Before I leave the Pit, I take a glance around at all the Gladiators; it'll be the last time I will see them. At least I hope so. Bear saunters up to me. "Whatcha lookin' at, Arrow?"

"I'm just looking at the Gladiators."

"Seeing the weakest links? The easy prey?"

"No, just simply looking."

"I don't believe you." Bear frowns at me and narrows his icy eyes.

"Then don't. What use would I have lying? The fate of this Wasteland battle has already been set." I don't feel like arguing with Bear.

"Has it? I'm sure you could come up with an awfully long list of reasons to lie." The hulking beast licks his lips as tilts his head to one side.

"Arrow, Joshua Spark has asked to see you." A Wasteland guard walks up to me at a brisk pace, ignoring Bear and coming between us to look me right in the eye.

"What a shame, I was going to talk to AR in a minute or two, but I guess that'll have to wait." I sigh and shrug before following the Wasteland guard through the corridors until we come upon Joshua Spark's door. What I don't fail to notice is the flicker of something unknown to me that briefly is visible in the Wasteland guard's eyes. Exactly what it is, I am unsure of.

The Wasteland guard gestures for me to enter. I nudge open the door to find Joshua's long, wooden desk and him seated behind it. The door closes behind me. "Ah, Arrow. Welcome. Please, have a seat." Joshua sits up and rests his forearms on the desk. A pen rolls across the flat surface before being caught.

"I'd rather stand." I don't ask if it's alright, I don't care enough right now. He can force me to sit if he wishes.

"Very well."

"Why am I here?" I'd really rather be in my cave, as Lily of course, and sleeping or just laying there. After possible talking with AR for a bit, I was going to head to my cave for a bit before the Wasteland battle. Try to get myself completely ready for my escape with Jay and Hawk. "Arrow, Arrow, so many questions." Joshua clucks his tongue and raises an eyebrow.

"Wait, I've asked one question." I sigh.

"No, no, silly Gladiator. During your ten years, well, just over ten but that's beside the point, you have asked approximately fo-."

"Yeah, I've got it. I've asked lots of questions. That's the only way you learn. Please just tell me why I am here, and then I'll be on my way once everything is completed. I've got some more t-."

"Training? Wow, what a dedicated Gladiator you are. Very well. I was wondering what you thought of the new changes at the Wasteland."

"Umm... I guess they're cool?" You cannot exactly tell someone who works at the Wasteland that you hate everything about it. That wouldn't go over very well.

"Wonderful! What do you really think. Tell me, Gladiator." Joshua fixes me in my spot with a hard glare. His eyebrows furrow as his eyes narrow.

"Well, Joshua Spark, I cannot say. The changes haven't been around long enough for me to say with a hundred percent certainty."

"Very well, I will ask you in a few weeks what you think. Ok?"

"Yeah. Is that all?"

"No."

"What else do you need, Joshua?" What else could he possibly want?

"I have noticed that you have appeared distant lately. Why is that?"

"I've been a bit tired. I'm working on getting more sleep."

"No Wasteland guards have noticed signs of a lack of sleep. Every night you are fast asleep. Is there something else?"

"No, Joshua. I'm sure in a few days I'll be back to normal. Also, looking at me while I sleep is an awfully creepy thing to do."

"Oh! Perhaps it has something to do with those two new Gladiators you're helping out. I'll switch them to another Gladiator. Then you can rest. Sound good?"

"It's alright, they're getting their feet under them perfectly. After this Wasteland battle they'll be fine. There's no need to switch them. Trust me."

"Alright, then. Off you go. Remember what a gift you've been given!" Joshua smiles slightly.

I pad out the door after saying a quick, and somewhat forced goodbye. Bleh, just being around that guy makes me want to barf all over him. Thank goodness I'm out of that room. I shudder. The Wasteland guard nods slightly as I walk past him. The stone walls of the corridors seem to be shrinking in on me, and the burning torches lighting up the underground portion of the Wasteland cast flickering flames across the walls. The spiderweb-like light laughs at me, taunting me. It's free to do as it wishes before fading from existence in an epic explosion of fire, and I cannot. The Wasteland guards want me to put on a show and tear life from others nearly every night. If I don't do that, no, I can't let my mind go there. You won't let them make you go berserk. This will be your last Wasteland battle. No more killing. Ever. You'll be free with Jay and Hawk. They explained everything. I close my eyes and take a deep breath.

After a few moments, I start again towards the Pit and Chambers. Everything still seems to be closing in on me. I can just barely see the weapons hanging from the walls in the Pit, and their deadly points seem to reach for me. Shaking my head, I set off for my cave. 1, 2, 3, 4... The numbered caves pass by until I reach cave 14.  I duck inside the entrance and collapse on the floor, letting out a long sigh.

Just as I am beginning to morph back to Lily and my forelegs are shimmering with light, footsteps sound behind me with the scrabble of claws. My heart rate spikes as I will them to become furred and covered with the golden armor again. Gray creeps down my forearms before spreading into clawed toes. I look over my shoulder and let out a sigh before turning around. "Hello, AR." I murmur, slowly blinking.

"It's AlexRaye, but hello to you too, Arrow."

"What's up? Bear making some plan of how to kill me that you thought I should know?"

"No, I heard a rumor that you are planning to run during this Wasteland battle."

"Where did you hear that?"

"Huh? You are?"

"No, I'm not." Telling you that I am.

"That's good." The weasel looks at me through dark eyes.

"Yeah, I'm not stupid. I'm also rather fond of living."

"Anyways, since you're not leaving... Do you think this is the one?"

"I don't know... Tremor is still determined to get me. Bear too. Everyone, really. Rhys'll definitely attack. They've done that nearly every Wasteland battle, and I've won. But, with this one, I've got a huge prize sitting on my shoulders. We'll just have to wait and see."

"Yeah. Eventually, you'll have to fall. No one can stand at the top forever."

"You're right, AR." I let the twinge of anger that burns through my veins weave its way through my voice.

"Sorry, that came across wrong. It's true though; one day you'll be killed. I don't mean that in a rude way. It's just a fact. Someone will come who will knock you from your perch upon the number one seat."

"Whatever, AR. You're sounding like Sage, you know." I lay my head on my paws and stare at the bumpy rock wall of cave 14.

"Sage, eh? It could be worse."

"How so?"

"I don't know."

AR and I fall into silence. I fall into a light slumber while AR watches the mouth of cave 14. It's not my cave, it never was and never has been. The only thing it is, is a temporary home. The Wasteland guards can kill me at any time, or put me in a different cave. I've no power here, none at all. And boy, oh, boy, I wish I did. Soon, Arrow. Soon you'll be out of the Wasteland. But, who 'kills' you? Tremor? Bear? Rhys? Sage? What about one of the newer Gladiators? Put them in the spotlight. No, I think it should be one of the new top four... Or should it not be? Wow, so many options.

The weasel suddenly darts behind me in a streak of chocolate. I raise an eyebrow. "I'm not here." His voice is barely audible as he presses his side against me. I can faintly feel his galloping heartbeat. Frowning, I shrug and look at the mouth of cave 14. What is that supposed to mean? The sound is soft, but grows louder. After a moment, I recognize the sound as soft footsteps.

"Excuse me, Arrow, but would you have happened to see a weasel maybe yay big with chocolate fur and a wave of black fur hanging over their forehead? Dark eyes too." It's Chase standing before me, clad in the Wasteland guard armour. He holds his hands apart as he describes AR.

"Why?" I ask, frowning.

"The weasel stole a pot of cooking stew." Chase wrinkles his nose as his eyebrows lower over his eyes.

"Sounds like him. How do you plan to go about getting your stew back."

"I don't know. Put him in the stew? I've heard interesting things about weasel meat..." His voice trails off as his eyes go distant with thought. I smirk. AR shudders against my side.

"He's probably back in the kitchen getting more. I haven't seen him, though I'll keep an eye out." I look Chase right in the eye as I lie to his face.

"Thanks, Arrow. I if you see him, please send him my way."

"For sure." I say to the Wasteland guard's back as he walks out.

As soon as Chase was out the door, I whirl on AR. My lips are pulled back in a snarl and my emerald eyes are flashing with anger. "You stole an entire pot of stew? That was supposed to feed an awful lot of Gladiators! You may be one, but that doesn't mean you just get to go eat other people's meals. You've stolen so much food over the course of who knows how long. Do you not realize that others have gone hungry while you gorge yourself? No, you stop doing this right now. If I ever see or hear of you taking food from the kitchen, I will rip your throat out and rat you out. Yes, I am threatening you. Remember this; I never break my promises. The Wasteland guards will just bring you back to life so I'm not worried about anything." AR is frozen in his spot. A smile pulls at the corner of his mouth for a split second. Then again. And again, before he breaks out laughing. "Wow, Arrow. You're funny when you're mad." He rolls around, his tail slapping my paws and the stone floor.
"Silence! Shut up, AR. I'm not kidding. Stop it with stealing from the kitchen! I will not break my promise. If you take any more food when it's not your turn, I'll rip your throat out. It's your neck on the line, so make your choice." I can almost feel the thick plumes of smoke curling from my ears.

AR looks at me for a moment before shrugging. "Ok, I won't, Arrow." He pads out of cave 14. I watch him through narrowed eyes. I don't trust him. I think, but don't do anything else.

Arrow's form shimmers in a firework of light for a few moments, before I'm Lily. My tangled hair splays beneath me as I flop onto the ground and allow my eyes to close. My hands slap against the stone. It seems as though I've just closed my eyes when a gong sounds. No. It's too soon. Just another few minutes. Please. PLEASE. PLEASE! I'll give almost anything for just another minute or two. I'm not ready! It can't be. No! With gritted teeth and closed eyes, I fall into the shadows and emerge as Arrow. My paws drag as I pull myself towards my starting point for the Wasteland battle.

Thank you all for reading! Please consider a vote. Feel free to comment. 

What's going to happen during the Wasteland battle? 

Who's Arrow going to have 'kill' him?

What's up with AR and Arrow? 

Why was Arrow so worked up with AR? 

I think I'll be only doing a chapter or two a week. Sometimes there might be more, but  one or two is the most I can reasonably do. Thank you all!

-Werewolf14-