The smell of rotting flesh permeated the air. Sounds of water dripping from a near by pipe, echoed through the dungeon halls. Chains were clasped around Artemis' wrists, suspending her mid air. Chains were clasped around her ankles as well to her in place. Moaning escaped the neak's lips. The sound of a whip cracking broke the stillness in the air. Artemis screamed as shards dug into her back; ripped her flesh as it recoiled back to it's welder.

Pain shot through her body as she arched her back from the hit. Biting her lip, Artemis felt a cool liquid run down her back. The new wounds oozed the cooper substance from under her skin. The neak cried out once more. This time louder then the last. The blades had hit her left wing. The whipped recoiled ripping scales and the rough membrane that covered her wing off the structure of her bones.

Artemis gasped for breath. Each breath granted her pain, not relief. Screams resounded through the halls. The neak shuddered at the thought of others suffering the same if not worse fate. The sounds of hooves clopping meet her ears. Picking her head up, the dragon watched as a centaur came into the room. Her eyes, blood shot from not sleeping for two days, became hopeful. Bernard walked in with his arms crossed and a scowl displayed across his face.

"H-Have y-you c-come to help me?" Artemis muttered weakly.

A smirk curled at the corner of Bernard's lips. The centaur raised his hand up. He brought it down and smote her check. Her head jerked to the side from the action. "Leave us!" Bernard yelled at the Zhol with the catanail tails. Without a word, the zhol, who had whipped her, slipped out. Bernard returned his attention the neak. The centaur held his hands out and caused an arrow to appear. Clutching it in the middle, he snapped in two pieces with little effort. Green mist rose from the halves as he dropped the pieces besides him.

Artemis coughed as the mist began to rise. Her thoughts began to cloud. her vision became blurred and the room spun around her. The neak's eyelids dropped from weariness. Trying to force her eyes open, the neak felt strong fingers grasping her injured wings. Artemis cried out. Bernard was running his fingers against her ripped flesh. The neak tried to move her wing as she felt him move his hand over a whole that had pierced her skin.

"P-please, d-don't h-hurt..." Before she could finish, Bernard forced a finger though her injured winged, grasped the bone tightly, then yanked hard. Artemis let off a blood curled scream. Tears streamed down her cheeks. The neak felt the ball joint, the wing was connected too, pop out of its socket.

Bernard graced his free hand over her neck. The centaur rubbed the spot gently. "Stop fighting. Become a Zhol and this can end now." Artemis froze. Bernard tightened his grip. The neak swallowed hard. The centaur was growing impatient and pressing his hand hard against her throat.

"I will never become a Zhol, Uncle." With those last words, Bernard used his strength to rip her left wing off her back. Artemis tried to scream but he was squeezing her throat to hard. The neak felt Bernard run his fingers against her right wing before falling limp against her chains.

************************

A crisp air blew against the arena. Dragon Claw was walking to the field. Their team had just been called down to fight against the other guilds. The teams hearts were heavy. They had just received a message that Bernard had found Artemis, however, her young body had been mutilated. The centaur hardly recognized her. Master Roku's heart broke at the news. Each morning he tried to encourage the team to fight. The guild master couldn't find the words given the news.

Razor let a sigh escaped as the guild walked onto the field. The team wasn't looking forward to this fight. The octomer heard Cordila sigh besides him. The mermaid clutched his hand tightly. Razor winced from her digging her nails into his hand. However, he didn't care. Cordila had expressed that morning how scared she was of dying. The octomer pulled his arm away from the mermaid and placed it around her shoulders instead. "I won't let you die." The octomer whispered in her ear.