We all went to our separate tents and changed into our armor. I slipped on my helmet as I walked outside. I saw a series of weapons that matched our armor laying in the middle of the camp. I looked and saw a carving in the dirt. Instructor Martinalli, it read. I smiled and took the red sword and shield. Oara stepped out of her tent.

She looked at me, "Are you ready for this?" There was something off about her tone. She seemed a little nervous.

I took a deep breath, "I think so... you?"

"Yeah..." She whispered, "I am sad we're fighting without Drake."

I looked at the ground as my eyes went teary, but I shook it off, "Me too, but we can't focus on that right now," I said as I gripped my sword tightly and banged it on my shield, "Alright, everyone, time to head to the forest!"

My team stepped out of their tents. I gaped at them. They looked... awesome. I thought about Oara's comment about Drake not being here and smiled. It'll be just like training, I told myself. I knew that was a lie. My legs trembled a little bit, but I took a step forward, metal boots clanging.

We started ascending toward the front of the woods. I glanced around and saw other teams doing the same thing. I looked around at the teams' colorful armor, sorting out which teams were which. Okay, so if they have bright red armor with orange flames, they must be Team Firecracker, I told myself, pushing down all my worries about how badly these games could end.

I thought of my parents watching the challenges on the town screen, along with walking into the bleachers of the arena, watching me compete. I haven't seen them in over a day... I looked up at the sky to find the sun barely lifting from the horizon. About thirty minutes until the sun is in first position. A chill went down my spine.

We made it to the front of the forest to find all of the team instructors. They were wearing robes that had their team colors. I looked around and saw Instructor Martinalli in a blue and yellow robe. He looked at me and the team and... are those tears in his eyes?

Instructor Martinalli smiled and nodded at us as his eyes welt up with more tears. He then turned to the other instructors and started talking.

I turned to my team, "This is it, guys... we've been training for this before some of us could even talk..." I sniffed, "Our lives have been prepared for this moment, the Bellum Games," I said as a tear slipped down my cheek, but this wasn't a tear of sadness... it was a tear of happiness. The team has worked hard. I feel proud to be their leader.

I heard a couple of sniffs from the team, but before they could say anything an announcer stepped onto a fallen tree and shook a bell that was in his hand. All the teams turned to him.

"Welcome to the Bellum Games!" The announcer yelled. Everyone raised their swords and cheered, as some people banged their swords on their shields. The announcer smiled and then started speaking again, "As you all know some of you will return here missing something, whether it may be sanity or a body part, but we all know no matter what, we must—"

"Fight, stay fighting, and be fought!" We all yelled.

The announcer gave an approving nod, "Your instructors taught you well. So, as you know this is challenge one in the Bellum Games. Forest Chase to be exact. Before I give instructions, all instructors... if you would please mark your team's leader as tradition."

All of the instructors walked up to the leaders they chose for the game, holding a bordered plate with black paint in the middle. Instructor Martinalli walked over to me, but before he put the paint in my face, he grabbed a knife from a pocket in his robe and cut his hand. My eyes widened as the drops of his blood fell into the paint. I looked around and saw other instructors doing the same thing. I then looked around and saw Drake's instructor mixing the paint and blood and putting little lines of the paint mix underneath Drake's eyes. So, it's true... he is leader. He glanced at me and smiled. I gave a small smile back then focused on Instructor Martinalli.

He finished putting the paint mix on my face, then placed a hand on my shoulder and whispered, "Lead us to victory. I have total confidence in you, Cara."

I felt a sob slip free as I hugged Instructor Martinalli. I then pulled away and replied, "Thank you Instructor Martinalli. I won't let you down."

He smiled and patted me on the shoulder, then he turned and walked away.

The announcer spoke when all of the instructors finished. He said, "Everyone group up and pay attention. For challenge Forest Chase, there are flags placed at the very end of the forest. Each flag has a symbol of your team on it. We have set the forest with many obstacles and I guarantee they are not easy ones. You must go through the obstacles and capture the flag then carry the flag back to here and give it to your instructor," He took a deep breath, "It does not matter which member of your team gets the flag, just as long as you bring it back here. When my fellow helper hits the gong you will begin," Right when he was about to step off of the fallen tree he reconsidered and smirked, "One last thing... be prepared for anything, because in this game the only rules are to fight, stay fighting, and be fought."

I glanced around to find Drake staring right at me. I took a good look at him. I never thought I would see him in Scaleneburg armor, but here we are. I looked at how his armor was different from the rest. Instead of the green and gray armor the rest of his team had he had a vibrant purple and black armor. He also had a snake symbol in the middle of his helmet instead of two snakes on the side like the others. I looked at the paint on his face marking him leader. He mouthed something, but I couldn't tell what, because Mira grabbed his arm and yanked him into the middle of his group. I sighed.

The announcer's helper stood in front of the gong, getting ready to bang it. Everyone started lining up in front of the forest. Just then, I felt someone tap me on the shoulder. I looked and saw Oara her eyes wide in panic.

"What is it?" I whispered. Was she that nervous?

"We need a team catchphrase!" She half yelled half whispered back. I bit back a laugh. That's what she's worried about?

"Alright, team listen up... here is what are catchphrase is going to be," Right as I finished telling them the catchphrase, a giant bang rippled throughout the teams.

The gong was hit.

Declaring now that the Bellum Games has finally begun.