Artwork: Epiphanousbeauty

2014 Copyright © A. M. Forest

All Rights Reserved

The dust cleared completely, showing the audience the damage. A crater six feet deep had formed where Argon landed, his battered body in the center. Labren was quick to appear by his side, assessing the damage.

Argon coughed up blood. Labren could visibly see four broken ribs and could only guess several were cracked. His sides and stomach were painted blue and purple, red the dominating color of his entire body. His eyes were swollen and Labren could only hope his spine wasn't severed.

He grabbed his hand as Argon turned to look at him. "I am always reminded about her power." he coughed up blood again.

Labren looked off to where Apolla disappeared to and patted his hand. "That was borrowed power, Argon."

Right then, Argon lost consciousness and Labren allowed the medics to take him to the infirmary.

One day, she will kill you, my boy. He thought as he watched the medics leave the arena.

He turned to the audience. Raising his hands, he shouted, "APOLLA DUDGEON IS THE VICTOR!"

~~~

A knock on the door woke Apolla up from her very relaxing slumber. "Come in." She ordered and the door opened slowly with a creak. She mapped the person's footsteps in her head as she turned her head away from the door.

"Who might it be this time?" She called out, her voice groggy with sleep, not willing to give up the peace she was receiving by keeping her eyes shut. Labren already interrupted her slumber moments before to lecture her on her lack of restraint during the battle. "I am quite busy at the moment."

A deep familiar chuckle echoed around the room and Apolla's eyes shot open as her mood changed completely. "Is that any way to treat your favorite student?" His voice rang out.

She flipped the sheets off of her, catching him completely off guard as she jumped up to hug her pupil. "My dearest Jäger! How I've missed you!" She said, squeezing him in a tight hug.

He blushed scarlet and panicked as he fought her hold as best he could. "APOLLA! WHY YOU ARE NAKED?!"

She pulled back confused. "This is how I sleep, Jäger." Apolla hugged herself, causing her chest to appear bigger. "I mean it's not like this is the first time you've seen a naked woman." She paused. "Unless it is? Then have an eye full. You should know what a woman looks like."

He covered his face with both hands as soon as she released him. "For the love of the gods, PUT CLOTHES ON, APOLLA!"

"You are so cute when you are embarrassed." She cooed, patting him lightly on the cheek as she past him to her robe hanging on the hook. "No wonder you've never seen a woman. You blush red before they glance your way."

He ignored her comment and made sure she was out of view when he replied. "Are you dressed yet?" He squeaked. "You always seem to make any situation unbearably uncomfortable."

She laughed as she tied the strings of the robe. "Aye, you complain too much. Most men your age would love to get a view of my human form."

"Well, I'm not most men." He peeked behind him and relaxed when he saw she was covered. "Besides, it would be much more appropriate for a mentor-student relationship." He coughed into his hand, his cheeks turning bright red under the burning lamps above them. "And for the record, I've been with plenty of women. All not as aggressive as you proclaim to be."

She chuckled. "What are you doing back so soon?" Apolla asked, stepping closer to view Jäger's face. She reached up to brush his reddened cheek. He had grown taller than her 5'11" form, his rather slim, tan body toned with muscle. He wore a tight black long-sleeve with brown pants and black boots. She sighed slightly, he is still young. He has plenty of time to grow. She thought to herself.

A dark brown curl fell in his face and she pushed it back. "I thought they sent you on a mission outside the border?"

He smiled at her fondly. "I missed you too much to stay gone for more than a couple days." He cooed, causing his mentor to roll her eyes at him.

She moved around him and sat on the bed, the fondness replaced with curiosity. "Interesting you say that. What did you find out?"

He moved across the room, looked both ways in the hallway before closing the door. When he turned, he spoke in a hushed voice. "It seems we should be expecting some new students quite soon." Jäger pulled over a stray chair and sat down on it. "The Grass Guardinal Ward was recently destroyed by a rogue beast attack. He might be heading this way as well." He explained, leaning back in the chair while stretching out his legs.

Apolla was thoughtful for a second. "Casualties?"

"Few and far between. The rogue killed the Elders of that facility, leaving the students alone."

Apolla brought her hand to her chin in thought as she got up and began pacing the room. "That leaves the four standing Guardinal Wards left. So close to the tournament..." She paused. "Any eye-witnesses? Do we have any idea what this rogue looks like?"

Jäger shook his head. "Those who saw his face are dead now. By the time I got there, most of the survivors were gone." He sighed. Then he jumped up. "I didn't tell the Elders this, but the one person I did talked to said he saw a shadowy figure, a mass of heat transmitting from around it. All he really remembered was the color red."

Apolla stopped pacing and turned to Jäger. "That's interesting. He might be an ancient beast like you and I." The ancient beasts were one of the rarest shifters alive. They were told to have unfathomable strength. A big smile appeared on her face. "So a challenger will be coming."

Jäger eyed his mentor warily. "Don't be so excited about it. You could atleast act worried."

"Oh, I'm not the least bit worried, Jäger." Apolla said, patting him on the cheek on her way to the bed. "This will be the most exciting event of the year. You should be happy for me."

He raised an eyebrow. "And why should I be?"

She pulled the covers over her body. "Because I'll finally have an opponent of equal strength." Apolla sighed as she gazed up at the bed frame roof. "Anyone who can kill three Elders are a force to be reckoned with, meaning they are equal to me."

Jäger sat in the chair again, eyeing her warily. "What about Argon? I thought he was of equal strength to you, him being an ancient beast as well." He said as he crossed his arms and leaned back.

"You seem to misinterpret my abilities, Jäger." She paused as she shifted more comfortably into her cushions. "Argon is almost of equal strength to this form. When I unleash the power of my dragon, I become unstoppable."

"Speaking of Argon, I heard that you comatosed him."

Apolla turned away. "Watch that accusing tone with me, Jäger. I used a little of that power to put him in his place. This wouldn't be the first time." Her voice was nonchalant, but her eyes said something else. She was glad he couldn't see them.

"So, what you're saying is that he made you bleed, so you almost killed him." Jäger summarized, putting one fist under his chin in thought as he leaned on the arm of the chair.

"I held back..." She muttered.

"Shall I go through his injuries?" He asked, slightly taunting.

"Spare me the details, Labren already did." Apolla sighed with remorse. She would rather not have another reminder. "Is there anything else you came to tell me, Jäger?"

A large amused smile appeared on his face, a mischievous glint glowing in his dark hazel eyes. "Oh, yes. The Elders requested me to inform you that when the new students arrive..."

"Yes, Jäger?"

"...you'll be their teacher."

She shot up in her bed, her eyes flaming with murder. "What do you mean I'll be their teacher?!" When she turned to glare at the him, he wasn't in the chair anymore but at the door about to escape the dragon's den.

He chuckled. "They have reviewed your progress and have decided that you are the best qualified to teach the underlings." He stepped into the hallway.

"DARRION!" Apolla yelled after him, quickly moving the blanket again, her intent murderous.

Said person quickly slammed the door yelling, "DON'T KILL THE MESSENGER!"

When she opened the door again, he was quickly going around the corner at the end of the hall. "I LOVE YOU, APOLLA!" where the last things she heard as his light footsteps disappeared.

She growled and punched the wall next to her causing a large depression to form in the solid brick.

In a matter of minutes, dressed in her white wrap and white skirt, Apolla made her way to the Elders Dorm. One look from her had the guards in front of the double doors quickly move out of her way.

The impact the doors made with the wall echoed around the room as she moved to the center. Above her was a octogonal window that displayed a full moon. The walls were painted gold in patterns slightly familiar to those who studied the old language, the words forming into drawings of battle and bloodshed.

Three podiums stood twenty feet above her, each decorated with large golden patterns of ancient text unique to each stand.

Apolla ignored all of this as she glared at the three figures above them. The Elders sat tall above their podiums, all three looking as if they were the age of forty, but she knew they had seen centuries before her time.

They looked down at her with ember orbs that flickered with the torch light when she spoke, "What is the meaning of this? Why am I to undergo the task of watching over the new underlings?"

"Watch your tone, Apolla. You are to respect us." The one to her right said in a slow lingering hiss.

Her expression remained. "You didn't answer my question, Elders." She hissed right back.

The one on the left pointed an accusing finger at her, his voice similar to the other. "You were the most qualified to do so. Your skills are beyond matching and you are perfect for the task ahead."

"Is this my punishment for destroying the training room? If so, why isn't Argon being punished as well? He had as much fault in that as I did."

"Well for one, he is in a drug-induced coma to help him heal from the injuries of your latest fight." The one on the right hissed again.

The Elder in the center waved the other two off before he spoke. "This isn't a punishment, Apolla. You are our most well-rounded fighter."

"But I learned those skills from Labren! I am a warrior, not a... a teacher!" Her voice rang with rage as she moved her hands around in emphasis. "What planted the idea in your head to even consider such nonsense? Pray tell!"

His next words killed any argument she had left. "Your only student, Darrion."

Confusion took over her features. "What about Jäger?"

"You trained him in our ways and he has become one of our most valuable assets." the Elder on the left said.

"I didn't train Jäger to become one of your assets, Elders. I trained him to win." Apolla hissed.

They suddenly burst out into a deep rumble of laughter that bounced off the walls.

"What brings on this humorous occasion?" She growled out.

The one in the center leaned forward. "That is what makes him so valuable, Apolla. You made him a winner. That's what we want; winners."

"So, you will train the new underlings coming to our division." came the voice of the one on the right.

"And if I don't?"

"You will never see your 'Jäger' again. He will be sent away forever." The Elder in the center spoke without hesitation or remorse.

Her eyes widened in disbelief. "You wouldn't do that! You just finished explaining that he is a valuable asset!"

"An asset that is replaceable." She knew that tone. The finality of it gave the true meaning of their threat:

They would kill him.

They knew he was her weakness. She just got him back; how would she go on with his death on her hands?

Apolla roared, her foot stomping on the ground to cause a crater in the fine marble. Fire licked just under her skin as she glared at them. "You dare threaten me?! You so much as touch a hair on his head, and I will incinerate you all!" Blue flames began to dance around Apolla's body as her dragon form pulsed under her skin.

They stared at her, unaffected. "Then don't give us a reason to. Do as we ask or pay the consequences, child."

The fire dimmed to ash as her senses took control. "Consider your proposition accepted, then. I will only train the best of them. I won't waste my time with weaklings. Those who I train will be chosen and the rest will be given to the others." She turned around and walked out down the hallway.

"Very well, Apolla. See to it that it is done."

They might get what they want, but they just made one dangerous enemy.