We rode Frost back to Mikeru's house where he had arranged with James to get our payment. It was late and the sun had already set.

J: …and here's the money I owe you all. I would like to thank you all again for your help and us vendors won't forget this.

K: No problem. We were just doing what you hired us to do.

The door slams and James leaves.

I turn back and Mike snatches 1,000 of my share of the 30,000 as well as 1,000 of Dylan's.

K: What the hell?

M: It's rent. Your guys are living in my house. Not to mention using my kitchen, bathroom, bedrooms, s—

K: fine I get it… I'm just going to go crash.

D: Night people.

Dylan's POV

I went upstairs to my room and did not even remember falling asleep. I remembered being in a arena. I was fighting against a behemoth—a dinosaur…ish beast…thingy.. It was growling and started running towards me as I sank into the earth using my earth bending. I came back up from the ground and started punching several stones into the…umm… dinosaur? It's thick scales absorbed the damage from the rocks and it ran towards me. I bent rocks to cover my body like armor and braced for the…"thing's" impact. It lurched into me and I held my ground against the…"it" I picked it up by its tail and launched it into the air. When it hit the ground, it landed against its stomach hard enough to cause it to cough up its recent meal. Apparently, dinosaurish half creature, half Josef, (kid from the streets) looking things feed on humans as it coughed up a half digested arm.

Kai's POV

I woke up in the middle of the night and fell back asleep. I dreamt of a memory from a few days before Susan…died.

S: Kai! Come with me to the lake.

K: hmm? Why?

S: We need fish maybe? Besides, you know it's harder to fish after dark.

K: alright, alright. Let's go

We walked to the lake to fish using our water bending. I knew we had plenty of fish back at the house. The real reason she wanted me to come to the lake was to be out in the rain. She had always enjoyed it.

K: Don't you think we've got enough fish now?

S: Yeah, yeah. But let's just stay in the rain a little while longer. You know what I heard?

K: What?

S: Rain symbolizes the loss of something for something better. Or at least, that's what mom always said. I've always been waiting to see something like that happen to one of us. Like, what could be better than losing something like a… a…

K: A loved one?

S: Yeah! I just don't know what you could replace with something like that. Maybe it's some king of lesson or some greater reason for the loss. Like—

K: I'm getting soaked… I hope you realize that…

S: Oh yeah, let's head back.

Day 10—(Caseadonia)

Mikeru's POV

I woke up to hear the rustling of boxes out in my kitchen. I walked into my kitchen and saw the room was filled with red and orange boxes. I saw Dylan digging through the cabinets and so I moved closer to see what he was doing. I figured I'd take a calm approach to this, so I said…

M: Dylan! What the fuck did you do to my kitchen?!

D: I'm sorry, what did you say?

M: It looks like McDonalds took a shit on my kitchen! What did you do?!

D: Well, you know, I was just using my reward money to… resupply.

M: Resupply?

I read the boxes all over my kitchen. They all read the same thing. "Chizze's cheese crackers. If it's not Chizze's, it's not Chessey."

I see Kai walking down the stairs.

K: Because buying those crackers was a great way to spend your money… Just fucking genius.

D: Gotta do, what you gotta do man. Whatever gets you by.

K: ……

M: There's someone at the door.

K: What? I didn't hear anything.

I go to open the door. I see a man in white robes and rainbow colored shoes. First thought that comes to mind is, "Okay, he's a faggot…"

K: hello sir. What's your name?

Man(G): I am sir spifumopolopus sternine the third.

D: Something about a pig?

G: You can just call me George though. (pronounced Hor-hay)

M: so George what brings you here.

G: What brings me here? What brings me here?!

M: Yes, that's kind of what I just asked you…

G: Have you not heard of the annual rebirth tournament?

K: tournament? Like gladiator tournaments?

G: Yes! These tournaments have been going on for years and years now. For you to not have heard about them you would have had to have been living in a shell.

K: so what do the tournaments have to do with us?

G: These tournaments allow any contestants to enter for rewards like money, food, and anything else you could think of. I would like to enter you all as representatives for me and am willing to pay you for your services.

M: How much we talking here?

G: If you win, I would say about 80 grand.

I think I drooled a little when I heard that number. When I looked at Dylan he looked as if he was about to faint, while Kai started writing something down.

K: Please sign this. It's a legal confirmation document. It makes sure what you say now us not changed later if you decide to change your mind.

G: Sure, sure.

K: So how many does just are we talking about spending in this tournament?

G: The games last about a week. In the mean time, I will pay for you all to stay in a hotel outside of the payment I am giving you all for taking on the job.

K: Are there major risks?

G: These games have no rules. You are allowed to go in with anything you consider a weapon—even monsters are allowed as a way of winning the games. The idea is that the games attract new civilians to the town and increase the overall profit.

D: And just where are we going? Or did I miss something?

G: The largest city on the island.

K: Jerium?

G: no fine sir. Caseadonia! The city of lights and fame! Where nobodies become somebodies, losers become winners, boys become men!

Oh yeah…. Definitely a faggot.

D: Where would we have to go anyway?

G: It is far north on the island. I have a cart to take you guys there.

K: Oh joy…

G: I know isn't it?!

K: faggot…

G: What was that?

K: just thinking aloud. Lemme just grab a few things and I'll be ready.

We went outside to see some white cart that I assume was to be from royalty. I wondered why if he was royalty, where was his arranged marriage wife? Maybe his faggotry drove her away before marriage.

K: This carries a risk of death. You guys do realize that don't you?

D: We won't die. Besides, it's not like we can't defend ourselves.

K: I guess so. Well look at that, it's raining.