Welcome to Pancat, a feline world thriving in a human city. 12 suburbs are ruled by nothing but fear. Every year, each Suburb is to offer up in tribute, one young tom and she-cat between the ages of 12 to 18 months to be prepared to fight to the death in the annual Hunter Games, in order to earn their Suburb status.

Happy Hunter Games. And may luck be ever in your paws.

The shadows feel like they're pressing on me like a narrow tunnel as we slink along the pavement. The humid air makes me feel filthy and my paw pads sweat. Florescent lights gleam blindingly from a billboard. A car races past on the hard black road, throwing up dirt in its wake.

We are almost at the Border. I look over my shoulder at my tabby companion. She's huffing and panting behind me.

''Come on. We're almost there,'' I meow to her.

She hangs her head and lopes along.

''Why *huff* are we *wheeze* doing this *huff* again?'' she splutters. Her tail is fluffed up and twitching.

I ignore her question. She knows why we're here. We are here to bring justice and pride to Suburb 6 and take back what is rightfully ours. The Suburb 1s think they can take whatever they want. Think again.

I skid to a halt when a red dumpster with a rusty tear in the side looms up. The Border marker. After the dumpster comes the entrance to a dark, mysterious alley. I gaze up at the shadowy outline of the bin. The tabby trudges up to my side and flops down in an exhausted heap. I stretch out my neck and try to peer down the alley but further down its shrouded by a light steam that is escaping from a pipe on a building wall.

''That's where we've gotta go,'' I say as bravely as I can.

My partner gets up and tries to see down the alley too.

''That's the HEART of Suburb 1. Are you insane?!'' the tabby meows in a frightened tone. Her fur is standing on edge.

I still continue to stare down the alley.

''Eclipse?'' my friend says concernedly.

I shake myself and stand up straight with my chest out.

''We have to go in Feather,'' I say plainly to the cat known as Feather Wing.

Her jaw drops.

''You must be joking,'' She laughs a bit hysterically, ''PLEASE tell me you're joking?''

I shake my head.

''Oh boy,'' Feather sighs, ''I'm friends with a loon. Wait. Doesn't that make me one too?''

I stamp on her paw. ''Quiet!'' I hiss. ''all of Pancat can hear you!''

Feather glares at me and licks her paw angrily while I wearily glance around one more time, making sure there were no Suburb 1 cats to attack out of nowhere.

''Don't do it,'' says a suddenly very worried Feather.

I take in a deep breath, lift one paw... and put it over the Border.

Feather's tail puffs up as big as her head. ''I can't believe I let you drag me into this!'' She squeaks.

A few breath-holding seconds pass. And nothing happens. I collect my courage again and put another paw over the Border line. Feather whimpers and backs up. Still nothing.

''Huh'' I say, like it's no big deal crossing into our most feared rivals territory. I cross completely. Feather lets out a low 'hiss'.

''Please get back here Eclipse. This doesn't feel right,'' she whispers.

I flick my ears to dismiss her worries. She's such a mouse sometimes.

''Come on. It's fine,'' I say comfortingly, ''See? There's nothing here. Trus-'' But I don't get to finish my sentence. The alley around me explodes in snarling, spiting, yowling chaos. Six huge cats spring out of the shadows. Feather screams and hides behind the dumpster. A giant grey tom runs at me and bowls me over. I try to jump up but a tortoise-shell she-cat leaps at me and pins me to the ground. The five other cats make a defence circle around her.

''What are you doing here, kitten!'' she snarls at me with a vicious grin. There is no trace of fear of me in her voice.

I struggle to wriggle free of her hold, but she's too strong.

With one paw, she cuffs my ears.''I asked you a question!''

I give up fighting. I let my body go limp.

''I'm here for the food you stole!'' I hiss with fake confidence.

The tortoise-shell's eyes grow wide in thought but then bursts out laughing. ''Ha ha! Looks like we've got a Suburb 6 rat here!''

The five other Suburb 1 cats join in with her. Out of the blue, she steps back and lets me get up. Is she letting me go?

''I'll give you a choice kid,'' the tortious-shell says smoothly.

Never mind.

''You can either leave now or get past us into the Forte.'' she said, gesturing down the alley with her tail.

I consider the options for a moment.

''Just think what a hero you would be in your pathetic Suburb if you brought back the food,'' she meows with a hint of menace. All the cats nod to agree.

I ignore the insult about my Suburb and see the reality of the deal. If I could get the food, maybe Gold Claw would take my name out of the pool for The Games. That would be ultimate!

I look at one cat to the next. Finally, I take a step towards the alley.

The she-cat grins wickedly but I try to ignore her.

I take another step. And another. And another. Until I am slowly making my way into the alley. As I move further, I gain confidence and pick up speed. I'm almost completely in the alley when the first blow is struck.