The Warrior Games

Chapter 7

Snowpaw's eyes flashed open. What had just happened? How long had she been unconscious for? It was almost dusk and she was still lying beneath that tree. The gray and white creature seemed to have moved on. Snowpaw scrambled to her paws. She decided that it would be best if she climbed a tree and slept up there for the night. Her blue eyes helped her see slightly better in the dark so she quickly found an oak tree that seemed easy to climb. She scrambled up the tree with ease, stopping on the second lowest branch, which was still pretty far off the ground. She curled up on the thick and steady branch, but she kept her head up to watch the sun. 

She wasn't sure if it was the same sun her if it was the same sun her clanmates were living under, or if it was a different sun, made just for the Games. So far, she decided, she was lucky to have made it through the Games. As soon as the bloodbath had started she had bolted to the woods, she had completely lost sight of Brambledust and now she was wondering where he was. She clung onto the hope he was still alive. She had always looked up to him, he was one of the bravest cats she knew. He couldn't be dead, right? 

An owl hooted from a few trees away, and Snowpaw curled up into a tighter ball. She wished she was in her apprentice den with her friends. Snowpaw wondered if they missed her as much as she missed them. She closed her eyes, but found she wasn't so tired after being unconscious for StarClan knew how long. So she decided just to rest there. 

The sun had completely gone down and Snowpaw was still awake. She could hear something, someone was talking. She hoped her white pelt wouldn't stand out and that the tree branches would keep her hidden. She listened as hard as she could to what the cats below were saying. 

"So you're telling me they went this way? Are you sure?'

"I'm positive! But I'm not going to lead you to them! They'll bite my head off! Just follow their scent trail, it's here." 

There was a brief silence. 

"Alright then, young cat. I won't hurt you. But you'd best be on your way." 

"If I could walk then maybe I'd have a better chance of 'being on my way'. I can hardly move." 

"All because you tripped on a tree root?" The cat said, sounding amused.

"My paw got caught underneath it and it twisted, along with scraping it when I moved into the brambles." 

"Well, however you got hurt, I'm really sorry. But I don't know anything about herbs, though I would help you if I could." 

The younger cat, who Snowpaw recognised as Runningpaw, replied, "You seem so nice. Why are you going to join those bullies? They're horrible!" 

The older cat sighed, "It may be my only chance of winning the Games, of going back home."

"Well, good luck to you, Mossheart!" Runningpaw called.

Snowpaw heard the pawsteps of the RiverClan warrior beneath where she was curled up on her branch.

"Good luck to you too, young Runningpaw!" Mossheart called back.

Then the pawsteps slowly faded away.

Snowpaw's eyes were now closed, she could no longer keep them open. She was finally getting tired. There was no point resisting anymore. She let sleep take over her.

***

"I can't believe we lost her!" 

"It was Scorch's fault! If only he hadn't yowled out victory before we got our claws on her!" 

"Hey! Says the one who was running through the forest, carelessly like a kit! Anyone could hear your thudding pawsteps from miles away!" 

"Well, at least I know when to keep my mouth shut!"

Darktail rolled his eyes as the two BloodClan cats argued. He couldn't wait to be rid of them once and for all. Although, he wouldn't mind if the two of them started fighting. Then one would be dead and he'd only have to put up with the other. Personally, he hoped Scorch would win if it came to a battle. Darktail had never really liked Fang.

"At least Scorch knows where to put his paws!" Darktail said.

"Ha! It's two against one, Fang!" Scorch said. 

"Oh, what does he know? He's just a useless ShadowClan warrior! I guess you're no better? You're both weak idiots!" She sneered.

"Weak idiots? Who are you calling weak idiots?" Scorch snarled. 

Fang rolled her eyes, "You're not going to attack your own-" 

She was interrupted when Scorch leapt upon her, clawing at tufts of her fur. Fang hissed and swiped at Scorch's brown-coloured face, leaving three small scars on his cheek. Furious, Scorch leaned in to sink his jaws into her neck, but before he could, Fang rolled him over, pinning him down to the ground. 

"You're really going to fight me? I'm all you have, Scorch! If I'm dead, none of you two stand a chance!" Fang looked at the two of them. Darktail was watching her, considering if he should leap in and pin her down. Two cats could beat one.

But then he realised Fang was right. He needed to put up with her until the end of the Games. Then he could kill them both. 

"Come on." Fang said, getting off Scorch and letting him get up, "We can still get that ShadowClan queen." 

Scorch gave her a glare, but decided there was no point in continuing the argument. Darktail trailed behind the two. He didn't say much. He was too lost in his thoughts, thinking of how he would win the Games, how he would follow in his father's footsteps. 

The black warrior grinned as he thought of all the glory he would recieve when he returned home. He might even be chosen as a deputy! And then maybe he could become leader! Darkstar, Leader of ShadowClan!

He liked the sound of that! 

Scorch and Fang may think one of them would win, but Darktail could already imagine how he would prove them wrong.