ThunderClan Leader Games

Nettlestar felt these games were basically a waste of time, and she saw this whole thing not as a good bit of fun but as an attempt to make their continued captivity seem more palatable. She did not want it to seem more palatable-- she did not want ThunderClan to get used to this lifestyle, to allow themselves to accept it as permanent. She refused to think of this as permanent.

Still, she was also aware that there was no point in objecting, and that any real push-back from her could have severe consequences...as it had when the Asylum first arrived. So she'd participate in this "game", and since she supposed it would be generally better for morale if she won instead of lost, and because she didn't believe in doing anything at half-capacity, she'd try her best at it.

"Thrushnose," she said, calling to her former apprentice. "Will you be my partner for this 'maze activity'?"

Having finished her role in the games, Thrushnose returned to camp…the part of camp that hadn’t been taken over by Asylum’s sprawling maze, anyway. Another reminder of how different this day was. They were meant to be with the other Clans at Fourtrees, learning, discussing, making sure they were as prepared for leaf-bare as their neighbors. Thrushnose didn’t like crowds; she liked these games even less. Despite that, she was on her feet, stretching out her tired limbs, by the time Nettlestar said “partner.” In a few easy strides, she’d crossed the camp to bump her shoulder against the silvery she-cat’s, looking for all the world like an apprentice greeting her mentor. “Of course,” she meowed, though it probably went without saying at that point. “I assume I’ll be in the maze?” That was what she’d overheard. Asylum’s leader against ThunderClan’s, one trusted warrior—or rogue—for each.

She’d never cared about being the best, preferring simply to cross the finish line at her own pace. The leader games would be different. What felt like all of ThunderClan were gathered here, family and friends, cats struggling to adjust to Asylum’s rule and cats who’d rather die than let themselves settle down. A win would be…encouraging, at the very least. That, and she couldn’t deny that the thought of having this tiny thing over Asylum sparked satisfaction in her chest.

The gray she-cat nodded. "Yes," she said, answering Thrushnose. "And I'll do my best to direct you through it,"

With that, the she-cat shifted her weight between her paws, waiting for her opponent to be ready and for this "game" to begin. Admittedly, even the ideas of a win being good for morale and her own policy of always giving her full effort aside, she did find a certain joy in the idea of beating the Asylum at something, and as much as she didn't want to admit it, she would be genuinely dissapointed if she lost. Only the inescapable feeling that, as this was the Asylum's idea, any outcome would somehow work in their favor was keeping her from getting too invested in this little competition.