Going Into Battle: Day One
Starting exp: 0
Ending Exp: 4956
Number of battles: 40
When the day started, it was like any other. The sun rose, birds chirped, and triplet dragons stepped out of their large hut on the fringes of Legion's territory. Lalwende led the way, her sickly sweet stench filling the air around the triplets. The sweet scent barely covered the aura of death that blanketed the three at all times. Riding on Arafinwe's shoulders was a tiny Coatl with the brightest red eyes the three had ever seen.
Curling his tail around the forever small dragon, Nolofinwe lifted her from his brother's shoulders and set her down on the ground. She shook herself off, stretching her tiny legs with a wide yawn. For such a wretched being, she was gloriously cute. She sat at Arafinwe's feet, stub of a tail curling around her feet. The youngest sibling lowered his head, ruffling her feathers gently with his snout. This earned Arafinwe a smack to his nose from the Coatl, though it was merely in play. He blew out at her, rolling her over with the sudden gust of air. Before they could engage further in play fighting, Nolofinwe's sharp voice brought them to attention.
"Enough. We have things we must get done. Ainairos, Cassius has use of you in the pig pen," The large Imperial's voice was rough, raising the hairs along Arafinwe's spine. Nolofinwe glanced over at him, then lowered his head to look at Ainairos, "Go. We will be with you tonight." When the tiny Coatl had scampered off, Nolofinwe turned to his siblings. His tail brushed under Arafinwe's chin, lifting it to view him, "Cassius has an assignment for us that I believe we will excel at. There is a game of sorts that we are to participate in. He wishes us to take part in a 'Sornieth World Games' and bring victory to Legion."
The youngest sibling scoffed, jerking his head from his brother's grasp, turning his back to him, "Why do you even put up with that pathetic lump of fetid feces?" Nolofinwe snorted, leaning forward and snagging Arafinwe by the scruff of his neck. He all but dragged his younger sibling back, dropping him in a small heap on the ground at his feet. The action caused Arafinwe to sprawl out, looking up at his older brother in irritation, "What? You know it's true! He's pathetic! All this 'I'll rule the world, I'll do anything to be the best' crap... T'ch. It makes me sick. I don't understand why we don't just eliminate him and give Mother the run of the world..."
Nolofinwe's lips curved upward in amusement as he sat next to his pouting brother, "Because, believe it or not, Cassius is a key component in our goals." Arafinwe sighed, glancing toward his silent sister, locking his gaze on hers. She gazed back, silent and unassuming, her tail flicking in contentment from her place amidst the flowers that grew in the bed outside their home. When he got no answer from her, the youngest dragon stood, turning his back on his brother once more. He crossed to his sister, taking a seat next to her. Lalwende rested her head across his back, eyes turning to Nolofinwe, her rich, smooth voice as beautiful as the flowers growing from her skin, "The Sornieth World Games, hm?"
It was as if the spell was broken. Arafinwe's annoyance disappeared, his head turning to look at Nolofinwe, "What exactly are we supposed to do?"
The oldest snorted, standing and moving over to sit next to them, "Apparently we participate in battles and defeat enemies.. It won't be hard. We are the best out there. Nothing can defeat us." Arafinwe's tail flicked, "And Cassius wants us to win? Why? It's not like everyone doesn't know about Legion, not even Legion, about us already. I'm quite sure everyone has heard of us..."
The statement caused Nolofinwe to give a loud laugh. He leaned over, pressing his muzzle to his brother's mane and inhaling deeply, "I believe he wants us to win just to ensure that Legion holds it's reign over the world, or maybe it's to recruit more dragons to Legion. I have no idea. I don't care to know. I just think we need to get it done and over with."
Arafinwe sighed, glancing at Lalwende. She surveyed him, then stood. A light shake of her body sent dirt and dust flying from it, as well as small splatters of blood where some of the roses began to loosen from their hold in her scales. She carefully tucked them back into their fleshy crevices, nuzzling them gently. When she finished, she moved to the entrance to their small clearing, "Let's go. I don't want to be bothered with this after today."
The three set off, leaving their home and making their way to where the entry where the games were set to be held. There they met their opponents. Several Guardians, a few Spirals and a few other small breeds greeted them when they stepped in. Easily they towered over them, the only Imperials in the competition.
Nolofinwe moved forward, trailed by his siblings. Arafinwe's flanks trembled as he barely repressed the urge to lash out and kill all those who stood around him. He took his place by Nolofinwe's side when the oldest settled on the ground to await their assignment.
The wind blew, the scent of roses filling the small arena. A small blue and brown Mirror stepped forward, "Welcome, competitors and specters. The challenges will be picked by random drawing. The item for today..." Pausing, he drew a slimy creature from what appeared to be the air, "Ah, food. Seafood to be exact. This means you will battle. You and your team will go into the coliseum and battle for at least thirty, but no more than forty rounds! Report back to me when you are done!"
"Battling, really...?" Arafinwe's voice was curt, his face clearly showing his annoyance, "Couldn't Cassius have picked a better place for us to be..." He scoffed, standing and moving off to the coliseum. He led the other two into the midst of a battle. Around them the teams were already fighting, beating opponents and struggling not to fail.
Trained in the art of battle by his father, Arafinwe launched into assult immediately, taking out several enemies on his own. However, he became aware of his siblings fighting side by side next to him. He relaxed, the familiar feeling of fighting with his team coming over him. Nolofinwe swiped the head off of one of the Sparrowmice and suddenly a whistle cut through the air. He turned, bristling at the offender, his teeth baring.
Unyielding, the game master stared back at him, "That was forty battles. Your team is done."
Nolofinwe let out a growl, snapping his teeth in irritation, but moved back to the other teams, he and his siblings covered in blood. Arafinwe followed after him, almost bouncing from the high of the fight. He held a small skull in his mouth, chewing on it lightly.
The game master moved back into the ring, looking at all the teams, "Congratulations. You've all made it past the first day. You will sleep here, and tomorrow, we will continue with day two!"
Lalwende strode past the other contestants, the smell of roses following her as she made her way to a patch of flowers and plopped her gigantic frame down amongst them. Arafinwe followed after her, pausing in the middle of the ring and chomping down on the skull in his mouth hard enough to break it. His tail flicked in amusement at the disgusted looks, and he traveled on, flopping his large frame down beside his sister and resting his head over her flank.
Nolofinwe rolled his eyes, moving past the other contestants and curling around his younger brother, his own head resting along Arafinwe's back, "You're insufferable." Arafinwe's only response was an amused chuff and the soft press of his muzzle to his brother's blood soaked cheek.
The siblings lay, watching the other contestants with boredom, not used to sitting and doing nothing. They were killing machines. This wasn't their way. Yet, because of some unknown loyalty to a "Master" they tolerated, here they were, in a place that didn't welcome them, doing something that bored them to death.
Perhaps the next day would be more interesting.
