The clan cats were all up early, anxiously waiting to know who would be sent to their doom. As the last colors of dawn faded, Tigerstar appeared in the tree. He grazed the crowd with his menacing stare.
"Hello and welcome to the first annual Forest Games!" Tigerstar yowled. The clan cats looked at him, full of hatred. "Now let's get started. Windclan first." He padded over to eight baskets sitting on the ground full of leaves, each with a clan cat's name scratched onto it in blood. The names were separated by gender and clan.
"She-cats first!" he called as he placed his paw in the basket and moved it around for a bit. Then he scooped out a name. "Sunstrike!" he yowled. The Windclan she cat strode nervously toward the tree. Her clan gazed at her with sorrow. "The other she-cat will be Nightcloud!" Tigerstar called as he lifted another leaf out of the basket.
Nightcloud's eyes widened as she padded up to the tree stiffly. Breezepelt sat on a lower branch of the great oak, watching her as she marched to her spot. She mouthed to him, "You aren't my son." Breezepelt's expression changed. Was that guilt? He replaced it with the same expressionless face usually had. Crowfeather screeched from the crowd, but was calmed by his clan mates.
"Oh did I mention you can volunteer to be a tribute for someone?" Tigerstar informed. To his disappointment, nothing happened.
"Okay now for the toms." After a moment Tigerstar picked a leaf out of a different basket. "Owlwhisker!" he yowled. The next tom was chosen quickly, "Emberfoot!" The dark grey tom looked shocked. He slowly padded up to the tree and sat silently, ears flat.
"These are your Windclan tributes!" Tigerstar informed. The Windclan cats huddled together, shaking with fear.
"Now for the Riverclan she-cats. The first tribute is, " he pulled a leaf out of the basket, "Icewing!" The she cat choked down a sob and licked her only kit, Pricklekit, before walking up and standing by the tree. Pricklekit let out a cry of protest, but was held back by Rosepetal. She solemnly watch her mother pad away.
"The next tribute will be Graymist." The pale she-cat exchanged a sorrowful glance with her apprentice, then padded up to the tree and sat beside Icewing.
"Now for the toms." Tigerstar announced and scooped out a leaf from another basket. "Rushpaw!" The clans gasped when they heard the apprentice's name called. How could it be fair for an apprentice to compete against warriors? His eyes were full of terror and he was frozen with fear.
Pebblefoot, Rushpaw's mentor, stepped forward. "Putting an apprentice in he games is sick and twisted. To save him from death, I volunteer as tribute." Pebblefoot said grimly and padded to the tree and sat down. Rushpaw let out a cry of protest. "Well we have our first volunteer!" Tigerstar announced, dismissing Rushpaw's wail. Instead of the cheers Tigerstar had expected, there was silence, rebellious silence. Tigerstar held back a growl and moved to the next basket.
"Our next Riverclan tom will be, Grasspelt!" The tom padded up and glared at Tigerstar then sat down. "These are your Riverclan tributes!" Tigerstar yowled. Riverclan gazed sadly at the tributes.
"Now for Shadowclan." Tigerstar announced as he scooped out a name from a basket "Dawnpelt!" Tigerheart's ears flattened at the sound of his sister's name. How could you send your own kin to their death! Tigerheart thought. He searched for any sign of regret in Tigerstar's expression, but was disappointed to find none.
The next cat was picked, "Applefur!" The brown she cat's eyes widened as she walked towards the tree. Toadstep's eyes flooded with tears. Applefur walked up to the tree and sat down. Birchfall stared at her, remembering the great journey they had travelled together as kits, and mouthed "I'm sorry."
"Now for the toms." Tigerstar yowled as he picked a leaf from another basket, "Ferretclaw!" The tom stood up and padded over to the tree, ears flat and eyes wide with shock. "The next tom is, Starlingwing!" He slowly made his way to the tree, shaking with fear. "These are your Shadowclan tributes!" Tigerstar yowled.
"Now for our last clan, Thunderclan. The first tribute will be, Dovewing!" The silver she-cat looked shocked. Jayfeather and Lionblaze gasped. Dovewing can't die! She is one of the three. Before she went up to the tree she said goodbye to her parents and Ivypool.
"The next tribute will be, Ivypool!" Ivypool padded up to the tree and sat beside Dovewing. "We are in this together." Ivypool whispered to Dovewing.
"The first tom from Thunderclan will be Spiderleg!" He walked up to the tree and sat down, expressionless. "The next tom will be Thornclaw!" The clan looked just as shocked as Thornclaw. He was one of the senior warriors and would be greatly missed. He padded up to the tree, trying to keep his head held high.
"That concludes the reaping. These are your tributes!" Tigerstar yowled, motioning to the line of cats under the great oak. "Every cat that has not been chosen to be in the games is to report to the Moonpool. Follow Breezepelt and Mapleshade, they will guide you. If you are to try to run away, you will be killed." Tigerstar announced then jumped down to the tributes.
"You will stay on the island and get training with fighting, herbs, hunting, and any skill you will need in the games. You will stay in those tunnels for now." Tigerstar beckoned to tunnels that were carved into the earth a few fox lengths away. "There is a separate one, each with your clan name carved into the dirt above the entrance. May the odds be ever in your favor." Tigerstar meowed and faded away. The tributes solemnly padded over to their temporary dens.
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-Tributes-
Windclan: Sunstrike, Nightcloud, Owlwhisker, and Emberfoot
Riverclan: Icewing, Graymist, Pebblefoot, and Grasspelt
Shadowclan: Dawnpelt, Applefur, Ferretclaw, and Starlingwing
Thunderclan: Dovewing, Ivypool, Spiderleg, and Thornclaw
YOU ARE READING
The Forest Games
FanfictionWarning: If you have not finished the Warriors series, don't read this. The Darkforest has won the battle and is hosting a game. 16 go in and only 1 gets out. Welcome to The Forest Games.
