Entry of the Gladiators

[Kali]

?Miss Kali.? Nire began, flinching as Kali hit the rat yet again with her lute. It made a comedic twang that belittled the seriousness of the situation. ?Miss Kali!? He tapped the bat on the shoulder before ducking low, Kali?s lute swinging over his head with enough force to send her spinning. Falling into Nire?s arms Kali panted for breath, heart racing a million miles per minute. ?Easy girl. I think you won the battle.?

?I?I?I?? Kali chirped, glancing up at Nire behind her and then to the fallen rat. A look of horror distorted her face, ?By the stars, I killed him!?

?Nooooooo. He?s still alive. I think.?

?By the stars, I didn?t kill him!? Nire set the bat back on her feet, staying clear of Kali as her wings flapped about to illustrate her story. ?He tried to kill me! Did you see that? He came at me with a knife but I was like, SWOOSH! And he was like, ?STAB STAB STAB! I?m going to murder you with a knife!? And I was?he was trying to kill me, right? RIGHT?? Kali pulled down on the sides of her face with her wings, ?Oh, please tell me that I didn?t just beat up some poor kitchen staff!?

?My staff are trained to cut cake, not bats.? Kali followed Nire?s gesture to her tunic. She was shocked to see a large opening cut into her chest tunic, with a slim red line appearing under her fur.

Kali wailed, ?I?m slain!? She glanced to her right and another wail pierced the air as Kali noticed the gash across her arm. ?AND CRIPPLED!?

Nire snickered but his amusement was quickly fading, ?I think you are a little too loud to be slain. I do think you are in shock though. Guards.? Nire snapped his fingers for the attention of the guards not busy attending to Silas, ?Escort Miss Kali here down to the infirmary.?

?I?I?m not crippled?? Kali whimpered.

?No, but your lute seems to have met its end.? It took a moment for Kali to realize she was still holding her lute. Almost two pieces of it. Splintered down the side it hung precariously by the strings, a rim of cracked wood, and a prayer.

?I seem to have made quite the mess, haven?t I?? Adrenalin caused the bat to laugh. ?I completely ruined my lute. I don?t even know what?s keeping it together??

?A shame. But hey, at least you still have your singing voice,? said Nire in a rare attempt to be comforting. Instead the bat became suddenly very still. The world seemed to grow darker around Kali, as if a spot light was shining upon her.

?You?do know how to sing, don?t you?? Nire raised an eyebrow.

?Of?of course I?? Kali seemed to shrink as the others closed in around her, faces becoming distorted by anger.

?She doesn?t know how to sing.?

?What good is a bard who can?t sing??

?She took Nire for a real ride, didn?t she??

?Made Nire the fool, didn?t she! Hiring a bard who can?t sing!?

?But I can sing!? Kali wailed in her defense. She found herself very alone in the sea of beasts pressing ever closer. ?Th-this isn?t right!?

?What good is a bard who can?t sing?? Again, and again the crowd chorused.

?Stop! That?s not it at all! It didn?t happen this way! I?m supposed to just go the infirmary! This is?this is just a?? The chorus stopped as Nire grabbed the bat firmly by the shoulders. Slowly, Kali looked up into the smiling, happy face of the lynx.

?You mean you really can?t sing?? He snickered, ?I guess there is only one thing left to do now.? Nire?s grip tightened as he leaned forward.

?We have to eat your brain.?

There was a pause, ?What??

Slowly Nire?s teeth grew longer, his eyes turning blood red as the color of his fur became darker. Kali could only watch as the shadow monster that was once Nire opened its maw wide, and bit off her head?



Kali screamed, sending pillows flying across the room with her frantic wings. Back against the wall the bat breathed heavily until she remembered where she was. Sighing deeply Kali rubbed her eyes with her wing tips.

After getting her heart beat under control Kali glanced to the window. The morning sun was just beginning to peer over the horizon. It was a beautiful sight, but also a sign that Kali was up too early. She groaned, her shift not starting for a while yet, but still too soon to go back to sleep.

Stepping off the side of the small bed, Kali popped her lower back into place. ?Beds are overrated.? She yawned, stretching out the kinks in her wings, wincing when it came to her right arm. The wound was healing nicely but was still tender.

The room provided to her was smaller than a hayloft but certainly an upgrade. Only a week into her job and small decorations were beginning to creep into the room. A tribe of small cloth-made gladiators peered over the top of the wardrobe as Kali switched out her night gown for her uniform.

The bat emerged from behind the wardrobe doors wearing a small blue poncho. It was designed to be shorter, allowing the wearer to show off as much of their midriff as these parts considered decent? enough.

Standing in front of the full body mirror, Kali finished putting on the rest of her costume; brass jewelry along her wings and ears, and a motley collar. Yet another piece of her uniform, it fit over her shoulders with a star shaped pattern, each point ending in a big silver bell.

?I traveled three thousand leagues to become a jester.? Kali chuckled, flicking one of the bells and giggling. Grabbing her signature purple sash Kali made note of how much tighter it felt about her waist.

?Well?? Kali said into the mirror, ?How do I look??

She pointed with both wings, ?I think you look awesome!?

?Oh, well thank you! That is so nice!?

?But if you are going to be prancing around in that outfit though, you might consider a diet.?

?Diet?! I?ve eaten nothing but fruit since I got here!? Kali frowned at her reflection, unable to deny the fact that there was more ?Kali? to look at in the mirror these days.

The mirrored bat crossed her wings, ?Fruit isn?t healthy if you eat it until you are sick, lass.?

?Give me a break! This place has the finest fruit this side of Mossflower. I should know! I haven?t found finer yet! And it?s freeeeeee!? Kali said to justify her gluttony. ?And I was almost murdered a week ago. Excuse me if I splurge a bit.?

?Yeah, well, I ain?t the one who has to fly back home to replace our lute. Just saying.?

Kali sighed, rubbing her eyes with both wings.

?I need more friends?? her gaze shifted to the desk where her lute lay. Tenderly she picked up the instrument. Kali couldn?t help but cringe. If only mere will power could mend the damage done to her most precious item.

Her off hours were devoted to scouring the market place for a replacement. It wasn?t as if the city was lacking in merchants capable of fixing or replacing her lute; just not any she could afford.  ?It?s ok.? Kali took a deep breath, stroking the lute as if it were an injured pet. ?You carried me this far and I will always be grateful for that.? Slowly and with restraint Kali held the broken lute above the waste basket. Covering her eyes with a wing, she summoned the courage to let the instrument drop.

A knock at the door caused Kali to jump. Clutching the broken lute like a shield to her chest, Kali cautiously unlocked the door.

?Floofy!? she shouted, fear turning to joy. ?What brings you by??

Still dressed in his own evening gown the fox only stood there, leaning slightly to the left. Baxter?s fur was frazzled and unkempt, his eyes unwilling to open this early in the morning. ?My room is right next to you. And has very, very thin walls.? His eyes opened only wide enough for Kali to see how bloodshot they were. ?I can hear?everything.?

Kali gulped, chuckling, ?Everything??

The fox leaned forward until he was eye to eye with the bat. ?Every. Thing.? He said dangerously. ?Whatever that screeching noise you are making in the witching hours has GOT to stop.?

?Screeching noise? I?m not making any noises like that. I?m just practicing my singing.?

?I don?t want to know what act you are planning to butcher, just leave me out of it. And keep it to day light hours like normal beasts, ya little freak of nature.?

?Oh Floofy, ya silly beast.? The fox was too tired to react to Kali?s attempt at ruffling his head fur. ?I firmly believe that inside every grouchy beast there is a lovable, tender soul just waiting for a chance to get out.? Baxter the ?floofy? bard only groaned as the bat helped brush down his facial fur. ?There, let us see that smile shine.? Using her wing tips Kali forced the fox to smile. Or at least tried to. Kali blinked as she accidentally transformed the fox?s already annoyed look into a snarl. ?Or maybe not. Anyway, I?m sorry to keep you awake. I really am. I?ve been practicing at night because I spend the day looking for a new lute.?

?Still?? The fox groaned, again. ?Why don?t you just take one from arena??

?Oh, I thought about that going down to storage to get one but I found out they keep the slaves items there. It would just feel? awkward if I found out I was playing a slave?s lute right in front of them.?

?No, no. I mean? get one of the craft beasts to fix it, or build a new one.?

Kali blinked, ?? I can do that??

?Does it get you out of my fur for a while? Then sure. Why not??

?Floofy, you are a genius!? Kali enveloped the fox with her wings as she hugged Baxter tight. ?Don?t over sleep! We have to play for Nire later in the arena!?

?Don?t touch me.? The fox replied, still groggily standing in front of Kali?s door as she darted off. Afterward the vulpine turned for his own room, pausing at the door. ?Other way, bat.? He shouted.

?I knew that!? Kali hopped past the fox after changing directions. Flying with her lute would only damage it further so she walked. By this point there was little left for the lute to do but serve as fire wood. But it was the last gift her family gave to her before setting off on this adventure. So, if there was hope it could be fixed then she owed it to the instrument to try.

That, and it saved her life?



^V^V^V^V^V^V^V^



The inner workings of the arena, both along the wall and underneath was a maze of corridors. It was not a place Kali found herself often, not since she came down here to have her wing mended in the infirmary.

It only took a few directions for Kali to find the beast she wanted. The stoat was in his workshop, an unfinished bow was on the desk before him, likely going to remain that way if he continued resting his head against the table. Like Baxter, Aldridge groaned at the morning light filtering in through the barred windows, but for completely different reasons than the fox. His eyes drifted up to the bow on the table, as if wondering how he could finish the weapon as slowly and quietly as possible.

?HI!?

?GAH!? The stoat leapt to his feet, reaching for a weapon. Instead his paw caught the edge of the stool and he fell backwards between his chair and the table. His eyes were frantic until they locked on Kali. The bat only smiled, wings folded behind her. ?I hear you are good with wood work!? She chirped.

?Uh?Sure?? Slowly Aldridge pulled himself back to his feet, dusting off his clothes and getting a good look at the creature as if for the first time. He squinted, ?Can I help you miss?? The fox-bat opened her muzzle to speak but was quickly cut off, ?Kal-eee, I think it was? You are the new entertainer Nire hired, right??

?The Amazing Kali. But yes. I take it word spreads quickly down here??

The stoat gave the bat dressed in a jester outfit a raised eyebrow, ?Sure, let?s go with that. Can I help you with something??

?That depends. Can you fix a broken lute??

?I can look at it.? Aldridge rubbed the back of his neck as Kali quickly produced the instrument from behind her back. Glancing at lute bent in an almost 90-degree angle, Aldridge?s eyes drifted up to Kali?s ever hopeful, almost pleading look. He chose his words carefully. ?A crack or a dent I could fix, but this, Miss Kali, is kindling.?

Kali?s ears drooped. Her shoulders slouched and her eyes fell to the floor, ?Oh.?

With a sigh Aldridge said, ?But, I might know a beast who may have a spare miracle hiding somewhere. Droven was in the rigging last time I checked. She was our village Luthier, now she works on trap doors in the arena. Come, we can go find her together.?

Hardly able to contain her squeal Kali clapped her wings together. ?Thank you so much! But, I won?t get you into trouble for making you leave your post, will I??

Rolling his eyes, the stoat chuffed, ?I think Nire can afford to learn some patience. Besides, this will only take a moment. Follow me closely. We don?t want to get lost in the underworks of the arena.?


Later, in the underworks of the arena?


?I followed you.?

?You did.?

?... and yet, are we still lost??

?We are.?  Scratching his head, the stoat turned to one tunnel and then another. If not for the torches, the underworks of the arena would be consumed by darkness.

?You mean you don?t know your way around here?? Kali hid her whine with a slight chuckle.

?If I had been working here for more than a week, then yes. What about you? Can?t you? you know. Do the thing??

?What thing??

?The bat thing.? Aldridge said awkwardly, ?The whole finding your way around by sound. Can?t you use that to figure out where we are??

The bat said in understanding, ?Ohhh, yeah. THAT bat thing. Heh, my species doesn?t do that.?

?Really?? Aldridge asked curiously.

?Yeah, we rely on sight. In daylight.? Kali peered into the darkness around them. She pointed with her wing. ?I don?t think we tried that way yet.?

The stoat followed the wing, visibly tensing when he recognized the hallway. ?That?s not it.? Kali was forced to follow the stoat as he moved down another pathway.

?Are you sure? Because this looks familiar.?

?Positive.? Aldridge?s sharp tone was enough to make the bat drop the subject. And so, they kept walking.

And walking.

And eventually, ?This still looks familiar.? Kali said regarding the footprints on the dirty floor. Aldridge took in a sharp breath, finding themselves in the same intersection. To lighten the mood Kali said, ?On the bright side, we now know for certain we are walking in a circle.?

But Aldridge was not amused. He sighed, ?If we follow our own foot prints we can see where we have not been.?

?Like that hallway.? Watching the bat point to the same hallway as before Aldridge seemed to choke.

?Or like the hallway down at the next intersection. Come along. No time to waste.?

?But??

?I said, there is no time to waste.? The stoat snapped, making the bat flatten her ears. If Kali was hurt it was only momentary.

?You?re afraid of the dark, aren?t you?? The stoat shot Kali a look like she was crazy. Giggling as she walked Kali said, ?It really is perfectly fine. If there is anywhere in the world where you can be afraid of the dark it?s here in the belly of a gladiatorial arena.?

The stoat closed his eyes, ?I am not afraid of the dark. It is what is IN the dark that I am afraid of.? Head lowered Aldridge continued in a serious but soft voice, ?They keep? monsters here in the underworks. I just? happen to know that they are kept here. Down that hallway.?

?How?? Kali asked bluntly, ?All these pathways look the same to me.?

?Because it is the hallway they?? The stoat paused, shaking his head, ?Just trust me. It is not a good place to go down.?

?Well that is too bad, because we are here again.?

Stopping in the middle of the intersection Aldridge blinked. He looked down and then to the corridors around him, letting a soft cuss escape from his lips. Kali only laughed, ?Come on, what do we got to lose??

?Besides our lives?? The stoat laughed. Kali though, was not deterred.

?I?m sure the mean ol? monster is more scared of you than you are of it. Come on, it?s the only pathway we haven?t tried yet.?

?Nooooooo.? Aldridge backed away, shaking his paws at the bat. ?No no no no. I am fairly certain that thing feeds on fear.?

?Then it?s a good thing you have a bat with you! We eat monsters for breakfast!? Aldridge only replied with an incredulous look, ?It?s true! As far as you know.? Kali reached out, wrapping her wing around the stoat?s paw, ?Trust me.?

Protesting with a loud whine, Aldridge let the bat lead him towards the hallway. To make sure he wouldn?t bolt Kali wrapped her free wing around his shoulder. ?Here we go. One step after another. You can do it!? The two continued down the dark path. Deeper and deeper into the belly of the arena they went. As they walked Kali began to hum. Eventually lyrics poured forth.

?There once was a troll, who enacted a terrible toll, from the moles of Marol Knoll.?

?Actually?? Aldridge dared to laugh, taking one shaky paw after another, ?I would have preferred a troll. There is a creature here. It... has loads of legs? and loads of eyes.?

?Oh!? Kali rolled her eyes, ?That?s just a wee spidey! They?re harmless things ye silly stoat!? Before the stoat could raise an objection, the song changed, ?Mr. Spidy, why don?t you come out and play. Mr. Spidy, it?s such a wonderful daaaaaaaay!? The bat felt his grasp on her wing tighten, going stiff at her choice of song. Yet, despite the screeching echo that assaulted his ears, Aldridge did not ask the beast to stop. ?Mr. Spidy, oh please come out and plaaaay. Mr. Spidy, Mr. Spidy, Mr. Spidy the sun is shining, the birds are singing, won?t you come out to play.?

Kali never noticed when the stoat closed his eyes. Only that she had to steady him once or twice, the stoat almost falling over as they passed several corridors.

?And here we are.?

Aldridge dared to open one eye. They were back in the crafting rooms where they started. The stoat slumped his shoulders, breathing in relief until Kali swatted him across the chest with her wing.

?There, see? Not a hair or hide of a monster. Except for that one room where something was clawing at the door. That was a little creepy.?

?Y-yeah. That wasn?t so bad after all I guess. Thank you for the? wait, what??

?By the stars! How long were we down there!? Kali slapped the side of her head with her wing. The area was filled with beasts now, both gladiator and entertainer. Each busied themselves with last minute preparations.

The games were about to start.

Kali waved to the stoat before moving for the stairs. ?Thank you, Mr. Aldridge! I?ll be back later!?

?Wait! You?re lute! I can hold onto it for? and you are already gone.? The bat, already walking up the stairs doesn?t see Aldridge shake his head and say, ?What is a creature like that doing working for a beast like Nire??



^V^V^V^V^V^V^V^

?You?re late.? Baxter seethed as the bat flew into the hallway. Kali found the fox to be leaning against the wall. The Podium, the prime seats in the arena kept all to Nire, were just behind the double doors and a pair of fierce looking guards.

?If I was late, you wouldn?t be here waiting for me.? The bat retorted, clinging to the rafters above him.

?No, I haven?t gone in because Nire doesn?t want us there yet.? The fox revealed a flask hidden in his garments. ?Listen, this might be all sunshine and giggles for you, but I NEED this job. I have kits to feed.?

?I didn?t know you were married Baxter.? Kali gasped.

?I?m not.?

?But, you have kits??

?Yep, one in every city from here to Redwall. And I have to pay for every one of them. Magistrate said so.? He took long swig from his flask before pushing away from the wall. ?So, if you don?t mind, kindly get your tailless rear into gear and get your act together.?

The clamor of beasts coming down the hall stole Kali?s chance for a reply, snark or otherwise.

?Good afternoon me lords.? The fox took off his feathered hat and bowed. Kali did the same, upside down on the rafters. By now she recognized the faces of at least some of the beasts, if not their names. They were not just wealthy, they were the elite of Northvale.

Waiting for Nire?s guests to enter first, Kali dropped from the rafters, walking into the room like a normal beast. As a private box to view the games, the wall to the left was missing. The rest of the room was a combination of ornate stone pillars and blue tapestries. A buffet table was set up in the back for beasts to feast at before migrating to their seats.

This however was lost upon Kali, her attention completely taken by the menacing hawk at the other end of the room. The bird?s eyes fix upon the bat for what seems to be an eternity before turning back to their master.

?? good work. Keep me updated on the situation.? Nire said quietly. The bird nodded once before taking to the air. As if seeing his guests for the first time the lynx greeted them with open arms. The happy conversation that followed was completely missed by Kali who stood still, ears flat as she watched the hawk fly off.

?Kali.? A voice prodded the bat. More urgently it said a second time, ?Yo, freak of nature.? At once Kali came back to the present, glancing at Baxter who gestured towards Nire, ?The benevolent Nire wants some entertainment for his lunch.?

?O-of course! I was just thinking of new ways to bring laughter to you, sir!?

?By playing on a broken lute?? Nire?s comment sent laughter through the guests like wildfire.

Inwardly Kali cursed herself for not leaving the lute with Aldridge. Or in her room. But there just wasn?t enough time after that merry romp through the underworks. ?If that is what it takes.? Kali said pleasantly. ?Perhaps some juggling is in order amid Flo- er, Baxter the Bold?s wonderful music!?

A murmur of disapproval goes through the beasts. ?Or maybe something more exciting than juggling. I know! You lot want to be beguiled by tales of adventure! Action! Romance! Fantastic beasts found only on the far reaches of the map!? The group?s collective reaction showed that they in fact, did not.

?Stories are old news my bard,? said Nire. ?Show us something different. Something to get us fired up for the games.?

?You mean like aerial combat between a hawk and a bat?? The lynx only gave an exasperated stare to Blasio. Not even ten minutes into the room and the glutton beaver had already finished his first plate of snacks. ?Wouldn?t take much to find her some armor. You could call her the Flying Assassin, you know, for the assassin she stopped.?

?Blasio,? Nire said through a toothy smile, ?One of the reasons I like you, is that you know when to drop a subject before I get angry.?

The bat however was too busy thinking about a new act to pay attention to the conversation. She hated to admit it but her lute was her strongest act. She played as if the instrument was an extension of her own arm. Her other acts were subpar for the feat required to entertain this lot.

But there was of course, one other thing she could do.

Opening her muzzle to speak Kali hesitated. Thoughts of singing only brought back unpleasant memories. For a brief instant, she imagined Nire changing into a horrible shadow monster and shivered.

If she sang, she would be repeating history once again and looking for a new job by nightfall. But if she didn?t, her audience would be bored with her and? she be looking for a new job by nightfall.

Seeing his chance to step up Baxter ever so humbly announced, ?Well I have been working on a new song and??

?It?s a duet.?

?W-what?? The fox whined as the fox-bat wrapped her wing around him, shaking him slightly as she said, ?It?s a duet! Carry us off Mr. Floofy, I will handle the lyrics.?

?What, no! No, Nire?!? the fox began but it was too late. With a nod of his head Nire gestured to them both.

?Let?s hear it.?

Kali squealed with joy even though the only lyrics that came to mind were ?this will all end in flames?, repeatedly endlessly in a loop.

The fox whined again in protest but it was too late. His fate was sealed. At this point, all he can do is play his tune and lead the bat in.

The beat was different than Kali was used to and while the music was more suited to the hallowed halls of castles she could compensate. She would have to commend Baxter later for his skill.

Provided he wasn?t strangling her for getting them both fired.

The music brought to Kali?s mind an older hymn, a more serious and somber song she played with her old troupe. Perhaps it wasn?t as lively as the beasts had hoped but, they did ask for something different.

Kali took a deep breath, reminding herself that singing was just another way to communicate. She did this more to drown out the voices in her head telling her to stop, than to quiet her beating heart.

The bat held her wings high, preparing to dance. She closed her eyes and let the music guide her.

   The valley green was so serene. In the middle ran Mossflower so blue.

   A maidenbeast fair, in despair, once had met her true love there and she told him?.

The bat started her dance simple with slow spins and gestures, bells jingling as she moved.

   The maid would say? ?Promise me, when you see a blue rose you?ll think of me. I love you so, never let me go, I will be your spirit of a rose.?

The beasts in the room took pause. Even Baxter for all his attitude found his eyes widening in shock.

And then the room exploded into laughter. Every night for a week Kali had worked to get the screech out of her voice, but its lingering presence was still there, slowly draining the power of her song and replacing it with? comedy.

A single tear rolled down Kali?s cheek, realizing they thought she was butchering the song on purpose. Their laughter gave the bards time to exchange glances. With a silent stare Baxter asked if he should stop.

The bat however only shook her head, forcing herself to smile. She began her dance again, twirling and spinning and putting even more screech and noise into her voice.  If they wanted comedy, Kali would give them comedy. Even if it required butchering her song with pieces of her own soul.

   When all was done, she turned to run, dancing to the settling sun as he watched his vixen go. And ever more the fox did thought, he saw a glimpse of her upon the moors forever.

   Promise me, she said, when you see a blue rose, you will think of me.

   I love you,

   Never let me go,

   For I will be your spirit?of a rose.


Kali ended with a bow, using her wing to hide her face and the tears rolling down her cheeks. The song ended a beat later, Baxter swallowing a breath of air.

?Excellent!? Nire clapped, ?Best laugh I had all day.?

The lynx sighed contentedly, ?Speaking of laughter? on to the games!? A shout of applause filled the air. One by one the beasts filed into their seats, the bat and her song forgotten.

Away from the eyes of wealthy beasts, Baxter slowly approached his fellow bard. Tenderly he reached out to her shoulder, ?Kali?? he began.

?Don?t.? Kali?s sharp tone made the fox retract his paw.

Wiping her wing across her eyes Kali turned to the fox with a forced smile, ?I got to finish a song for once. No rotten fruit thrown at my head, no beasts running me off. I finished a song. This is the best moment of my career, this is. So, don?t you ruin it by feeling sorry for me.?

Baxter could only nod in response. Without a reply to interrupt her, the bat laughed, ?I could really go for watching beasts clobber each other right about now.?

Sighing, the fox held out his arm to the bat. She took it and together the beasts found their place in the arena near the back, behind the chairs of Nire?s guests.

Kali had never seen so many beasts together. Each row of the arena was filled to the brim. Woodlander, Vermin, and everything beyond putting their differences aside just to be here.

A shout of praise arose from the crowd at Nire?s approach. Grinning, the cat raised both paws to the arena and the shout grew even louder. A large horn appeared in his paws, delivered by a slave the instant Nire snapped his fingers for it. ?Beasts of Northvale, honored guests from beyond the woods of Mossflower, my friends?? The cat?s voice carried easily in the acoustics of the arena.

Feral delight flashed across his eyes, ?Are you ready to be entertained!?"

The crowd howled in reply

?I can?t hear you!?

An earth shattering shout filled the arena.

?Then I welcome you to this year?s Exhibition Games!? Nire?s movements were excited, speaking in-between shouts from the arena, ?We have a show for you, folks! One you won?t soon forget! But let?s kick this day off proper with what you WANT! A match up you have been waiting for!? The wicker gates at either end of the arena opened slowly, to build suspense in the crowd. ?In this corner, from the darkest depths of the jungle it?s?The Crimson Tiger!? A wildcat with tiger stripes painted down his back stepped into the arena. His face was covered by a bronze helmet made into the shape of a snarling feline. He waved his double ax into the air.

?Every Yin needs its Yang. Every Darkness needs its Light, so who better to tame the jungle than a beast from the snowy north?Timbeeeeer?WOOOOOOLF!? At the other end of the arena an arctic fox entered. He threw his short sword into the air, catching it and twirling it about his body.

?Let the games, COMMENCE!? shouted Nire.

Instead of rushing at each other however, the combatants began a slow walk towards the center while trap doors opened around them. Beasts poured onto the sand filled arena in droves. 

These were not fighters, but felines dancing to the beat of drummers. Their dress was nothing but scandalous, their tribal like clothing was made from the same color of blue cloth as the flags twirled between their paws.

High above, a pair of owls flew casually over the crowd, dropped rose petals from baskets.

Altogether the sight made Kali?s fur stand on end. There was so much to take in she dared not blink for fear of missing even one part. The rose petals raining down upon them, the beasts dancing around the gladiators, the heavy drum beat that drowned out all thought; maybe it was ok to swallow her pride and stick with the lute after all. If staying here meant butchering a song every now and again, it would be worth it. Just to be a part of all this.

Eventually the beasts reached the center of the arena. All but two of the dancers began to filter back into the exits. As they did the sand around the gladiators began to shift. Stoic and still, they stood there as the ground below their feet began to turn and rise.

With the gladiators on a platform three feet above the rest of the arena, the drums came to a stop so suddenly it made shivers run down Kali?s spine. All she could hear was her own heartbeat, and the edge in Nire?s voice as he gave the warriors the command to fight.

The two remaining dancers set torches to the edge of the raised circle. Fire spread around the rim of the platform from either direction until it locked the beasts inside.

The battle ensued.

Kali?s squealed in delight as the battlers clashed, the sounds of their weapons colliding in titanic might. They dodged, they weaved, they pitted literal metal against metal in a fight so fast the bard hardly kept up with their movements.

?Do you see this? Do you see this?? Kali hopped up and down, elbowing Baxter in the ribs. The fox however only held his head low, keeping his eyes off the fight. Kali couldn?t fathom why he would do this. Why would anyone not want to see this?

Cupping her wings together Kali shouted, ?Come on Tiger! Knock his head off!?

And then, with a flash of steel and a splatter of blood, the Tiger did just so.

Kali?s jaw went slack, ears flattening against her skull as the crowd around her went wild.