Hey everyone! Welcome back to a new chapter! It's time for the battle! Finally, it took me so long just to reach this part. :)

Blackclaw: (review 1) I will keep trying to update a.s.a.p! And yes, you can use the base idea. Just put in a disclaimer. (2) Oh why thank you! And yes i will keep updating a.s.a.p. or try to at least (3) im not exactly sure what you mean... you can ask again in more detail in another review

Enjoy!

Chapter 5

As we enter Wolfspirit's battle grounds for the games, I stumble. My face hits the ground first.

"Are you okay? You took quite a beating from Foxtrot." Reed gently helps me up from the ground

I lick my flank. The dried blood left a mark on my grey fur.

"I'm fine. Let's go." I begin to walk more steadily to the center of the grounds

As I look at my beaten up friends, I began to think that we might lose tonight. Many cats were exhausted and tired. Blood marks streaked their fur and fresh scratches covered their muzzles.

Cats from the other packs looked either confused, sad or had a mischievous grin when they looked over at us.

A twoleg light lit up a couple of crates. That was where the leaders of each pack sat. They announced news and sat there for when the games began.

Rogues are allowed to stay and watch but they have to be on the other side of the battle ground's fence. This gives them a chance to look at pack life and find announcements.

Rogue, Eclipse and Fangs were already seated upon a wooden box. Shade padded over slowly to them. Once he entered the twoleg light, all three leaders looked at him surprised. His white flecks changed to red from the blood and his black fur was missing a couple of chunks.

"Shade? What happened to you?" Rogue, Sunset's leader, tilted his head

Shade grunted in response and sat down on a lower crate beside Fangs.

Eclipse shrugged.

"Oak's not here yet. Should we start, Hawk?" The dark blue she-cat turned her head to the shadowed part of the crates

Hawk stepped forward, into the light.

"He's coming. I just checked on the entrance." He jumped to one of the taller crates and sat down

As if on cue, Oak ran over and leaped to a crate beside Eclipse. His brown fur was also missing chunks and his white paws were a rosy color.

Fangs glanced from Shade to Oak and then back. He sighed

"I'm not even going to ask what happened between you guys." He lied down on his stomach and twitched his tail

A poke returned my attention to my friends. Phantom and Thorn were looking at me.

"Where do we sit?" Thorn asked

"Wherever you want. Just don't spill secrets. Especially to Wolfspirit cats. And if your looking for Mallow..." I turn my head and scan the mob of cats

"He's over there. He's pretty nice." I point with my tail to a young silver cat with white paws who was sitting with some other third tier cats

"Thanks." Thorn ran off leaving Phantom behind to catch up

A yowl brought my attention forward. The announcements are about to start. I ran over, picking my way through the mass of cats and find a spot near the front of the crates.

"Wolfspirit is doing nice. We chased off a loner dog into Cobra's territory a few days ago. We have nothing else to report except that we killed off a rogue stealing our prey from our lot." He shot an accusing glance over the side of the fence

Some rogue's let out gasps and began murmuring.

"Crescentmoon is also doing well. We lost Berry from the third tier to a twoleg. He just picked him up and carried him off inside a monster. We haven't seen him since." Eclipse lowered her head as cats grieved for the young cat

"Cobra has nothing to report." Fangs nodded his head to Shade

"I also have nothing to report."

A whisper sounded in my ear. It was Creek.

"Is he not going to report Foxtrot?"

"Best not to stir up more trouble."

We return our gazes as the leaders finish up their reports.

"As for the games, there will be two events and a fight. The cats chosen to represent the packs, step forward."

I get up and pad into the lit. Five other cats also step forward. Blossom is not here but Wolfspirit will make sure to put her up against me.

"Lilac, Bark, Silver, Ocean, Blue and Minnow." Hawk looked down as he addressed the cats

"Announce your partner for the first event. Remember that they cannot be from the same tier."

As the cats announce partners, cats step forward. I chose Phantom. He put on a smile as he sat down beside me.

I chose him because his opponent is Bark. Bark had chosen Blossom. She glared my way.

"The first event is called 'Hunters'. Your will move freely in the streets of Wolfspirit. You will all hunt each other. If you strike a blow, you get a point. If you are hit, you lose a point. You cannot attack the same cat until you hit another cat. If you are hit more than two times, you are out. Once out, you return to the entrance of the battle grounds. Cobra, Eclipse and Rogue will act as a referee and maintain you progress. To finish the event, three cats must be out."

I turn to Phantom.

"Ready?"

He nods his head slowly.

"Yeah."

"Your event starts... Now!"

At once, all the cats participating rush out the entrance to the lot and scatter. The three leaders jump into the shadows. Cats of every group rush out the entrance, onto the street and begin talking.

I focus my eyes on a pathway and run forward. Phantom is matching my pace.

"Who are we following?" He asks

"Silver's group. Silver is a third tier so it shouldn't be that hard. Her partner is the problem."

We run into an alleyway and I jump onto a dumpster. We leap onto the other side of the fence.

"Are we being followed?" Phantom asks as he pants

I taste the air.

"Not yet. Silver is close though."

We rush forward, hidden by shadows. Alley's pass as we reach our destination.

I nod to Phantom signaling he should attack their north side. He pauses, then leaps onto a fence, waiting in position. I run around and climb a nearby tree. My claws scrape the bark as I haul myself onto a branch.

Below me is Silver. She walks side-by-side with Frog, her partner from the first tier. Their pelts stop as he reach my tree.

I let our a loud screech and leap down. Phantom jumps from the shadows onto Silver's shoulders and squashes her. I land right in front of Frog and strike out my claws.

Frog jumps back and hisses.

Silver gives a yowl as Phantom strikes a blow to her flank.

"We got a point!" He says as he gets off her back

I hiss to him.

"Get back! She can still hit you even though you can't!" I bunch up my shoulders and leap at Frog

He ducks, but I'm prepared. I strike my claws below my belly and catches his shoulder. I land with a halt.

"Two points!" A voice shouts from a tree

I look up to see Fangs poking his head out of the leaves.

"Lilac! Let's go!" Phantom rushes to the fence and jumps over

I jump over just in time to miss Silver's claws from catching my tail. We don't stop running until we reach somewhere near Wolfspirit's battle grounds. I sit down abruptly. Phantom is panting pretty hard.

We rest for just a few moments before heading back out to find Bark and Mallow. Or another group who is unlucky to cross our path.

I began to get up just as Phantom stopped panting.

He raised his muzzle to the sky, smelling the air for scents.

"Bark was here. I don't smell Blossom though."

I paused, then looked at Phantom who was still smelling the air.

"What do you mean she's not here?"

He looked at me with round eyes.

"I mean, they split up."

Author's Note:

Yes, they got two point already! Omg they split up. Pretty smart though. They are both strong cats so they will get a lot more points if they are separated. The next chapter will continue this first event following up to a big surprise! Stay tuned! Don't forget to R&R!

-Duality