Warrior Cats: BloodClan Hunger Games

Chapter 4 - A Watchful Eye

Fluffing out her thick pelt, Feathertail struggled to adapt to the rapidly cooling night air. Even in the shelter of the tall gnarled oak and its thick wood walls she could feel herself trembling. For a greenleaf night, Feathertail felt as if it could have been leafbare, and the ground should have been blanketed thick with snow, but the trees were alive and green, and the bushes were full.

It was just past moonhigh as she continued to scan the clearing that the tree stood in the midst of. With her eyes narrowed and ears flat, she sat with her eyes just above the bottom of the hole to constantly survey the ground for any signs of trouble. She shuffled her paws as she fought to get comfortable in the cold. Since the night had begun there was nothing out of the ordinary, and the steady croaking of frogs in a pond nearby was almost like a lullaby. If it weren't for the brisk night air, Feathertail thought for sure she would be fast asleep alongside her allies.

The opening in the tree faced the boulder that marked the end of the woods where it became the clearing, the area in which the three had originally came from. Feathertail watched the forest; beyond the thick of the trees she could see the tall, steep slope that lined the edge of the Arena. They weren't that far from the only exit. The night sky was clear and sparkled with stars. Her heart yearned for the connection with StarClan the elders whispered of. Where are you now, ancestors? Is it true you've really abandoned us? Questions loomed overhead as she stared up at the twinkling sky but she found no answer.

Feathertail stifled a yawn when the sudden sound of a branch snapping caused her to jump up onto her paws. She peered toward the loose dirt off in the distance. They had dug the graves behind a cluster of rocks jutting out of the soil off to the left, several fox-lengths away from the gnarled oak.

Her heart hammered in her chest while she unsheathed her claws, readying herself of the possibility that their scent had given their hiding spot away.

Down below, among the rocks, Feathertail spotted the bright yellow eyes and muscular grey pelt of Cedarheart. He was well hidden in the dark as he slithered through the undergrowth surrounding the rocks. She wondered what he had been through, if he was injured... if he had killed any cat.

For a few heartbeats the tom hid in the undergrowth, making Feathertail antsy. Does he smell our scent? Fear crept up her spine and every moment that passed felt like an eternity.

Cedarheart passed by the two graves and then with a quick glance over his shoulders, he rushed through the clearing. The tom kept low as he hurried toward the forest past the tree Feathertail was perched on. She felt her heart rate begin to slow down once her opponent had disappeared. There was almost a pit of guilt in her stomach combating the fear she felt inside of her at the sight of the tom. It felt wrong to be protecting two ShadowClan cats while simultaneously preparing to fight off another.

Despite her feelings, Feathertail gave a sigh of relief and decided it was Ashfoot's turn to take watch.

Nudging the she-cat awake, Ashfoot silently got out of her nest and took the lookout spot for the rest of the night. Feathertail let out a soft moan as she curled up in her little nook and almost instantly fell into a slumber.

Whispers among the mist swirled around her paws as the silver tabby raced through a dark woodland. Feathertail... Feathertail... She tried to scream out to the familiar call but no words came. How could you abandon me? The whispers turned to hissing, and with each word it felt like claws scraping her body. Feathertail... Where have you gone? They slashed her face, her ears, her flank, her shoulder. Frantically she gazed around the forest as she ran. Suddenly, in front of her was a cliff, and before she could stop, Feathertail tumbled over the edge and was sent into a black abyss.