Kendra V

Kendra braced herself as she ran through the stone wall as she did her best to limit her light as she continued. As soon as she got through the stone wall, she was captured in the waiting hands of the same guards from earlier.

Kendra was terrified as they led her down the stone hallway. She took deep breaths but they did little to slow her beating heart. She watched as they continued to lead her down a different stone hall, turn after turn. Eventually, they reached an iron door which they pushed open as they threw her inside.

Kendra coughed as she breathed in a little dust and looked at her surroundings. She noticed right away she was in another stone room, similar to the one before. Only this time, there were other life forms. She almost said people, but that wouldn't apply to some of the things she was seeing.

All around here in the massive room were uncountable beings. Some human, some made of rock, some massive, some small. All wearing the same glare upon their scarred features. Kendra looked around timidly as she heard people whisper to one another, exchanging glances at her, she could have sworn she heard a few chuckles as well.

She looked around, trying to find out what to to do next. She also clearly felt a little intimidated by the people around her. All looked as if they had seen many battles and waged many wars. Whether they won or lost, it wasn't hard to see the scars on their faces.

"Eyes off her," Kendra heard someone say, she instantly flinched. She watched as everyone surprisingly backed away from the voice and bowed their heads in almost a show of respect to the person. Whoever it was, must be terrifying and that is exactly how Kendra was feeling.

She teased as someone walked through them, their figure hidden in the shadows but she let out a noise of happiness when she realized who it was. Kendra caught her friend in a desperate hug as Lilliana chuckled, but returned the hug gently before pulling back. At that moment, Kendra didn't care why all the other contestants had backed away from her. She got to see her friend.

"How are you doing?" Lilliana asked.

"I've been better," Kendra said, pulling away. "What are you doing here?"

"Same as you," Lilliana said honestly, "I have to fight."

"Why were they all listening to you?" Kendra couldn't help but blurt. As much as she respected Lilliana, why were all these terrifying opponents clearing the way for her without a fuss? And she highly doubted these people would do it just to be nice.

She saw Lilliana flinch before she opened her mouth to respond. "I'll tell you later," was all she said, "You'll see."

Kendra didn't push it, this was a soar subject for Lilliana. "If they all respect you, can you make the person fighting me back down?" She asked hopefully.

"Kendra, these are fights to the death." Lilliana said gently, "They won't put their life down like that no matter what I say. They may respect me enough to move, but they won't do anything like that. It's up to you." Kendra heard a few grumbles in the crowd, most likely in agreement. Kendra supposed she would feel the same way in their shoes, but she couldn't help but hope.

"What happens now?" Kendra asked.

Lilliana looked as if she were about to respond, when all the stone walls vanished, leaving them in the very middle of a massive arena. Kendra had never seen such a sight in her life and was struggling to understand all of it.

The arena was massive, larger than four football fields. All around them in the bleachers lay giants taller than she had ever seen before, all cheering for the battles. And right in the middle of these bleachers, in a massive gold throne, sat the giant queen.

Kendra felt herself being pulled through the air towards a seat along with the ide of the arena as she was plopped into a chair. She knew it was most likely hopeless, but she tried to get up nonetheless. But she couldn't, it felt as if a large weight was sitting in her lap.

"Welcome to this week's games!" The giant queen announced proudly, "Today, we will be seeing three different battles!" Murmurs could be heard from the crowd.

The giant queen nodded crisply to one of the other giants, whom Kendra guessed to be a servant, who bowed their head back. "Rules are the same as always," the giant said, "Betting can be made at the counter with one of her majesty's official managers. People betting outside the official program shall find themselves in no better position than the opponents themselves."

Kendra noticed a few of the giants shifted uncomfortably, she guessed the illegal betting was quite popular for reasons she didn't know. But before she could finish thinking, the giant continued. "We have a new fighter, whom you will see in round 2 as well." Kendra flinched, "Without further ado, let the games begin!"

Kendra watched around her as she heard two snaps, like chains breaking. She watched in horror as Lilliana stood up. Though she knew her friend had survived many rounds, she couldn't help but worry for her. She also watched a massive stone troll follow in pursuit, towering over fifty feet tall.

Kendra struggled but found herself unable to move. She collapsed in her seat, feeling defeated as she watched the two of them circle each other threateningly.

"Lilliana, winner of 23 matches!" A different giant announced, "And Borlo, with 17."

"Begin!" The crowd echoed.

Kendra watched as they continued to circle each other, both beckoning the other to make the first move. The stone creature bellowed angrily and said something in a language Kendra could not understand. Lilliana seemed to and didn't look exactly happy about what he had said.

For a minute, Lilliana locked eyes with Kendra and sent a small smile her way. Kendra cocked her head curiously, but her curious toy was soon answered.

Lilliana snarled viciously as her dress made if tiger pelt began to surround her, making a blur of fur blowing around with a tornado. Kendra watched, eyes big as saucers as the dress continued to reform until Lilliana was over 10 feet tall… and she was a massive tiger.

Lilliana pounced at the stone troll, swiping viciously with her claws. The stone troll was prepared though and held up his arm to block the strike. With it's other Stoney hand, it prepared to backhand Lilliana across the jaw.

Kendra was frozen in shock as the battle raged on, but it didn't hold up for her.

Right before the stone hand hit Lilliana, the same blur of fur took place only faster this time, replacing the massive tiger with Lilliana once again. She dove onto his arm and ran up it, right up to the troll's face.

The troll ferociously tried to shake her off, but with little to no avail. As soon as she reached the head, she nailed a kick in the jaw before flipping backward and turning back into her tiger form. The troll cried out in pain as it turned around in hopes to hit her once again, but the pattern repeated itself. The fight went in for almost fifteen minutes before Lilliana took it a step farther.

Lilliana in her tiger form ran to the sidelines and grabbed a sword from an array of options Kendra had not seen before. She probably would have guessed they showed up with a victory. Lillian grabbed the sword in her jaw and charged the troll, reverting to her human form, or so Kendra guessed, she lashed the final strike on the troll.

He collapsed heavily into the dust. Lilliana dropped her sword and pressed her forehead to the trolls, muttering words Kendra or no one else could hear except for the troll. It managed one last nod before it crumbled to dust.

Kendra looked at the sight in horror, could her friend have done all of that? And would she do the same to her?

Her thoughts were cut short by the applause from the crowd. They had liked the performance but weren't necessarily awed by it. They had most likely seen Lilliana fight before so it wasn't as interesting. Or at least that's what Kendra thought.

"Next up!" A giant bellowed, "We have a fairykind," surprised murmurs from the crowd, "With zero wins and this as her first battle! As her opponent, known for his tremendous eyesight, please welcome, Scalio, master of twenty-one wins!"

Kendra watched in horrible awe as part of a wall vanished from the left side of the arena, revealing a giant snake. Over a bus in length and ten feet tall, it towered over Kendra as her beginnings snapped. She jumped from her seat and started running towards the other side of the arena as fast as she could, wheezing from the lack of recent exercise, she knew she must look extremely pathetic.

The snake chuckled, a strange sound coming from its mouth. It hissed before dashing towards Kendra as fast as it could, preparing to swallow her in one bite. Kendra desperately tried to call the light to herself but found herself having trouble.

Her hands slowly started to glow, but it wasn't going fast enough! The snake continued to grow closer and closer to her, looming over her as if she were a mouse. Desperate, she blew on her hands and rubbed them together, in the hope to brighten the glow, but it stayed with its slow stubborn pace.

Scalio grew closer and closer until it was standing just over Kendra. It scooped her up in his tail and started wrapping around her, hissing viciously. The snake grew tighter and together around her as she screamed. And that's when everything went nuts.