Three days passed since Leaf took a break from the fights. I haven't eaten a single thing since. I gave all my food to the others in the other room. There was one piece of bread for everyone minus me, it was probably Leaf's way of trying to get me to betray my friends. I was trying to drink enough water to fill my stomach with something. I was just exhausted and I didn't want to move or do anything. If I sat up the room would spin for a second or two. So most of the time, I just slept all day. I was just about to doze off, but someone touched my back.
"Corol?" they called, and I rolled over to face the slot.
"Till, you're awake!" I smiled resting my head again on the floor, "How are you feeling?"
"Corol, never mind that! You don't look so good, are you hurt?!" Till took one of my hands, "You're cold..."
"I'm just kinda tired... I haven't really been sleeping that's all..." I lied.
"Oh, then I guess I should-"
"Move it!" Cuddlefish shoved Till aside, "You're lying aren't you?"
She grabbed my wrist and pulled me closer to the slot. I tried to get away, but I guess you can guess how that ended. I just laid there in defeat. She checked my pulse, and lifted up my jacket.
"You are starving yourself aren't you?!" Cuddlefish grabbed me by the collar.
"N-no, I just haven't been sleeping at night" I rested my head on top of my arm.
"Are you lying?"
"No."
"Then why are you so thin?"
"Come on! Leaf's not feeding any of us, enough food. How can I be fat?"
"I at least expect you to be muscley! You look like your losing muscles!"
"I can't lose what I never had" I chuckled.
"Stop playing this is serious!" she growled, "You're starving aren't you?!"
"There isn't enough food... I am eating just a lot less than I should be..."
"If I don't, you and everyone on that side will starve... What do want me to do?"
"Splatting care about yourself, Corol! " Cuddlefish lightly pushed me. "Hey, do we have any more food?"
"No, I'm afraid we don't..." the other squids seemed to trying to sneak a peek at me, "what's wrong with him?"
"He's starving... so we could eat..." Ari replied.
"I'll be fine... Just trust me..." I crawled away from them.
"Corol! Get back here!" Cuddlefish demanded.
"Cuddlefish, there isn't anything we could do... There isn't enough food for everyone if Corol eats. There is only one piece of food for everyone squid on this side." Ari looked away.
"I HATE THIS!" Cuddlefish stomped away.
I rolled onto my back looking at the ceiling. When some flapping sounds caught my attention, and the crow perched on the opening high up near the ceiling.
"Oh, its you... What do you want, bird?" I sighed.
"Now, now. I'm not here to pick a fight. I just thought you would be interested in this," The crow flew down beside me and handed me a small bottle with a note in it.
"What?"
"go on, take it."
"What's the catch?"
"Nothing, except maybe pity..." the crow dropped the bottle on to the ground, "Oh, a little bit of a warning... Leaf has something up his sleeves for you, Corol. He would love nothing more than to break you... So... I'd be careful...if I were you"
"Why are you doing this?" I asked.
"Pity. You're... desperately protecting inklings, even those whom tried have murdered you. I just pity your foolishness. One day, your foolishness will be your downfall. Farewell for now."
With that the crow flew off somewhere. I sat up, grabbed the bottle, and quickly shook out the note. I eagerly read every single word on it.
-Leaf's Pov-
I sat back in my seat waiting for the meeting to start. I wondered what could be so important that Draguna interrupted the tournament. Bunny just dangled her legs and stared at the clock. The other higher up sluggers were just chatting among each other. I nibbled on the stem of Samek leaves.
"COME ON ALREADY!" Bunny shouted, "THIS IS GETTING BORING! I have better things to do..."
"My apologies, I was dealing with some ill-mannered slaves." Draguna closed the door and walked in front of the projector screen, "Now, why I called you all here today is I found out that many of you aren't helping with rebuilding our newly made territory, and I find that very... annoying."
"Oh, well excuse me, your highness." Bunny rolled her eyes, "It's not like you told us we had to."
"No, you are right. I didn't, but I came up with a great solution!"
"Okay, we're listening," my antennae twitched.
"Well, I'll split up the land and you guys can make the slaves build a city, not just any city, but your dream city!"
"So you're saying we'll be making a city as we see fit?"
"Yes, what do you guys think?"
"That actually sounds like fun, but I doubt there enough lands for every single slugger."
"That's where the arena comes in handy!" A voice sang from the door, "Sorry, I'm late!"
A slugger with a bright red frilly cloak and antennae danced in.
"Bailarein, of course you are late... Yes, that is exactly what the arena is for. We'll let the slaves fight it out and see who will have to surrender their deed."
"Yeah! That way we can also have more ink and build our own paradise!" Bailarein danced around, "Oh! I'm soo excited!"
"So my troops will control the slave and make sure that they're working on my land?" I thought it over, "And what if they misbehavior?"
"They're your slaves, Leaf. You can just kill 'em, duh!" Bunny pointed out.
"Aww, that's no fun. Why not torture them until they beg for death? That's what I do!" Bailarein grinned, "It makes me wanna do that to my slaves right now!"
"Come on, Bailarein. If you kill off all your slaves you won't have any to build your city!"
"True, true, but still I have a bunch of them. So maybe I could torture some of them, for the fun of it."
"Whatever. Oh hey, Leaf!" Bunny turned to me, "What did you want from me again?"
"Well, you know how I have an Inkling named Corol as my fighter right?"
"Corol, Corol, Oh yes, that squid that was called the most pathetic inkling on TV, right? What about 'em?"
"You seem to have his family whom would love to see him killed or kill him themselves"
"Really?! His family want to kill him?! That is like the saddest thing ever!"
"Oh really, who is it?" Bailarein asked
"The mayor. So wanna, I don't know, fight?"
"Hmmm, is that a challenge, Leaf? What do I get if I win?"
"Well, all my slaves and my cooperation in building your city."
"Deal, but I want to know more about your fighter. I wonder if I could just break him..."
"I guess we see if you can..."
-Author's Notes-
To one of the guest Corol, Cuddlefish, Ari, Till, are 16 years old. Acrilic, Pastelli, Aria, Chomp, are in their twenties. Nana is about the same age as Captain Cuttlefish. Connie is twelve. Her sisters are between 16-18. I think that's everyone... if want anyone else's age just ask. Any questions at all I will try to answer! Ask away!
Okay same as always how am I doing? should I fix anything? Thanks for reading!