"Is it just me," Sunstream asked, "or can you also smell some strange cat?" It had been a day after she had received her warrior name.
Echolight sniffed the air, then pricked her ears. "Wait! So do I!"
"That smell is the Dark Forest." Sunstream whirled around to see four huge toms, teeth bared, claws unsheathed, stalk proudly into the camp. "And we're already here."
Echolight's silvery fur rose. "Why are you here?" Of course, she already knew the answer.
The huge black tom with red eyes spoke. "Haven't you heard? We are here to prepare the one and only Star Games. We come the evening before the day of the choosing to decide among ourselves whom to pick out."
Sunstream's bright ginger fur bristled at the phrase 'Star Games', but she forced herself to appear calm and steady in front of the Dark Forest cats. "Does Silverstar know you're here?"
The black tom scoffed. "How would she? We just came!"
Sunstream's eyes narrowed. "You may pass," she hissed icily. "But we will be notifying the camp at once." As if her words were a signal, Echolight dashed away through the undergrowth, back toward the camp to tell the leader. The four cats tracked her with narrowed eyes.
"Follow me." Sunstream flicked her tail, a signal for them to follow her. The Dark Forest cats followed close behind, seeming quite relaxed.
She padded through the bramble tunnel and into camp, where warriors were poised to fight as though they had been expecting a battle.
Sunstream turned to the Dark Forest cats. "Wait here." A massive white tom narrowed his eyes to slits and stared at her before settling in the clearing.
Just then, Echolight appeared. "I told Silverstar... there she is!" the silver she-cat exclaimed.
She was right. The ThunderClan leader padded out of her den, a solemn look plastered on her face. She turned to the four toms. "I trust that you are here for the choosing in the Star Games?"
The black tom nodded, and Silverstar sighed. She turned away to face her clan. "I wish you luck," she stated, her voice clear. "You'll need it."
For a moment, Sunstream thought she heard a low growl in the Dark Forest cats' throats, but it was gone as soon as she heard it. Before entering her den, Silverstar turned back. "Mossflower, Yarrowleaf, Morningfur, Blueclaw, Yellowtail. You will be in charge of these cats."
Sunstream's green gaze ran over the three she-cats and two toms as they reluctantly padded over to the Dark Forest cats.
"Uh... Sunstream," Silverstar stated. Sunstream pricked her ears. "Could you lead them to the extra den we have?"
Sunstream dipped her head. "Come on," she mewed, flicking her tail impatiently as the cats rose to their paws. She padded into the extra den they had in their camp, located between the warriors' den and elders' den. She watched cautiously as the four toms drew into a corner of the den and began to whisper among themselves.
They're deciding whom to choose, she thought worriedly. I hope Echolight and I aren't chosen.
Slowly, she backed out of the den, letting Mossflower and Blueclaw enter the den. She padded away to meet Echolight in the clearing.
"Echolight," Sunstream mewed, her voice urgent. "They're deciding whom to choose."
Echolight's worried eyes matched Sunstream's. "Let's just hope," she whispered, after a long pause. Sunstream rested her ginger tail on her sister's back.
"But will that be enough?"
"I don't know, Sunstream," Echolight murmured quietly. "I just don't know. Just pray to StarClan. You'll be fine." But the expression on her face showed otherwise.