The thunder whipped through the sky the cats of the dark forests have come to prey on the clans. At the head of the dark forest cats stood Tigerstar, Mapleshade, Brokenstar and Hawkfrost facing the clan cats. At the clans heads were the four leaders united as one Firestar, Blackstar, Onestar and Mistystar stood facing the cats of the dark forest as if there was a signal the cats started running at each other. Tigerstar and Firestar met each other in mid air the battle had begun. The battle lasted two days and when it was over Tigerstar and Mapleshade were dead and so were Firestar, Brambleclaw and Blackstar. But the dark forest had won and Brokenstar and Hawkfrost wanted a prize.
Chapter One
Bumblestripes POV
I've just gotten out of the medicine den from injuries that I sustained during the battle. Firestar is dead and Brackenfur is the new leader.
"All cats gather here under highledge for a clan meeting" I heard Brackenfur's voice boom across the camp and I sat down beside my mate Dovewing.
She pressed her body close to mine and whispered "what good news could he have". "None" I replied and Brackenfur began to talk "As you know Brokenstar and Hawkfrost want a prize".
He was cut short as a large and sleek spiky unevenly mottled gray tom came from Brackenfur's den. Graystripe told me stories of this tom I think.
"Thistleclaw"
Mousefur yelled out one of the only cats to remember the old Thunderclan warrior.
"Haha you remember me" Thistleclaw said.
"The rest of you have probably heard stories of my braveness" he added
"Only those of arrogance" said Graystripe boldly "and how you would've droven Thunderclan into war" added Dustpelt boldly who were both kits at his time.
Thistleclaw let out a snarl "Yet look where I am now my side has won and yours has lost and Brokenstar wants his prize or prizes should I say" Thistleclaw said with his teeth bared to Graystripe and Dustpelt.
"What does he mean prizes" I said to Dovewing "I don't know but it doesn't sound to good" she replied to me. Almost as if Thistleclaw heard my mate I got my answer.
"Brokenstars prize will be two she-cats and two toms with one more cat being drawn randomly from each clan that will be taken to the dark forest were there skills will be showcased to cats of the dark forest and then ranked on a scale of 1 to 10 and then you will be transported to an arena where you shall fight to the death against the 15 other warriors"
He made a brief pause to let everyone soak it in.
"Why would they do this" Dovewing asked me "to show they won" I replied to her. I could feel her trembling and I put my tail over her shoulders to comfort her and she relaxed.
Thistleclaw started speaking again
"The Warrior Games as Brokenstar has named it will be broadcasted from viewing ponds set in the middle of every clans camp at the end of each day the deaths will be announced and the last cat will be named victor and will be able to return to their clan".
I looked around the whole clan was in shock.
"Now for our tributes"
Thistleclaw announced happily. "She-cats" first he said.
"Rosepetal"
He announced the cream she-cat stood awestruck but made her way to highledge Daisy her mother let out a whimper.
"Sorreltail"
The tortoiseshell she-cat was close to her days as an elder she made her way slowly Brackenfur her mate was uneasy with Cinderheart her daughter looking defeated at the site of her mother being sent to a sure death.
"Now our toms"
"Toadstep"
Rosepetals sister the heavy black and white tom puffed out his chest but I could tell he was trembling inside. Daisy was now in tears and Spiderleg who never paid much attention to his family was comforting Daisy.
"Graystripe"
"Father" I yelled out he looked back with sorrow in his eyes". Millie my mother was shaken up and my sisters Blossomfall and Briarlight were trembling.
"Now our surprise tribute"
"Ah a tom"
My stomach lurched and he announced
"Bumblestripe"
My heart stopped Dovewing grabbed onto me "I love you" she told me. "I know and I will win for you"
Dovewing let go of me and I walked to under highledge and sat beside Graystripe he looked at me
"You'll make it" he mouthed to me.
"That has it these are your tributes and may the odds be ever in your favour"
Thistleclaw clapped his paws and the faces of my clanmates started to disappear and they were replaced with black trees I was in the dark forest.
Tigerhearts POV
Ratscar that filthy traitor was has been chosen as the reaper my clan.
Yes I was one of the young warriors to train for the dark forest for the upcoming battle against the clans.
Unlike Ratscar I stayed true to my heart and remembered the warrior code I was brought up to follow.
Ratscar began to speak "With the clans great defeat at the hands of the mighty cats of the dark forest".
My claws dug into the earth once he said this and so did the others beside me. Ratscar not troubled by betraying the clans seemed like he had no trouble naming the cats who will be sent to their deaths
"Snowbird"
There were gasps of shock the snow white she-cat never had much warrior training she was in the nursery most of her life she was trembling when she walked up.
"Dawnpelt"
My sister she shot me a mournful look before sitting beside Snowbird who was still trembling with fear.
"Now the toms first we have"
His eyes rested on me.
No.
"Tigerheart"
My legs felt like they were going to give but I hid my fear and sat with my sister I saw my Mother Tawnypelt and Father Rowanclaw.
Tawnypelt was tearful at the sight of both her children being sent to their deaths
"Crowfrost"
The large black and white tom walked up silently and sat down beside me Crowfrost was always the best and cruellest fighter in the clan he would definitely make it into the finals
"Now the surprise tribute"
"Tawnypelt"
I looked at my mother she hid her tears and said her last words to Rowanclaw who was filled with dismay at his whole family being sent to their deaths.
Ratscar looked at the tributes
"Here we have it, may the odds be ever in your favor"
Mistystars POV
I'm on my last life.
The clans have been defeated and now my clanmates are just prey being picked for the warrior games.
Hawkfrost is here with the names of the tributes.
Hawkfrost was once one of the best warriors Riverclan had seen in many moons but his disregard for the warrior code and his father Tigerstar made him turn against the Starclan and join the ranks of The Dark Forest.
"Petalfur"
Petalfur was one of the best hunters in the clan which will be an asset for her but her light frame made her a fragile fighter. She walked over to Hawkfrost with her head held low.
"Mothwing"
The clan was in shock "Hawkfrost were kin" Mothwing said in dismay.
"You are no kin of mine" he replied without even bothering to look her in the eyes. I watched Mothwing walk to were Petalfur was sitting all the way she glared at Hawkfrost.
"Rushtail"
The tom was close to his elder days but he could still hold his own in a fight. Rushtail walked over to the other tributes his head high not wanting to look weak to his clanmates.
"Grasspelt"
The tom was the best warrior in my clan he was the best chance my clan had at winning. The tom said goodbye to his mate Mosspelt who was expecting his kits and sat with the other tributes.
"Now our surprise tribute"
Hawkfrost grinned.
"Mosspelt"
The clan erupted in anger she's expecting kits an elder yelled out. "She was chosen its final" Hawkfrost said.
Mosspelt was making her way slowly her face filled with tears.
I can't let this happen I told myself I can't.
"I'll take her place"
"You can't you have multiple lives" Hawkfrost said bluntly to me.
I must do this had I had to tell myself again.
"No"
"I am on my last" I said. "Fine if you want your death so be it" Hawkfrost said "Mosspelt your out".
I walked over and joined my clanmates.
"Here's Riverclans tributes, my the odds be ever in your favor"
Boulderfurs POV
Breezepelt that filthy piece of fox-dung. I looked at the cat that was my mentor and was once the cat I looked up to but now he a traitor an agent for the dark forest.
"Ah its nice to be Windclans camp again" he said smugly.
"Brokenstar has given me a gift to reward my loyal services to the dark forest, he has let me hand pick Windclans tributes".
"Whitetail"
Of course his mentor Whitetail looked up at Breezepelt "If only I knew how you would turn out" she said shaking her head.
"Ashfoot"
Ashfoot who retired as an elder looked up at her grandson with nothing to say and sat down beside Whitetail.
"Bouldertail"
My jaw dropped out how could he do this "Your own apprentice, you spineless peace of fox-dung" Whitetail yelled to him.
"Yes my apprentice, I would like to see if I wasted my time on you"
"I'll make you regret those words" I said bravely. "I doubt it" He said back smugly
I walked over to the other tributes and sat down. "Now I thought I would name the last two tributes together" Breezepelt said with a grin.
"Crowfeather and Nightcloud"
His parents.
Crowfeather was face to face with his son. "If only your brother survived birth and you didn't"
"But if that happened then I wouldn't be hear today sentencing you two to your deaths".
Nightcloud didn't even look at her son, she was to hurt by her sons decision.
"Here we have it, and oh may the odds be never in your favour".
Chapter 2
Boulderfurs POV
When Breezepelt clapped his paws his world started spinning around him and his clanmates and camp were replaced with a giant clearing bordered by tall black withered trees. "Where are we"? I asked Whitetail "The Dark Forest" she replied. Cats from the other clans started to appear around me I noticed Mistystar her gray and blue pelt stuck against the Riverclan cats who she would take command of during the games.
Bumblestripe from Thunderclan was with his father Graystripe they were likely to stay together the whole clans but if I had to guess Graystripe would give himself up if it meant his son would make it out alive.
From Shadowclan there was Tigerheart his large dark tabby frame but it obvious he was Tigerstars own grandson who was with his mother Tawnypelt and sister Dawnpelt.
Then there was me, no family in the games and no friends but the only person that will likely side with me is Whitetail.
Brokenstar the new leader due to Tigerstars death appeared with his second in command Hawkfrost and there bodyguards Thistleclaw, Breezepelt and Ratscar.
Brokenstar started to speak "Welcome tributes 20 of you will enter the stadium that we have built outside clan territories and one will be crowned the victor, till then you will stay here and show case your skills for a panel of judges. Then you will be interviewed the night before the games".
After he finished speaking him and his bodyguards came into the crowd of tributes, as if examining us. Thistleclaw came up to me and gave me a thorough looking before calling over Brokenstar and Breezepelt. "What is it" Brokenstar asked "three rabbits says this one doesn't make it out of the blood bath".
I let out a snarl "whats the bloodbath" a startled Petalfur asked. Breezepelt was eager the answer her question "the bloodbath is the first minutes of the Warrior Games were in the middle of the circle of competitors there will be a stockpile of supplies such as herbs dog teeth and also fresh kill. This is were most of you will die"
After hearing the description of the bloodbath Petalfur was horrified and Brokenstar sized her up. He only had one word "pathetic, both if you" he said speaking about me to.
Everyone thinks I'm the underdog, I can't wait to prove them wrong.
Bumblestripes POV
Once Brokenstar had finished speaking Dark Forest started ushering us into dens toms in one and she-cats in another Graystripe had refused to be put into the cramped Thunderclan den and a large black tom slashed his face soon his face was covered in blood and he finally went into the small den.
"Is there anything in here we can stop the bleeding with". I asked Graystripe who face fur was starting to be soaked in blood "You and your sisters gave me worse when you were kits".
I knew Graystripe was trying to act tough but there was no use in sustaining any serious injuries. "Graystripe I knew you don't want to seem weak, but you need to stay strong" I told him. The blood was starting to stop and had dried around his nose.
"I don't plan on winning these games, I'll do what ever I have to do to to make sure you walk out. Even if it is means sacrificing myself" Graystripe told me determined to make sure his son would win.
A large brown tabby tom came into their den smelling of herbs, this must be a medicine cat. There's Dark Forest medicine cats I thought bewildered, Jayfeather and Leafpool came into my mind Thunderclans medicine cats. Jayfeather had a temper at times but he could never see either of them doing anything that would send them to the Dark Forest.
Graystripe stood up, the gash on his nose had crusted over by now. The tom started to speak "I'm Hawkheart, and you can stand now" Graystripe still sceptical sat down. Hawkheart looked at Graystripe nose "the infection is already coming in" he said.
Hawkheart pulled out marigold leaves from his herb pile and squeezed the juice into Graystripes cuts. This was one of the first time I've ever seen my father wince as the juices seeped into his cut "so what possessed you disobey a dark forest cat" Hawkheart asked almost mockingly.
"To show that not all of us are so easily going to give up" Graystripe told the medicine cat.
"What possessed you to join the Dark Forest" Graystripe asked. "A mistake I made".
"Did you kill a cat" I asked
"Yes"
"Who"
"Her name was Moonflower".
"Why would you kill her" I asked "Thunderclan was attacking our camp, I was trained as a warrior before being a medicine cat so I was fighting till one of the apprentices Stagpaw came to me with a deep cut along his stomach, when I went to my den she was destroying my herb storage".
"So you killed her" I asked bewildered.
"Destroying a medicine cats storage is the same as killing the whole clan, there was a outbreak of greencough at the time and Moonflower was destroying my last leaves, so it was either my own clanmates or Moonflower".
Hawkheart got up and started to walk away "would you rather be a member of Starclan" Graystripe asked Hawkheart stopped at the doorway "Yes".
Mistystars POV
Those Dark forest scum had crammed us into these dens.
Mothwing and Petalfur were in the same den as me they took Grasspelt and Rushtail away Petalfur was still not in her right mind and Hawkheart a former medicine came and brought her poppy seeds.
Once Petalfur had fallen asleep from the poppy seeds Mothwing approached me. "Mistystar why would you sacrifice yourself" she asked me almost in a whisper. "It was either my life, or Mosspelt and her unborn kits" I told her.
"What happens if you die in the games, then who's gonna lead Riverclan in the darkest moons to come".
"Your forgetting about Reedfeather my son. I have all the faith in him to lead Riverclan". Mothwing shook her head "but he's not a leader Mistystar and you know it" she said.
"Do not insult my son to me" I said my temper was short now.
"I'm not trying to insult Reedfeather but he's not ready to be a leader, I've already talked to Rushtail and Grasspelt they agreed to protect you throughout the course of the games".
She is right I thought, if Reedfeather wasn't my kin I don't know if he would be my deputy and the only other cat that could lead the clan is Grasspelt. But both of us can't make it out if the games.
"Fine" I told her "but I'm not gonna be treated like an elder"
Petalfur had started to stir from her sleep from the sounds of me and Mothwings fight "Is everything alright" she asked worried.
"Were fine" I replied to her "Petalfur" she looked up "yes" she replied "I want you to know that you have just as good a chance at winning the games"
"You don't have to lie to me, I know I'm one of the weaker competitors"
"I want you to know I don't have any intentions of winning these games" she told me.
I was trying to think of a way to boost her confidence "Your not one of the weakest competitors" I said she looked up again "Your one of the clans best hunters and fastest cats in Riverclan". I detecting a faint smile on her face "thank you Mistystar" she said before turning around she spoke again "Mothwing has spoken to me" there was a pause before she started to speak again.
"If it comes to it I'll lay my life on the line if it leads to you winning the games" she said.
"Thank you, but I hope it will never come to that".
Tigerhearts POV
The dark forest cats were still examining us when Hawkfrost approached me he was the cat that trained me while I was in the dark forest.
"Well well well" Hawkfrost said "My loyal apprentice will be in the games" he said to me almost tauntingly trying to get me to retaliate but all I did was let out a snarl.
"Still a feisty warrior are we Tigerheart" he said "Its a shame you were so stupid as to betray the Dark Forest" he said with his teeth barred. "Cause betraying the clans and Starclan is any better" I told him back.
"If you stayed with the dark forest you could be one of us, not being sentenced to death"
He started to shake his head "To be Tigerstars kin your gonna be such a waste to die in the games".
I barred my teeth "I'm gonna win these games".
"You say so, but your forgetting one thing" he said. I was puzzled not knowing what he meant but he answered my question "If you win then your sister and mother will have to die".
I never thought about that "hopefully it'll never come to that then" I said.
"If it does then what"
"I don't know"
"Well just so you know if its you three left and know one wants to make a move we have the same powers as Starclan, I might have a tree land on all of you"
"Your lying" I said "well guess your gonna have to find out" he said.
"One last thing we've been hunting animals to make things interesting we've got Foxes, Badgers, Raccoons, Beavers" I shuttered remembering the journey to restore the lake to its former glory.
"When things get really boring were gonna unleash something only one warrior in the games knows how disastrous this will be"
"Well what is it" I asked bewildered at what could be so dangerous.
"Graystripe might know".