Warriors: The Deadliest Challenge

Chapter Five

Ambertail sat at the base of a huge oak tree. Wind howled around her and made her shiver violently. Pinewhisker sat beside her, pushing his flank against her's to keep her warm.

She watched as Streamswirl paced at the front of the group of cats waiting for her to announce that day's challenge.

"Okay, today is a tree climbing contest," she finally announced.

Ambertail looked around nervously; she was not a good tree climber. She noticed Frogskip stand up, the ends of his grey-and-white fur bristling.

"What does hunting, hiding and tree climbing have to do with being a good leader?" he growled angrily. "All of these challenges have been useless!"

Ambertail couldn't help but agree with him. A leader didn't need to be good at tree climbing to be a good leader.

"Well StarClan didn't help me, so I have to choose a leader in my way," Streamswirl replied, her tail lashing.

Frogskip must have noticed her annoyance, because he sat down a moment later, his eyes still narrowed at the medicine cat.

"Whoever climbs the highest will be the winner, and whoever climbs the lowest will be eliminated," Streamswirl continued, looking out at her Clanmates. She nodded to Lizardwing, and the light brown tabby stepped forward so he was at the base of the tree.

Ambertail held her growl in as he shot a condescending smirk at her. She forced her fur to lie flat and flicked her tail.

Streamswirl waited until Lizardwing was ready, then yowled 'go' for him to start climbing. The tabby shot up the tree without looking down, and Ambertail quickly took a place at the base of the tree as she waited to start.

Pinewhisker flicked her shoulder with his tail, and she gave him a grateful smile.

"Good luck," he whispered.

"You too," Ambertail mewed. She looked back at the tree and unsheathed her claws, ready to climb.

"Go!" Streamswirl cried for a second time, and Ambertail launched herself onto the trunk of the tree.

She dug her claws in as hard as she could and pulled herself up. Pinewhisker soon passed her. She could hear panting beside her and turned her head to see Swallowflight struggling to hold onto the tree.

"Are you okay?" Ambertail asked the tabby she-cat.

"No!" Swallowflight cried. "I have a fear of heights!"

"Just go back down, it's okay," Ambertail meowed soothingly.

"But then I'll be eliminated," Swallowflight said dejectedly.

"But do you really want to be leader?"

Swallowflight stared at Ambertail for a second, before hanging her head.

"Not really," she admitted. "I just wanted to try the challenges."

"It's okay, just climb back down," Ambertail mewed kindly.

Swallowflight nodded and slowly clambered down. Ambertail watched to make sure she was safely on the ground, before turning back to look up the tree. Everyone had passed her. She was at the bottom.

I need to speed up, she told herself angrily. She hauled herself up the trunk as fast as she could until she reached the first sturdy branch. She sat on it for a moment, catching her breath and watching the cats on the ground who weren't competing. She noticed Specklepelt's tail twitching and whiskers quivering impatiently. He looked as though he wanted to join in.