My head spins. I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to get the pounding to go away. "Hey, Arrow, are you alright?" A voice speaks next to me.

"Hawk?" I ask in a strained voice.

"Yeah. Looks like you put up a fight." He scans the stone-walled room with Wasteland guards laying motionless on the ground.

"W-where's Jay?" I roll over to look at the shaggy, brown dog.

"He cannot be here."

"Why?"

"If we're going to escape, he still needs to be on the good side of all the Wasteland guards."

"I don't mean to sound rude in any way when I say this... but how... You just arrived at the Wasteland yesterday. How do you already know how to escape?"

"You know how there are the trucks that bring in the new Gladiators and how a thick, dark tarp covers the sides?" Hawk sits down.

"Yeah? I've seen them before." I frown.

"Well, Jay and I lucked out and were sitting at a side of the truck. The tarp had a tear in the side, though I'm not sure how, and the Wasteland guards didn't see it so the whole way to the Wasteland, we saw what the terrain looked like. Jay and I talked about how we'd escape."

"And the Wasteland guards didn't notice that people were talking about how to escape?"

"They knew we were talking, but they couldn't understand us."

"Were you just speaking in another language?"

"Yeah, Raydowninese."

"Ray down in these?"

"No, no, Raydowninese. One word. It's the language of the town of Raydowne. Jay and I grew up bilingual." Hawk laughs.

"Nice. What did the Wasteland guards think of your speaking Raydowninese?"

"They got a bit annoyed. Jay and I edged them on to fury. Believe it or not, they won't harm new Gladiators." Hawk shrugs.

"Need fresh blood as they say. Not surprised"

I rest my head on my paws and close my eyes. Hawk does the same but lifts his head when Jay walks in. As the blue-eyed dog pads closer, I crack open an eye and follow him as he sits down beside his brother. "What happened, Arrow?"

"The Wasteland guards tried to take me somewhere. I don't know where, but I didn't want to find out so I resisted and ended up fighting them. I didn't kill any though. I couldn't."

"I helped Arrow out after he nearly got knocked out."

"Well, yeah, there was that little part."

"Will you still be able to fight in the Wasteland?"

"Don't worry about that, I'll do fine staging my death. Won't be that hard; I'll fight Tremor and make a tiny slip up. Anyways, I'll refuse to let the medical personnel help me; it'll make my faked death more believable if I'm already injured."

"No one can know." Hawk states the words clearly.

"I'll be fine. Don't you two worry about me."

"Alright." Jay murmurs.

"Shall we train in the Pit?" Hawk rises to his paws.

"Sure. Wait, Jay, are you up for it?"

"I think... Could you give me a few pointers, Arrow? I'm not entirely sure how to fight."

"Yep, I'm your guide; I'm supposed to help you get your feet beneath you in preparation for your first Wasteland, or in your case, your only Wasteland battle." I lower my voice to a soft whisper at the end.

"Let's go, time's a ticking!"

The Pit is filled with Gladiators battling Clicks. As more and more of the robotic humanoids are felled, clicking fills the air. Jay, Hawk, and I pad to towards the back and the Armory. When we reach the back, Karly comes out and greets us. "Hey, guys. How are you doing?" Karly asks as she comes to a stop before us.

"We're just going to do a bit of training. Perhaps talk about some stuff too." I reply.

"Hey, Karly, I have a question." Jay asks, peering in the Armory. I quickly realise he's looking at the silver armour.

"Yes, Jay?"

"How much was the silver armour and approximately how many kills would I have to make to acquire it?" He doesn't take his eyes off the armour as he speaks.

"375 points. As for the kills, I'm not entirely sure, though I believe it would be an awful lot of kills."

Jay's shoulders sink and he looks at his brother with sadness in his eyes. All the excitement and happiness that is usually rolling off of him in tidal waves drains into the ground as Karly's words sink in. "Oh, ok. I-I'll just wait for the points then. It's ok." His head hangs low as he walks to his brother. Hawk rests his head on Jay's shoulder.

An idea pops into my head. "Hey, Karly?"

"'Sup, Arrow?" Karly abandoned the usual professional persona she dons for the Gladiators after I'd been at the Wasteland for a bit of time.

"Could I transfer some points to Jay and Hawk so they can get something? I've never used them and I won't need them until this armour stops working." I glance down at golden, metal plates. Jay and Hawk look up at me, confusion written in their gazes.

"Unfortunately not." Karly types something in on her glowing screen, the light reflecting in her eyes, before answering. I narrow my eyes, thinking. Jay and Hawk will need some sort of protection if they are to survive this Wasteland battle. But how are they going to get the armour? They've no points and I can't transfer them points.

"Wait, Karly. Can I get something worth the same number of points but just never take it? Like, I buy the item and then give it back to you?"

"Arrow, you're thinking this through too much. Just buy them the item if you're that determined."

"Alright. Jay, Hawk, choose your desired set of armour. Consider this your gift for however long you're at the Wasteland." I smile at the brothers.

Karly looks at us for a moment before frowning and walking to me. "Arrow, a word please?"

"Sure, what is it? Have you found any new armour sets?"

"Arrow, where are you going?" Jay asks, looking up from the silver plated of armour.

"Don't worry about me; Karly just wants a word with me." The brothers nod. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Hawk send a glance to his blue-eyed brother. I pad after the spiky haired female. Outside the Armory, she turns to me.

"I have a teeny tiny question."

"Yeah?"

"Are you running?" The question is blunt, right to the point, no sugar coating.

"What would make you think that? My life is here whether I like it or not; I've nowhere to go."

"You may not, but Jay and Hawk have only been here a day. I doubt people have even realised they're missing."

"How would you know? You don't leave the Wasteland. You're effectively as trapped here as we are."

"Just a guess. Anyways, are you running?" Karly's words don't convince me

"I can't; only one way in and out of the Wasteland, remember?"

"No, no, that's not what I meant. There's a Wasteland battle tonight, remember?"

"Yeah, there is. What about it?" I'm trying to deflect Karly's words; no one can know that we're running.

"What if you fake your deaths? No one would know the difference as the Wasteland guards don't care much for the Gladiators. Have you noticed? The Wasteland is changing. They didn't bring back all the Gladiators. Some they left dead. I heard that Shadow wasn't brought back so now it's just Night for the slick, eel-like Gladiators.."

"You sort of count as a Wasteland guard; you work here and help run the place."

"Ah, that is where you are wrong. I know you're running. There's nothing you can say to convince me otherwise."

"Why would you think that? I've said nothing about running."

"I've seen you with assigned new Gladiators. You've never done anything more than show them around and give them a few tips on fighting. What's so special about these ones? Why spend points on getting armour for these new Gladiators if you're not going to run? Out of the however many other Gladiators you've shown around, what would make you help out these ones? Oh, one other thing, you're going to get an awful lot of hate for getting Jay and Hawk armour."

"I know that; most Gladiators don't get any weapons or armor for months. I'm not a huge fan of that. But what can I do? I'm just any other Gladiator in their minds except for the show they want."

"I feel you, Arrow. I really do. I've disagreed with quite a few of the policies at the Wasteland."

"You have? Why do you still work here if you don't like the way this place is run?"

"I can't just leave can I? And abandon all of you? No, that would be rude. I've tried to make the lives of the Gladiators a little less bad by doing my best to be a happy, friendly face they can count on. Have you noticed I've never once worn the Wasteland guard outfit?"

"Yeah."

"I did that to seem more approachable. No one else wanted to run the Armory since it was so far from everything else that happens, but I did. It was more secluded so it held the illusion of privacy."

"Nothing is private here; someone always hears." I chuckle.

"Yes, however, few listen in on conversations in the Armory; nine times out of ten they're a Gladiator talking to me about a new weapon, so no one pays much attention to what happens here. Anyways, good luck running. Truly, I want you, Jay, and Hawk to make it. I also want to help. Take the armour for free, the Wasteland will never know, and I'll place a pack under the Rusted Iron Mound near Thunder Creek that's filled with supplies you might need. Don't worry about how I'll get it there, just know it's there."

"Why would you help me? I'm a Gladiator. We're only supposed to fight in the Wasteland and train in the Pit. Escape is impossible." I frown and take a step back, frowning and narrowing my eyes.

"Arrow," Karly takes a step towards me. I jerk my head back when she reaches for me. My lips curl in the first bit of a snarl as I lift a forepaw and pull it back. Karly's face falls into a soft frown. 

"Arrow, please come closer. I promise I won't hurt you."

My mind is telling me to run. To get away from Karly; she's going to hurt you. She's nothing but a liar. Run to make it impossible for her to hurt you. But I fight away the thought. She's been nothing but nice to me for the time I've been at the Wasteland. She's not a liar, why would she be one? She's done so much for me. Just like AR. "What is it?" I finally grumble and lean down.

"The plaid." She murmurs in my ear.

"What about it?"

"You never let me finish. The red and black plaid. Anyone who wears it hates the Wasteland. Some willingly go to the Wasteland to gain information then escape."

"It's impossible. No one has ever escaped."

"No one has said anything. The Wasteland guards notice very little if you play things just right." Karly shrugs.

"I'm sorry, I need to talk to someone. I'll be back. My mind is about to explode." I turn and start walking.

"Arrow! Stop!" Karly jumps in front of me and shoves her weight against me.

"Karly, please. Let me go. I just need a bit of time." I beg through my eyes and words.

"You cannot tell anyone this. No one can know that I don't like the Wasteland at all."

"Oh, so you want me to protect you?"

"Arrow. This benefits both you and I. Imagine what will happen if the Wasteland guards find out that you were plotting to escape."

"Already happened."

"Do you want to repeat that?"

"No. Of course not; I'm not stupid. Spending weeks in my cave and not leaving? Reciting rules from the list created by the Wasteland guards? No thanks." I roll my eyes.

"Please don't, Arrow. I'm trying to help you, just like Jay and Hawk."

"Yeah, ok, fine. I'm leaving now, just to talk to AR. I'm not telling him anything. Happy?"

I roll my eyes and stalk around Karly before padding off. My paws take me first to the front of the Pit, and then to the slow-moving stream of water near where meals are served. I'm lapping up water when I hear paw steps approaching me.

Hey, all! Thank you so much for reading this! I truly appreciate each and every read! Please consider a vote if you deem this story worthy! I hope you are all having a wonderful day. 

Who's this mystery person walking up to Arrow? 

What's up with Karly?

 Why is she helping and why does she want Arrow, Jay, and Hawk to escape? 

Thanks for reading again!

-Werewolf14-