Slaughter by Serenade

[Kali]

You are going to die here.

Kali hesitated before dipping her wings into the wash bin. She rolled her tired shoulders under the weight of the collar about her neck. It seemed to get heavier with each passing day.

You are going to die here, the voice inside her head repeated.

Washing off her wings brought back the memory of stabbing the Tiger. Washing blood from her wings and feet was a new experience for her.

You should feel bad about that.

"I really should feel worse about that," the bat agreed, splashing water over her face and muzzle. It wasn't like the tiger died from it. Apparently he was recovering in his home outside the Crater, if rumors were to be believed. But it was the first time she had ever harmed a beast... aside from Silas. Still, stabbing a beast in the gut with his own knife... She should feel... bad about that, right?

If you had done it sooner those gladiators would be alive.

Kali sighed. She took a deep breath...

You got lucky. You have no fighting skills, bard. The next fight will be your-"

...and exhaled.

"Today is a new day." Glancing about the room Kali cringed. "A bleak, horrible day with the prospect of a grizzly death at the end of it, but hey, you are still here to complain about it and that is all that matters."

Letting the words sink in Kali took a moment to look at the Drag again. The atmosphere here was quiet, somber... or perhaps subdued.

As more faces disappeared from the Drag, so too did the casual conversations between beasts. Beasts became more mechanical over time, their tails dragging across the ground as they shuffled from training session to training session with a hollow, vacant stare in their eyes.

All they did was eat, sleep and train for their eventual sacrifice to the Arena.

"Looks like I have my work cut out for me," the bat said quietly before stepping into the center of the Drag.

"Goooooood morning my fellow gladiators, and welcome to another fine day in the Arena! Who's ready for another round of high quality singing from yours truly?"

The slaves merely stared at Kali in response. No anger, no joy, just more sad vacant stares. But that was okay. Kali just need a reason to stave off insanity for one more day and avoid running around the Drag pretending to be a seagull.

Like Uncle Louis, self appointed King of all Birds.

"Okay... maybe not singing. How about jokes. Oh oh oh! Why did the ferret cross the road? Anyone?"

The bard was ignored by the gladiators. They just walked by her.

"To get away from the bard, obviously," the bat said quietly to herself. Her shoulders slumped as she turned for the mess hall. She could smell the freshly baked bread from here and it lifted her spirits. Finding Inkpaw working here was a pleasant surprise. Having a friendly face here, one who wasn't in danger of ending up as arena fodder, was priceless. Even if Kali had secretly missed the baker's pastries more than the actual baker.

The only other beast outside the Drag who had reason to visit Kali was Baxter, and she hadn't seen hair or hide of the bard since the day she was thrown in here...

"Oh, sweet pastry delights, you will never abandon me," the bat said flatly but paused at the entrance to the mess hall. Inkpaw wasn't here today, but another familiar face brightened her day, "Komi!"

The stoat hardly had a chance to sit down to enjoy her meal before the bat's leathery wings enveloped her. To her credit, Komi remained calm even with the bat's grinning muzzle pressed against the side of her face.

"Kali, what do you want?" Komi said with a sigh.

"I'm ready for my next singing lesssoooon."

"Not now, bat..." Komi pushed the beast away and Kali scooted over to another seat.

"But Komi! We've come so far! You can't leave me hanging now!" Kali bit her lower lip, waiting to see if the stoat got the pun. But Komi only rolled her eyes.

"Today isn't good. Come back tomorrow."

"But Komiiiii." The bat inched forward again, letting her eyes grow large and pleading. The fluffiest fox-kit had nothing on those puppy dog eyes.

"Kali, please..." Komi groaned.

"Ok, ok. No singing lessons today. That's fine. I guess. More time for training or... something." Leaning back in her seat, Kali let the stoat return to her meal. The bat regarded Komi with a curious glance. She looked more sour than usual.

Instead of simply asking what was tying Komi's tail into a knot, Kali gave the stoat a moment before asking, "Where did you learn to sing?"

Komi blinked. Thinking of a reply she shrugged, "My da. Or at least, I think he was my father. He raised me, anyhow. Not all horde kits were so lucky. More orphans than not."

Tilting her head to one side, Kali asked, "What was your father like?"

Another question that made Komi pause. "He was just another warrior. Good with a spear, but better with the drum and flute. He kept the morale up on even the darkest of days."

"Heh, sounds like something we could use around here." Kali glanced about the mess hall. If only she had her lute. "I'm afraid I'm the only musical beast in my family. I always liked to sing but I didn't pick up the lute until after I joined my troupe."

"Troupe?" Komi raised an eyebrow. "So there are more of you out there."

"Yes. Possibly, maybe." Kali's smile faded slightly at the memory. "I haven't seen them since we hit the mainland a long, long time ago. Me and my friends all had these fancy ideas about being famous and seeing the world. Didn't last of course. After a year of travel we were all pretty much at each others throats. Words were said, feelings were hurt and I may have... filled someone's wash bin with yellow dye."

This prompted a chuckle from both beasts. "My only regret," said Kali, "was not being around to see her face after she used it. But I could hear her curses from across town."

Again, more laughter. Kali let it die down before she leaned closer and whispered, "I also heard that you know a way out of this place."

Kali was fairly certain that choking on her own food was not the stoat's way of speaking in code. Either way she continued, "I heard you almost got out of here."

"Yeah, and I almost got killed for it," Komi hissed when she was able to breath again. "Does it look like I have a way out of here?"

"Of course not." The bat grinned ear from ear, "But it wouldn't be a very good escape plan if it were obvious." Kali winked. Twice, just to make sure it was clear that she was being subtle.

"There is no escape plan." Komi let her head droop. "Because there is no escape from this place."

"Now that ain't no way to talk! You know, my father used to say in these situations, 'Despair is a choice and hope only dies if you let it'."

"No offense, Kali, but that sounds like the thing a beast who has never faced real despair would say." Komi removed herself from the table. "This isn't a story, Kali. There is no happy ending here."

Ears flat, Kali watched Komi leave the mess hall. She didn't mean to run her off, just... brighten her day some.

The bat slouched until she saw another beast enter the mess. "Minerva!"

The otter managed to look up before the bat was upon her. "Kali. Thank ye... But... I'd appreciate it if ye got off my face." With squinted eyes she pried Kali off her, dropping the bat onto her feet before resuming her course to the food line.

Kali blinked, pausing for but a moment before hopping after the otter. "Hey! Hey! Minerva! You have got to check this out." Dodging into the line, much to the protests of beasts around her, Kali snatched something from the buffet of fruits, meats and... gladiator shaped cookies.

"They made me into a cookie! See?" She made a bat-shaped cookie dance about in her wing tips. "They say the new baker made them to celebrate Monster Week. Look! You have one, too." The bat showed the otter another cookie, one made into the likeness of a snarling Minerva Monster.

"Now we can enjoy eating you as much as the monsters will! Rawr!"

Through out this, Minerva simply stared at the bat with the patience a parent might show to their child's finger painting. Although her eye did twitch every so often.

A moment passed and Kali pouted. "They chose a good couple to tie together, you know that? Getting a laugh out of you and Komi is like prying teeth." The bat took a bite out of Minerva's head. The otter said nothing as red jelly poured out of the cookie.

"I was sure that plotting an escape would have brightened her day, but she shot me down." Kali finished the cookie. Licking her chops clean, the bat caught the look Minerva shot her. "What?"

"You were tryin' t'..." The otter glanced over her shoulder. "Are ye bloody mad?"

"Well, I am part fox," Kali chirped happily. "I heard about what happened through the arena grapevine. You know, her plan might have worked if there were more beasts in on it? If we can just get a key to the scorpion pit we-"

"No! No scorpions! Anythin' that deals with monsters is a terrible idea."

"But-"

"Kali, stop." Grabbing the bat by the shoulders, Minerva leaned closer. "Talking about this will only get you killed."

"I thought you wanted to escape?"

"I do, but..."

Kali fluttered her wings about the air. "But nothing! You want to escape. I want to escape. This cookie wants to escape. We all want to escape. We should be working together to get OUT OF HERE."

"It ain't that simple, Kali. So long as Fable is in here, I can't escape. Not without Nire puttin' a knife t' her throat."

"Even simpler. We escape, we rescue Fable, then we kick Nire in the nethers on the way out. What is not to love about this plan?"

"And if we're too late?"

The bat gave what she thought to be a comforting pat to the otter's shoulder. "Minerva. It will be ok. You just have to have hope. Good always wins in the end, right?"

"Aye..." Minverva's reply was sullen, "But this ain't no fairytale, Kali. Here... the bad guys can actually win."

"Well, ok then." The bat sighed at the departing otter, "I guess I will just head back to my corner of the slave pit where happiness and hope still live." Shaking her head Kali turned back again at the food line. She was in the middle of scooping up a wing full of comfort food when a pair of blue-clad guards entered the mess hall.

One weasel pointed his claw at the bat, gesturing for Kali to follow.

With a gulp, Kali hesitated before stepping closer to the guards. "I-is there a problem? Am I in trouble?"

"No. We are taking you to the armory." The weasel turned, then stopped. Raising an eyebrow, the guard said, "Why would you think you are in trouble?"

Kali continued to give the guard a long vacant stare. "No reason."

The guard just shook his head, "Come. We have little time before your next game."

Kali's heart nearly stopped. "N-next game? I... I think you have the wrong bat. Besides, I think I left the kettle on, I couldn't possible fight today andIreallyjustdon'tfeelwell but maybeifyoucomebacktomarrow I..." Kali yelped as the guards clasped their paws down on her shoulders, leading her away from the Drag like a beast heading to the gallows.

Kali's vision focused only on the ground, her wing nervously rubbing at her arm as she was led to what would surely be her doom. Her last fight was won only through pure luck.

She would not survive another.

The collar around her neck grew heavier with every step Kali took towards the arena gates. But at the last moment the guards changed course, taking Kali into a side room where a trio of beasts were waiting for them. Drake was among them, holding a large fox skull lined with a feather head dress.

"Please tell me that isn't anyone I know," were the first words blurted out of Kali's mouth.

The armorer laughed, "Nire wanted me to 'tweak' your armor a bit. But first, I need you to put on the rest of your costume."

The other beasts, slaves, each carried a bucket full of dye. Kali continued to look at them with confusion until realization struck. "What? No. No! There is no way in a thousand years you are going to get me to wear this..."


><><><><><><><><><


"This is the most humiliating thing I have ever worn."

The fox skull fit her surprisingly well but was still as comfortable as it looked. The feathered cloak that latched onto her wings like a cape itched terribly; little silver bells woven into the cloak clinked together when she moved.

Worse still, Kali was painted red. From her feet to her wings to the tip of her ears, she looked like a giant winged apple. Only her underbelly and chin were painted a bright yellow for contrast.

The mask however, did well to hide the daggers Kali glared at the Podium, her heated gaze aimed at Nire and the usual cronies he called 'friends'.

Thunder may have been absent from view this time, but Kali knew the hawk was not too far away to catch the bat should she try to escape.

Not that Kali had anywhere to escape too. She wouldn't survive in the wild, she realized, and every town for miles would be under the influence of Northvale.

Not that it matters. This is where you DIE, bard. No amount of training is going to shape you into the killing machine needed to survive this wretched place. And even if it did, would you really be willing to trade another beasts life for you own?

Kali closed her eyes, taking another deep breath to find the right words. "If being hopeful was easy, everyone would be." She replied quietly to herself, "Today is a new day. But if it really is my last... I'm going to meet it with style."

Kali picked herself up as she walked out of the gate. "I'm not going to let Nire win."

The arena was set up differently this time. Tall wooden spires erupted from the sand, each being covered in metallic spikes. More than a dozen of them were placed in a circular pattern around the center of the arena.

Kali couldn't help but notice that she was also alone. Her lack of opponent was almost as frightening as her lack of weaponry. As much as she hated the thought of injuring another beast, being sent into fight one unarmed was unsettling.

The crowd cheered for the bat as she glided in from the gate, but it was short lived as Nire began to rise from his seat. "Ladies and Gentlebeasts! Let me present to you once again the Amazing Banshee! Hailing from the darkest jungles of a far away land, our intrepid Banshee came to us as a bard. But she loved our games so much she just had to get in on the action!"

Under the mask, Kali raised an eyebrow. What is this crazy cat playing at now?

"Give a paw for the Amazing Banshee, folks! She will be providing your entertainment between games today. Go ahead banshee, step closer to the center of the arena, show us what you can do!" Nire made a shooing motion with his paw. "Go on! Give the audience a show! Do a little dance, Banshee! Give our audience a gesture of good will!"

"If I only had fingers, Nire..." The bat said under her breath. She hesitated as the arena chanted for her to dance.

Kali mulled over the idea of doing nothing simply to spite Nire, but it would do her no favors to make enemies with the audience too, the very beasts who would vote to keep her alive if she should fail the next fight.

So Kali danced.

Stretching out her wings, Kali did a small jig in the center of the arena and tossed in a bit of belly dancing at the end just to raise some laughter from the crowd.

Once the laughter died down, Nire continued his introduction in a more somber tone. "My fellow Northvalers, the Arena serves more than to provide you entertainment. It also provides a vital function in the city itself! We host carnivals, city announcements, weddings, and sometimes we have the pleasure to administer justice itself..."

The gates opened again. A dozen beasts were ushered into the arena. Confusion, fear, dreaded anticipation; their eyes said it all. The beasts came from all walks of life except wealth. Some were free beasts, others wore the collar of an arena slave.

None of them were armed.

Species didn't seem to matter for this next game either. There were foxes, hares, weasels and-

"Droven?!" Kali exclaimed. The beasts seemed to shy away from the bat as she glided closer.

"Kali?" The muscular vole peered closely at Kali. "What is going on? They just grabbed me from my workshop! They didn't even tell me why!"

"D-don't panic. Everything is going to be ok. Alright." Kali didn't know why her voice sounded as calm as it did. Her mind was racing with questions. "Everything will be ok."

"These beasts that stand before you," Nire's voice came again from the Podium, "Have been found guilty of crimes against our city. For the greater good and gain of all Northvale citizens, these beasts have been condemned to death."

Nire waited for his proclamation to sink in before he gave the Podium to another beast, "The honorable Magistrate Preston Brockshire will now read to you the crimes of condemned."

The black robed badger unveiled a scroll which he began to read from.

"Tanner J. Silkpaw," the old badger's voice was hard to hear compared to Nire's. "Charged with theft and beast slaughter. The penalty is death.

"Chester C. Farmer. Charged with theft. The penalty is death..."

And the list went on. One by one, the charges were listed off. Theft, murder, fraud, disobeying a master, being a runaway slave. One slave mouse broke down in tears as her name was called.

"Oh get ahold of yourself," The weasel next to the mouse growled. The weasel was a tribal looking creature, dressed only in leather skins and tattoos. Her ears perked up when her name was called.

"Rose Longsnout Tenderclaw Forester... the third.  Charged with theft, burglary, breaking and entering, forgery, banditry, highway robbery, trespassing, public indecency in a water fountain..."

The weasel smiled to herself, "Forgot about that one..."

"...conspiracy to commit theft, pretending to be an officer of the law..." The judge looked to the scroll, raising an eyebrow before moving on, and on until he came to the next charge.

"Whiskers McTavish, Lucia Ember, Luthiar Droven... charged with conspiring with seditionists. Penalty, death."

Kali's heart skipped a beat. Conspiring with seditionists? What on earth did Droven do to be charged with such a crime? Where would she even find seditionists to conspire with?

?You think this is honorable??

The memory hit Kali like a brick to the face.

?You murdered slaves! They had no choice but to fight you. And for what?! To make them cheer for you??

Kali's wings clutched at either side of her head as horror overtook her. That was her terrible rant, not Droven's! The lute maker hardly even knew Kali. Surely even Nire wasn't petty enough to punish the vole for Kali's crimes?

Standing there in the middle of an arena, dressed like a big red tribal jester Kali realized that yes, Nire probably was.

Kali turned swiftly to droven, stretching out a wing to clutch her paw as Nire returned to the podium.

"My, that was dreary! Now, this may be an execution but this is the Crater, ladies and gentlebeasts, and we are here to put on a show! It would not be very entertaining if they didn't even have a chance. And that's what we're here to give today, my fine upstanding citizens. Those who have been convicted, we give you more than you gave us. We give you a chance to earn your freedom! And perhaps even a little coin, if you put on a particularly good show!"

"So what do you say, my good beasts of Northvale? Shall we give these blighters their chance?" Nire let the cheer die down before continuing, "This will be trial by monster! Our brave Banshee Bat will serve as a distraction, aiding our less than stalwart heroes by her wits alone! She defeated the Crimson Tiger with his own dagger but can she keep these convicts alive for three minutes? Let's find out!

"Let the games begin!"

Kali turned quickly to the beasts, "Listen. Listen to me!" She said as calmly as she could. "We can do this. Just follow my lead and I will guide you to-"

One of the condemned screamed as the stinger of a scorpion erupted from the sand, spearing him from behind. All around them scorpions emerged from pits as they were opened.

"Everybody run! Run for your lives!" Kali didn't know who shouted the words. In the end it didn't matter. The convicted beasts scattered to the far corners of the arena, desperate to get away from the insects. Some hid behind the spiked pillars, others tried to climb the very walls in desperate attempt to escape the arena.

It was all futile.

The bat grabbed the paw of the vole, half dragging her as she ran away from the scorpions. 

"Droven!" The bat wrapped her wings about Droven's shoulders, "We are going to be ok, but I can't be in more than one place at a time. Get as many beasts as you can to group up."

The vole swallowed, but nodded.

"Do it now!" And with that Kali took to the air. Her head snapped back and forth between beasts needing her help. There were still eleven left and all of them were in danger.

Before she could react, a fox in a yellow tunic managed to actually climb the arena's wall with the aid of another beast. He barely laid a paw onto the rim of the arena when an archer's arrow pierced him through the side. Unfortunately he was still very much alive when he fell into the scorpion below him.

"To me! To me!" Kali's chirps were lost among the chaos as each beast tried to save themselves. Those who actually grouped together were still too far apart for Kali to help.

"Quickly! Get to me!" She shouted to one stoat as a scorpion snatched his leg.

"No! Not that way!" She could only watch as another fox was overtaken by insects and consumed.

Kali bit at her wing tips. "WhatdoIdo, whatdoIdo?" Over her shoulder she caught sight of a scorpion baring down on an otter.

The bat scooped up sand, throwing it with her wing at the scorpion and causing it to turn in her direction. "Hey! That's right! Big, fat, juicy bat right over here!" Kali took a step back as the scorpion came after her. She turned to fly away, shouting with panic, "I immediately regret my actions!"

Keeping low, Kali flew before another scorpion, narrowly dodging its snapping claws. That was two on her tail. That was progress, right?

The shrill scream of another slave showed that it was indeed, not. Seven beasts left. How long had it been? It felt like an eternity has passed but Kali knew in her heart that this game was only getting started.

Landing in the middle of the arena Kali thrust both wing tips into either side of her muzzle and she whistled as loud as she could. The scorpions turned their attention to the bat as she began to dance, the silver bells of her costume clinking together.

And she began to sing.

"There once was a sailor... his name was bob... he went out sailing... and didn't get eaten by scorpions!"

It wasn't a very good song, but scorpions were not big into lyrics. Only the rhythm of the noise coming from their potential meal, drawing the insects closer to herself and away from the others.

She didn't know whether or not to be over joyed or terrified that her plan was working. "There once was a scorpion! His name was Joe. He was a sailor and... did... scorpion thiiIiiIiiings. Things that didn't involve stabbing me to peiceeeees."

Kali danced in a slow circle, keeping an eye on the monsters as they drew near. This would be close. But the sooner she shot up into the air, the sooner the scorpions would go back to hunting down the others.

Slowly the insects circled Kali, readying to attack.

And then simply, turned and left.

The bat skipped a beat in her song. "No! No! Where are you going! Get back here!" She shouted, trying to get their attention again. The scorpions were however, no longer interested in the bat. They had easier prey to stalk.

"Kali!" The cry of Droven cut through the arena. Following the bat's orders she had gathered two others. And they were being surrounded by just as many scorpions.

Another cry for help came from the other trio beasts trying on the far side of the arena as they tried desperately to climb a spiked spire to escape the Scorpions. The otter she just saved was being cornered against the wall.

There was not enough time to save them all.

Biting her lip Kali hesitated only a moment longer before dashing for Luthier Droven.

One monster raised its tail to strike.

"Don't you dare!" Diving bombing the scorpion from behind, she landed on the back of its tail, thrusting it forward into it's own head. The creature hissed, swiping it's claws at the bat who kept the its tail pinned to its body.

"Run! Run now!" The lute maker, the tattooed bandit, and the mouse slave took flight. They ran past, the distracted scorpion as its fellow monsters lunged at where they were.

"Prisoners! Look! Look quick!" The familiar call of Nire's excited voice shouted for the beasts to take notice. Near the center of the arena a trap door opened. "There is your escape! You will be safe from the monsters in there!"

Had it been three minutes already? Thought the bat as she sought out other survivors. The otter was trying to crawl away from a scorpion, his fleshy midriff slit open by the insects claws.

The other trio of beasts were lost to the monsters, their terrified screams for help being met by the cheers of the arena.

Of the twelve beasts that entered, only three remained, and with a lucky swipe of a scorpion's claw, the number dwindled to two.

The mouse slave shrieked as she tumbled into the sand. Droven stopped to help the mouse while Rose the weasel thief dashed on to safety.

"Don't leave me behind!" The mouse shouted.

"I got you! I got you! You need to get up and..." Droven fell backward as a scorpion's claw dragged the mouse back into its terrible clutches. She was in the process of taking a step forward to save the beast when Kali swooped in next to her.

"It's too late for her. Go!" She pushed Droven towards the pit. The bat returned to the scorpions, keeping them distracted by gliding around them, "I'll hold them off! You will be safe in the-"

The words of Nire ran through Kali's head, realizing that the pit was in the same location as-

"Drover! Wait!" Kali turned to fly to the vole.

She never saw the scorpions tail.

Lashing Kali across the face the bat was sent flying head over heels into the sand. Her mask broke apart after taking the brunt of the impact.

Stunned, she picked herself up, searching for Droven. But there was no sign of her, only scorpions rushing to meet her.

Leaping up and over the oncoming insects, Kali landed next to the pit. "No."

Nire was true to his word. There actually was an exit into the underworks where they would be safe from the monsters...

But not the spike trap at the bottom of the pit.

"No, no, no..." the bat leap into the pit, careful to avoid the spikes that impaled Luthier Droven through the belly, chest and hip. "Droven! Please, no..." She clutched the lute makers head but the vole was already gone. There was no time for good bye, no final words to impart to the bat.

Just death.

"This isn't fair! I-it isn't fair! I got you to safety! You were not supposed to die!" Kali rested her head against the vole's even as dark shadows loomed over the pit.

A pair of paws grabbed ahold of the bat by the shoulder, yanking her back into the safety of the underworks.

And like that, the lute maker was gone, disappearing from view as guards slammed the door shut to keep insects inside the arena.

"Well, that just happened." The tattooed weasel patted Kali on the shoulder. "I guess that means we are even now." Standing up to face the guards the weasel said again, "This means I get to live, right? No more crazy insects to fight down here, are there?"

Kali only continued to stare at the door, eyes wide. She wanted to break down into tears but for the life of her, she couldn't.

"Cart this one off to the drag," one of the guards said, Kali wasn't sure which one. "Get the bat to the infirmary. Make sure she's ready for the next show."

"N-next show?" Kali was finally disturbed from her trance.

"You have at least one more execution left today, two if the Reapers match ends early."

Words failed Kali as she was led away. The muffled voice of Nire could be heard as he introduced the Reaper for his next match...


><><><><><><><><><


Kali sat on the cot, ridged and unmoving. Splatters of other beast's blood were nearly impossible to pick out from her painted fur.

The infirmary was empty. There were no wounded here. A beast had to first survive the onslaught of monsters to be brought here.

"T-to..." her voice was week, "T-today is... today is a.. . . . .. today is a new..." Kali let the words fade.

Slowly her head turned to the sound of foot steps coming down the hall. Silas was almost unrecognizable in his armor, stained green with insect juices.

Passing by the infirm the rat paused. For a moment the two simply locked eyes. She didn't know if Silas blamed her for getting him into this mess, she didn't know if he blamed her for all the slaves who would still be alive if only he had killed Nire. There were so many words left to say and yet, no time to say them.

Instead, Silas merely nodded to Kali and she in turn merely nodded to him. The rat turned to walk away.

The rat was soon replaced by the familiar sight of Kentrith.

"Kali? Kali!" The fox rushed to Kali's side. Paws on her shoulder, he shook the bat out of her stunned melancholy. "Kali? Are you ok? I came as soon as I could. That was a right terrible thing Nire did."

The bat looked up into the concerned eyes of Kentrith. "Despair is a choice..."

The fox looked confused. Before he could reply Kali buried her head into his chest. "Th-they all died. Everyone died... The only beast I could save actually d-deserved to be there! They were calling for me and... and..."

Kali's eye's widened, "Droven. I... I left those beasts to such a horrible fate to save Droven. And she still... she s-still..." The tears came freely now.

Kentrith looked uncomfortable. His skills were clearly suited to training beasts how to fight, not comforting bards falling to pieces infront of him. Sighing, he gave Kali an awkward hug. He didn't speak. He just let the bat cry.

"I... I tried to bring people hope. I c-couldn't understand why I couldn't make them happy. Why no one... no one has hope. It's because there IS no hope. W-we ware all doomed beasts. We are all going to die here...

"And it's all your fault."

"What?" Kentrith managed before the bat shoved him in the chest with her wing.

"It's all your fault! You and every beast who has ever set paw in this horrid place! Every guard, every worker, every beast who comes to watch beasts die here."

Kali shoved him again, rounding on the fox in anger, "I should know, I was part of the problem to! We all know this arena is WRONG, but we all ignore it because Nire gives us gold and fancy comforts and... and 'entertains' beasts with 'legends' and 'battles'."

"Kali, you are talking wild talk now... just calm down and-"

"Calm? Why should I be calm? You know I'm right! How can none of you know that I am right! We are the problem. We give Nire his power. All we have to do is walk away. If we just walked away, just left this place, all Nire would be is a crazy old cat with a creepy skull collection."

"You're not... wrong, Kali. But please, just-"

"THEN WHY ARE YOU HERE?" Kali was practically shrieking now, shoving another wing against Kentrith with little impact. "Why are you here? T-to make money? To get famous for teaching beasts how to... to slaughter one another? Why didn't YOU just walk away, eh? Better yet, why don't you use all that fancy training of yours to do the world a favor and chop Nire's head off, eh?"

"Because we are not ready for it!"

Kentrith's outburst of anger took both beasts by surprise. The fox quickly glanced about the infirm before dragging Kali off to a corner.

Kali didn't know what kind of look she had on her face, but it seemed to make the trainer hesitate. "Listen, this is a secret, like before in the training yard, remember? We wanted to bring you in on it anyway... eventually." He shook his head, "It doesn't matter. Just know that there is hope left in the arena. There is a plan in motion to-"

"I want in."

The fox paused, "Kali, you havn't even heard what I am about to-"

The fox-bat leaned closer, cheeks stained with tears and the blood of other beasts. "I. Want. In."

Taking a moment to raise an eyebrow, Kent replied in a serious tone, "It will be dangerous. You might live longer as a gladiator."

"With your training? You give yourself too much credit." Is what Kali wanted to say, in retrospect. She was too much of a mess to do anything but glance away as if to think about it.

"Today has come and gone. I saw many beasts die today. I... failed to help those beasts. But tomorrow? Tomorrow is a new day. And tomorrow...

"... no one dies."

The fox drew a sharp breath. "Alright... you are going to want to sit down for this..."