Author's Note: Chapter Two is up already! Wow. Suppose I just felt really motivated. :) Anyways, as I said, the first four chapters are just introducing the characters. So walk into ShadowClan territory! This chapter is based solely on the POV of Nightstalk, who is basically what we would call a Career Tribute in The Hunger Games books. Her father has been teaching her to fight and hunt for a long time, and she sees winning the celebration as her destiny... but it all depends on the public's choice! In the book and on my profile page. Hope you guys enjoy reading about her!
Also, I give thanks to LavenderHeart839, koryandrs, Keeralie Starflight, jayfeather12345, Berk'sWarrior, and Horse26 for reviewing Chapter One!
Nightstalk's POV:
Today is the day! Nightstalk grinned as she stepped out into the sunlight: it's the day I'm going to volunteer for the Falling of the Leaves! As usual, the ambitous young warrior was the first cat of ShadowClan to wake up. She was currently patrolling the borders on her own, waiting to see if any clan would intrude on their territory; it was very unlikely of this happening on the first day of the celebration. Still, she needed something to control her excitement. All that her father had taught her for so long had been boiling down to this! Smelling the air, she followed the scent-line running all the way down ThunderClan's border. No sign of them. Good.
Suddenly, a familiar aroma wafted into her nostrils. Holly, one of Shade's favourite she-cats, must have already gone to reap out the forest clan's tributes. I wonder who I'll be facing in the arena? Probably a bunch of useless cats who hardly know how to hunt! Lots of the clans had lost hope since Shade won, almost five years ago. Now, when he was almost ninety six moons old, the tom was as strong as powerful as even, even if his youth was slipping away. The Falling of the Leaves was like his sign of strength: he could still make cats die; he could still make you watch in horror as clan-mate turned on clan-mate. Five celebrations had taken place, and ShadowClan was the only one to have won twice. All the others had only managed to pull off one victory.
Well this year, all that's going to change! Nightstalk grinned. Soon, ShadowClan will be the only clan to have won three times.
Satisfied, the she-cat turned and round and walked back through the dark pine trees of her territory. It didn't take long to reach her camp for she had been roaming this place for almost three long years of training. Her claws sheathed and unsheathed themselves, digging into the ground. Excited with the prospect of feeling her teeth rip into her opponents throats, she padded into the camp. The cats were alive and sharing tongues in the clearing, happiness and a content feeling coursing through their veins. We are the best clan by the lake. We can find hope in the darkest nooks and crannies.
Nightstalk padded towards the fresh-kill pile; it was highly stocked. Picking a juicy blackbird, she sat down and began to tear huge chunks of meat off the animal. She sat dow next to her friend, Redfur. The dark ginger she-cat looked at her with interest. "Why are you in such a hurry to finish that?"
Nightstalk stared at Redfur like she had gone mad. "Why am I in a hurry? It's the Falling of the Leaves today, you idiot." She snapped, turning back to her food.
For a moment, the she-cat still seemed puzzled. But then she sighed, realising the horrible truth. "You're still hooked on winning it? Really Nightstalk? I can't believe you actually want to go and kill cats!"
"Why can't you believe it?" she snorted, angling her eyes away from the female. "My father taught me, without fail, every single day in preparation for the time that I would be ready to make him proud. It's all I've ever wanted. No, it's all I've ever desired. No, it's all I've ever dreamed of!"
Redfur's eyes widened in shock and she took a small step backwards. "Murdering?" she choked. "That's what you've wanted to do all your life? Don't you know how horrific and completely sick that is?"
Very slowly, Nightstalk's head swerved to the left until she was staring right into the other cat's eyes. "You sound like one of the weaker, pathetic, useless excuses for a cat in Thunderclan, RiverClan and WindClan." Redfur opened her mouth to protest but Nightstalk would hear nothing of it. "We're the pure ones! We look in the face of loss and see victory. If you're so cowardly as to believe that killing is wrong, then maybe you should join another clan." Then without another word, the black she-cat got to her paws and marched off, tail held high and proud in the air. Solitary. An unapproachable cat. And who would want to talk to her anyway? The cat whose dead father had made her into a monster-
Her father. That single thought washed over her for a few seconds. The cat who had trusted her when no one else. The cat who had made her who she was today. Rookfang. Quickly, she shook her head of the thought. No. This was not the time for grief. She was going into the games... today. It was now or never. "Nightstalk?" a call echoed.
The she-cat turned her head. "What?" she snapped, instantly frustrated that some cat who interrupted her memories of her father.
It was Thorntooth, a ShadowClan tom. He gestured for her to sit down beside him. "Come here. I want to talk to you about something." The she-cat's guard was immediately up: it was an instinct, another thing that she had to thank Rookfang for. Never trust someone at first look. True, he was in her clan. But she had never really communicated with the tom. At the sight of her face, he smiled. "Come here! I don't bite."
Her angers levels rose. How dare he humiliate her. Hostility filled her mind, but she couldn't back down from a challenge. It was just like losing a fight; that was something she couldn't bare. Claws unsheathed, she padded towards him with gritted teeth and sat down. "Yes?" she asked.
He stared straight forward, as if he couldn't hear her. "I hope you ready to fight, Nightstalk."
He means the celebration. "Of course I'm ready you mousebrain!" she hissed, raising her hackles. "You, of all cats, should know the way your best friend trained me."
"Of course I do," Thorntooth cut in quickly, his tail swishing along the dirt floor. "Rookfang was a great friend towards me; I know that. And that's why I have to do what I'm about to do."
Nightstalk's eyes diluted slightly, head cocked in interest. "And that would be?"
Looking down, the tom muttered quietly so that no one else could hear. "The Falling of the Leaves: I'm going in too."
If the she-cat had been expecting anything from the ruddy tom, it definitely hadn't been that. Slowly, she stopped bristling, but wouldn't her guard down. "Why would you rather be fighting in the games when you could be cosying away and doing the thing that the rest of these cats have always done. Hidden!" she said, finally.
"Because I owe it to him." He said simply, like it didn't bother him: his loyalty made Nightstalk trust him a little more than before. "In the battle against Shade, we fought for days on end, and he saved my life countless times in the battle. If it means I have to sacrifice my own life for you when your in danger, then I'll do it to pay back the debt.
Nightstalk sat there, slowly running Thorntooth's choice over her tongue and mind. She knew she would rather be alone in the arena, and she wouldn't want to give this cat any credit for the cats that she killed. But still... having a bodyguard would be an undeniable advantage when she was in in combat against the twenty four other competitors. Yes, she thought, I'll let him tag along a little. But when he ceases to be of importance to me, I'll kill him.
"Okay," she said, smirking. Her chances of winning the Falling of the Leaves improved by the second. "But when we're in the celebration, we are doing everything may way. I'm in charge. You got it."
Thorntooth nodded, pleased that Nightstalk had accepted his proposal. "I've got it."
Suddenly, there was a cold, cutting voice than screeched across the ShadowClan camp. "Well well well! Isn't great to see the record breaking clan once more!"
Energy coursed straight through Nightstalk's veins. It was him! The tabby tom that reaped the cats of this clan every year was here. Ice. He was handsome, but not nearly as handsome as he thought he was. He strutted down towards the camp like he owned the place, but behind his arrogance, there was something dangerous in his deep blue eyes. Something that told you that you wouldn't want to fight him in battle.
"So!" he said, loudly and clearly. "Where is the loyal leader of ShadowClan?"
There was a small silence, before a white pelted she-cat emerged from her clan-mates. "I'm here, Ice." She shouted, but her voice wavered. Why are you even afraid? Nightstalk wondered. This is a moment of triumph!
"Skystar!" Ice replied as he reached her. "Isn't it a wonderful pleasure to see you again." He dipped his head in a small acknowledgement of her authority, before turning to his muscular bodyguards. Almost in sync, they formed a protective circle around him and Skystar, so that no cats could attack them when they were reaped. It had happened before: Shade was quick to learn from his mistakes.
"The reaping will begin shortly." Now, his voice had lost the previous cheerfullness. He was now completely serious. "Gather round."
Obediently, all the anxious cats of ShadowClan moved closer until they were in clear eye sight for Ice. Approvingly, he began to clear his throat. Nightstalk felt her whole body swell with pride and anticipation. This was it. Nothing was going to get in her way.
"So! My fellow followers of Shade!" Ice began. "This year's Falling of the Leaves will soon take place, but first, of course, we need contestants! Will your clan-mates win?"
Not my clan-mates, but I certainly will. Nighstalk thought.
"So, as usual, she-cat's first." He paused for a few moments before shouting, "The first tribute is... Fawnheart!"
A grey she-cat whose eye's were dull stepped out from the crowd. Her posture mirrored lost hope. At least this female had the decency to admit she was already dead. A noble loser.
"Welcome to the Falling of the Leaves Fawnheart!" Ice greeted the she-cat before turning back to the other cats. "Our first male representative is... Darkmoon!" Ice shouted.
A young, slightly horrified tom emerged from behind his friends and family. Gulping, he began to move forward, but his expression stayed calm. This cat was someone determined not show weakness. Someone who would die, oh yes, but with dignity.
"Another strong looking tribute stands before me Darkmoon." Ice commented. "Our second female is Ebonypaw!"
An apprentice! Nightstalk licked her chops. Another nice, easy kill. The she-cat obviously had no chance whatsoever to win; she simply kept her head down as she padded towards the front.
Ice gave a pleased nod, before once again clearing his voice. "Another male. He will be- Pinewhisker."
This time, the excited Nightstalk had to crane her head to get a glimpse of the tribute. Again, he wasn't exactly much to look at. And suddenly, Ice was opening his mouth, getting ready to speak. Nighstalk got to her paws, ready to volunteer, and that was exactly what happened. "The last female is-" Ice began.
"Nighstalk!" the she-cat stepped forward, her head firm. Her eyes were black with confidence. "I volunteer!"
A few hushed, shocked whispers broke out amongst the group, and even Ice blinked in furious surprise, but he soon recovered. "Well how intriguing!" he called out, above the noise. "The Falling of the Leaves' first ever volunteer!" He inspected Nighstalk as she approached and sat down next to the others. "Aren't you a fiery one. I've heard from Holly that ThunderClan have two interesting tributes that seem to have a good chance of winning as well. We'll have to see how you hold you nerve in the interviews, won't we?"
Oh don't worry, Nightstalk wanted to snarl. I will.
As it turned out, Thorntooth didn't need to volunteer like she had to have done. He was called as the tribute anyway. The tom sat down beside her, blinking, reminding her of what she had said earlier. "I remember," she whispered slowly. "And you should remember too. We're doing this my way..."
So how would all of you guys bet on Nightstalk's chances of victory against Blazewing so far? Tell me your thoughts one her!
Also, the reason I said two of ThunderClan's tributes have a reasonably good chance of winning is because if you remember, the first she-cat, Runningsong, was just as cool and calm as Nightstalk. She's going to have an interesting part in the Falling of the Leaves as well...
