Warrior Cats: BloodClan Hunger Games

Epilogue

It was finally happening. I was out of the Arena, soon free to do as I please! I had never felt so free in my life! I could run, I could explore! There was no longer a worry about anything. No more worries about the size of the prey I had to bring back to camp, no more need to impress my mentor to avoid a scolding. Though, in the back of my mind I knew the paranoia that had built up over the time I was forced to live with an ear always alert would always make me an edge.

Ducking out of the tunnel, I took a whiff of the fresh air and took a glance around. My heart fluttered at the sight of the open sky and the clouds that glided across. Soon, I will be able to swim and eat fish as I please! I don't have to worry... It seemed surreal as I took in the wide field and the other territories off in the distance. A chilly breeze stirred my pelt as dread washed over me. Feathertail! I didn't even get to say goodbye... The fur on my shoulders stood up as the shocking reality that the cat who had stayed with me until the end had to suffer the greatest horror of them all: living for eternity in the hollowed out moor that had become a deathtrap. I attempted to swallow the ball of guilt that sat in my throat and peeked over my shoulder at the gaping tunnel. 

I'll pray to StarClan for you, Feathertail. And for Loudbelly and Frostfur... Even for those cats who were killed there seasons ago... I'll pray for them all! I promise! I silently vowed to Feathertail. 

Lostface's harsh voice brought me back to reality. Snapping my head toward the scarred she-cat, I realized they had already started to head toward BloodClan territory. She paused to explain, "Icepaw, you will come back with us and we will show the warriors of BloodClan you won. You will choose a partner to leave with you and then we will take you to where you never come back, do you understand?" Nodding, I took in a deep breath and hurried to trot in beside her.

The guilt remained in the pit of my stomach like a rock. I couldn't shake the fact that all of those hate-filled souls were stuck in the Arena, including the original Arena! Without thinking it through, I turned to Lostface and murmured, "Is it true that if you die in the Arena, your soul is trapped forever?" 

The one-eyed she-cat didn't look away from the group in front of us. "They never leave." She replied with a flick of her badly torn ear. I wanted to run back to Feathertail, to comfort her and stay with her... But I knew she would want the best for me, not to sit and pity her. Maybe the best for me is to free the tormented souls of the Hunger Games? My thoughts began to wander. Can she speak now? What will happen when she does? Will we both die? Does StarClan know she is trapped? Will they help her get out?

We neared the small river that trickled its way down from the Moonpool and into the lake. One by one, we each strode through the stream. I personally was never a fan of water, but luckily the small river was shallow and there was barely a pull from the current. Confidently, I hurried across and hopped out of the water. 

Within what seemed to be heartbeats, we entered the silent camp. The ground was thick with mud and the clearing was crowded with cats. Ducking in through the entrance, I braced for the awkward stares of my Clanmates. I'm the last one they would have expected to of lived... Pelt hot with embarrassment, I forced myself to raise my chin as I strode toward the front of the camp, where Poison sat waiting. His tail was neatly resting on his paws and his eyes had a glint of impatience. Nonetheless, the BloodClan leader dipped his head to me. 

Lostface gestured with her tail for me to go and stand beside him. Hopping up to the rotting stump at the back of the camp, I stood there. I had to face every cat down there and suddenly, I felt a wave of nausea at the amount of faces staring back at me. Spotting Tawnypelt and Deathpaw, I noticed their expressions were filled with shock. As I glanced around at the cats below, I realized almost everyone was shocked. Some just simply didn't care.

Poison broke the silence, speaking to the grouped cats with a purr rumbling in his voice. "We are gathered her today because Icepaw has won the BloodClan Hunger Games," My heart started to beat quicker as he clearly wasn't taking the announcement seriously. He turned to me and retorted, "To be honest, Icepaw, we had thought Hawkpaw would beat you on the first day. How'd you do it?" Poison announced and I gulped. Hushed purrs and snickers of agreement came from all of BloodClan. How dare they make fun of me!

"Well... I had help from Feathertail. Our alliance was great and after she was killed by one of the many horrific creatures in the Arena, she came to me as a spirit and helped me learn better techniques to kill." I told them, adjusting my posture to sit up straighter. 

A few of the cats below were murmuring to one another with their eyes locked on me. I wished I could hear what they were saying, but at the same time, I was glad I couldn't. StarClan only knew the awful things they could have said. "I thought Feathertail and Hawkpaw would be the last ones alive, that's why I chose them. But you proved me to be wrong," Poison sneered, "I think everyone thought that." More purrs rippled through the camp and my pelt burned with embarrassment.

Before I could reply, Poison kept going. "And now, Icepaw, you get to choose one cat to go with you. Choose carefully..." 

Suddenly all of the amused and nonchalant faces switched to hopeful as they eagerly glanced up at me, hoping to be picked. Narrowing my eyes, I scanned the cats and took my time choosing. Deathpaw was always a jerk, Tawnypelt never noticed me. The only cats who had actually been nice to me, were Feathertail and Frostfur and neither are here anymore...

Giving a stern nod, I faced Poison once again. "I choose to go alone." Most of the cats in the crowd gasps, and even a few of them let out snarls and growls at me. Clearly, everyone was hurt. I fought the urge to take it back, suddenly knowing how they felt. Poison gave me a look; he was unsatisfied and the amusement that had glowed in his eyes had disappeared.

"Not even your mother? Your brother? Why chose no one? How could you be so selfish?" Poison asked, his dark eyes watching me like a hawk. 

"Yeah! Don't you care about any of us?" Graystripe called from the back of the crowd.

"What are we to you? Crow-food?" I heard Deathpaw spat from beside our mother. Tawnypelt had her tail wrapped around his shoulder, her eyes fixed on me.

Facing the Clan, I decided to be straight forward with them all. "All my life I was shoved around and bullied because I was smaller and weaker. I knew from the moment you called my name that you chose me to see that I died, because I was no better than an elder in your eyes," I cast Poison a glare. "So I tried with everything I had in me to be strong and useful for my allies, Loudbelly, Frostfur, and Feathertail." I paused. "From now on, my name is Icefeather. Winning the Hunger Games brought me here, and for once, I'm satisfied by your decision Poison."

Poison's tail twitched but he let me keep going. "Maybe one day, the warriors of the true Clans will come together and fight for our home again... Maybe then, StarClan will come back to guide us. Be strong everyone, and may StarClan light your paths..." Silence followed my speech. The BloodClan leaders fur had spiked up down his spine, but he kept his cool.

No one spoke as I jumped down from the rotting stump and headed out of the camp with my head and tail high. The crowd of cats parted into two groups, leaving a path open to lead me out of the depressing camp. Ice looked up from the side of the camp and narrowed his eyes at Poison. Though I figured Poison had seen him do so, the leader didn't reply. I could feel every cats' eyes staring through my pelt as I ducked out of camp.

Without a worry or care in the world, I let the wind choose my destiny. I followed the breeze and aimlessly traveled to a new home, a place I could start over in. Behind me lay all of the death and bad experiences I had suffered through. It was all in the past now, and I could wander freely knowing I would never have to go through any teasing or life-threatening battles ever again. 

For the sake of Feathertail, I will be free. One day you too will be free to explore in the endless hunting grounds of StarClan.