A/N: Here's the next chappie!

Chapter 1-Capture the Flag

"Alright, kids."

Our P.E teacher, Mr Lawson, also known as Jaggedwing, paced in front of us. Get into two groups of 12." All of us obeyed. Ice, who had sprained her wrist on Friday morning, watched us mournfully. It was Saturday afternoon, and we were going to play 'Capture the Flag'. We were supposed to arm up, get into the woods, and try to capture the flag/beanbag. As long as we didn't kill each other, there weren't any rules at all.

"Arm up," ordered Mr Lawson. We all ran to a table spread with our weapons. I stuck my pair of hunting daggers into the belt around my waist and picked up my longbow. Willow was flipping her knives up and down, smiling dangerously, and glaring at Holly. I looked around at my team mates-Chris (he told me to call him that), Hawk Burr, who was Ice's sister, Jasper, the sole guy in my clique, Poppy, Willow, Night, Lea Flowe, Phae Song, Tyson Fang, and Britany/Brit Fira.

Night was sneaking glances at Hawk, while strapping his swords to his back. Chris sauntered over, and told me, "You'll be on guard duty with Jasper and me. Is that okay? Just stay in the trees and cover us with that bow of yours. We'll protect the…beanbag. By the way, can you actually shoot that thing?" he gestured to my bow. "I've known men who are twice your height and can't even string something that big."

I blinked. I had never paid much attention to the size of my weapons, but when I looked at the bow that Hawk held, I realised that Chris was right. My longbow was massive, one of those six-foot-long monsters. The quiver that I had slung over my back almost touched the ground, and the arrows rose a good 30 centimetres over the top. "Yeah, I can." I picked up the bowstring, slipped it over the end, pulled it up, and pushed the other loop over the other end. Turning it sideways, I caught the string and drew the bow, pulling the string back to my ear. "I'd shoot an arrow, but I probably would hit someone."

Tyson whistled, awed. "You're really good," he said. "Even my pa can't shoot a bow that big, and he's one of the best archers in our world." I grinned, buoyed up by the praise. But then, my spirits plummeted when Drew skulked towards me. I stalked over to meet her, a growl vibrating through my throat. I flexed my claws, waiting to pounce. The beating lights of the life forces around me pulsed, but a few were dim, and Drew's was one of the dimmest. I could almost feel my fangs tearing through her throat, her life force growing even dimmer, celebrating the thrill of the hunt with my clanmates…

Wait, what?

Holy crap. What just happened?

"Wynter? Wynter? Earth to Wynter?" Night shook me.

"Huh?" I asked intelligently.

"We're moving out. They're starting the game!" He rolled his eyes. I nodded stiffly, still puzzled about what had happened. I followed my team through the forest, until we found a place to station our 'flag'. It was in a small clearing, shielded with tall cliffs on the back and right side, dense forest on the left, but our main concern was in front. That was where Chris and Jasper would keep their attention. I had to guard the left side. Easy? No. Not at all.

A tired Night ran over, panting that the other forces were too strong and that they needed help. Tyson and Chris left with him, Chris calling over his shoulder for me to guard the 'flag' as they backed up the attacking force. In other words, I was on my own. Oh deary me. I was in deep trouble. Perching in a tree with who-knows-what out there, with ants running up your back and the sun baking you to a crisp was a recipe for disaster.

Dropping my right hand down a bit, I stroked the hilts of my hunting daggers. They sent a jolt up my arm, and I gasped. The humming in my head formed into words, an ancient song of life and death. I glanced at them, and remembered the day I received them-

"Wynter?"

"Yes, father?"

"I have something to give to you. Here." My father dropped two long knives into my hands. I pulled one out of the cloth that covered one, and let out a squeak. The hilt of the hunting dagger was not metal, but a tawny stone that danced and shimmered with gold and brown lights. In the pommel a lapis lazuli stone sat, the midnight blue gem spangled with silver stars. Finally, I looked at the cross guard, amazed by the beauty of the alternating amethyst and topaz studs that reigned there. The other dagger was the same.

Then, I turned my attention to the blades of the daggers. They held a bluish sheen, and one side was serrated, while the other was not, but was still wickedly sharp. "Thank you, father." I whispered.

"They are yours by right." He replied, dark amber eyes solemn. He then held out another cloth covered bundle. I took it from him, and opened it to find a beautifully crafted yew longbow, one of those monstrous ones that only a few could use. Next to it was a quiver of arrows, each fletched with the feathers of an eagle. "These are also yours by right." he told me.

"Why?" I asked.

"One day you will know."

I was pulled out of my memories by a twig snapping nearby. Drew emerged from the trees, ears pricked. She held her long knife gently, slowly making her way to our flag. She smirked, and muttered some words about how stupid my team was for not guarding the flag. My blood boiled and I hissed. Quietly, I set down my bow and quiver, and drew my hunting daggers. Silently, I dropped down behind the tree and let out a battle cry.

Drew spun around, shock in her eyes. I swung my daggers up and then down, scissoring them towards her neck. She jumped back and attacked, almost hitting me in the chest with her knife. I dodged, and realised the humming in my weapons was louder. 'Tiger cuffs and backhands,' it whispered. I recognized that certain sequence and did what it told me to, slamming the butt of my right dagger into Drew's hand, and then hitting her across the cheek with the back of my hand. She got in a lucky shot, cutting me on the forehead.

'Reverse Tiger mirror thrust.'

I turned so that my back was to Drew, stabbed backwards with both daggers and back-flipped over her, then repeated the movement, but this time thrusting forwards. I also gave her a kick for an added bonus. She doubled over, wheezing when my foot connected with her right kidney. "Yield," I growled, pressing my dagger into her throat. Unfortunately, I forgot about the hand she had her knife in. A searing pain exploded on my cheek.

"When hell freezes over!" yelled Drew. She threw herself on me, and we punched, kicked, and hit for a frenzied moment before breaking apart.

'Tiger whips tail.'

I saw my chance, and quickly turned away from Drew, and dropped to all fours. I slammed my feet up when she leapt at me, one smacking into her stomach and the other into her knee. She howled, eyes rolling up. I took that second to get to my feet. I pressed one dagger to her throat, the other into that spot in someone's back which is twice lethal. If you stab down hard enough, you can sever their spine and pierce their heart as an added bonus. Drew seemed to know that, and kept very still.

Score one for me.

"You do know," I commented mildly, "That Hel is a Viking afterlife? Can you guess what the climate there is like?"

A/N: So how was it? Review and tell me! Did I end it badly? I couldn't think of anything, so please review and tell me!

Until the next chapter, May Starclan light your paths.

~Winterthaw of Thunderclan