Riverstone 2056 Opening Ceremony

Prelude and Countdown

 * The sound of 110,000 other cats made Nettle's ears ring. Tonight is the night he thought, the night to show to the world how great my country, ForestClan, truly is.


 * It was only 10 years ago that the cat species had discovered the two-leg past time. Every 4 years, many two-legs (called "humans"), joined together to compete with each other in peace. When the cats had found it, it was soon brought up that the cats should do that themselves. So in the next 2 years, it was decided that the cats would join together every 4 years in what would be known as "Greenleaf Games" or "An Olympiad".


 * The next year, Riverstone was chosen as the host city for the historic celebration. Nettle wasn't even born then, but his father was there in the city center, celebrating with about 85,000 other Riverstonians who watched the announcement live on TV.


 * And it was only last year that tickets went on sale. The world had never seen anything like it. The internet (Cats had discovered and invented many human things) almost collapsed because of web traffic towards the official website of the games, and lines for the five ticket counters throughout the country, stretched for many miles. And Nettle's family was one of the lucky ones. His mother, through her powerful connections, managed to get tickets for his whole family for both Ceremonies, three Mossball games, a netball match, and to the finals of the Field Athletics. However, the whole thing costed them about 30,000 dollars. It wouldve costed them much more had the games been in Vidtabia, the rival of ForestClan throughout the bidding process.


 * Now, here he was, sitting with his parents and two younger siblings, one of 110,000 people here in the ForestClan Olympic Stadium.


 * "Ohhhh I can't wait until it starts!" squeaked Berry, his younger sister. His other younger sister, Blossom, nodded in anticipation.


 * Nettle looked at the items he was given at the ticket counter. He was given a pamphlet that had all the info on when the ceremony would start, explaining different cultural elements. Also, he was given a glowstick that glows different colors, so he could wave it when it gets dark.


 * "Dad, when will it start?" He said in a complaining voice.


 * "Be patient!" he warned, "I've been waiting for this moment since before you were born, so you could wait for a little bit longer!"


 * Suddenly, the stadium lights dimmed, which illuminated the screens. Nettle joined the deafening roar of the crowd as they cheered in absolute delight. The countdown started on the screens, showing numbers on top of great sporting achievements throught the history of the Cats.


 * 10!


 * The whole stadium was counting down alongside the beating drum that accompanied every number. These moments are some that Nettle would never forget.


 * 9!


 * He joined in to roar the number 9 with the 110,000 others.


 * 8! 7! 6! 5!


 * Almost there, he thought, the moment when the whole world will see just what your country is made of.


 * 4!


 * Four Blue fireworks shot up in the air from the roof of the stadium. The crowd cheered and roared, while simultaneously counting down.


 * 3!


 * Three Yellow-ish fireworks this time.


 * 2!


 * This time the fireworks were white.


 * 1!


 * The countdown culminated with red fireworks exploding all alongside the edge of the roof of the stadium. It lit the stadium red, illuminating the field and the massive crowd. Nettle was defeaned by the cheers and the applause.


 * "Hylenatas ode Hylenukoren, Boavälkomyn tar Ois Spelen ave Riverstone 2056, ave A Primöra Folblada Gração Olympiada!" Some of the crowd responded in loud cheers and whistles.


 * "What was that?" Nettle asked, confused. He'd never heard that language before.


 * But his father didn't hear him, he was too busy cheering. But he didn't need an exlanation.


 * "Toms and She-Cats, welcome to the Riverstone 2056 Games, of the First Greenleaf Olympiad!"