Post by cyrus on Jul 2, 2011 21:44:40 GMT -5
I woke and I was once again inside a cell but this one had an open front with silver and metal mixed bars. I ran up to the front of the cell and stared out across where another werewolf stood wearing a steel collar stamped with the name of the wealthy human he belonged to. Another person! I hadn’t seen another werewolf for that matter in so many years I had forgotten how long. I longed to reach through the bars and touch his sleeping face, but I knew my hand wouldn’t fit through the bars nor would I be able to reach the distance. So instead I allowed myself to take in his features.
He was a gorgeous man, with tawny hair that fell around his face in a choppy cut whose longest pieces touched the hollow of his cheeks. His chin was narrow and jaw slight like he was more feminine than male. His lashes, closed now, were a shade lighter than his hair. With slight shoulders and a slender chest, he was well muscled, though he seemed small and was more tall than wide. He wore a tight black shirt with faded blue jeans. Apparently they dressed you better here than at the compound.
I looked down at myself and blushed, a couple shades of pink, at the fact that I now wore black jeans and a white shirt. Someone had dressed me. I could only hope it was a “Taker” and not a human. Not someone who could enjoy my body.
When I looked up I saw his eyes were open and trained on me. Beautiful molten gold eyes that reminded me of the shadowy figure in my dream and the wolf too.
“Ah, a new wolf,” his voice was deep and alluring.
My hand came up to rub the back of my neck only to touch cold steel, I too had been branded. I frowned; there went the last bit of my freedom. I looked at him longingly and he too looked at me, only in an understanding way.
“We will be out shortly, it’s almost sun-up,” he smiled sadly.
“Out? They let us outside our cells?” I couldn’t remember well since I had last been here.
He chuckled, “Of course, how else could we practice for the fights?”
I resented the laugh. I fell into silence as we waited for the humans to allow us to be released. Suddenly there was the sound of jingling and slamming, and we were being released, the doors being opened by “takers” of course which seemed to be the slaves of the humans.
Both I and the male across from me were released at the same time and marched down the hall of barred doors. We were escorted by four “Takers” two in front and two in back. I wanted to run, to flee as fast as I could somewhere safe, but I couldn’t there were no openings as of yet except for the one in front of us. We moved through the doorway and into a practice fighting area.
The room was filled of large circles with sand covered bottoms; where two werewolves would fight each other. I suddenly darted away and moved through the room quickly looking for an escape route. But all the doors were made of silver, impossible for me to get through; there were also double the amount of “Takers” than there were werewolves. I narrowed my eyes and moved back to where I stood originally and the male smiled sadly at me as if he knew exactly what I was going through.
He probably did too. He had probably gone through something similar in the beginning but now it was impossible for me to tell. He seemed to move tiredly, his eyes filled with ancient wisdom and pain.
The sound of a door slamming made my eyes move away from him and suddenly my human master was in the room. I growled as he approached me and the male werewolf left my side. The human merely laughed.
“Now, let me explain the rules my little pet,” he grinned as I winced at the nickname. “No escaping because we will find you as your collar has a tracking chip in it, make me lots of money, no talking to anyone inside the compound besides your wolf buddy, and fight until the death.”
He pointed at the tawny-haired male that I had been talking to earlier, “This is Creekrunner, Onyx. He will be your buddy and teach you the ropes. Other than that you do what I tell you to do.”
I narrowed my eyes and spat at his feet, though this got no rise out of him. I almost hoped it would. I almost wanted a reason to attack. Though I knew I would probably be killed for attacking him.
He turned and left and I migrated over to Creekrunner, wishing I was alone with that bastard of a human so I could rip his throat from his neck. Instead I merely moved to talk to Creekrunner again. Eager to use my voice which had grown hoarse over time of neglect. Words were now like a wonderful awe-inspiring thing. Who had gifted us with the use of a voice to be able to form into speech? Who ever had I loved them for it. It was a wonderful thing, to be able to talk again; it was like learning all over again how to use my mouth how to form those words. It was like I had, had the words in my head but was unable to speak just because I couldn’t move my mouth.
“Are you ok?” he asked.
“Yeah just angry,” I muttered and turned to smile slightly at Creekrunner.
“Ready to start?” he asked guiding me over to sit against the wall.
I nodded and sat next to him. He pointed over to a boxing bag and explained how to punch in human form. Saying that it was just as important to take care of yourself in human form as it was in wolf form. He pointed to the wooden weapon’s rack and told me he would teach me how to fight with those.
“But first lets start with you fighting in wolf form,” he said matter-of-factly.
I frowned, “But won’t we get attacked once we try to change?”
He laughed, “No, once we change they will just watch us closer. It’s not like we can get out with the silver doors anyways.”
I pushed up from the wall, moving my tall frame into a standing position easily. I took a position up in a sand circle, my form began to shimmer and my features began to run together. Suddenly in my stead was a black she-wolf with emerald eyes and before me was the wolf from my dreams, tawny-furred and molten gold eyes.
We were circling each other, tangoing. He rushed me quickly, before I could think, I leapt to the side and he halted himself scrabbling for purchase in the sand. I quickly swung myself to face him and moved to attack, raising myself to place my sharp claws in his side I ripped into him with my teeth, my sharp fangs piercing into his side right behind the ribs.
He yelped and brought a back leg up to kick at my jaw to send dark rivulets of blood down my chin and to send me reeling away from him. As my teeth pulled out large pieces of flesh came with it. A huge gash now lay open his side bleeding heavily. I growled, shaking my head, spraying little droplets of blood everywhere. I felt the rush of adrenaline flying through my veins, the thought of him being a friend soon left my mind and I could tell by the look on his face that he too was lost in the hot rush of the fight.
He leapt at me this time, while I was still crumpled on the ground and trying to find my balance. He was so strong. So strong that he could easily beat me. He was much larger than me and so I had to use my speed and agility to beat him.
Everyone was gathered around us now, watching. Neither of us noticed though and even if we had we wouldn’t have cared. Too lost in our own little world, trying to win. Perhaps the human who had taken me had been right. Maybe there had been a spark in my eyes; perhaps I was the perfect gladiator.
I stood just in time to be forced down again as Creekrunner scruffed me and ripped me to the side, sinking his teeth farther in. He let go and I skidded off to right, the sand grinding into my skin with a burning sensation. I felt the blood seeping into the fur from my wounds. As soon as I stopped moving I used my last bit of momentum to get my feet underneath me.
We began to circle each other again, looking for another weakness. Though we both had severe wounds already they had started to heal, less blood seeping from them. Suddenly someone stepped in the middle of the circle and we both glanced up, two “Takers” separated us and we were both woken from our reverie.
Slowly we both transformed back into our human form, it felt so good to be able to transform again. I had wanted to stay in as a wolf as long as possible but decided it would be better if I could talk. I glanced sadly at Creekrunner’s side, it was still bleeding a little through his shirt and I felt a pang of guilt.
I stood and walked over to him touching just above the steel collar on my neck where the pain of the bite mark lay, “I’m sorry Creekrunner. I guess I kind of got caught up in the moment.”
He laughed, how could he laugh so easily in a place like this, “Same here, young one.”
No one seemed to be interested in us anymore and so the crowd melted away each person going back to what they were doing before. I touched my chin and felt the deep gouges from his nails, thank the moon I didn’t scar over silly things like that.
“Why did you call me young one?” I asked confused, I wasn’t that young and he didn’t look any older though once werewolves reached around twenty-five they stopped aging in appearance.
He grinned, “Because you are young compared to me. I may look young but I am around 200 years old.”
I sucked in a breath, “No wonder you’re so strong. You’re an Ancient.”
He nodded. I could see the mirth dancing in his eyes and I could tell he was holding back a laugh. I narrowed my eyes at him and growled and he merely smiled wider.
“I was one of the first werewolves. So yes I guess I could be called an Ancient,” he said. “Though that sounds so horrible, I am not ancient or at least I don’t feel that way.”
He moved over to a bench and sat on it. I joined him and continued to steal glances at him. An Ancient! What a treat! I had never met an ancient before from the stuff I could remember. For all I knew I could have in the far past but that didn’t really matter, right now there was one sitting in front of me, teaching me.
“You’re a very good fighter for one so small,” he said. “Perhaps you’ll live longer than your master’s other wolf.”
I frowned at the coolness in his voice at the last sentence. Had he always been this calm when it came to death or had this place made him that way? If it was the latter I wasn’t so sure I wanted to stay here. I didn’t want to become unemotional when it came to death especially if it was someone I knew. I didn’t mourn another’s death if it was self-defense but if I had a choice I would rather not kill another, even if they were human. But this time I didn’t have a choice, these were fights to the death that I had gotten into and there had never been a way out.
“Thanks, I think,” I said after a pause.
He frowned and said, “What are you thinking young one?”
I just merely shook my head and grew silent. I didn’t want him knowing I was thinking ill thoughts of him. But with his experience he had probably already guessed what the natures of my thoughts were.
Both our wounds had stopped bleeding and we were just waiting for the skin to start layering it. It had only been a couple hours while usually for the skin to start covering wounds it took about five hours. I touched the back of my neck feeling the scabs and sighed, knowing that we couldn’t do anything until we healed. Losing time was not good now that I had stuff to do. It made me annoyed and I longed to throw my fist into the wall and crush it.
He shifted quietly next to me and the deathly silence of his movements made my heart race. If he could move that silent just without thinking than just think what he could do when he was trying to be quiet. He could be an assassin. Always silent and deadly. But he seemed to laugh too easily for that. How had someone as good as him wound up here?
I pushed up from the bench and listened as my pants rustled with the movement. I couldn’t be nearly as quiet as him. I glanced at him.
“What are you doing here, Creekrunner?” I asked.
He smiled and asked, “What do you mean?”
“Well you were definitely strong enough to keep away from being caught, why are you here? Why did they ever catch you?” I frowned in confusion.
His smile turned sad, “I was tired of running when I was caught. It was just something I could do no longer. As soon as I was caught I was brought here. Never have I been in the compound but I have heard the stories. It sounds like a horrid place.”
I shivered as I thought back to earlier this morning, or was it last night? Either way I had been stuck, lost and forever caught, or so I had thought. But then the very creatures that I hated, the humans, came to my rescue, in a way. I began to pace fervently. I was still chained, not free, but freedom was so close I could smell it and just barely taste it in the air. I shivered, would I ever be truly free though? Even if I left this place would my spirit ever be free.
“It is a horrible place. Full of horrible things, the stuff of nightmares. Things you never would think could ever happen, happen there. And I never want to go back even if it means dying at the hands of one of my own kind in the ring being watched for pure enjoyment,” I sighed sadly. What was wrong these days?
Suddenly Creekrunner stood, still quiet as death itself, and said to me, “Let’s not think about these things. Let’s merely enjoy the rush of the fight.”
Though we were not fully healed we moved quickly to the ring of sand, eager to move away from the subject we had been discussing. Deciding to fight in human form he jabbed at me and I ducked. I was faster than him but he was much, much stronger and with every hit that was landed I felt the wind rush out of my lungs in a pained grunt. I ducked and punched back but I had never been a good fighter in the human way.
Quickly, when I was knocked over I crouched and swept my foot out at his legs causing him to fall. He began to laugh hoarsely, the wind barely coming back into his lungs when he started. It was a cheerful laugh one that made me laugh to and I helped him up.
He said, “You really should focus on using your feet more often they are more powerful than your arms.”
I nodded and we continued like this into the day, him correcting me or giving me tips as the sun rose then began to fall outside of the Coliseum. I was soon tired and though we took breaks quite often it didn’t seem to help at all. It was because, as Creekrunner said, I hadn’t had real exercise in probably years. I shook my head at that and refused to believe I had become weak.
“You’re not weak just tired and malnourished,” he said as we took another break. It was becoming harder and harder to keep my eyes open.
I hadn’t realized that I had said that aloud and flushed slightly when he said that. I sat against the wall and sighed as I leaned my head back against the solid and cool cement. I must have drifted off because before I knew it I was being shaken awake by Creekrunner and was being forced to stand.
“It’s nighttime already,” he said quietly and gently began to push me to the line of werewolves near the open door that we had come out of. I guess it was time to sleep. I already had though and though I was still sleepy I didn’t really feel that tired.
We moved through to the cells again and once again I was sick to my stomach. The silver and metal mixed bars had made me lose all the freedom I had felt out there, even with the heavy steel collar around my neck. Acid anger burned in my chest as the cell door closed on me once I stepped into the room. I would have to wait a whole eight hours to feel that freedom again. So I settled myself down against the wall and rested, keeping myself in view of Creekrunner.
“You know, I have heard of Ancients who could touch silver. Is it true?” I asked trying to make conversation though my eyes were closed.
“Yes, I am one of those Ancients,” he said matter-of-factly.
My eyes snapped open and I crawled towards him, “What do you mean? Then why are you really still here? You could get out so easily!!”
I was so confused. What was he doing? Why was he really here? He was holding something back. But what?
“As I said before I am tired of running!” his voice grew vicious, yet it was still calm, in a way that told me to drop it. And I did, I was afraid of him; I didn’t want to anger my only possible friend, even though I knew he was lying.
I slumped backwards against the left wall of the cell and sighed. Why wouldn’t he tell me what was wrong? Perhaps he didn’t trust me enough. After all we had just met today but we were in a place where one needed a friend. And still even if we weren’t in this place I would still feel this way. I felt like I had known him for the longest time. Like I was tied to him somehow. Like my soul was his soul.
I laid down and mused over this. Exhausted, I soon fell asleep; dreams once again plagued my mind:
What was this strange forest that I always found myself in when I slept? As soon as I fell asleep I was transported to this strange dream place full of redwood trees and fog. I glanced around nervous. I crept forward; I didn’t like the fact that I could smell very little because of the thick scent of rotting undergrowth and the moisture of the fog. My emerald eyes were searching, looking for another being and my black fur held onto the droplets of water.
I suddenly walked into a clearing. There was a horrible scene before me, the tawny wolf from before, with the golden eyes that looked so much like Creekrunner’s, lay on the ground bleeding from a terrible wound. His breathing was shallow and all I could do was watch as his breathing began to stop.
A whimper left my muzzle. My paw came up to touch his fur. Fur that was so soft it felt like silk. Another of my kind gunned down by humans! I howled in fury and sorrow, a blood-curdling howl that hurt the soul. I mourned him in that cry.
Suddenly I was awake, being violently woken by a harsh tone of a usually soft baritone voice.
“Onyx! Onyx! Wake up!” It was earnest and ragged.
“Huh?” I woke and wiped the sleep from my eyes. “What do you want?” My voice was slurred from exhaustion.
“Your human is, on his way!”
I straightened and stiffened at that and moved to stand. I moved to the back of my cell. My eyes narrowed warily, waiting to see his revolting form, and smell his disgusting scent.
I crinkled my nose in annoyance as his smell came to me. I growled as his escort of two “Takers” came into view with him behind. He grinned at me and winked in a flirtatious way. I felt the hairs on the back of my neck bristle; I knew I didn’t like him at all. Not just because he owned me but because he also flirted with me. That annoyed me, made me angry. I wasn’t something to gawk at like some animal in a zoo. Though I often felt like I was one being behind these bars.
He stepped into my cell like he owned the place, which he probably did. He probably paid big money for the little room with the toilet and stone floor. I stood my ground and could feel nervous butterflies brush their tiny, imaginary wings against the walls of my stomach. I looked past the human and at Creekrunner who watched with concerned eyes.
I tore my gaze away from his and forced myself to stare at the wealthy human before me. He grinned and gripped my chin to stop my nervous glancing around. He made me watch him. I shivered as I stared into those dull and cold blue eyes. I normally wasn’t a scared type but it was hard not to fear him.
For a human he was strong. I could feel the vice-like grip on my chin and though I could usually jerk my head away from his hand easily it was impossible with all the silver nearby.
“I have heard you are quite a good fighter! To stand against Creekrunner, is quite a feat he is the oldest gladiator we have,” he said this with a laugh, his voice almost proud as if I were some prized fighting dog.
I growled wishing I could grow my claws and rip into his face, he began to speak again, “I am going to put you in the ring in a week. You’ll be up against the siren wolf, Shashka.”
I had heard of her. Her howl was so high and piercing that it often broke eardrums of wolves. It sent them reeling and yelping, bleeding from the ears. I wasn’t scared and yet I felt the anxiety of the wait of a fight began to creep into my bones and settle into them. I didn’t want to wait I was hungry for the win that I knew was coming to me.
He smiled as he saw the spark in my eyes. He looked almost greedy. He knew the fight would be good but he didn’t know whether I would win or not. Creekrunner looked anxious. He pushed me away easily and I stumbled, falling against the wall. As he casually limped out of my cell and out of sight I collapsed against the wall and sighed. I was so tired already. Then the flicker of the cold burn of silver came through the solidity behind me and into my skin, I jerked away from it with a hiss.
Creekrunnner hurried to the front of his “cage” but still avoided the bars, “Are you okay, Onyx?” He was talking about the emotional trauma rather than the pain of the silver.
I guessed he was no longer angry with me, “Yeah just tired.”
I sighed and longed to reach out and touch him just to feel something warm and alive to know I wasn’t alone in the world. But I couldn’t, I was stuck alone in this cold empty cell waiting until the “Takers” took us back to our practice room.
“Speak of the devil,” I muttered under my breath as the creatures appeared to release us from our prisons.
As soon as both Creekrunner and I were out I gravitated toward him. My hand brushed his as we walked forward toward the room. Warmth and sparks seemed to shoot up my arm coming directly from his. I shuddered and he looked over at me curiously, obviously he hadn’t felt it. It must have just been an electric shock. That was it, right?
My hand snaked away from his and I curled it around my waist. I avoided Creekrunner’s golden gaze and glued my eyes to the silver door in front of me.
As the door opened and we moved through it the world seemed to fall away from me. Everything seemed muffled as if there were cotton in my ears. I didn’t mind it, my head hurt anyways and the constant murmuring of the crowd had only made it worse. Now with me lost in my own little world it made the ache better. I sighed as my heart rate slowed and for once I didn’t feel like I was hanging on for my life, wasn’t fighting for survival.
I pushed into the room and suddenly it all came rushing back. Why I was here, what I had to do, who controlled me. My life wasn’t my own anymore. And I felt like crying. I began to feel my mind break down and I fought so hard to keep myself together. I turned to Creekrunner who had been watching me this entire time with worried eyes and forcibly threw myself into his arms, and though I was thin my tall body was not light at all.
But he caught me like I was nothing. I was trembling so hard my sobs were shaking as they were ripped from my weak body. I wasn’t proud of crying in front of him but it was something that was bound to happen after that encounter. It was something that would hurt my pride, but I knew it would make me feel better so I let it happen. He rocked me back and forth in a soothing way, whispering gentle words in my ear and calming me down from this scary place.
Everyone around us just watched this, knowing they couldn’t do anything. It was forbidden to talk and especially to touch anyone but those you were allowed. My body ached horribly; it was so tense and painful that I could barely breathe. What could I do to stop this pain? He was stroking my hair and it made the pain suddenly leech away from me. The ache in my body and heart left and flowed into his hand. I sighed, what was this strange power he had over me? This strange power that had me connected to him. That made his every movement perfect and loved by me.
He could do no wrong. He was an angel. So wonderful and understanding. I sighed again and collapsed even more into him and I could feel his face turn toward my hair and I could hear him inhale deeply.
I allowed this for but a moment and then slowly, reluctantly I pulled away. Another sigh, a different ache. I didn’t allow the thought that started to come to my mind though, You need-. No I didn’t. I didn’t need anyone.
I glanced around at the crowd I had drawn and glared viciously at them, “What are you all looking at?!”
There was an angry growl evident in my voice and my presence was extremely commanding, like an Alpha. Everyone saw that and they quickly moved away, moving to get back to work. I looked back at Creekrunner and frowned at his strange expression.
“What?” I asked and he merely shook his head and that was the end of that.
He was a gorgeous man, with tawny hair that fell around his face in a choppy cut whose longest pieces touched the hollow of his cheeks. His chin was narrow and jaw slight like he was more feminine than male. His lashes, closed now, were a shade lighter than his hair. With slight shoulders and a slender chest, he was well muscled, though he seemed small and was more tall than wide. He wore a tight black shirt with faded blue jeans. Apparently they dressed you better here than at the compound.
I looked down at myself and blushed, a couple shades of pink, at the fact that I now wore black jeans and a white shirt. Someone had dressed me. I could only hope it was a “Taker” and not a human. Not someone who could enjoy my body.
When I looked up I saw his eyes were open and trained on me. Beautiful molten gold eyes that reminded me of the shadowy figure in my dream and the wolf too.
“Ah, a new wolf,” his voice was deep and alluring.
My hand came up to rub the back of my neck only to touch cold steel, I too had been branded. I frowned; there went the last bit of my freedom. I looked at him longingly and he too looked at me, only in an understanding way.
“We will be out shortly, it’s almost sun-up,” he smiled sadly.
“Out? They let us outside our cells?” I couldn’t remember well since I had last been here.
He chuckled, “Of course, how else could we practice for the fights?”
I resented the laugh. I fell into silence as we waited for the humans to allow us to be released. Suddenly there was the sound of jingling and slamming, and we were being released, the doors being opened by “takers” of course which seemed to be the slaves of the humans.
Both I and the male across from me were released at the same time and marched down the hall of barred doors. We were escorted by four “Takers” two in front and two in back. I wanted to run, to flee as fast as I could somewhere safe, but I couldn’t there were no openings as of yet except for the one in front of us. We moved through the doorway and into a practice fighting area.
The room was filled of large circles with sand covered bottoms; where two werewolves would fight each other. I suddenly darted away and moved through the room quickly looking for an escape route. But all the doors were made of silver, impossible for me to get through; there were also double the amount of “Takers” than there were werewolves. I narrowed my eyes and moved back to where I stood originally and the male smiled sadly at me as if he knew exactly what I was going through.
He probably did too. He had probably gone through something similar in the beginning but now it was impossible for me to tell. He seemed to move tiredly, his eyes filled with ancient wisdom and pain.
The sound of a door slamming made my eyes move away from him and suddenly my human master was in the room. I growled as he approached me and the male werewolf left my side. The human merely laughed.
“Now, let me explain the rules my little pet,” he grinned as I winced at the nickname. “No escaping because we will find you as your collar has a tracking chip in it, make me lots of money, no talking to anyone inside the compound besides your wolf buddy, and fight until the death.”
He pointed at the tawny-haired male that I had been talking to earlier, “This is Creekrunner, Onyx. He will be your buddy and teach you the ropes. Other than that you do what I tell you to do.”
I narrowed my eyes and spat at his feet, though this got no rise out of him. I almost hoped it would. I almost wanted a reason to attack. Though I knew I would probably be killed for attacking him.
He turned and left and I migrated over to Creekrunner, wishing I was alone with that bastard of a human so I could rip his throat from his neck. Instead I merely moved to talk to Creekrunner again. Eager to use my voice which had grown hoarse over time of neglect. Words were now like a wonderful awe-inspiring thing. Who had gifted us with the use of a voice to be able to form into speech? Who ever had I loved them for it. It was a wonderful thing, to be able to talk again; it was like learning all over again how to use my mouth how to form those words. It was like I had, had the words in my head but was unable to speak just because I couldn’t move my mouth.
“Are you ok?” he asked.
“Yeah just angry,” I muttered and turned to smile slightly at Creekrunner.
“Ready to start?” he asked guiding me over to sit against the wall.
I nodded and sat next to him. He pointed over to a boxing bag and explained how to punch in human form. Saying that it was just as important to take care of yourself in human form as it was in wolf form. He pointed to the wooden weapon’s rack and told me he would teach me how to fight with those.
“But first lets start with you fighting in wolf form,” he said matter-of-factly.
I frowned, “But won’t we get attacked once we try to change?”
He laughed, “No, once we change they will just watch us closer. It’s not like we can get out with the silver doors anyways.”
I pushed up from the wall, moving my tall frame into a standing position easily. I took a position up in a sand circle, my form began to shimmer and my features began to run together. Suddenly in my stead was a black she-wolf with emerald eyes and before me was the wolf from my dreams, tawny-furred and molten gold eyes.
We were circling each other, tangoing. He rushed me quickly, before I could think, I leapt to the side and he halted himself scrabbling for purchase in the sand. I quickly swung myself to face him and moved to attack, raising myself to place my sharp claws in his side I ripped into him with my teeth, my sharp fangs piercing into his side right behind the ribs.
He yelped and brought a back leg up to kick at my jaw to send dark rivulets of blood down my chin and to send me reeling away from him. As my teeth pulled out large pieces of flesh came with it. A huge gash now lay open his side bleeding heavily. I growled, shaking my head, spraying little droplets of blood everywhere. I felt the rush of adrenaline flying through my veins, the thought of him being a friend soon left my mind and I could tell by the look on his face that he too was lost in the hot rush of the fight.
He leapt at me this time, while I was still crumpled on the ground and trying to find my balance. He was so strong. So strong that he could easily beat me. He was much larger than me and so I had to use my speed and agility to beat him.
Everyone was gathered around us now, watching. Neither of us noticed though and even if we had we wouldn’t have cared. Too lost in our own little world, trying to win. Perhaps the human who had taken me had been right. Maybe there had been a spark in my eyes; perhaps I was the perfect gladiator.
I stood just in time to be forced down again as Creekrunner scruffed me and ripped me to the side, sinking his teeth farther in. He let go and I skidded off to right, the sand grinding into my skin with a burning sensation. I felt the blood seeping into the fur from my wounds. As soon as I stopped moving I used my last bit of momentum to get my feet underneath me.
We began to circle each other again, looking for another weakness. Though we both had severe wounds already they had started to heal, less blood seeping from them. Suddenly someone stepped in the middle of the circle and we both glanced up, two “Takers” separated us and we were both woken from our reverie.
Slowly we both transformed back into our human form, it felt so good to be able to transform again. I had wanted to stay in as a wolf as long as possible but decided it would be better if I could talk. I glanced sadly at Creekrunner’s side, it was still bleeding a little through his shirt and I felt a pang of guilt.
I stood and walked over to him touching just above the steel collar on my neck where the pain of the bite mark lay, “I’m sorry Creekrunner. I guess I kind of got caught up in the moment.”
He laughed, how could he laugh so easily in a place like this, “Same here, young one.”
No one seemed to be interested in us anymore and so the crowd melted away each person going back to what they were doing before. I touched my chin and felt the deep gouges from his nails, thank the moon I didn’t scar over silly things like that.
“Why did you call me young one?” I asked confused, I wasn’t that young and he didn’t look any older though once werewolves reached around twenty-five they stopped aging in appearance.
He grinned, “Because you are young compared to me. I may look young but I am around 200 years old.”
I sucked in a breath, “No wonder you’re so strong. You’re an Ancient.”
He nodded. I could see the mirth dancing in his eyes and I could tell he was holding back a laugh. I narrowed my eyes at him and growled and he merely smiled wider.
“I was one of the first werewolves. So yes I guess I could be called an Ancient,” he said. “Though that sounds so horrible, I am not ancient or at least I don’t feel that way.”
He moved over to a bench and sat on it. I joined him and continued to steal glances at him. An Ancient! What a treat! I had never met an ancient before from the stuff I could remember. For all I knew I could have in the far past but that didn’t really matter, right now there was one sitting in front of me, teaching me.
“You’re a very good fighter for one so small,” he said. “Perhaps you’ll live longer than your master’s other wolf.”
I frowned at the coolness in his voice at the last sentence. Had he always been this calm when it came to death or had this place made him that way? If it was the latter I wasn’t so sure I wanted to stay here. I didn’t want to become unemotional when it came to death especially if it was someone I knew. I didn’t mourn another’s death if it was self-defense but if I had a choice I would rather not kill another, even if they were human. But this time I didn’t have a choice, these were fights to the death that I had gotten into and there had never been a way out.
“Thanks, I think,” I said after a pause.
He frowned and said, “What are you thinking young one?”
I just merely shook my head and grew silent. I didn’t want him knowing I was thinking ill thoughts of him. But with his experience he had probably already guessed what the natures of my thoughts were.
Both our wounds had stopped bleeding and we were just waiting for the skin to start layering it. It had only been a couple hours while usually for the skin to start covering wounds it took about five hours. I touched the back of my neck feeling the scabs and sighed, knowing that we couldn’t do anything until we healed. Losing time was not good now that I had stuff to do. It made me annoyed and I longed to throw my fist into the wall and crush it.
He shifted quietly next to me and the deathly silence of his movements made my heart race. If he could move that silent just without thinking than just think what he could do when he was trying to be quiet. He could be an assassin. Always silent and deadly. But he seemed to laugh too easily for that. How had someone as good as him wound up here?
I pushed up from the bench and listened as my pants rustled with the movement. I couldn’t be nearly as quiet as him. I glanced at him.
“What are you doing here, Creekrunner?” I asked.
He smiled and asked, “What do you mean?”
“Well you were definitely strong enough to keep away from being caught, why are you here? Why did they ever catch you?” I frowned in confusion.
His smile turned sad, “I was tired of running when I was caught. It was just something I could do no longer. As soon as I was caught I was brought here. Never have I been in the compound but I have heard the stories. It sounds like a horrid place.”
I shivered as I thought back to earlier this morning, or was it last night? Either way I had been stuck, lost and forever caught, or so I had thought. But then the very creatures that I hated, the humans, came to my rescue, in a way. I began to pace fervently. I was still chained, not free, but freedom was so close I could smell it and just barely taste it in the air. I shivered, would I ever be truly free though? Even if I left this place would my spirit ever be free.
“It is a horrible place. Full of horrible things, the stuff of nightmares. Things you never would think could ever happen, happen there. And I never want to go back even if it means dying at the hands of one of my own kind in the ring being watched for pure enjoyment,” I sighed sadly. What was wrong these days?
Suddenly Creekrunner stood, still quiet as death itself, and said to me, “Let’s not think about these things. Let’s merely enjoy the rush of the fight.”
Though we were not fully healed we moved quickly to the ring of sand, eager to move away from the subject we had been discussing. Deciding to fight in human form he jabbed at me and I ducked. I was faster than him but he was much, much stronger and with every hit that was landed I felt the wind rush out of my lungs in a pained grunt. I ducked and punched back but I had never been a good fighter in the human way.
Quickly, when I was knocked over I crouched and swept my foot out at his legs causing him to fall. He began to laugh hoarsely, the wind barely coming back into his lungs when he started. It was a cheerful laugh one that made me laugh to and I helped him up.
He said, “You really should focus on using your feet more often they are more powerful than your arms.”
I nodded and we continued like this into the day, him correcting me or giving me tips as the sun rose then began to fall outside of the Coliseum. I was soon tired and though we took breaks quite often it didn’t seem to help at all. It was because, as Creekrunner said, I hadn’t had real exercise in probably years. I shook my head at that and refused to believe I had become weak.
“You’re not weak just tired and malnourished,” he said as we took another break. It was becoming harder and harder to keep my eyes open.
I hadn’t realized that I had said that aloud and flushed slightly when he said that. I sat against the wall and sighed as I leaned my head back against the solid and cool cement. I must have drifted off because before I knew it I was being shaken awake by Creekrunner and was being forced to stand.
“It’s nighttime already,” he said quietly and gently began to push me to the line of werewolves near the open door that we had come out of. I guess it was time to sleep. I already had though and though I was still sleepy I didn’t really feel that tired.
We moved through to the cells again and once again I was sick to my stomach. The silver and metal mixed bars had made me lose all the freedom I had felt out there, even with the heavy steel collar around my neck. Acid anger burned in my chest as the cell door closed on me once I stepped into the room. I would have to wait a whole eight hours to feel that freedom again. So I settled myself down against the wall and rested, keeping myself in view of Creekrunner.
“You know, I have heard of Ancients who could touch silver. Is it true?” I asked trying to make conversation though my eyes were closed.
“Yes, I am one of those Ancients,” he said matter-of-factly.
My eyes snapped open and I crawled towards him, “What do you mean? Then why are you really still here? You could get out so easily!!”
I was so confused. What was he doing? Why was he really here? He was holding something back. But what?
“As I said before I am tired of running!” his voice grew vicious, yet it was still calm, in a way that told me to drop it. And I did, I was afraid of him; I didn’t want to anger my only possible friend, even though I knew he was lying.
I slumped backwards against the left wall of the cell and sighed. Why wouldn’t he tell me what was wrong? Perhaps he didn’t trust me enough. After all we had just met today but we were in a place where one needed a friend. And still even if we weren’t in this place I would still feel this way. I felt like I had known him for the longest time. Like I was tied to him somehow. Like my soul was his soul.
I laid down and mused over this. Exhausted, I soon fell asleep; dreams once again plagued my mind:
What was this strange forest that I always found myself in when I slept? As soon as I fell asleep I was transported to this strange dream place full of redwood trees and fog. I glanced around nervous. I crept forward; I didn’t like the fact that I could smell very little because of the thick scent of rotting undergrowth and the moisture of the fog. My emerald eyes were searching, looking for another being and my black fur held onto the droplets of water.
I suddenly walked into a clearing. There was a horrible scene before me, the tawny wolf from before, with the golden eyes that looked so much like Creekrunner’s, lay on the ground bleeding from a terrible wound. His breathing was shallow and all I could do was watch as his breathing began to stop.
A whimper left my muzzle. My paw came up to touch his fur. Fur that was so soft it felt like silk. Another of my kind gunned down by humans! I howled in fury and sorrow, a blood-curdling howl that hurt the soul. I mourned him in that cry.
Suddenly I was awake, being violently woken by a harsh tone of a usually soft baritone voice.
“Onyx! Onyx! Wake up!” It was earnest and ragged.
“Huh?” I woke and wiped the sleep from my eyes. “What do you want?” My voice was slurred from exhaustion.
“Your human is, on his way!”
I straightened and stiffened at that and moved to stand. I moved to the back of my cell. My eyes narrowed warily, waiting to see his revolting form, and smell his disgusting scent.
I crinkled my nose in annoyance as his smell came to me. I growled as his escort of two “Takers” came into view with him behind. He grinned at me and winked in a flirtatious way. I felt the hairs on the back of my neck bristle; I knew I didn’t like him at all. Not just because he owned me but because he also flirted with me. That annoyed me, made me angry. I wasn’t something to gawk at like some animal in a zoo. Though I often felt like I was one being behind these bars.
He stepped into my cell like he owned the place, which he probably did. He probably paid big money for the little room with the toilet and stone floor. I stood my ground and could feel nervous butterflies brush their tiny, imaginary wings against the walls of my stomach. I looked past the human and at Creekrunner who watched with concerned eyes.
I tore my gaze away from his and forced myself to stare at the wealthy human before me. He grinned and gripped my chin to stop my nervous glancing around. He made me watch him. I shivered as I stared into those dull and cold blue eyes. I normally wasn’t a scared type but it was hard not to fear him.
For a human he was strong. I could feel the vice-like grip on my chin and though I could usually jerk my head away from his hand easily it was impossible with all the silver nearby.
“I have heard you are quite a good fighter! To stand against Creekrunner, is quite a feat he is the oldest gladiator we have,” he said this with a laugh, his voice almost proud as if I were some prized fighting dog.
I growled wishing I could grow my claws and rip into his face, he began to speak again, “I am going to put you in the ring in a week. You’ll be up against the siren wolf, Shashka.”
I had heard of her. Her howl was so high and piercing that it often broke eardrums of wolves. It sent them reeling and yelping, bleeding from the ears. I wasn’t scared and yet I felt the anxiety of the wait of a fight began to creep into my bones and settle into them. I didn’t want to wait I was hungry for the win that I knew was coming to me.
He smiled as he saw the spark in my eyes. He looked almost greedy. He knew the fight would be good but he didn’t know whether I would win or not. Creekrunner looked anxious. He pushed me away easily and I stumbled, falling against the wall. As he casually limped out of my cell and out of sight I collapsed against the wall and sighed. I was so tired already. Then the flicker of the cold burn of silver came through the solidity behind me and into my skin, I jerked away from it with a hiss.
Creekrunnner hurried to the front of his “cage” but still avoided the bars, “Are you okay, Onyx?” He was talking about the emotional trauma rather than the pain of the silver.
I guessed he was no longer angry with me, “Yeah just tired.”
I sighed and longed to reach out and touch him just to feel something warm and alive to know I wasn’t alone in the world. But I couldn’t, I was stuck alone in this cold empty cell waiting until the “Takers” took us back to our practice room.
“Speak of the devil,” I muttered under my breath as the creatures appeared to release us from our prisons.
As soon as both Creekrunner and I were out I gravitated toward him. My hand brushed his as we walked forward toward the room. Warmth and sparks seemed to shoot up my arm coming directly from his. I shuddered and he looked over at me curiously, obviously he hadn’t felt it. It must have just been an electric shock. That was it, right?
My hand snaked away from his and I curled it around my waist. I avoided Creekrunner’s golden gaze and glued my eyes to the silver door in front of me.
As the door opened and we moved through it the world seemed to fall away from me. Everything seemed muffled as if there were cotton in my ears. I didn’t mind it, my head hurt anyways and the constant murmuring of the crowd had only made it worse. Now with me lost in my own little world it made the ache better. I sighed as my heart rate slowed and for once I didn’t feel like I was hanging on for my life, wasn’t fighting for survival.
I pushed into the room and suddenly it all came rushing back. Why I was here, what I had to do, who controlled me. My life wasn’t my own anymore. And I felt like crying. I began to feel my mind break down and I fought so hard to keep myself together. I turned to Creekrunner who had been watching me this entire time with worried eyes and forcibly threw myself into his arms, and though I was thin my tall body was not light at all.
But he caught me like I was nothing. I was trembling so hard my sobs were shaking as they were ripped from my weak body. I wasn’t proud of crying in front of him but it was something that was bound to happen after that encounter. It was something that would hurt my pride, but I knew it would make me feel better so I let it happen. He rocked me back and forth in a soothing way, whispering gentle words in my ear and calming me down from this scary place.
Everyone around us just watched this, knowing they couldn’t do anything. It was forbidden to talk and especially to touch anyone but those you were allowed. My body ached horribly; it was so tense and painful that I could barely breathe. What could I do to stop this pain? He was stroking my hair and it made the pain suddenly leech away from me. The ache in my body and heart left and flowed into his hand. I sighed, what was this strange power he had over me? This strange power that had me connected to him. That made his every movement perfect and loved by me.
He could do no wrong. He was an angel. So wonderful and understanding. I sighed again and collapsed even more into him and I could feel his face turn toward my hair and I could hear him inhale deeply.
I allowed this for but a moment and then slowly, reluctantly I pulled away. Another sigh, a different ache. I didn’t allow the thought that started to come to my mind though, You need-. No I didn’t. I didn’t need anyone.
I glanced around at the crowd I had drawn and glared viciously at them, “What are you all looking at?!”
There was an angry growl evident in my voice and my presence was extremely commanding, like an Alpha. Everyone saw that and they quickly moved away, moving to get back to work. I looked back at Creekrunner and frowned at his strange expression.
“What?” I asked and he merely shook his head and that was the end of that.