Nightfall - A Warrior Cat Hunger Games Book (Applyfic)

3 - Citrine

~ Citrinepaw ~

"Goodbye, Citrinepaw,"

Around my eyes, my face is damp.

Last night, I cried myself to sleep.

I'm not afraid to cry.

I have emotions.

I won't be the tiny part in Snowstar's plan to show LeopardClan's power.

I volunteered for my sister - telling Beamstar that we have several apprentices and that losing me wouldn't make any difference.

I'd do anything to keep her safe.

Dappledgaze used to tease me a lot, but I still love her with all my heart.

Cloudedsight, my father, gently touches his nose to the top of my head.

He's been blind his whole life, yet I know he loves just as much as he would if he could see me.

Fernrustle, my mother, sheds dozens of tears and licks me like she used to do when I was a kit.

"I love you," she mews softly.

Crayfishkit and Dappledgaze wrap their tails around me, purring.

My little brother and older sister must be as devastated as I am.

I'll never see them again after this.

The LeopardClan guards look impatient, so my family step back, apart from Fernrustle.

She places something in my paw, something small and shiny.

A citrine.

The yellow gem sparkles brightly and I close my paw over it, looking up at her with more tears in my eyes.

After I hug my kin one last time, the guards begin to lead me away.

Eight of the tributes are already there, the ones from JadeClan, AlderClan, StreamClan and FeatherClan.

Most of them are much bigger and stronger than I am.

I spot a huge, brown tom from JadeClan, a fierce calico she-cat from FeatherClan, a russet-red tom from StreamClan amongst the tangle of cats.

There's also what I assume is a StreamClan apprentice, even smaller than I am.

She's fluffy and grey, with a pair of deep blue eyes.

The other tribute from my clan, Foxfrost, trots over to greet the others.

The StreamClan apprentice nervously looks around, before slowly approaching me.

"Um, hi - I'm Rainpaw," she splutters, barely even looking at me.

I notice that her face is wet too - she must've been crying.

So, to cheer her up, I do what I always do. Tell a joke.

"What do you call a pile of cats?" I mew.

"I don't know!" she squeaks, sounding much happier.

"A meowntain!" I reply, watching as her face lightens up.

Rainpaw lets out a mrrow of laughter.

The guards begin to lead us towards MarshClan territory and Rainpaw and I start chattering again.

A russet-coloured she-cat from AlderClan narrows her eyes and glares at us.

She's clearly annoyed that we're actually having a bit of fun and she's not.

Two more red pelts catch my eye, as a JadeClan she-cat and a StreamClan tom mutter quietly to each other.