Aella yelled as she tumbled to a rough wooden floor that was tilting back and forth. The sky was dark, and the hair on the back of her neck prickled as a rumble of thunder pounded the air. She glanced up, seeing a massive beam rising into the sky, ropes connecting the white sails to the sides of the ship. She brought her attention downward, and saw clusters of people stumbling around, some gripping the sides of the ship, and others appearing out of nowhere and falling to the feet. The sky lit up as a bolt of lightning struck the ship a mile away, illuminating the dark mass of the island in the distance. She shivered as rain began to pelt the deck, a downpour that made it difficult to see far out to sea.

She gasped as cold water splashed over the side of the ship and doused her, and she stood, gripping the railing for support. She slipped and slid as she made her way closer to the stern of the ship, and the slim shelter it offered from the freezing rain.

"Make your way to shore," the mechanical voice told her, as if it was inside of her head. "Use all available tools at your disposal."

You've got to be kidding me. They wouldn't kill us on the first day.

"I need some help," a man shouted from the deck above her. Aella swallowed, her limbs trembling as she climbed the stairs to the helm. A man was gripping the wheel, his muscles straining as he fought to keep it straight. She ran to him, pushing on the wheel.

"Thanks," he shouted. "We have to keep her steady."

She glanced upward, seeing several players on the rigging and sails, moving with the skill of monkeys.

A scream split the air, louder than the thunder and roaring of waves, a sound that seemed to shake the air around them. Aella screamed as a giant winged creature, flew over the ship and grabbed a player in its claws, then took off into the sky.

"Griffins," the man next to her shouted. "Incoming."

She turned, them froze as the massive wave crashed into the ship and rushed over her. There was a giant crack, followed by a roar.

She slammed into the water and below the surface in a spray of white bubbles, debris shooting through the water all around her.

I didn't sign up for this.

She floated there in the current, her head ringing and her vision fuzzy. She gasped as water entered her lungs, and she jerked, choking on water as she clawed her way upward toward the surface. She splashed above a wave, freezing rain pelting her face. She coughed and spluttered as she gulped in air, ducking her head from the force of the rain. She turned around, searching for the ship.

She was fifty feet away from the two halves of the ship, the air filled with screams. Another roar filled the air and she ducked as she saw a griffin speed past her, flying towards the ship.

She gasped as a part of the mast moved toward her with a wave, and she grabbed it, wrapping her arms on one side of it.

"Over here," a voice called to her.

She pulled herself higher, seeing three people hanging on to the the other side. One of them was the man who had been holding on to the wheel.

"Are you ok?" The man yelled.

"Good." He looked back toward the ship. "Are you a good swimmer?"

She nodded.

"We need to rescue as many players as we can and get to the island. The storm is ramping up. My friends will keep the mast here for us." He nodded to the other two, then pushed off from the mast and dove into the water.

Aella swallowed, her legs stopping in place. I don't have enough training for a rescue. Then she shook her head. Better put all those swimming lessons to good use.

She pushed off from the log and dove under the water, swimming back toward the wreckage. She surfaced next to a pile of boxes, treading water. "Hello?"

A bolt of lightning struck the ship, lighting up the area. Another griffin soared overhead, a player in its talons.

"Help," someone screamed.

She dove as a wave crashed over her location, the current pulling her toward the boxes. She swam lower, searching for the player.

She saw the girl, struggling to free her legs from some netting, keeping afloat by holding onto a wooden carton. She swam toward her, surfacing next to the box and taking a deep breath.

"Hey," she shouted.

The girl looked up at her, her eyes wide.

"I'm going to let you out," she said. "I need you to relax for me."

The girl nodded, using one of her arms to steady herself.

Aella took a deep breath and pushed herself under the box, grabbing a handful of the netting and pulling it away from the girl's legs. She held onto the netting as she surfaced, showing it to the girl.

The girl grinned, dipping her head in thanks.

Aella rolled the netting into a ball then turned to the girl. "Follow me," She shouted above the roar of the storm and rain.

The girl nodded, swimming over to her side.

Aella led her back through the debris in the direction of the mast. When she arrived, she saw the man had returned with two other players.

She grabbed onto the mast with one hand, watching as the girl grabbed the mast next to her. She jerked as a high whistle cut the air somewhere to their left, followed by another and another, all seeming to be farther and farther away.

The man returned it with his own piercing whistle.

"Everyone is accounted for," he called out. "Let's get to shore."

Aella grabbed hold of the rough wood, hooking an arm over it. She followed the others and started swimming forward, pulling the mast with her. Lightning lit up the sky, and the dark mass of the island in the distance, that seemed closer than it had moments before. The waves seemed to still and they seemed to be moving faster. She glanced below her and her eyes grew wide at the blue light that surrounded them.

"We're almost there," the man shouted. "Keep going."

She nodded and kicked harder.

When she felt the soft sand beneath her feet, she laughed and fell to her knees. The mast fell beside her, and her hands dug into the wet sand, moving it between her fingers. Someone grabbed her shoulders and lifted her up. She looked up and saw the man offering his hand to her. A gust of wind blew into them, making her lose her balance, and the rain blew harder.

"We have to get to shelter," he shouted, glancing around as the other players huddled around him. "Until the storm dies down, or we move on to the next test."

Aella looked past them and to the dark line of trees that were bent over with the wind, and the debris on the shore. "Has anyone else made it here?"

"I don't know," he said. "Come on."

She took his hand and stood up, jogging after him when he led the little group up the beach and into the cover of the trees.

It felt like they ran for hours as they made their way up the hill, through the storm wreckage, under and over trees. The wind was calmer with the protection of the trees, but the icy rain still lashed into them when they broke tree cover.

Aella's muscles ached at the strain and she paused, leaning against a tree on the small ridge they had paused on. "Up there," the man shouted. She looked up, trying to find something in the dim light.

The group started moving and she groaned. She slid over a log, and winced as a sharp twig broke her skin, the wound stinging in the cold air. The little group was disappearing through the rain. She stood and ran forward, then slowed as she saw the opening in the side of the hill.

The man was waiting for her, and pulled her into the shelter of the cave. She let her shoulders drop as she stumbled forward, and her legs shook as she slid to the ground, leaning against the cave's wall.

The roar of the storm was quieter inside the shelter, and the air seemed warmer.

"Is everyone alright?" the man asked, walking around to each one.

Aella nodded when he laid a hand on her shoulder.

"What supplies do we have?"

She opened her eyes, seeing the others sitting or leaning against the other walls.

"I have some food and water from the Merchant challenge," the girl said.

"So do I," one of the men said.

The woman across from Aella pulled a knife from her clothing. "I've got a knife."

"And I have a net," Aella said.

The man nodded. "We need a fire, but the wood outside will be too wet until the morning. I want the storm to die down before we send anyone out for supplies. It looks like we'll be holed up here for the night, so I would suggest everyone get comfortable. I'll take the first watch."

"I'll take second" the girl said.

"I'll take third," Aella said.

The others voiced their watches as well, and Aella drowned out their conversation as they prepared to sleep. The rain blew hard outside of the cave, and visibility was limited beyond twenty feet. I hope everyone else found shelter. Is the entire Game going to be like this? One death-defying move after another? All for entertainment?

A tear fell from her cheek and she made no move to clear it away. She stared at the rain, and squared her shoulders.

I'm ready. Do your worst.