

"Hazeltail!"

Oh, great StarClan, no! I whimpered as I watched my friend step up.

"Whitewing!"

I felt my blood run cold as Snowtuft's gaze rested on me.

I can't go into the Hunger Games!
Why me?