"Just get away from me!" Breezepelt screeched as he tried to move away from the two Dark Forest cats. It was impossible since Mapleshade blocked his path while Sparrowfeather stood behind him. He knew that if he tried moving left or right, the only ways that weren't blocked, the two cats would still block him. "Please. . ."

"Don't bother being soft because you know we can't tolerate that," Mapleshade mewed, a mischievous look forming on her face. "And if you want to leave, we'll happily make you." She'll kill me, Breezepelt realised. If I keep pleading to leave, I'll only die and be stuck here. He knew there'd be no way StarClan would ever let him join their ranks.

"Painfully," Sparrowfeather added. "A slow and painful death sounds appealing to me, don't you think?" She looked at Mapleshade.

"Of course it is, mouse-brain!" she hissed. "I've joined the Dark Forest for a reason. Do you think I'd turn soft now?"

"You can't kill me because I'm representing the Dark Forest-at least you said so," Breezepelt pointed out. "So if you kill me, the Dark Forest won't win the Games." What a bunch of hare-brains, thinking killing me is a good thing when they need me, he thought.

"You may be dead then, but that can't stop us from throwing your spirit into battle," Mapleshade growled. Breezepelt's nose wrinkled in disgust as her foul breath went into his nostrils. "That'll be more enjoyable, since when you die you'll be gone forever. Crowfeather would love that, won't he?"

Crowfeather. His father who had wanted nothing to do with him because he was a 'mistake'. He favoured his ThunderClan kits, Jayfeather, Hollyleaf and Lionblaze, over him and he wanted to kill them badly. "I'll shred him to pieces in the Games," Breezepelt growled. "I'll make him regret everything he's done to Nightcloud and I."

"Nightcloud's pathetic. Defending the weak and irritating will not make you live, but will make you die quicker," Sparrowfeather told him. "The quicker you die, the more terrors you will be faced with."

Heathertail flashed in Breezepelt's mind. I'll protect her and kill anyone that tries to hurt her, he vowed. "If you want to win, you'll do exactly as we say." Mapleshade interrupted his thoughts. "And by that, we expect you to fight like a rogue and kill everyone that crosses your path and enters your sight."

"Fine," Breezepelt sighed. "I'll make sure they all die under my claws."

"Good. You know what happens to traitors." Mapleshade's head rose into the air as she let out a cry. Breezepelt stared at her for several heartbeats before shadows crept out from the darkness. Eyes began glowing as pelts became a lot more noticeable and coloured. So many cats began to form a big circle around them-more than Breezepelt had ever seen.

Breezepelt was surprised to see that many there. I never knew there were a lot more members in the Dark Forest. Recalling the Dark Forest battle and comparing the numbers of the Dark Forest, there were definitely less warriors that participated then. Sparrowfeather began disappearing into the crowd, leaving Mapleshade to stand in the centre of the circle with Breezepelt.

"The moment we have been waiting for has finally come," Mapleshade began, her voice loud enough so that all the cats could hear her. "When the sun hangs over the Island where Gatherings were held, the Games will begin."

Looking around at the cats surrounding him, Breezepelt noticed that they had glints of excitement in their eyes. "I want Maggot-tail to get SkyClan there, Darkstripe with ThunderClan, Clawface with ShadowClan, Silverhawk with RiverClan, and Buzzardfrost with WindClan. When the meeting is over, I want you five to go."

"We should target the Dark Forest traitors first." Breezepelt recognised Redwillow and soon saw him barging through the crowd. "Ratscar and Ivypool deserve to be punished for disobeying us." He then narrowed his gaze. "And before you say that the Games is their punishment, that won't do any good."

"I have plans for Ivypool," Mapleshade replied. "She will suffer with the loss of her loved ones and we will turn her insane from that. We did use the Three for something special, and I have made sure they got tortured. As for Ratscar, we will do the same but make him witness all of his kin's deaths as we kill them one-by-one."

Redwillow didn't look that satisfied. "We should do more than that," he insisted. "We-"

"You will do as I say," Mapleshade interrupted, her gaze burning through his. "Now our tributes will be in front of the crowd as they wait to get sent off. They will use all of the Clans' territories for the arena while their Clanmates stay with us. If any cat has traces of evil within them or may make good warriors for me, make sure their spirits end up here. All the weak ones will go to StarClan."

"For the Dark Forest traitors, they will be sent here as well so they can walk alone. The traitors are Mousewhisker, Blossomfall, Birchfall, Tigerheart, Applefur, Hollowflight, Icewing, Minnowtail, Larkpaw, Harespring, Furzepelt, and Sunstrike." Harespring and Larkpaw trained in the Dark Forest? Breezepelt was surprised since he hadn't seen them there before.

"Icefang, have you gotten Ashfur and Mudclaw to join us?" Mapleshade questioned. "They belong with us, not StarClan."

"No," a mottled white tom answered. "StarClan chased me away. They put up a good fight for weak cats." Breezepelt noticed that he had a claw mark over is eye, which was closed and swollen. There were many scars scattered on them.

Mapleshade didn't look impressed. "I don't care!" she hissed. "Just go get them and bring them here. Don't let StarClan chase you off because they're as weak as kittypets. Where's your strength and true warrior skills?"

A growl escaped from Icefang before he turned and stalked away, vanishing into the warriors of the Dark Forest. Mapleshade had turned around; her yellow eyes were already burning through Breezepelt's fur.

"This cat will represent us in the Games," the tortoiseshell yowled. "And for as long as he lives, we'll continue to rule and win the Games, Game after Game! None of the Clans will win for as long as we have one cat to represent us."

"Him?" Redwillow snorted. The tip of Mapleshade's tail twitched; she was losing her patience with Redwillow's comments. "He couldn't hurt a fly if it landed on his paw. Any cat I could understand, but him?" Disbelief swarmed in his voice.

"Yes, him." The she-cat's lip curled back, her rotten teeth showing as they bared into a snarl. "If anyone has any objections, they'll answer to me-and me only."

Redwillow's right. I could never bring myself to killing a cat no matter how much I hate them, Breezepelt thought. I couldn't even bring myself to killing Lionblaze or Jayfeather, but I still had to act like I wanted to. I had to. . .

Redwillow muttered something that Mapleshade didn't catch. The Dark Forest leader turned, her gaze swivelling around at the cats gathered around her. "Now the cats I chose will go get the Clans to the island." She continued looking around before yelling, "Now!"

A single flick of her tail dismissed the Dark Forest troops; they all turned into the darkness, disappearing.

Mapleshade looked down at him. Just under Mapleshade's gaze, Breezepelt wanted to crawl away from her as far as he could. "If you fail us, you'll die. . . and suffer forever."

"I won't," Breezepelt promised. "Really, I'll win the Games and keep the Dark Forest's pride running."

"Pride?" Mapleshade echoed. "We do not have what you call 'pride'. We seek nothing but revenge, not our pride to run forever. Haven't you learnt anything?"

Breezepelt nodded and then lowered his head. "Sorry," he mumbled.

His ears flicked as he heard a familiar voice, a whisper, full of agony and terror, echoing through the forest. His gaze then began to glow. "Brokenstar!" He sounded relieved. "He's still here!"

"Fool!" Mapleshade cuffed him by the ear, her claws unsheathed, making the blow sting and the WindClan warrior wince. "You may hear his echoes, but he no longer exists. Here the voices echo, but there's no trace of the fallen Dark Forest cats here."

Breezepelt frowned as Mapleshade carried on. "Brokenstar was too soft; he never understood the willingness of using power dragged him to his death. He thought that power drove him to victory, and that his ambition for power made him live. The same applies to Tigerstar and Hawkfrost, and any other cat who believed power was more important above everything."

"Brokenstar was our leader," Breezepelt reminded her. "He knew what was correct and what was not. He was strong; he could have ruled the forest if Yellowfang hadn't killed him, once and twice."

"Wrong!" Mapleshade snarled. "He was weak, and always will be. If power killed him, then everything can. A strong cat couldn't get defeated by his ambitions."

"Where are you going?" Breezepelt asked as Mapleshade began walking away from him. She stopped, looking over her shoulder.

"The waking world. You will come, and you will join the WindClan tributes. Remember this: If you fail, you will suffer forever." Breezepelt hurried after her, not wanting to be left alone in the clearing full of darkness.

Breezepelt felt nervous as he hopped from the log, landing onto the Island, staying close to Mapleshade. Eyes were fixed on him as he walked straight ahead, the path clear as Clan cats stepped out of the way.

He looked to his right and immediately saw Crowfeather standing with the WindClan tributes, who met his gaze with hatred and disgust in his blue eyes. He mouthed something and Breezepelt immediately recognised it. Traitor.

He couldn't deny it; he was a traitor, and everyone could have agreed with it without hesitation. "Don't look back at them," Mapleshade growled into his ear. "And don't trail behind. Go to your Clanmates-now."

Breezepelt reluctantly obeyed; he started dragging himself towards his Clanmates no matter how much he wanted to run off and be free. He almost fell to his paws as he was pushed forward by Buzzardfrost, who easily looked down at him coldly.

Mapleshade went over to the Dark Forest cats and stood in front of them all. She took a deep breath before she spoke. "As soon as the sun-" she flicked her tail to the sun, which was nearly above the Island "-hangs over us, our brave and willing tributes will fight to the death. The Games should end before the next full moon. If not, then my warriors will come and kill them until one survives."

Brave and willing? I wasn't even willing to be a tribute, you stupid furball! Breezepelt forced himself to swallow his words down. He knew there'd be trouble if he spoke. He looked over at the ThunderClan tributes, Icecloud standing by a shaking Lilykit and whispering something into her ear, looking as though she was trying to reassure the tiny kit.

Daisy, a ThunderClan queen, looked extremely worried since she was a very poor fighter and had less chances of surviving. Cinderheart was silent as she looked down at the cats, looking as though she was looking for someone. Breezepelt knew it was Lionblaze, her mate.

The final selected tribute for ThunderClan was Ivypool, who looked back at him emotionless. Breezepelt had a desire to kill her since she killed his friend, Antpelt, and he never had the time to avenge his death. Ivypool was a good fighter from what he had seen when he trained in the Dark Forest, and knew she'd put up a decent fight.

You're going down, Breezepelt told her just by the expression on his face. You'll pay for killing Antpelt, fox-heart.

I'll be ready, Ivypool answered back. Before she looked away from him, Breezepelt could detect a sudden emotion in her eyes, but didn't have enough time to see what it was.

He was nudged slightly and looked to see Crowfeather was sitting next to him. "You'll never be my son," he whispered with hints of a growl. "No son of mine is a traitor and fox-heart. I hope you die in the Games."

Breezepelt couldn't help but feel hurt at how cold his father sounded. He only wanted him to love him, but Crowfeather failed to and treated him like he wasn't even born.

". . . it won't be long." Breezepelt didn't even realise Mapleshade was still speaking until then. "Before the Games start, the tributes may talk to each other, but not anyone else." Mapleshade's gaze looked around the clearing. "Anyone who dares try interacting with the tributes will be punished by death."

"Heathertail." Breezepelt wove past Crowfeather towards the light tabby. "It's okay. I'll protect you and make sure no one dares hurt you."

Heathertail looked back at him, the usual kindness on her face gone, only to be replaced with disgust. "I'll protect myself," she told him bitterly. "I don't want a traitor to protect me. I hope someone comes along and puts you out of your misery."

"But-" This can't be true. . . StarClan, please tell me that Heathertail's really not saying this! he pleaded silently to his ancestors.

"Just get used to it, Breezepelt." A flash of hurt appeared on Heathertail's face. "I'm loyal to my home, WindClan, not you."

"You don't need to be loyal to me. I can prove to you that I'm not a traitor. Really, I never intended to hurt anyone and I'm the one just getting burnt by all these lies. . ."

"I'm sorry, but this is how things have to be. I'm not wanting to seem like a traitor to my Clan. I've almost lost everything because of you; I can't take anyone risks."

"It doesn't say anywhere that being friends with me is betrayal. It doesn't say that in the warrior code so it's allowed." Why couldn't Heathertail just accept it rather than acting like he was the worst thing in the entire Clans?

"I know." The light tabby warrior let out a sigh. "But I have to win the Games on my own. It won't be fair if I had to kill you in the end." Her heather-blue gaze drifted over to WindClan, where cats were murmuring to each other. "I don't want Onestar and Whitetail to mourn over me forever. I want them to be happy, not sad. You wouldn't understand. . ."

"I'd want the same for Nightcloud, you know." But not Crowfeather. . . He takes everything out on me for no reason. "But I'm not winning it for her sake. I've got my own reasons that differ from my kin's. I couldn't care less if I died or not."

"That's your problem though; you're too heartless to truly care for anyone besides yourself. We've been denmates since we were kits; I know you."

"I am not heartless!" Breezepelt protested, anger raising in his voice. "Why can't you just try understanding me instead of acting like you've never been my friend? Your Clan is too important to you, that's your problem. Winning the Games takes skill and survival, not your pathetic Clan."

Heathertail's gaze filled with fury. "I don't even care!" she hissed. "I'll win for my Clan, not my own selfish needs. Unlike you, I know the true meaning of loyalty. Loyalty is my goal, not yours. I can see that clearly."

"Loyalty is my goal, too. Why do you have to be so dense about everything when it comes with me? You had no problem with Lionblaze, but with me you do." His gaze narrowed. "I bet you still love him. Tough luck, because he's with Cinderheart."

"I'm not as dense as you," Heathertail spat. "I can think things through unlike you. You act like you're so superior, but you're not. Deep down, you're as soft as a kit and couldn't hurt anyone purposely. If I know that, then I'm not as dense as you think I am. Say the correct things for once, hare-brain."

"Traitor, traitor!" Breezepelt sneered. "You love Lionblaze!"

"I do not!" Heathertail argued. "I hate him. He's so dumb."

"Wait until I tell Onestar. The precious leader's daughter won't be precious as soon as he knows. He'll hate you, and your Clan will start turning on you."

"You wouldn't."

"Oh, I would." Breezepelt sounded daring. "I'll even make certain ThunderClan cats hate you. I know your secret; you always met Lionblaze in the tunnel as apprentices. You call yourself loyal? I call you a hypocrite."

"Fine, have it your way." Heathertail's gaze lit up with hostility. "Go on; yowl it out."

"Gullible," Breezepelt spat. "I knew you'd be dumb enough to believe I'd do that."

Heathertail rolled her eyes and barged past him. "Breezepelt!" Breezepelt noticed Ratscar approaching him, his gaze full of worry. "We should team up for the Games and kill everyone together."

I have to kill Ratscar though, he realised with disappointment. No, I won't. I'll spare Ratscar and kill everyone else. "Okay," he agreed. "It's better than being alone, I guess."

Ratscar looked pleased. "Thanks!"

Breezepelt just remained silent, his gaze narrowing as he stared down at the ground.

"Tributes, get to the base of the Great Oak and form a line, one behind another," Mapleshade ordered. Breezepelt looked up at the sky and noticed that the sun was hanging over the Island.

"We better go," Ratscar mewed. "Run to ShadowClan's territory and I'll meet you there." The brown tom scurried after the other tributes; Breezepelt followed behind. Mapleshade was at the front of the line of tributes as they stood behind her.

Mapleshade flicked her tail and began walking down the cleared path, the tributes starting to follow after her. Breezepelt could still feel the stares of every cat burning through his fur. I will win the Games, he kept repeating to himself. I will win.

"Goodbye, Breezepelt!" Breezepelt's ears flicked as he heard his mother's yowl. He looked to the crowd and saw Nightcloud. "Good luck!"

Maggottail and a tortoiseshell Dark Forest cat began walking towards her. Breezepelt's eyes widened as he began shoving tributes out of the way. "No!" he yowled. "Don't kill her!"

Nightcloud shook her head to indicate that she didn't want him to stop the Dark Forest warriors. Maggottail shoved the black she-cat to the ground. The crowd began to move back as Breezepelt heard yowls full of pain.

"Leave her alone you fox-hearts!" A sob began to fill up his protests. He began breaking into a run as two Dark Forest cats chased after him. He pushed past cats, trying to get to his mother as fast as he could in hopes to save her. No, she can't die. She doesn't deserve any of this. Worry clawed at his pelt.

"Don't," Ashfoot advised as she blocked his path. "You don't want to stop them."

"I don't care! I have to save her!" The Dark Forest cats who had been chasing him held him, trying to drag him back. Breezepelt tried to escape from their grips fiercely. "Let me go!"

"Don't you dare." One of the Dark Forest warriors, a she-cat, growled threateningly at him.

Breezepelt refused to listen to her and managed to pull himself away from them. He darted away swiftly, continuing to push cats out of the way as he desperately tried to reach his mother. There were no cats in front of him so he paused.

Nightcloud lay in a pool of blood, lifeless, and her eyes were closed. Maggottail was licking the blood off of his claws while the tortoiseshell she-cat next to him stared at Breezepelt, looking smug. Breezepelt raced over to the body and crouched by it, pawing it.

He then hung his head sadly. "I'm so sorry I wasn't quick enough," he whispered. "I. . . I. . ." His voice croaked as he found it hard to speak. Anger welled up in him as he glared at Maggottail and the tortoiseshell.

He was about to throw himself at Maggottail before the two Dark Forest cats stopped him. "Get back here, you stupid furball," one of them growled. He realised he recognised this voice.

Icefang.

"That's what mouse-brains like her deserve." Icefang's voice was cold as he and the other cat dragged Breezepelt back to the tributes. "Try and escape from us again, and we'll kill you."

"Brutally," the she-cat added in.

Breezepelt met Mapleshade's gaze. The tortoiseshell warrior showed no emotion on her face. "Keep in line," she advised. "We don't want to make a mistake, now do we?"

"We should kill him," Icefang told her. "Then he can suffer for disobeying us."

"No," Mapleshade replied. "There's no point when the Games will determine his fate. Leave the kit alone and get back to the others."

Icefang was about to protest but began walking away. Mapleshade looked down at Breezepelt. "What are you waiting for? Get back in line!"

She nudged him forward. Breezepelt realised the tributes formed one big line across from the Island, looking prepared. Breezepelt went and joined them, cutting in-between Rabbitleap and Dapplenose, a RiverClan elder.

"You all know the rules of the Games," Mapleshade mewed. "But in case any cat is dumb enough not to know them, I will repeat them once-and only once. There must be one surviving cat. That one cat will be the victor and their Clan will get more prey. The losing cats will obviously be dead. This is a fight to the death matter for a reason."

Obviously, Breezepelt thought. "If the Games take too long, there will be more. . . Let's just say they're obstacles. The entire arena is the lake territories. No cat is to leave them whatsoever. There are eyes watching everyone so don't bother. Death will be your punishment. There are herbs around the area but not that many. There's also deathberries and predators lurking in the darkest of shadows."

There was a long silence. Breezepelt casted glances at the other tributes who he had to kill. Some of them were just innocent Clan cats, while others were former Dark Forest trainees. Even though he was told to kill the trainees, not all of them were participating in the Games. He guessed that the Dark Forest warriors would deal with them.

"Let the first annual Slaughter Games begin!"