"Here's your thunderstones and smokesticks.", List said, handing the vixen her merchandise and taking her gold.

"Thank you.", the vixen replied.

"Next.", List said to the rat standing in line.

"I'd like six measures of vermin repellent, please.", the rat said.

"That'll be thirty pieces of gold.", List replied.

The rat handed him the coins and he began mixing up the repellent.

"Hey Mayflower.", a ferret said as she stepped in line behind the rat.

"Good afternoon Silverpelt.", Mayflower said, turning towards the jill as the two began to gossip.

"Did you hear?", Silverpelt said, adjusting her fur stole. "The fighting pits have opened back up."

"I swear, how you can find such rude spectacle entertaining is beyond me.", the rat said, taking her purchase from List and stowing it in her bag. "Thank you."

"Still trying to get rid of those centipedes are you?", Silverpelt asked.

"Yeah, they're starting to take over.", Mayflower answered as the two began walking down the street.

"Next.", List said, gesturing to the next beast in line.

Hastings stood outside the blood red building, looking up at the sign.

"Sanguine Sands Fighting Pits.", he read aloud. "Gambling and Drinking."

He walked to the door, stopping in front of the large stoat outside.

"What do ya want?", the stoat asked, leaning on a heavy cane.

"I heard you could get money for fighting here?", the otter asked.

"You heard correctly, young'un.", the rat answered. "Just head on in and ask Skinny behind the bar to enter the contests."

Hastings entered the building, seeing a small arena descending into the floor, a dirt-floored fighting pit at the bottom.

A pair of rats currently occupied the ring, both stripped to the waist.

The larger of the two, a bearded, brown-furred specimen, swung a haymaker at his smaller opponent.

The smaller black rat darted back out of reach, the lunged for the brown rat's legs.

The brown rat caught him under his arms and lifted into the air, then slammed him down hard onto the dirt.

"Oof.", the brown rat grunted, stepping back as the black rat jabbed him in the groin.

The black rat followed up with a kick to the thigh and and uppercut to the chin.

The brown rat staggered back as his opponent kicked at his chest.

The brown caught the black one's foot paw, dragged his leg back sharply.

The black rat gasped as he was pulled off balance, tumbling onto his belly.

His opponent seized the opening, pouncing on his opponent and wrapping his arm around his neck.

The black rat struggled as his air supply was suddenly cut off, thrashing about in a vain attempt to escape.

Eventually his struggles ceased and he went limp in the brown one's grasp.

"The winner…", the ferret referee said, stepping into the ring and lifting the victorious rat's arm into the air. "…Njord Brownbeard!"

"Sigr!", Njord shouted, celebrating his victory as the crowd cheered.

"Somebeast help Kuai the Quick up.", the referee said, looking down at the unconscious rat.

Two rats and a weasel descended into the pit and poured some water onto Kuai's face to revive him.

"Next pair of challengers!", the referee said as Njord and Kuai over towards the bar.

"How about me?", a silver fox asked as he leapt over the edge of the pit, landing gracefully on his paws.

"Silverbrush the Venomfist!", the referee announced. "Any challengers?"

"Me!", Hastings said, stepping up to the ring, the prospect of combat exciting him.

"Well then come on down.", the referee said as the crowd cheered.

Hastings climbed down into the pit, looking the fox over, noting that he was a good deal smaller than the otter.

"You seemed to be a newcomer to this establishment, correct?", the referee asked.

"Yes.", Hastings said.

"Then a quick overview of the rules first.", the referee said. "No biting, no eye gouging, and no intentionally lethal blows, do both of you understand?"

The two contestants nodded.

"Then…,", the referee said. "…began."

Kyrnn helped the older vixen, whom she'd learned was named Amber, lean a bruised and battered rat back onto the bed.

"You should see the other beast.", the rat bragged as Krynn handed him a cup of poppy milk.

"I probably will.", Amber said as she cast a healing spell on the rat, causing some of his bruises to disappear.

"Thanks cutie, I feel much better now.", the rat said after he finished drinking.

"Good.", Amber said, picking up a metal bucket sitting next to the bed. "Ten please."

"Well since I'll likely need your services again…", the rat said, dropping ten gold pieces into the bucket.

"Next.", Amber said, leaning out of the small alcove.

"That'd be me.", a fox with his arm in a sling said, walking into the alcove.

"How did this happen?", Amber asked, examining the broken and blooded arm.

"Well, I, the noted Seafur von Kriegs, was sent upon by seven inevitables…", the fox began.