"Here in the North, Archery is a part of our life. It's more then just hitting the center of the target." Captain Karlos speaks.

We stood a few feet away from our targets; my body was still trying to recuperate but I had no time to rest.

"Every warrior must possess the skill to properly shoot an arrow, even in the worst circumstances."

"We take pride in our skill. I won't have no wimps on my team." General Gor says, looking us all over. His eyes linger on me for a second longer, before moving on.

"If you're just here to have a nice rank so you can show off to get women, it's best you leave now because I will not spare you for wasting my time." He states.
"Even if it's to get out of a marriage proposal." He looks to me this time, and I stand straighter.

I was already going to join the games. Cole just gave me an extra push.

"River stop this now. You cannot be a warrior!!" Cole shouts and everyone looks to him.

I don't even give him my attention. Keeping my eyes to the front. I glance at Radnor and his eyes already on me.

I almost didn't see it, but the slight nod made me even more confident.

"Well then. Since no one is going to leave. Let's move on to our second round. Survival." My head snaps to the smiling man. Me as well as the other contestants looking to him in confusion.

"Survival? But that's the last round." The man to my right says. I think his name is Carvon. He's a great fighter. He took his opponent out mare seconds of their round.

"Surprise! Seeing as you all are battered and bruised, and we have beautiful weather approaching, we thought it'll give you the full feel of what being a warrior truly feels like."

"You'll all be given cloaks, and will be lead to your drop off points. Each of you will be given a bow, arrows and a dagger for your one night in the woods." He explains.

"The first five men to return will move on to our next round. And yes. You'll be shooting an arrow at your target as soon as you get back. And it better be a bullseye." He stares at me again, before turning and walking back to his former position.

A man comes to stand behind each of us, placing a blindfold over our eyes.
"May the best five contestants win!" I hear the General say and I feel myself being lead somewhere, before I'm thrown over unto a horse.

"Just take her to the spot and come back. Keep your hands to yourself or else you'll face my hands. Got it?"

"Yes General Gor." I hear the man reply. He mounts the horse and we move off.

We we moving for a few minutes. I quietly listen to the sound of the horse. I feel the man's hand touch my back and I raise up slightly.

"Stop that. The General said not to touch me." He laughs, moving his hand lowering down to my butt.

"Stop!"

He pulls the horse to a stop, getting down and pulling me down after. He pulls the blindfold off my face, and I meet his ugly face a little too close to mines.

"My boy and I should give you your last slash of pleasure before the wolves take yuh." Confusion and fear fills my body, and I step back from him, only to bounce into someone else, who wraps their arms around me, palming my breast.

"Let me go!" I try to fight him off.

"She's so soft too brother." They laugh.

"Stop it!!" I slam my head back into his face, making sure to kick the other in his balls and run off.

I feel someone grab unto my cloak, causing me to fall. I quickly undo the top getting it off me and running for my life.

"Wait till we get our hands on you slut!" I keep running straight. Chanting over and over in my head not to trip.

I see a cliff in the distance and I try to stop but my foot clips unto a raised root, sending my body flying over the edge.

I land with a hard thud. My lungs crashing out on me for the umpteenth time today.

"You see her?!" I hear tone of them shout.

"Nah man. The whore done killed herself before the wolves could." They begin to laugh.

"Come on let's go before it gets dark." I try moving again, but fatigue consumes my body and I pass out.

--

I wake up in the same spot, my body aching more than before and shivering badly from the cold.

The snow had already started falling, and I had no cloak, no bow and no dagger.

I look around, trying to stand up; it takes me a few seconds but I manage.

Where exactly am I?

I think back at what they were talking about.
Before the wolves could? My eyes widen.

They brought me to wolf territory.

"I have to be extra careful then." I mutter, my voice coming out groggy.

I bite down my tongue in pain, as my left foot pained with each step, causing me to have a little limp. My stomach area was also hurting real bad.

I start walking down the line of the cliff. There must be a hill to climb up, and I can walk straight from there.

Normally survival is the last round. Well according to all the other games before, it was. But I understood why they would do it like this. It truly felt like stories Papa told me about war.

"I need to find shelter." I whisper looking around. The snow was starting to fall heavy.

I see an incline and I quickly limp forward. Only to freeze in fear, when I'm met with an entire pack of wolves.

Don't move River, Do not move.

The wolf in the middle, jumps down from the branch, slowly stalking towards me, growling. His yellow eyes glowing brightly.

I couldn't run, and I would not run. I wouldn't make it far anyway.

Curse those bastards!

I watched as he suddenly pauses, doing an action as if he was sniffing the air, before
he begins to bark, and runs down the hill towards me.

A loud shriek leaves me and I cover my face in fear, dropping to my knees. When I was expecting him to eat me alive, a soft whine cause me to peek. Surprised when I realized these yellow eyes were those of my baby boy.

"Shadow?" I mutter, wrapping my arms around him and beginning to cry.

"I'm so happy you're here boy."

I pull away, cupping his face.
"You wouldn't have a place for me to stay for the night would you? A storms coming and I don't have anything with me." He turns around to the others, who were no longer looking like they were ready to devour me themselves.

"Your pack boy?" He barks, pushing against me with his nose, I get back up. Following him up the hill. I don't care what anyone says, animals understand us.

We eventually reach a cave and he leads me inside. Only to meet more wolves. But I think they were the females.

They all look to me, Shadow walking up to an all white wolf, rubbing himself against her. Three ashy white wolves run up to him and my eyes widen. Shadow has Shadow babies?!

The white wolf stares at me, and I swear she looked me up and down.

Shadow walks up to me, and she follows. He rubs himself against me and she watches him come to sit next to me. She glances at him, and then back up at me before walking up and sitting next to me, on the opposite side.

~~

Outside the cave, the snow storm was viciously raging. I wasn't really that hungry, plus I was not about eat raw meat either.

I had no tools to make a fire, so I was cold; but Shadow stayed close to me, as did one of his cubs allowed me to him them, feeling like a warm glove against my cold skin.

"You have a beautiful family boy." I tell him, petting his cubs head.
"So this is what you ran off too every evening."

He gives me a wolfish grin. His mate coming to sit next to him, licking his face.

Awww wolf kisses.

I wonder what Mom and Max are doing right now?

A deep sigh leaves my mouth and Shadow looks to me. Rubbing himself against my arm.

"I joined the games." He barks and I smile.
"I know. But I don't think they are happy about it. I mean I know they wouldn't be, but it's still a little overwhelming, no matter how high I hold my head."

"Why couldn't life just easier boy?" I felt myself becoming tired again, and Shadow comes behind me lying down. I smile, resting my head down on him. The natural warmth of his body feeling so good right now.

His cubs come and join us, gathering on top me. The next thing you know, we were one big wolf huddle and I felt as warm as I would, if I was home.

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