— ASHEN —
Zoryn disappeared after the tournant last night, before I had the chance to tell her how impressive she was. She fights like soone who trusts herself.
It’s rare, dangerous, and most importantly, admirable.
Beyond her being sweet-slling, it’s no wonder everyone’s drawn to her.
Sadly, there are now only a couple of hours before the final match between her and Riven starts, and I still haven’t seen her anywhere.
Shit, man. I really want to wish her luck before the match.
I run a hand through my fluffy mop of hair and sigh.
I feel pretty bad about how much I pissed her off the day before yesterday, and I don’t know how to fix it. I really didn’t an to offend her—I was taught from when I was a pup that the few won we have should be protected, that’s all.
Also, she’s like, really fucking beautiful, and it makes feel so kind of way. It makes act stupid, and now she thinks Riven, of all people, is cooler than .
I hate my life.
"Uncle Ash!"
A small voice drags out of my pathetic reverie. I glance back to see one of the kids, Reele from my pack, running toward . He just turned six a few days before the festival, so he was finally old enough to co. They don’t allow pups younger than him to attend since it’s a little hectic and dangerous.
"What’s up, bud?" I ask, unable to hide a soft smile as the rascal approaches . "You’re up early."
"Can you teach Tenka and how to fight again when we get ho? That lady was so aweso yesterday, and I wanna fight like her soday," he says excitedly, his ss of red hair falling into his eyes.
I chuckle, "Yeah, we can spar a little. Your brother’s probably sad he’s missing out, so we’ll have to make it up to him."
"Yeah, he hasn’t been feeling good lately..." Reele pouts a little, but beams at after a mont, "We can show him how aweso it was, though! He can co with us next ti."
I smile softly, "Of course, little man. We’ll be ho in a few days, and we can show him what you learned here, eh?"
Reele nods excitedly, "Yeah! Yeah! It’ll be so cool. Also, I learned how to dance yesterday, watch this."
The kid starts to flail wildly to so imaginary rhythm—he looks ridiculous, but he’s smiling so excitedly, I can’t help but clap along. I’m really proud of him. I think he’s going to grow into a strong warrior soday, and I’m looking forward to training him.
His littermate, Tenka, is unfortunately a very sickly child. He can’t leave ho very often, and spends most of his days with the pack moms and healers—he has a rare disease that we haven’t been able to find a cure for, yet, and the survival rate is very low, so every day is a gift.
I sigh, my heart growing heavier when I think of him. I wish I knew more about dicine; I was kind of hoping I could connect with healers from other tribes while I was here to see if they knew any redies, but I’ve been so busy I haven’t had the chance yet.
Also, a lot of the talented healers are serpents, which are impossible to fucking talk to half the ti. They’re all so condescending... not as bad as Sylas, but close.
"Reele! Let’s get dressed!"
One of the moms calls for him, making him stop in his tracks. He looks at apologetically, "I’ll see you later, uncle!"
"See ya," I wave, watching with a soft smile as he runs back toward our pack’s section of the lodgings.
After he disappears behind another tent, I stay there a mont longer, staring at the empty space he left behind.
...Then I turn toward the healer tents.
I was planning on watching the early matches. Wanted to see how the finalists ward up, wanted to get my head in the ga before Zoryn fought—but Tenka’s face won’t leave my mind.
I sigh and adjust the strap on my bracer.
"Later," I mutter to myself. "Fights can wait."
If there’s even a chance soone here knows sothing we don’t, I have to try.
——
— RIVEN —
I wake before the sun crests the ridge, already irritated.
Not because I slept poorly, or because I’m nervous—because I lost yesterday. I won my matches, but what I wanted most slipped through my fingers.
Her attention.
I sit up on the low stone bench outside my lodging and roll my shoulders, listening to the distant sounds of the valley waking. Footsteps. tal clinking. There’s soone in the next lodgings over, laughing way too loudly for this hour. The Moonfall Gathering never really sleeps, it just... changes gears.
I breathe in slowly through my nose, letting the familiar weight of my body settle back into place.
I’m not angry.
If I were angry, I’d be reckless. I’d be sloppy in the ring later—and I refuse to give Zoryn an easy win. The thought of her na pulls a sharp, amused exhale from my chest.
Gods, she’s infuriating.
Not because she’s strong—that part I respect.
Not because she’s beautiful. That’s obvious, and I’m not a fool who pretends otherwise.
It’s because she doesn’t care that people are watching her.
She didn’t shrink or soften at all yesterday. She didn’t suddenly beco polite just because everyone decided she was sothing to be wanted instead of soone to be wary of.
She punched a wolf in the jaw and asked for more food.
I grin despite myself. That takes spine.
Most people like power when it’s flattering. Very few like it when it’s inconvenient.
I lean forward, resting my forearms on my thighs, gold rings catching the early light. Sowhere across the grounds, I can already hear the low hum of the arena being prepared. Raking the sands, checking the wards, removing bloodstains...
I think of Ashen, and my mouth twists.
The wolf’s heart is in the right place. Too much so, honestly. He stays guarded, like everything precious will break the mont he looks away. It makes him predictable. Makes him loud when he should be quiet.
We’re around the sa age and have had run-ins with each other since we were kids. We’ve fought each other, but we’ve also fought side by side in so team sports a few tis. Honestly, I don’t dislike him as a person, but we’re nothing alike, and we get on each other’s nerves.
Ashen is softer than he looks, and he wants permission to exist in her space... but I don’t want Zoryn to choose because I hovered or pestered her. I want her to look at after the fight and know, without doubt, that I earned her respect the only way she values it—by eting her on the sand.
A couple of younger lions pass by, nodding respectfully. One of them opens his mouth like he’s about to say sothing stupid, then thinks better of it and keeps walking.
Good instincts. He’ll live longer that way.
I stand and stretch, muscles pulling easily. My body feels perfectly ward up, and I’m hungry—not for food, or for her.
I’m starving for a good match. I want to stand across from her and make her bare her teeth.
If she beats , I’ll bow publicly and without sha. If I beat her—
I snort.
No. Let’s not lie to ourselves this early in the morning.
She’s already beaten n twice my size—and ones smarter than , if I’m honest.
Yet, the idea doesn’t frustrate . It excites .
I head toward the training ring and catch sight of Daeleon in the distance, already awake, watching everything like the world is a problem waiting to happen.
The dragon’s gaze flicks to for half a second.
I incline my head.
He doesn’t return it—but he doesn’t glare either.
Progress.
I don’t fear Daeleon. Honestly, I understand him—he wants his child safe. I also want her unbroken, because she’s the first worthy competitor I’ve found.
I test my grip, flex my claws, then stop when I notice sothing that makes pause.
Zoryn.
She’s across the grounds, laughing with her bear friend, shoulders loose, posture easy. She looks... steady and grounded, like soone who slept well and is ready for a fight. I squint a little, it sorta looks like she has sothing on her neck? Was there always a tattoo there?
Huh. She’s a bit too far for to see properly, so I’ll just have to see her later.
I turn away, letting the anticipation coil low in my gut. When the crowd roars later, when the sun is high, and the sand is hot, and the air tastes like iron and sweat.
That’s when I’ll look at her.
Whether she wins or I triumph, she’ll know exactly who I am.
A challenger.
A competitor that she never has to look down on—and a lion strong enough she could rely on if she needed soone.
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