Shaiden was running through the dark, misty forest. She was panting and breathing so hard that her chest felt like it was about to explode. Flashes of daggers filled the air surrounding her. She managed to avoid their sharp tips and sides, and kept running.
Suddenly, Slash landed ten meters in front of her. Shaiden gasped and skidded to a stop. Slash charged at her, his thick sword in hand. The ninja's mind went blank.
"Shaiden!"
Shaiden turned to see Kookaburra running for her. Before she could stop him, he knocked her down to the side. Shaiden went tumbling over the leaf-covered floor. When she and the world stopped spinning, she yanked her head up just in time to see Slash punch Kookaburra to the ground. He then lifted his sword above the bird's chest. Shaiden threw her arm out towards Kook.
"No!"
Shaiden cried out and lunged her body upwards, wide awake. She quickly looked around her, then realized that the previous scene had only been a nightmare. The ninja sighed with deep relief when she saw Kookaburra lying on the floor, sleeping peacefully.
The ninja laid her back against the cave's wall and rubbed her face. She could sense that her heart was still racing. That nightmare had been terrifying.
Shaiden heard some fabric lightly sweep against the cave's floor. She turned her head to see Kook stir. He yawned, then slowly sat up.
"Are the Attackers here, yet?" he asked, rubbing his eyes.
"Kook, we're still in the Games."
Kookaburra opened his eyes, then glanced around him.
"Oh...right," he sighed.
Shaiden moved her gaze to the bird's forearm. She arched forward. "Kook, your arm!"
"What? What about it?"
"It's all better!"
Kookaburra examined his left arm. The cut was gone. It had completely disappeared. He laughed.
"So it is! Sweet!" Kook put his eyes on Shaiden's face. His smile widened. "Hey, your forehead's better, too!"
The ninja moved her hand to where her cut had been. She smiled with satisfaction when she couldn't detect the injury anywhere.
"You're right," she said, leaning back against the cave's wall. "It's gone."
Shaiden took a quick moment to study Kook's face. He was smiling and cheerful, just like he usually would be. She felt her grin expand. It was totally worth fighting for.
"I'm still glad I didn't have to swallow any of that cream stuff," Kook declared after a short pause, making a face.
***
Later on, the two had left the cave to search for food. Kookaburra wandered off to find some edible vegetation and Shaiden went hunting for more squirrels.
The ninja had found one squirrel and was hidden in the shadows, waiting for the precise moment to strike. As she waited, she couldn't help but wonder why she had that nightmare about losing Kook. It was quite unusual for her to dream something like that.
Shaiden blinked. Was it possible that she was starting to fall for the kookaburra? The two had grown closer together in the Games, and she had been feeling the need to be around him a lot more often. And the more time she spent with him, the more attached she became to him.
Perhaps she was growing to like him; as more than a friend.
Shaiden quickly shook her head. No. That couldn't happen. Romantic affairs were too dangerous and risky to get involved in. She couldn't allow herself to get romantically attached to Kook.
But still, it was hard not to like him, especially since he liked her and had risked his neck for her. And just the way he livened things up back at the castle, and how he was always so cheerful and funny...
Suddenly, a cannon blast sounded through the air. Shaiden looked up in alarm.
"...Kook?"
There was no response. Terrified, Shaiden drew in a sharp breath, stumbled up from her hiding place, then ran through the thick mass of trees.
"Kook!" she called. "Kookaburra!"
Shaiden continued running, whipping her head left and right. The only things she could hear were her boots pounding against the ground and the wind whistle through the trees. She was just about to shout again when-
"SHAIDEN!"
Shaiden suddenly crashed into something, fell on top of it, and rolled across the forest floor. All she could see were swirling colors of blue, purple, and green. When she finally landed on top of her stomach, she looked up in front of her. A huge wave of relief crashed over her.
"Kook!"
The bird laying in front of her let out a deep breath. "Shaiden!"
The two quickly stood up. Before Shaiden could say another word, Kookaburra lunged at the ninja and wrapped his arms around her.
"Don't you scare me like that!" he yelled, tightening his grip.
Shaiden, half annoyed and half amused, rolled her eyes. "Kook, please let go of me."
Kook looked down at his arms, as if he had just discovered that he had hugged her. He felt his face redden a little, then let go.
"Sorry," he apologized.
An awkward pause. Kook put his hand into one of the pouches on his belt, then pulled it out. "I got some berries."
The ninja took one look at Kook's right hand, then suddenly slapped it, knocking the majority of the dark berries from his palm.
"I'm the one who should be worried!" she declared. "You're the one holding nightlock berries!"
Kook cocked his head. "Nightlock berries?"
Shaiden groaned. Didn't that bird do any research? "They were hybrid in the Captital's lab; they're highly poisonous."
"Oops..." Kook uttered, tossing the rest of the berries out of his hand.
Shaiden sighed and shook her head. She didn't bother to ask if Kook ate any; she knew that he'd already be dead if he did.
There was another short moment of silence.
"So, if you're still alive," Kookaburra said, "and I'm still alive...then who's dead?"
***
The two Defenders stared up at the techno-blue hologram in the sky. It was showing the picture of the Tribute who had just died.
"Flame," Shaiden stated solemnly.
After a brief moment passed, the hologram disappeared. The two Defenders looked at each other, then turned and started walking back in the direction of the stream.
"I've been calling her Foxface," Kook stated with a slight grin.
Shaiden sighed and shook her head. "So many died this week," she commented. "So many suffered. How could they be entertained by that?" By "they", Shaiden was refering to the residents of the Camelot Capital, the Gamemakers, and President Arthur. "How could anyone be amused with such cruelty?"
Kook shook his head. "I don't know, sweetheart."
Nothing was said for awhile after that. All that could be heard around them was the leaves crunching beneath the Defenders' boots.
"...Shaiden?"
"Yes?"
"Why is it already dark?"
Shaiden stopped dead in her tracks. She looked up at the sky. It was only one in the afternoon, but the sky was already as black as night. Why didn't she notice that earlier?
Shaiden fingered the handle of her sword. "They must be in a hurry to finish it."
The two Defenders suddenly heard a scream. They whirled around in the scream's direction. A cannon blasted. After a moment, the two looked up to see Thor's face appear in the sky.
Shaiden looked over at her comrade. He was trembling a little bit. Who could blame him? Even the ninja was freaked out. Her heart was beating at a thousand miles an hour.
"Must be time for the big finale," she stated.
Silence filled the air. Both Defenders stood still, each a little too terrified to move right away. Shaiden was about to suggest heading back to the cave, but then...there was a growl.
"...Um...Shaiden?"
The ninja held her hand up, signaling Kook to be quiet. He clamped his mouth shut, then listened along with Shaiden. They heard another faint growl from behind them.
They slowly turned around. Nothing. Shaiden unsheathed her sword. The moonlight glinted off its silvery surface before Shaiden surged it within a shadow. She held it out towards the bushes. The ninja carefully listened for the faint growls and snarls, changing her position ever so slightly when the noises shifted. Then she waited...
A mutt-thing leapt out at her. Shaiden stabbed its chest as it knocked her to the ground. The mutt withdrew with an angry snarl, but didn't weaken in any way. Kook frantically pulled the ninja up, and the two started running. Kook yanked out his bow from his back and shot an arrow at the dog's chest, but to no avail. The duo darted away even faster as more mutts appeared from behind the trees.
As the two Defenders sprinted throughout the forest, Kook would occasionally glance over his shoulder and yell at Shaiden to run faster when he saw that the mutts were even closer. The wolf mutations drove them all the way to the Cornucopia.
Shaiden reached the Cornucopia first. Kook gave Shaiden a boost up, and she in turn pulled him on top of it. The mutts arrived just seconds afterwards. They scratched and pounded on the structure, snarling and gnashing their teeth at the duo. Kook took a step back. He was just about to pull Shaiden back with him when something grasped his neck.
The bird's sudden cry made Shaiden turn around. To her horror, Slash, looking more insane than ever, had Kook's neck in his powerful hand, and had brought him to the floor. Shaiden clenched her sword and pierced it at Slash's arm. He let out a pained shout and let go of the bird. He growled furiously, then went after the ninja. Shaiden fought back valiantly, even after Slash managed to knock her sword out of her hands.
Kook rolled over on his stomach and pushed himself up. He whipped out his bow just as Shaiden delivered a kick to Slash's face. Slash fell back. While his head was momentarily turned from the ninja, he noticed that Kook was starting to aim at him. Just before Kook could correctly adjust his arrow, Slash smacked the weapons from Kook's hands.
Kook darted after his weapon, Slash following. Slash was just about to clench the bird's neck when Shaiden attacked him again. Slash angrily turned back to the ninja, then fought back even harder than she did. He weakened her with a brutal jab to her face.
The bird had wrapped his hand around his bow just as Slash overpowered the ninja. Kook yanked his body around and aimed his weapon at the Career, who's arm was now constricting Shaiden's neck. Kookaburra glared at him fiercely, as if he was demanding him to let Shaiden go. Slash looked him directly in the eyes.
"Go on. Shoot. Then we both go down, and you'd win."
Kook didn't respond, his angry gaze unwavering.
"Go on," Slash growled. "I'm dead anyway! I always was, right? I didn't know that until now. That's what they want, huh?"
A momentary pause. Kookaburra slightly adjusted his aim. Slash immediately tightened his grip around the ninja's neck, making her clench her teeth together even more.
"No! I can still do this! Just one more kill! That's all I need to do! Satisfy my thirst for blood! Avenge Glint and Clover! Bring pride to my castle!" He paused, then grinned evilly. "Not that any of it matters."
Kook's blue eyes fell to Slash's hand. Shaiden was moving her index finger over it in a circular motion. Before he even realized he had done it, he fired. Slash cried out as he fell back, letting go of Shaiden's neck. Kookaburra leapt out and grabbed Shaiden just as Slash fell to the mutts. The Career screamed and shouted in agony as the mutts began gnawing at his body.
The two Defenders watched the gruesome scene with horror. Kook's face twisting into various grossed-out expressions as he observed the mutts maul Slash. Finally, he groaned and turned his face.
"I can't watch this," he stated, pulling his goggles over his eyes.
Shaiden couldn't stand it, either. Without a word, she turned and retrieved her sword from the thick sheet of metal. Then she marched at the edge of the Cornucopia, aimed at Slash's chest, then threw it, putting him out of his misery. The mutts, satisfied, ran off back to the forest. When Shaiden and Kook could no longer see them, the sky began to brighten.
The two Defenders shakily climbed down the Cornucopia, then watched as a golden glow exploded across the sky. Though seriously traumatized for life, Kook found himself smiling. He laughed out of sheer relief, then spun around.
"Shaiden, we won! We can go home!"
Shaiden smiled as Kookaburra started dancing. She laughed as well. "You're right, we won!"
Suddenly, a voice sounded over the arena's intercom, interrupting the two Defenders' celebration.
"Attention, Tributes. There's been a...slight rule change. The previous revision allowing for two victories from the same castle has been revoked. Only one victor may be crowned. Good luck. And may the odds be ever in your favor."
Though the voice had cut his last word off abruptly, Kook and Shaiden were too shocked to care. They looked at each other in disbelief.
"Wha...what?" Kook gasped.
Shaiden felt herself shake, first with horror, then with rage. Her eyes narrowed as she whipped her head in the intercom's direction.
"No, you...you can't do that! That's not fair! You can't do that! YOU CAN'T DO THAT TO US!"
The ninja screamed in frustration and rammed her fist into the air. Still boiling, she charged for the Cornucopia and began beating the life out of it. After realizing that there was nothing she could do to change the Gamemakers' minds, she calmed herself down, then turned to Kook. He was the one holding the bow and last arrow. Kookaburra looked at his companion, then at his bow, then back at Shaiden, then the bow again. He shook his head.
"I just can't..."
Kook dropped his bow and arrow, then stepped back. He took a deep breath, then slowly moved his gaze to Shaiden.
"Go ahead."
The ninja looked at him indignantly. "Kook, I'm not killing you! How could you even think that?"
The bird stared back at her sadly. "But someone has to go home, sweetheart."
"Then it should be you."
The bird started to protest.
"I don't want to hear it. You're a great Defender, and you love being one. The Kingdom of Splatalot needs you." Shaiden crossed her arms and drew in her breath sharply. "Go on," she said firmly, glancing at the weapons. "Don't keep a lady waiting."
Kookaburra looked at the ground. He loved being a Defender, and he loved everyone at the castle. He felt at home there. He belonged there. But he couldn't bring himself to go back if a certain someone didn't return with him.
"But I'm not killing you either," Kook replied, looking back up.
The ninja lifted an eyebrow. "Why not?"
Kook suddenly removed his eyes from the ninja's face. He swallowed. "Shaiden, I...l-look, I...I just...you're a great friend, and you're so pretty, and beautiful, and you're so good at defending the castle, and I was so afraid of losing you and I just..."
Kookaburra paused and took a deep breath. He re-directed his gaze to the ninja's face.
"Shaiden...I really like you. I...I love you."
Shaiden felt her heart jerk at those words. Then and there, she saw how special she was to Kook. Kook was truly willing to give up his whole life of being a Defender for her. She realized how much he truly cared about her.
The ninja shifted her footing slightly. "I'll admit, Kook, I...I'm also starting to...like you. Really like you."
Kook's eyes lit up. "You mean-"
"Yes," the ninja interrupted. "I think I'm growing to like you. As more than friends, I mean."
"You are?"
Shaiden nodded, then paused. "I don't want to go back to the castle if it means losing you, Kook. I am not leaving this arena without you."
Kook stared at the ninja. He felt a feeling of deep joy pour into his chest, making his throat tighten up a little. Then, he walked next to Shaiden and gently took her hand in his. He locked his blue eyes with her brown ones.
"Then neither am I."
Shaiden glanced at his hand in hers, then looked back up at him. She slowly smiled.
"Together?"
Kook beamed back at her, and gripped her hand tighter. "Together."
The two stared at each other for a moment longer, then turned to gaze at the trees outlined in the golden sky. Suddenly, a new voice boomed over the intercom.
"Attention everyone." The voice had a very cocky and confident tone. "I believe that we have this year's King and Queen of the Medieval Games."
Shaiden and Kookaburra looked at each other. They couldn't believe their ears. Kook was the first to speak.
"Is that...?"
"That's not, it can't be-"
Suddenly, a light flashed over the two Defenders. The two let go of each other and watched as a Captital hovercraft appeared in the sky. As it descended, wind violently swirled around the two and blew through their hair. Soon, the plane landed, and its doors opened. The woman standing in the plane gave the two shocked Defenders warm smile.
"Hello, my dears."
Shaiden and Kook burst into huge smiles.
"Knightriss!" they shouted together.
...And...that's Chapter 4. Originally, I had planned to add more to this chapter, but then I decided to make the very last part another chapter. So...I have at least one more chapter to write.
I put up a poll on my profile page. Feel free to check it out!
(And someone please post the first episode of Splatalot season 2 on Youtube...just saying. But I can wait.)
Happy Halloween! Thanks for reading!