well this is a new chapter. very long and extensive. if you have any questions on the following family cerimonies i would be happy to answer! i own sora. kai and tala i dont...unfortunatly...and tari is owned by smiffyizdabest! read and review please!

Sora was seated on a cleft above the cave where her great grandfather lay. Her thick heavy fur was glinting in the harsh lantern light. She stood and howled a haunting song as three hyenas carried the casket to the burial grounds in the deep cave blackness. Others joined her in the haunting song, cat calls and hyena laughs and fox barks all sang along. Kai, Tala and Tari were behind her and they did not understand the ancient language. Sora gave one last howl and the beasts below her cried with her. Sora looked behind to her friends and smiled. She howled.

/Friends…. Tonight we fight for the honor of my grandfather! Feast and drink well for those who challenge the chosen… may not live to see dawn! Getsuga!/ She howled. The animals roared back to her in excitement. Sora turned on her heels and came trotting back to the trio. Kai stuck his hand out to stroke the ebony mane fur and Sora turned to them.

/ I ask you know, do you want to go to the fights with me?/ She looked sick and the trio of friends nodded, worried for the wolfess. Sora sighed and padded away, Kai's hand in her black ruff. She stopped at another cave and looked inside, where harsh moonlight and torch light glittered. She took a deep breath and looked at Tari.

/ It would be easier if you morphed Tar. Tala you sit next to her on the ledge ok. Kai can you put that new collar Hiro brought me, on my neck. No telling who has the guts to try and kill me tonight./ Sora said in a joking manner. Her friends and boyfriend cringed at her poor attempt at humor and Kai took the new collar and buckled it around his girlfriend's neck. Now Sora looked like a true fighting beast. She was larger now, her fur thick and abundant, and clearly showing scars from past fights. Her claws with long sharp black obsidian knives and slowly but surly her eyes turned a bloody red.

The collar made her look even more sinister. The long spikes curved outwards, and were sharpened to a deadly point. The leather of the collar was thick and heavy, unlikely to tear in battle and to leave the fighter at the mercy of the opponent. Sora grinned viscously and walked up some adobe stairs and came out in the brilliantly lit fighting room, the roar of the crowd echoing around her as the Sugjima clan called salutations. Kai sat at her right and Tari to her left, Tala at Tari's side.

Hirotetsu sat in the middle of the ring of stones and roared, his own collar throwing light. His was made of lighter leather, and his spikes out of white crystal. A Herald's collar. The crowd came to silence and waited in tense anticipation.

/My lords and ladies! Your first match of the night will be between the fighters of Shirogitsune's clan and Noritora's Clan. Jishen Ayama and Ashitake Buru step inside the ring of stones!/ The crowd roared in delight as a brown mane lion and a spotted hyena stepped into the ring, their spiked collars throwing dull deadly light.

Kai felt a deep sigh come from Sora's chest as she stood and growled thunderously. The crowd of animals went into an obedient silence. Sora barked, her voice clear as a bell.

/Fighters! Are you ready for combat?/ Sora cried out, her head hanging over the edge of the cliff, her teeth showing in a viscous smile. The lion roared and reared in anticipation and the hyena crackled a harsh spine chilling laugh. Sora smiled, and howled.

/Begin!/

The ensuing fight was brutal, bloody, and terribly short. Sora snorted in surprise as the lion stood over the hyena's lifeless body. Their blood dripped steadily and mixed into the sand below. Sora growled savagely, effectively stopping the fight. The lion looked up as silence surrounded the fight, every clan member waiting for Sora's words.

/You have fought well, Ashitake Buru. I name you the victor of this match and I give you a title to bring honor to your family. From this point, you are Captain Ashitake Buru Quickclaws, of the Sugijima armed forces./ Ashitake bowed his head in delight and roared back up at Sora.

/Undying loyalty to you Sora Getsuga, Lady and Lord of the Sugijima!/ The crowd cheered at this and Ashitake's young daughter ran up to him, escorting him out of the ring while two Noritora Clan members drug Jishen by his back legs to the infirmary. Hirotetsu appeared in the middle of the area as the bloody sand was packed down again and he roared.

/The next match is between Ebiki Edo of Shirogitsune's clan and Lord Jiro Zetsu of Kyoushiro's clan./ With the roar of the crowd, a giant brown bear lumbered into the arena, Standing to a massive eight foot height and roared. From Kyoushiro's side, came the largest yellow pelted Siberian Tiger Sora had ever seen. The duo squared off and looked up at Sora, waiting for the signal. Sora paused for a moment but nodded. The fighters launched themselves at each other and the fight began.

Up above the arena…

Sora's claws dug into the rock below, her eyes turning an even redder shade of crimson. Kai dug his hand into her black nape fur as Ebiki smacked Jiro in the face, blood, fur, and skin flying. Ebiki's strong bear jaws grabbed the only vulnerable spot on Jiro's neck, an inch above the collar, and crushed down. Sora jumped up, her fur standing on end and a savage snarl ripping from her chest.

/Enough Ebiki! These fights are not for killing! You have won the match, now stop!/ Ebiki dropped Jiro's prone tiger body and roared back up at Sora.

/Come then Getsuga! I challenge you!/ Sora felt a surge of rage and protectiveness rush through her and she let loose a blood thirsty howl, that made everyone's hair/fur stand on end. Sora paused momentarily to look at Kai and whisper.

/Kai, I love you. Never forget that./ She then turned and leapt out from the cliff, landing lightly on the blood drenched arena floor. Jiro was immediately taken away by his father and Hirotetsu looked up Kai.

/Milord, care to decide the match?/ Hirotetsu asked. Kai nodded, his eyes never leaving Sora's battle ready form. Hirotetsu saw the concern in Kai's eyes and heralded the match.

/Ladies and Lords, this match is a chosen fight. The combatants are Lady and Lord of the Sugijima clan, Sora Getsuga, and Foot Solider Ebiki Edo of Shirogitsune-sama's clan. The winner, if Ebiki, will take over the clan and kill the looser. If the winner be Sora, she will dismiss Ebiki./ Hirotetsu roared. The crowd roared in fear and delight as Kai held up his hand. Silence enveloped him, and then he let his hand drop.

Sora was as big as Ebiki and just as wild. An even match thus far, except she had one thing in her favor. Her bloodrage. She reared with Ebiki and slashed at his face with her claws. Ebiki roared in pain as her claws caught the side of his face. He swung with a might paw and caught Sora's shoulder, laying it open to the clean white bone. Sora growled, softly and leapt upwards and came down on Ebiki's back., her fangs worrying the back of his neck, and her claws slicing through back muscles like butter. Ebiki roared, shaking in pain and fell backwards, landing on Sora. Sora felt a rib snap and she gasped. She bit harder into the neck muscles and made Ebiki roll. She took a few shallow breaths, blood dribbling form her maw. Ebiki reared up in pain and lumbered away on two hind legs to face Sora again, their blood mixing in the sand. Ebiki and Sora looked long and hard at each other, before Ebiki took a half step forward and collapsed. Kai held up his hand immediately and cried out,

"Sora is the victor!" At that Sora staggered and fell, her mauled body limp as a rag. The last thing she saw was Kai, his crimson eyes overflowing with tears.

i seriously might have to add more detail in this chappie. tell me what you think!