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Ch: 13. A Single Bloody Shard Part 1.

The simple sounds of footfalls shot by. The blur of light fur covered my sight, tearing the fractions of black fur off my back. Following her movement; I already saw nothing but the curved sandstone of the wall. The sounds of movement circle around me once more. Beside me once, then behind another; she was quiet and fast. Another shift of air shot fourth, and I jumped right. The very sight of her was something to consider; face slender and muzzle short with a startling view of what used to be a loving and young pup.

"You've finally moved."

A dark voice, almost a-sound with a broken tear; yet the threat and constant shadow floated around her. By the voice, my guess was that she was probably five years or more, though she hardly appeared larger then I was.

"I don't want to fight."

A light and caressing sound I made; nothing but the sudden prayer of an underestimated situation. Only leading towards a cackle of a reply, her laughter echoed through the cataclysms around us. She circled around once more; I simply knew that she didn't want to, yet had to; like some sickening game for a stronger predator.

"Good luck then."

She barked out with a laugh. Jumping for another strike, I dodged left. Upon her landing I jumped fourth landing all fours upon her. The attack was enough to reel her back; having her strike against the stone wall.

A bitter growl came, mixed with a small chuckle.

"See, you won't be able to last thinking like that."

A surprising factor; she began limping. From the sight a long jagged scar was upon the leg that struck the wall. I should have realized before, that the strong sweet scent near her was a restoration potion or herbal mixture; for the only fact that she was previously injured.

"Your leg is broken."

Whatever she was given to fight the pain was strong and efficiently made. A soulful step almost made my opponent slip; her limping was more severe by now, and the potion must have worn off.

"Damn."

A pained grunt that reached my ears, and I simply knew this fight was over. Stepping back, I ignored her injured state and focused on the large metal gates I came out of.

"Fight's long from over boy."

She spoke in pain.

"You can hardly move."

I replied coldly, studying the rest of the large stone circle around us. The place was quiet, though there were eyes studying our very move; waiting for an anticipated and violent end.

"You have to fight."

Almost a soulful plea choked by fear and shocked by pain.

"You've already lost."

The fight had been going on like this for a while, and it was replied by the screech of metal upon one another, signaling the gates opening.

'Finally.'

The words that came to my head

"Now you've done it."

She limped back, nearing the other coliseum wall. A shadow moved; the thin haired leg came from the darkness of solitudes wait. About four eyes, they were large colored red and

"What the fu-"

A bolting charge, an arachnid form shot fourth upon long, spear like legs. Fangs the size of blades and a large body aimed for my throat. A simple back step, led towards a left dodge. The poor landing was the last thing I needed from there.

"Son of a b-"

The spear drove downwards, hardly missing my skull. Rolling off, I sprung back on all fours; teeth bared claws ready, and my heart racing from the sudden attack.

"What is it!?"

I yelled out to the coward of a fighter.

"How should I know!?"

She whimpered back, only staring into the sight of the unknown. Another closing strike and the screeching sound of a rage filled cry. A familiar shiver ran through me; the sight of the creature was oddly recognized, like thoughts lost within a dreamed reality.

"Isn't that right friend?"

Warmth, the memorial of hope; the chance of fate slowed the world around me. The flash of a white light revealed a peaceful thought. A strong tree; the roots dug across and spanned across the base, which lead towards the skies within the sight of the autumn's foliage.

"Still quiet?"

Her voice was soft, like the rounded petal of a simple flower. A cold wind caused nothing but the sharpened barbs of memory and guilt. That face burned my thoughts once more; the light smile of white fur and the loving heart that was still held so close to me. Teary eyed for a reason long forgotten; my sight led towards the cold expression of a white and orange cat beside me. Oddly dressed within a black hakama; She stared with her blade by her side. Cross-legged and studying into the very persevering thought of investigation. The eternal journey of the mind was what she guided for, a long wait for the right moment of strike. First I heard movement, the slight crack of a deer passing through the trees near us. Then it was the sight of her yumi that had risen; silently the ripple of instinct held the shaft perfectly.

Suddenly torn from thought; the creature struck once more. The world was sharp, focused, and slow. What was once the lightning shock for its strike; became nothing more than a gentle wind. I hardly need to move; and from there was already behind it. Jumping high, I brought claws down the back, shredding anything possible. The skin was scaled and hard as rock prevented my ability to cut through the stone-like skin. It shook violently, throwing me off towards a landing quieter than a simple footstep.

'Just focus.'

The colors of sage; tall grass concealed my body from a figure's sight. She held a blade within her paws, the gleam of steel upon the sun, and the shards of trees sent light all around. Blade grasped, I circled around holding my body close to the ground.

The sight of the demon ahead struck again, running fourth; I dug into the chest, finally finding a spot of soft flesh. It jumped back, and what should have been a roaring applause; was nothing but the simple silence that my mind thrived within. Another dash led to the scythes that struck once before; the air hissed at the sounds of rugged bone that swung by. Slamming down they drove into the imprints that took my place; sand covered around the beast, as if stuck within it. Charging I struck the place again; claws and fangs tearing into flesh and shredding bone. It ripped its legs out, hitting me with the blunt side. Being knocked back; the beast jumped upon me, body slamming against mine. Pain came from my chest, working around my legs and paws. The mandible revealed the fangs; blades that secreted a dark liquid.

Another flash of warmth; her blade held towards the sun's light, gleaming into the autumn's sun. Her voice was stern, much of a determined tutor.

"Focus!"

A vicious hiss led to our short-swords locked within combat. Her blade shot down, clashing against mine; from there it was a followed slice that shot next. My blade parried, letting me send the hilt to her chest. She dashed; bring her sword for a counter. A sparking clash struck our blades, and locked us once more. Her sword shot up; sending mine back. She released her blade as it shot, grasping it as it came down. Her blade slashed downwards striking flesh. My cry was all that replied; alongside the slit on my arm.

"Oh shit."

Her voice was scolding and fresh with the thoughts of stupidity and foolishness. The pain as shocking as the blood that poured from the clean cut was all that went through my head; until I heard the sounds of movement from the forest. She had already dropped her blade as I did, but was walking towards me when she heard my voice.

"Wait."

A tear towards reality; the fangs snapped downwards, hardly missing my head.

'It's like it can't see me.'

The words echoed through my mind before I was brought back to the memorial grounds. My hand placed against my open cut stung, and the warm feeling of blood was something that almost disgusted me. The trees rustled once more; sending the final cracking sound of what had bolted from the forest.

"Kreotur!"

The voice suddenly sounded distorted, the sight of black rain shaped scales shot for me. On all eight it swung its scythes outward; sending them straight for my head. A duck was all I needed to avoid them, and from there I was looking into the blood-red and fully scaled face of a Kreotur.

Thought was torn once more towards the scent I caught at the start of my battle.

'Blood?'

She was injured; the dog that had stood, shaking in the corner of shadows.

'It follows the scent of blood.'

It jumped off and bolted southbound. She whimpered in fear; the shaking that I expected from her. A simple flash of memory, the weak flesh showed near the heart; and underneath the scaled neck. They were set upon like drops of rain; almost crystal shape upon the arachnids body, though they were covered with light fur. I could see the grooves within the scales, and focused on the neck as I bolted out for her.

A grasping jump led to a clean strike, but it didn't stop. Shooting back, the fanned arm struck, sending me reeling back onto the sand. A grasping pain was the only shock that dug and shackled the bones around my back a violent growl was the only sounds that came next within that fatal moment. The startling cry was what came next. Instinct was the only power that sprung me back into action. A bolting charge; claws bared and fangs driving back into the scaled flesh of the Kreotur. Another beautiful cut; paring the neck and directed along the grooves that paired the scales together. Lost within the sudden shards of memory, I stood; awaiting and staring within the open and bloody cut that used to be my arm. The flesh was torn clean open, digging clean into the bone and muscle that lay underneath. Her sword's hilt lay next to her, the shattered metal was sent upon the field, and followed along the forest's edge. The tree line was littered from the shrapnel of blade; showing the glitter of steel within the autumn's sun. Blood; or what appeared to be it. Dark within color, and almost solid, her paws grasped the few drops that flowed from the open wound. Walking forward, she brought it to my muzzle.

"Drink it."

The scent wanted me to repel it; strong and worst than even the herbs we used for medicine. Forcing it, she succeeded her task. Almost retching from the taste, I swallowed, and was stunned by its ability.

'The ability to heal?'

The only question that brought me staring into the Kreotur's black carcass. The scent was there; it was weak but it still burned my nose. The obstruction of thought; the very shards of memory and hate, all lost and locked within a book; a book without any beginning or end.

"You."

The voice was a soft sound that barked out of me.

"What?"

A whimper of confusion hinted that she believed it wasn't dead.

"Come here."

Coarse, rough and probably forced her to shake more, the voice was alien from my own; hardly recognizable from what it was before.

"Now."

Hesitation was all I saw and could sense. Making her way over; the crowd was dead quiet. Finally taking a moment to look around, a figure was standing at the highest point. I couldn't see their face, or hardly hear their voice as the figure spoke silently. Focusing attention around the coliseum, the large black-metal gates hung around us, and beyond that was the sight of others. Concerned and weary eyes stared into us, studying every move; every shadow within. There, beyond the southern gate; she stood. Fur black with the slightest hints of a red moon, her eyes were different in color, and her appearance had changed. Nothing but a simple accusation; a thought of hope and guidance that stung and held with me. A small yelp brought my attention the right, she could hardly move. It was painful to watch her walk, she was bleeding; something I hadn't seen before hand.

"Yes?"

A simple question, and without flinching I started to tear flesh off. The Kreotur's skin was surprisingly soft after clawing the scaled grooves; the feeling of velvet was oddly present as I tore through the skin. The repulsive scent stronger, I finally saw the dark liquid that started to flow.

"Drink it."

"What?"

"Do it."

She started to back away, but the look in my eyes forced her to submit. She bit into the flesh, her fur standing on end.

"Swallow it."

My voice sounded brighter. With her drinking in disgust, my eyes fell towards the large scar across her hind leg. Already gone; yet that wasn't what surprised; the silence rang through, except for the hushed voices above.

"Do it."

The only words I heard before the gates screeched open. The sound was brutal to listen to, but believing we were finished my paw landed forward leading towards the black gate.

A shadowed creature, the same that brought me here. Hooks dug and tore downwards from the chains weight; blood poured down the black canvas that was the armor it wore.

'No cloak?'

I noticed the snowy and pattered cloak underneath was no longer there; nor was the original headpiece. What was a simple black hood became a disfigured and blood covered mask. Like a sight of insanity, the form looked cannibalistic, constantly ready to rip and destroy all around it. A cold, unforgiving stare was between us, and it picked my opponent up. With her in one hand, it reached for the dead Kreotur and with the snapping sound of a grasp; it crushed the skull and carried it out, claws dug clean through the scales. The gate beyond them, it clasped down with a crash. Metallic, the sound loud enough to shake the sand off of the sandstone. An odd sense; the wind changed and howled in a different way. The sand hovering low shot upwards towards the skies. Looking left to right, nothing but the color of gold sat around me. The blaze of the sun was overhead, the signal of midday. Yet it was a patter, sounds of footsteps that made me turn. The fur golden like the blaze of sand, I hardly noticed the small figure until it moved. It almost appeared like some form of fox or cat. Small in size it stood eyes wide at the figure a couple feet away. Staring back into what appeared naive in nature, I paid little attention until the sounding spark rang through.

'What the hell?'

The fur let out a shock, striking the ground near me. The lines disfigured and shooting outwards. Angled and shuttered off like lightening. Studying the pathways, the shocks sparked outward, cutting past my left leg and across my chest. Growling, I bared my teeth. A charge left led towards a striking pounce that knocked me backwards. The lightning cracked and cut across my back and chest. The shock of the waves upon my fur dug down into my skin, burning and tearing all around it. A yelp of pain led towards more growling and started the new violent battle ahead.