Nightfall - A Warrior Cat Hunger Games Book (Applyfic)

4 - Training

~ Meadowfeather ~

"Right, tributes stand in a line in front of me," orders Tigershade.

The tall, LeopardClan tom scours the line of cats for imperfections.

I stand next to the other tribute from CloverClan, waiting for Tigershade to give us his next instructions.

I'm itching to start my training- as a cat from a poorer clan, I haven't had much in the way of battle training.

I have to win this game - I have to get back to my mate and kits.

I have three beautiful daughters named Mothkit, Heatherkit and Blossomkit, as well as a loving mate named Goldensky.

If I win this, then we'll never be in poverty again.

We can live in peace, in the Victor's Village and never have to worry about going hungry.

Tigershade lashes his tail, inspecting each cat.

"When I call your name - show me your greatest strength,"

The dark grey tabby tom looms over me, his amber eyes gleaming. 

"When you hear your name - come into the Training Cave,"

I have to prove myself worthy of being in this competition.

Along the line, I hear a few apprentices talking to each other and laughing quietly.

"Silence, Citrinepaw," Tigershade growls, baring his teeth. He stares directly at a small, cream-furred SageClan tom. 

Citrinepaw nods.

"Yes, Tigershade,"

But there's a twinkle of mischief in his eyes, that tells me that he doesn't care what Tigershade says.

He's definitely not going to win if he acts like that.

One less cat in my way, then.

The grey tabby stalks towards the Training Cave, tail held high.

For a few minutes, we stand, talking quietly amongst ourselves.

But I'm not talking to anyone.

Allies are a waste of time - I'll have to kill them to win anyway.

There's a white tom next to me, that keeps trying to start a conversation, but I ignore him.

When will they call the first cat?

At last, I hear Tigershade's voice echo through the open, grassless area that lies in LeopardClan's centre.

"Firesong!" 

A russet-red JadeClan she-cat makes her way towards the cave, eyes wide with excitement.

I wait for my turn until almost dusk, when I at last get called.

I pad into the cave, gazing around at the training equipment.

There's a few sculpture of a cats made from bark, three dangling vines, many heavy stones and lots of targets on the walls made from squished berries.

There is also a pile of herbs and leaves.

There are six cats sitting behind a huge slab of stone.

Tigershade is there, with four cats I recognise from watching the games each year - Moonblossom, Cloudspots, Mottlesun and Glimmerspark.

The sixth cat is a silver tabby she-cat I don't recognise.

"What is your strength?" asks Mottlesun, his grey-speckled pelt gleaming in the sunset.