'tis thee! Chapter 3! No, 2!

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Tiring, he could feel time weighing down upon him. It was too hard he had
to stop. He gave in, collapsing onto the floor in his pitiful mental anguish. "Karlos!" she cried desperately, "Karlos, please come back!" the
woman repeated while she searched hopelessly in the darkness.

He stood once more, running with determination dripping from him just as
sweat.

The tree branches slapping him while he ran through the small pine intersection, pain was becoming visible to his senses. An unusual feeling
it was.

"Karlos!" the young woman nagged as she slapped the disturbed sub-conscious
boy.

He replied in his quiet plumy voice, "Alright alright, I'm awake," he sat up slowly rubbing his neck as he did so. Wait a minute... "Where am I?" asked
the suddenly confused boy.

"You passed out 'ya stubborn log," replied Fir with her impatience leaking through her suppression. Karlos quickly glanced around, seeing the fighting arena in the not so far distance. The arena jolted his memory quite some
though seeming rather quiet about it.

He looked to Fir who was pouting with her arms crossed and giving a look of somebody who has waited for too long. Karlos sighed and stood, "shall we
go..." he suggested quietly.

Fir giggled happily before winking "Alright!" Karlos heaved another heavy sigh before beginning the small walk from where he was to the relatively
large arena, Fir of course way ahead of him.

Who was she? Karlos pondered as he approached the gates of the arena How did she know my name? His thoughts hung there like a splinter in his mind She sure was pretty... Karlos blushed at this thought while the arena bookie
had just yelled to get through to the distracted boy successfully.

"You 'fightin or what, kid?" yelled the angered man. Karlos nodded blankly. "You got guts kid," the bookie heaved in a laugh, "another one, looked a lot like you just ran through here without even putting up a wager. Only a young girl to..." the loud voice of the arena commentator spread through the
arena clearly and sharply.

At these words Karlos had suddenly awoke from his sleepy emotion and gasped scarcely "Fir!" Karlos sprinted out into the arena clearing, roaring crowds thundered above him in glee while what appeared to be a woman, looking much like Fir but having the appearance of being older. Karlos could see her in
the distance; she was breezing through seeming to be her twenty third opponents! She was beautiful; her sword skill was like a gentle dance in motion as she shined through the gloomy background. Her hair being a very dark violet color swayed in motion with her speed, she was extremely fast.

Karlos was in a small secrecy of bliss but was rudely interrupted by a rough pulling on his right sleeve it was Fir. "Karlos, where have you been slowpoke? I wanted you to meet Faye but you were too slow on getting to the
arena!" she explained frustratingly.

"Faye? Is she the one fighting?" questioned Karlos with pure curiosity
spreading on his face.

Fir nodded "She's good, isn't she?" Fir added.

"She's alright..."Karlos mumbled quietly.

Fir laughed and replied softly "I've told her all about you," Fir said as
she giggled slyly.

"Y-you did?" Karlos asked nervously.

Fir giggled once more "Oh yes, she was very interested to meet yo-"Fir was
interrupted by the announcer calling above Fir's small voice.

"We are asking for any volunteer's to challenge this unforgiving
swordfighter here folks! Anyone at all?"

"Go on" nudged Fir.

You've got to be kidding...

"I am n-not fighting her..." Karlos replied shakily.

"What, scared of her are you?" giggled Fir devilishly.

"What! I am not sc-"Karlos could not finish his sentence. Fir pushed him out of the stands and forced him over the edge of the seats, right into the
arenas clearing.

She's looking at me...

Karlos slowly stood as the young woman blushed faintly while she watched him curiously.

It's her...

Karlos gazed at her, his arms drawing his blade as if having a mind of
their own while she did the same, as if a mirror image.

She sure is pretty...

To beh continued...

R/R if you have the time. Thx.