Hide-and-Seek

“Welcome, welcome, to the Games. This is the sixtieth annual Games—and the gist is simple, though I think you already know it. You can run, but you can’t hide.”
=== Prologue: Kamari===
Kamari fluttered her wings as she looked around. The purple and red SilkWing leading her by the arm tugged her to keep her walking quickly. Kamari picked up the pace, her fire-like eyes scanning the cold, sanitary hallway. Only small lightbulbs lit up the long hallway, and between bulbs there was only pitch black.
“This way.” The SilkWing said gently as they came to an intersection with twenty different hallways. All the other contestants were led down their respective hallways, and as was Kamari.
Her heart started beating faster. What if they find out? She worried. What if I’m eliminated? When you go into the Games, you never come out . . . Thousands of questions circled in the young NightWing’s mind as they stopped at a large iron door with a huge lock and bolt.
“Here you are, ma’am. The games will begin shortly. I assume you know the rules?”
Kamari nodded at the kind SilkWing and smiled. “Thank you. Yes, I do. Don’t ransack the room looking for an immunity branch, don’t eat or drink anything in the room until after the games, and don’t go to sleep.” She recited.
The SilkWing nodded again. “I will see you after the first Immunity Challenge.”
With that, Kamari was shut into her room. Plush carpets and fancy couches lined the walls, rich red silks hung from the ceiling, and cupboards were studded with onyx gems. Even through all the fanciness, it still felt like an underground bunker—because it was.
Kamari wandered over to a huge mirror and gazed at herself. Her eyes danced like fire in the light, and her dark scales were a shade of obsidian blue. Kamari’s scales faded to a lighter galaxy pattern by her claws and tail-tip. Long, droopy RainWing ruffs uncloaked by her ears, which had a beautiful pattern like a starry night sky on them. The undersides of her wings had shooting star patterns and looked like an actual night sky, with shades of darker and lighter blues, purples, and black, with silver star-scales like any other NightWing. She had small scars on her snout, and a circlet of thin gold woven like ivy leaves around her head that had a single amethyst gem hanging between her eyes. Silver bangle bracelets and a thin necklace were the only other jewelry she wore.
Kamari sighed. I have to win. For my family, for Kahili . . . And for myself. She took a deep breath and opened the door ahead of her into a huge oval arena that was almost pitch black.
A loud booming voice shouted over a loudspeaker as she saw nineteen other dragons walk out from the shadows. “Let the Games . . . Begin!”
==Part One: Games of Trust==
===Chapter One: Sina===
Sina let out a long, hard, shuddering breath. A cold sweat was on her scales, and she wiped it off with her dusty scarf around her neck. I’m sorry, my sweet pumpkin. She thought, the image of her son blowing away with the frigid desert wind. 
“Sina! Sina, come inside!” The SandWing’s brown head lifted from the powdery sand as her boss called her, standing half-through the doorway to the two-storied restaurant she worked in.
“Coming.” Sina said wearily. She had dark brown scales which were rimmed with black, and inky black eyes that were always shining with emotion. Her tail and ears were long, and she had large wings the color of desert sand. Scars traced across her claws, chest, and underbelly from . . . Something she didn’t want to think about. Her only accessory and item to her name was a dusty, sand-lodged rose red scarf with faded ivy vine designs stitched in. “Have you decided yet?” She asked, stepping into the restaurant after shaking sand off of herself.
Durian, her boss, simply handed her a note that was sealed with the bright red seal of a dragon falling from the sky. “This will decide that.” 
As soon as Sina saw the note, her blood ran cold. “Is that . . ?”
“It’s been sent from the PhobiaWings,” Durian said quietly. “Go on. Open it.”
Heart thumping, claws shaking, Sina took the letter and broke the seal. She took out a piece of expensive parchment that was made to look old and worn. She swallowed hard, and read aloud.
“Dear Sina of the SandWings. We have been observing you for a few days now, and have decided to extend our talons in friendship. This is an official calling to be part of The Games in the Abyssal Zone, hosted by the PhobiaWing queen this year—Arachnophobia. Please limit your possessions and meet us outside the scorpion den to be escorted safely to the Games. We hope you accept. Sincerely, your host, Marionette of the RainWings. P.S. Take this letter with you when you meet us at dawn tomorrow.”
Every single head in the restaurant was turned towards her. The silence was so loud in the cavern, you could hear a LeafWing clear her throat at the back of the restaurant.	
Durian sighed. “I’ll take you there tomorrow. We all know you don’t have a choice.”
“Yeah.” Sina nodded absently, her eyes locked on the signature at the bottom of the paper. “I’ll . . .”
“Head up to the spare room upstairs,” Durian said sympathetically. “I’ll wake you at dawn.”
Sina climbed the stairs, trying to ignore the whispers of the patrons as they stared and pointed. She gently pushed open the door to the room and shut it behind her. She blinked rapidly as she saw a bouquet of flowers on her bed, with her favorites all bound up in royal purple ribbon.
Attached to the note was a small tag that read,
‘See you at the games.
		—Seik.’
===Chapter Two: Flicker===
Flicker flung off her velvet sheets in the morning and leapt out of bed. She grinned to herself and clipped on her earrings before splashing water on her face from the basin in the corner of her room, drying her face, and opening her wardrobe. She took out a scarlet cloak and pulled it over her head, tossing the cape over her back and folding up her wings.
“Flicker!” An exited voice called. “The letter is here!”
Flicker dashed out the cave-entrance out into the larger cave of her home. Being a SkyWing, her wings, even folded up, brushed the sides of the entrance. She dashed down a set of marble staircases and ducked beneath a chandelier that hung too low before skidding into the huge dining room.
Last again! Flicker mentally scolded herself. Her mother and father were already at the long dining table. Her father was holding a bright white envelope sealed with the red seal of a falling dragon.
“I’m accepted?!” Flicker cried in excitement.
Her father tossed it to her. “Open it!” He exclaimed.
Flicker caught it and held it in her rust-colored claws. Her eyes were yellow, and she had darker red scales running down her back. She had freckles of pink all over her scales, and dark hazel horns and spikes. Rubies were inset under her eyes and in her horns, where two gold bands on each horn had thin blue veils draped between. Her underbelly was leathery-looking and pale red, that faded to bright red then dark red down at her tail.
She cut open the seal with her sharp claws and excitedly opened the letter.
“Dear your royal highness Flicker,” She read aloud. “You have been cordially invited to join the Games. This is an official calling to be part of The Games in the Abyssal Zone, hosted by the PhobiaWing queen this year—Arachnophobia. Please limit your possessions and meet us outside the SkyWing palace to be escorted safely to the Games. We hope you accept. Sincerely, your host, Marionette of the RainWings.” She grinned and peered at the bottom of the paper.
“P.S. We will take the utmost care of your royalty, your family can be assured. Take this letter with you when you meet us at dawn tomorrow.” Flicker jumped up and down with excitement. “Can you believe this?!” She exclaimed.
Her gold-colored mother embraced her in joy. “You’ll do amazing, sweetheart! I just know it.”
===Chapter Three: Seik===
Seik carefully opened the window and slipped into the room, placing the bouquet of blue roses, lilies, and hibiscus on the bed. With a smile to himself he jumped out and closed the window behind him.
Maybe we can make up, He thought sorrowfully as he jumped into the air, his four petal-shaped wings unfurling. His blue-silver scales glistened in the moonlight as he flapped over the scorpion den and landed at his house. I hope she doesn’t hold a grudge like she used to. We were just young, reckless kids back then. I never meant for—Seik cut his thoughts off with a sigh and unlocked his door, stepping inside and closing it behind him.
“I’m home . . .” He whispered to nobody, folding up his wings and looking around his one-room apartment with loneliness in his eyes. I’ve been able to hide for this long, Seik thought, walking over to his bed and casting a sidelong glance at himself in the mirror. What’s a few more weeks?
Seik’s wings were big and navy blue, with NightWing star-scales scattered on both the top and the bottom. His main scales were blue-ish silver, matching his pale, ice-blue eyes. His topscales down his back and tail were an almost-black blue, Seik’s underbelly was the color of clouds during a storm. Seik had Nighting features on his muzzle and straight, NightWing horns. A scar ran down his left eye and jaw, tracing all the way down his neck and across his shoulder. Freckles of yellow stars dotted his scales, collecting under his eyes, by his claws, and twining around his tail.
Seik jumped as the doorbell rang. “Who is it?” He called, running over and looking through the peephole. 
His blood froze and boiled at the same time as he saw a lemon-colored HiveWing wearing the cape of one who worked at the Games. The HiveWing dropped a package on the front porch and turned. Seik caught a glimpse of the Game’s insignia—A falling dragon—branded on the HiveWing’s shoulder before he jumped into the air and slipped into the night sky.
Carefully opening the front door, Seik picked up the package then shut himself in once more. He unwrapped the brown paper, and found a pristine white letter with the red seal of the Games plastering it shut.
He swallowed—hard—and carefully tore it open. Taking out the slip of paper, Seik read it.
Dear Seik of the SilkWings, our agents know about you, and we have decided to choose you. This is an official calling to be part of The Games in the Abyssal Zone, hosted by the PhobiaWing queen this year—Arachnophobia. Please bring only what is necessary, and meet us outside the Scorpion Den at dawn. We hope you accept. Sincerely, your host, Marionette of the RainWings. P.S. We know your secret. If you do not accept, you will be exposed, and led like a lamb to the slaughter.
	P.S.S. We have added a tag to your bouquet you left for another contestant. They know you are coming, and you know that they are. You will be escorted together.
Seik chomped on the inside of his cheek nervously. After pacing for a whole minute, he let out a long sigh. If I put on a smile and act like I’m here to make friends, they won’t . . . Eliminate me. Just put on your mask Seik, like you always do. You can do this.
“Alright, Sina,” Seik whispered to himself. “I’ll see you there.”
===Chapter Four: Sina===
Sina stared at the flowers in disbelief. How . . . Why . . . But most importantly—HOW? She looked around and saw the window slightly ajar. He must have gotten in after I read the letter, Sina thought angrily. Nevertheless, she couldn’t let perfectly good flowers go to waste.
Sina took a short bath before washing her scarf and hanging it by the window to dry and climbing onto the bed. She unwrapped the paper around the flowers and placed them in a vase. They must have cost a fortune, She thought, starting to weave the hibiscus and lilies together to make a flower crown. After finishing, she placed it on her nightstand and laid down, instantly falling asleep among the soft sheets.
* * * * 
Sina snapped awake at dawn, willing it with all her might to just be a dream. But no, right there on the bedside table was the note.
She climbed out of bed, shaking out her wings and curling up her tail as she put on her scarf and flowers. Sina grabbed the note before easily climbing out the window and jumping into the sky. Her big wings caught her midair and she started to glide to the entrance of the scorpion den.
“This is for the best,” She told herself, steeling her nerves as she got closer and closer. “If—when—I win, I’ll be able to save Grit from . . . Wherever he is right now.” Wiping at her eyes, Sina landed at the entrance to the Den and walked out.
Two dragons with the cloaks of ones who worked at the Games were waiting for her. One was a ruby-red HiveWing with deep brown eyes and a charming smile. He wore ruby earrings and had a gold-leaf tattoo of a dragon skull on his left shoulder, and an ivy vine wrapping around his right forearm. The second dragon was a pleasant enough SeaWing with icy blue scales, dark spots of royal blue, and eyes that looked like sunsets. She had a single pouch around her back leg, and a sharp metal device attached to her tail.
Sina curled her tail tighter and gave a shaky, terrified smile. “H-h-hello,” She whispered softly, hating herself for stammering.
The HiveWing beamed. “Hello! You must be Sina! My name is Bejeweled, but I go by Beetle most of the time. He stuck his claw out in greeting. 
Sina gave a small smile in return and shook his claw. “N-nice t-t-to meet you. I was told another dragon was c-coming with us—“ Her question was answered when a dark-colored SilkWing walked up behind them.
He blinked and looked from Sina, to the HiveWing who was still shaking her claw, to the SeaWing who lashed her tail dangerously. “Um . . . Hi, Sina!” He smiled half heartedly.
Sina glared daggers, bullets, and fire ants at him with all her might. “Hello, Seik.” She snarled, voice dripping with venom.
Beetle didn’t seem to notice any of this. “Looks like you know one another! Fantastic I say! This is Sapphire-Shore.” He gestured at the SeaWing.
Sapphire-Shore gave a deadly smile at Seik. “I’m . . . Glad you decided to join us.” Sina heard her add under her breath, “For your own good.”
Sina ruffled her wings and let go of Beetle’s talon, who she realized she was squeezing incredibly hard. “O-oh, sorry . . .” She looked down at her claws shamefully.
“No matter! Come on, now! We have a long way to fly!” Beetle collected Seik’s and Sina’s invitations before jumping into the air and forming a line: Beetle leading, then Sina, then Seik, and finally Sapphire. 
“So,” Sina said casually. “What’s your story?” She asked Beetle.
The HiveWing grinned back at her, making her flush. “Well, I used to work at Jewel Hive selling some handcrafted stuff. But I got bored, and one day, my application to work at the Games was accepted! I’ve been working there ever since. I’ve so far been a Caretaker for two different Games. Oh, and Shore used to be a hybrid hunter, but she’s not anymore!”
Sina’s blood ran cold. A hybrid hunter. Hybrid Hunters were dragons that specifically went after hybrids—and killed them. Sina bit her tongue. You fooled me, Seik. Let’s hope you’re smart enough to fool them too. 
===Chapter Five: Flicker ===
Flicker whistled to herself as she was led by five armed guards through the air. “When are we going to get there?” She asked as they soared over the coast, towards the distant string of islands known as the Oddity Islands. 
“Soon, princess,” A brown and bright red SkyWing said gently. “We’re almost there. See that peninsula? The PhobiaWings live there.”
Flicker nodded. “Is the PhobiaWing princess going to be there? Maybe we can be friends! That would be awesome, wouldn’t it be?” She grinned.
The SkyWing nodded slowly. “Yes, Princess.”
They flew in silence for many more minutes, until, about twenty minutes later, they started descending towards a dark, shadowed forest. In complete wordless movements they landed solemnly, walking through the forest as the trees blocked the sun. Flicker nervously walked closer to the guards, and soon they came upon a big, long staircase leading down into the darkness. Flicker was led by her arm into the darkness, the only lighting being small oil lanterns in the walls. 
Her nervousness grew as they entered a huge underground sanctum. Towers and skyscrapers rose up to the rocky ceiling, and paved streets made easy access for the insane amount of pure blooded dragons milling about and streaming towards a huge indoor stadium. 
“Um-are-uh—is this The Abyssal Zone?” Flicker peeped almost inaudibly. 
“Yes,” the guard said. “Come on. We’ll get you to your room. They used to start the games after everyone got here, but things have changed since then. Now we let the contestants meet each other and have a night of rest before the first Game.” With the flick of his tail he easily navigated through the sea of people that parted to let them through.
Flicker cleared her throat and held her head high like her mother would have wanted. Be a princess, She thought. Not some icky commoner. You are far, far more important than them. They SHOULD be parting the way for me. She told herself, knowing they were lies, but she told herself them anyways.
Soon, they went down a staircase that was as wide as five SkyWings with their wings extended. Flicker saw a strange-looking NightWing with a beanie, a gold-colored SilkWing with beautiful scales, and a maroon RainWing with a witch’s hat being led down along with her.
The NightWing locked eyes with her, and looked like she was deciphering if the princess might make a good and trustworthy ally. 
Flicker lifted her talon in a prim and proper wave, but then almost fell down the stairs. “Ahem—hello. I am—“
“Princess Flicker,” The NightWing interrupted. “I’m aware. My name’s Uzi. Maybe we can talk later.”
Flicker nodded eagerly as her guards led her down a long hallway, and the other dragons were led down separate hallways. 
“Your room, ma’am.” The SkyWing said politely, unlocking an unbolting the steel door before allowing her inside. He bowed low and closed the door behind her after she stepped inside.
Flicker looked around. The room looked just like the SkyWing palace, with a thick red carpet on the floor and scarlet silks draped from the ceiling. Glass blown sculptures and small pruned plants lined the walls, and thin pathos plants climbed the wall behind a lounge chair. Flicker spotted a paper on a low coffee table and read it.
-Flicker of the SkyWings-
	There is a hallway from your room to the Meeting Room, where you can meet the other contestants. Enjoy your stay at your room. Lights out is at midnight tonight. If you disobey the rules you will be . . . Prosecuted. 
Flicker shook out her leathery pink wings and found a cave entrance to a tight, extremely claustrophobic tunnel leading into a larger chamber. She held her breath and pinned her wings to her sides, diving into the tunnel. Her breathing quickly became rapid as she squeezed through the tunnel as fast as she could. Don’t panic, don’t panic, you can do this. DON’T PANIC—AND WE’RE PANICKING. Flicker squirmed and wriggled, popping out on the other side after what felt like an hour but in reality was only two minutes.
In the Meeting Room, Flicker yelped and was shoved against a wall from the force of a purple wing smacking her aside. A bright emerald green dragon with a LeafWing-like shape, but no distinct tribe was brawling with the NightWing Flicker had seen before: Uzi.
“I’ll bite your—“ The strange one yelled a curse Flicker didn’t want to repeat. “—claws off, you little—!”
Uzi slammed the dragon into the wall with a snarl. “Insult me again, idiotic cabbage head. I dare you.”
Flicker cleared her throat and pulled the dragons apart, using her wings to block them from each other. “Woah, woah, woah!” Flicker snapped. “Both of you, cut it out! Who are you, and why are you fighting?”
The strange one smirked and their forked tongue flicked in and out. “Anuke. And this feisty little idiot dared to say I was a—“ she cursed again. “—LeafWing. Pah.”
Uzi gave a low growl. “I didn’t know any better, walking green-bean.”
“STOP!” Flicker commanded. “As princess of the SkyWings, I command you stop!”
Anuke smirked and arched an eyebrow. “Brave one, huh?” She hissed, looming over Flicker, as if they were trying to intimidate her. When Flicker didn’t back down, she nodded and took a step back. “Fine then. I respect that. But if we’re going to fight, I’ll slit both your pretty little necks and paint the walls with your blood.”
Flicker noticed the golden SilkWing cowering in the corner of the room, shaking with fright. Her scales were made of gold, dark brown, and cream colored splotches. She had amber eyes, and her wings were white dotted with gold flecks. She had a satchel around her neck, and held a small butterfly-shaped earring clutched in her claws.
Flicker wandered over and smiled. “Hello, what’s your name?”
“Name? O-oh, uh, G-Gold-Drop,” She mumbled. “And we’re all going to die here.”
===Chapter Six: Seik ===
Seik took a deep, worried breath. Sapphire-Shore had been eyeing him the whole flight to the peninsula. He knew that she knew that he was a hybrid. On modern Pyrrhia and Pantala, being a hybrid or parent of one meant certain death. His mother had fled Pantala with his egg after his father was killed, and raised him for a few years before being chased by the hybrid hunters into the desert. She died of starvation, leaving Seik alone in the wastelands. He was taken into the Scorpion Den, and that was the start of his new life as a SilkWing—not a hybrid, as he had learned to hide. Just a normal, plane old SilkWing.
Seik snapped out of his thoughts as they walked out into the huge underground city of the Abyssal Zone. Ahead of them was a gigantic indoor stadium.
Beetle chatted away with Sina as they made their way towards the stadium like they were some kind of long-lost friends.
Frankly, Bejeweled, or Beetle, or whatever his name was (Seik couldn’t care less), made Seik’s blood boil. The way he looked at Sina, how he complimented her and she politely complimented him right back—RRRRGH. I wonder if I could just fly away into the crowd, He thought.
Seik tried to disappear into a passing crowd of NightWings, but Sapphire-Shore appeared in front of him with a sneer, tail raised to strike at his neck, and the blade on the end pointed right at him. Seik growled at her and continued on. 
“Here we are!” Beetle exclaimed in a sing-song voice as they trotted down stairs to go underneath the stadium, and came to a conjunction of twenty different hallways. “Come on, Sina! I’ll show you to your room!”
Sapphire nodded. “And I’ll take Seik. Come on.” She shoved him ahead of her, and Sina slipped from sight. “Don’t make me bite your tail,” Shore snapped. “Get going!”
Seik hissed at her and bared his fangs. “How did you find out?” He demanded in a whisper. “That I am a hybrid?”
Sapphire-Shore gave a half-laugh, half-scoff. “A good hybrid hunter can track down her prey . . . No matter how long it takes. You reek of mixed blood. It’s a wonder you aren’t dead already.”
A growl rose in Seik’s throat just as his fury did. She killed my father, He realized. She . . . I’m going to claw out her heart! Seik lunged at her, swiping his claws across her eyes as her tail sliced towards him. He leapt out of the way and pounced on her tail, ripping her blade off and biting her as hard as he could.
Sapphire-Shore roared in agony and wheeled around, slamming his head into the stone floor as hard as she could. She stood over him, claws gripping his horns. “I would kill you right now if you weren’t in the Games,” She snarled. “How I wish to spill hybrid blood after so many years.”
”You’ll have to wait a little longer,” He roared, bucking up and knocking a tooth out with his wing-claw. She reeled, and he dove at her belly, ready and willing to tear her apart. 
The SeaWing came down with her claws right on his eyes, sending excruciating pain down his spine and smashing him into the floor. Shore stood over him as everything faded to black, grinning madly.
“You can’t escape this place,” She hissed. “You can run, but you can’t hide.”
* * * * 
Seik groaned and blinked awake groggily. He was in a medium-sized room with a few other dragons. A fancy SkyWing, a pretty-looking SilkWing, a fuming weird-looking green dragon, A NightWing wearing a beanie and sitting in the corner, and the RainWing that was standing over him, staring at him intently as she pushed a witch hat out of her eyes.
”AAAH! Wha—“ Seik tried to scramble away but the RainWing stopped him. 
“Calm down,” She said grouchily. “You got hurt pretty bad. I healed you.”
Seik blinked slowly. “Uh-huh, lemme guess, you’re a witch.”
She nodded with a frown. “Yes. My name is Sakura. I practice all forms of magic except animus magic.” At the last two words she shuddered a little bit and helped Seik to his claws begrudgingly.
“Oh-Kay . . .” Seik said slowly, looking around. “So . . . Who are all of you?”
The SkyWing stepped forwards, flaring her wings majestically. “I am princess Flicker of the SkyWings. Bow down, peasant SilkWing.”
Seik stared at her. “What.” He said it more like a statement than a question. 
‘Flicker’ frowned. “Fine then.”
“Okay, Flicker . . ?” He gestured at the SilkWing. 
“G-Gold-Drop,” She stammered shyly.
The green dragon rolled their eyes and scowled. “Anuke, if you must know. And I’ll gouge the eyes out of anyone who says I’m a LeafWing.”
The NightWing gave him a half-smile and examined him. “I’m Uzi. A NightWing. Duh.”
“Okay,” Seik said. “Anuke, Flicker, Uzi, Sakura, and Golden-Drop. Nice to meet you, I suppose. I’m Seik. O-of the NightWings.” He added hurriedly. “NO WAIT I m-mean the SilkWings! Because I-I’m a SilkWing.” 
Uzi laughed. “Getting distracted?” She touched her chest like she was honored. “What, am I too pretty for you?”
“SHUT UP.” Anuke snarled. “I’m going back to my room. You all are camel-sniffing, snail-farting, rattlesnake-hugging, tree-loving, mouse brains.” She turned with a flourish and stomped down an extremely tight hallway labeled ‘Anuke’.
Seik blinked. “Are they always like that?”
Gold-Drop shrugged. “I-I wouldn’t know. I’ve n-never met them before. They seem mean and kind of scary.”
“Agreed,” Sakura scoffed. “Like I couldn’t simply poison them if I had a few frogs and herbs.”
Seik rubbed his forehead. “Have either of you seen a dragoness named Sina? She’s a SandWing.”
Uzi shook her head. “No, I haven’t. But either she’ll come here soon . . . Or you’ll see her tomorrow during the first Game.”
* * * * 
Seik tossed and turned in his bed, trying to will the night to be over. It felt like it would never end. No matter how hard he tried, he only fell asleep for no more than an hour before waking up again. Seik finally decided he had had enough, and climbed out of the silk sheets. Maybe I can find something useful here, He thought, starting to search the room. He lit a candle and looked under couches, between rugs, behind vases and sculptures until finally— 
A long, thin ivory object caught his eye. Seik found the object wrapped up in the red silks hanging above his head. How do I get that down? He wondered, testing the space with his wingspan. If I hover, I’m bound to knock something over . . . That’s when he saw the four peg indents in the floor.
After a moment of searching, Seik found a footstool that exactly matched the indents in the ground. He easily jumped onto the cushion and reached over to grab the object. After a good deal of untangling, he finally withdrew a thin ivory branch that weighed almost nothing. 
Seik tested it in his talon and found a small note tied onto the end with burlap string. He wandered over to the firelight and started to read under his breath.
“You have found a hidden immunity item,” He read. “This will protect you from elimination, but will only work if you have it on your person. No trading of items will be permitted. A fake immunity item is hidden in the blue vase in the corner of the room closest to the bed. Take it and do with it what you wish.” A smile grew across his face and he untied the note, burning it so nobody else could find it.
Seik hopped over to the blue vase and stuck his claw inside, pulling out a smaller, more wiry gold-tinted branch. A tag was attached to it that said, “You have found a hidden immunity item! Congratulations.”
Seik nodded as a plan started to form in his mind. I know this is a fake, but nobody else does. The heavier, fake branch could make a good decoy. Seik took the real immunity item and tucked it inside his pillowcase—just in case. Now I just have to hide this where someone else will find it, and boom, mission accomplished. 
Seik snuck through the tunnel into the Meeting Room, making his steps silent and breathing as shallow as possible. He looked around for a good hiding spot, and finally decided to put the decoy behind a sofa in the corner of the room.
As he started to tuck it just so that the tip could barely be seen, a voice made his blood run cold. 
“What are you doing?”
===Chapter Seven: Sina===
Sina liked Beetle. A lot. They had a bunch of interests in common, and frankly, he was fun to be around! Sina felt like she could be loose and open with him, and like she could tell him anything.
“Here we are,” Beetle said sweetly as they stopped in front of a big iron door with locks and bolts on it. “This is your room.”
Sina frowned. “When will I get to see you again? I—uh—enjoyed our conversation.” She smiled and tried to hide her blush as he beamed.
“Aww, that’s so sweet!” He nudged her affectionately. “I’ll come by every day to check on you, don’t worry. Meals will be eaten with all the contestants together, but I’ll deliver private meals and such. I hope we can talk soon!”
Sina nodded and went to open the door.
Before she did, Beetle caught her wing and his tone turned slightly concerned. “Hey,” he said softly. “What’s the story with you and Seik?”
Sina bit her tip. “Oh . . . Well . . .” She sighed. “Promise you won’t tell anyone?”
Beetle smiled. “Of course.”
“I met Seik in the Scorpion Den about . . . Two years ago? I don’t know. He was being attacked by a Hybrid Hunter that—uh—thought he was a hybrid. But he’s not.” She added quickly. “And I helped him fight her off. I . . . Accidentally stabbed her with my tail, and . . . Killed her.” She shuddered. “That’s how I got these scars. Afterwards, we started hanging out together a lot. And started dating.” Sina paused before going on. “He wanted to go a step farther. Maybe live together, or . . . Y’know, get married. I wasn’t so sure. But one thing led to another, and . . . And . . . I had an egg.” Tears welled in her eyes and she took a deep breath. “I was furious at Seik and myself for letting that happen. W-we tried to keep him a secret, but the Hybrid Hunters f-found out about him. They took him away from me, and made sure I would never have a home or any place to stay again. I’ve lived on the streets for the past two years. I blame Seik for what happened.”
Beetle gasped. “Oh my word, I’m so sorry . . .” For some reason, Sina could sense his sympathy wasn’t genuine. She didn’t say anything, and simply shook her head.
“I’m going to get some rest. I’ll see you tomorrow.” She slipped through the door and closed it behind her. Sina could hear the locks and bolts grinding into place.
Well, I’m trapped now. She thought wearily. Might as well get some rest. After examining the note on the table, she didn’t bother going into the Meeting Room, and instead made her way towards the bed. She froze as she heard voices.
“Agreed,” A grumpy voice scoffed. “Like I couldn’t simply poison them if I had a few frogs and herbs.”
Seik’s voice came next. “Have either of you seen a dragoness named Sina? She’s a SandWing.”
Then, another dragon spoke. “No, I haven’t. But either she’ll come here soon . . . Or you’ll see her tomorrow during the first Game.”
Sina heard Seik sigh. “Alright. I’m just . . . Worried about her.”
“You know each other?” The first voice groaned. “That makes you one big target for elimination. Lovey-dove pairs always get voted out first.”
Sina then heard the third dragoness. “A lot you know! For all we know, this has nothing to do with being ‘voted out’ or whatever!”
“I’m a witch, Uzi.” The snarl of the first dragon reached Sina’s ears. “I saw what is to come.”
“I’m going to sleep,” Seik sighed. “See you all tomorrow.”
He’s worried about me? Wh—Why? And who’s this Uzi character defending him? Are there a lot more dragons? Sina flopped onto her bed face-down with her wings splayed out. Aaaaaarg. This is going to be a lot more complicated than I thought.
* * * * 
Sina woke the next morning with a loudspeaker’s crackle and the voice of a dragon announcing something.
“Hello, hello, and goooooood morning! Today we start off with our very first immunity challenge! After that will be a short break, and then the elimination challenge! For now, let us welcome our first three contestants!”
Sina saw arrows light up on the ground towards the door. She walked over and waited for it to open.
“We have Anuke, the tribeless dragon that we’ve tried to kill, but it hasn’t worked! Next, here comes Sakura of the LeafWings, and Sakura of the RainWings! Don’t get them mixed up, folks!”
The door in front of Sina swung open, and she nervously walked through it. She came out in a huge, concrete-floored stadium that was almost pitch-black. The only lighting was a spotlight shining down in the center of the stadium.
“Here comes Sina of the SandWings!” The announcer boomed. Cheering clapping came. “Let’s give it up for Crescent of the SilkWings, and Abysmal of the SeaWings!”
Sina flinched as the thunderous clapping and cheering made her ears hurt. She walked over to stand by the other dragons, and looked for Seik.
“Next up is Parrot of the RainWings, Gold-Drop of the SilkWings, and Seik of the SilkWings!”
There he is. Sina watched him as he confidently made his way over to stand with everyone else.
“Here is Uzi of the NightWings, Scimitar of the SkyWings, and Jackal of the MudWings!”
After that there were many, many more names: Xeino of the IceWings, Scallion of the SeaWings, Brulè of the HiveWings, Thunderous of the IceWings, Flap of the SkyWings, Dream of the NightWings, and Dart-Frog of the MudWings.
All of the contestants stood in a circle outwardly facing the crowd as the spotlight shone down on them.
“And finally, welcome our very, very special guests: Queen Arachnophobia of the PhobiaWings, Princess Phobophobia of the PhobiaWings, and her boyfriend, Nyctophobia of the PhobiaWings! And you all know me, your host, Marionette of the RainWings!”
The cheering was almost deafening. Sina couldn’t see the crowd, but she could guess that there were more than six hundred dragons in the stadium.
“Our first game is fairly simple. There are many different hiding spots around the arena. You will have three minutes to go hide, and a seeker will be chosen. The object is simple! Be the last one to be found! The last one to be found will win immunity, and be impervious to elimination. Queen Arachnophobia, why don’t you pick the Seeker for us?”
“Very well.” Said another voice, this one female. “I choose . . . Brulè. You will be the seeker!”
The cream-colored HiveWing pumped his fist in the air, and a blindfold was tossed down to him. He sat in the very center of the arena, and tied on the blindfold. 
“You all have three minutes to hide! On your mark, get set, GO!”
Cheers, whoops, whistles, and screams drowned out Sina’s talon-steps as she zoomed like a bullet into the darkness.
Looking back, she saw the maroon RainWing, Sakura, standing on the edge of pitch-darkness, looking absolutely terrified. 
Oh—come on, Sina! Save your own scales! Oh, who am I kidding—She stopped and dashed back to Sakura. “Take my claw!” She exclaimed. “You’ll be alright, I’m right here!”
Sakura nodded, terrified and shaking as Sina led her into the darkness. “T-t-t-thank y-y-you,” She stammered.
Sina smiled. “No problem. Come on, I see something over this way.”
The two girls made their way to a pile of foam bricks laying in the corner of the huge stadium.
“One and a half minutes remaining!”
“You hide in here,” Sina said, blowing a small stream of fire to let Sakura see. “I’ll find somewhere else.”
“A-a-alright.” The RainWing nestled into the blocks and disappeared from sight. 
Come on, come on! Sina jumped into the air and flapped her wings, shooting across the stadium. She suddenly had an idea. Wait. They never said we couldn’t hide in the crowd! But then everyone would be looking at me . . . Sina found a small dragonet play-tower, and landed on the roof, pressing herself as close as she could get before—
“TIIIIIMES UP! Alright, Brulè, go find them!”
Sina’s heart thudded so hard she thought she would faint. Please don’t let them find me.
===Chapter Eight: Flicker===
Flicker looked around for somewhere—anywhere—to hide. She jumped into the air and looked around below her. There! A big metal crate was on the ground. She dove down and stood on her hind legs to get a look at the top of it. It was open, and had a metal sheet that could slide over to make it look like a simple iron box. Forget the claustrophobia and get in there! Flicker yelled at herself. She jumped in and shut the sliding roof over top of her.
Thud. Thud. Thud. Flicker thought the entire crowd could hear her heart beating. Why am I so scared? T-this is just a game. This is just a game. She repeated the phrase to herself over and over, but it did little to help her. 
Metal on all sides pressed in on her as if the box was getting smaller. The air was warm with her breath. Am I going to suffocate in here?
“TIIIIIMES UP!” The muffled voice of the announcer exclaimed. “Alright, Brulè, go find them!”
Everyone was dead silent. Flicker blew a small burst of fire just so she could see her talons in front of her face. Her eyes grew wide as she saw something staining the bottom of the crate. Blood. 
No no no no no. Flicker tried to back away from the dried blood, but she found that she couldn’t move. With wild eyes she tried to open the sliding door over her, but it was stuck shut. Please! Flicker thought frantically. I can’t be trapped in here! What if the dragon that died in here is haunting the crate?! She tried as hard as she could to open the crate, but only succeeded in being short of breath.
There’s not any air holes in here, She realized, gasping for breath. I’m going to die. She jiggled and banged against the crate, but it felt like no sound came out. Nobody was coming to save her. Someone! Anyone! Flicker thought, letting out a scream for help. Her eyelids grew heavy as it got harder and harder to breathe. Flicker’s head slumped against the ground as she tried to inhale. “H-help . . .” She cried.
”HELP!” She screamed with the last of her energy. Flicker fell limp as she passed out, trapped in the steel box.
* * * *
Flicker’s eyes slowly opened and she barely moved her wings. She gratefully drank in cool, sweet air and let out a sigh of releif. 
She was back in her room, under soft sheets, and with an oxygen mask on her snout. A SandWing with pale tan scales that were almost white was standing next to the bed. “Hello,” He said softly. “I’m glad you are awake.” The SandWing gently took off the oxygen mask and smiled at Flicker. “We found you when you screamed for help. It is an . . . Inconvenience that you were trapped.”
Flicker groaned and rubbed her head. Her lungs burned and her eyes stung, but she felt fine other than that. “What . . . What happened?”
The SandWing nodded softly and checked her joints, making Flicker blush slightly as he smiled. “We had to disassemble the box around you. It was completely stuck. But luckily you’re alright.”
”L-l-luckily,” Flicker stammered. “What happened d-during the g-game? Who w-won?”
The SandWing laid her back down to make her rest some. “The RainWing—Sakura. She was hiding in a pile of foam blocks, completely camouflaged. She won immunity for the next challenge tonight. By the way, I am your personal nurse, Sandstorm.”
”Oh, thank you.” Flicker smiled at him. “I think I’m alright.”
Sandstorm nodded and let her get up and walk around a bit. “Just holler if you need any medical assistance.” With a polite nod, he exited the room and locked and bolted the door behind him.
Flicker let out a sigh and rubbed her forehead. That was horrible, She thought, remembering the blood inside the crate. I wonder . . . Who was trapped in there? That could have been me.
That should have been me.
* * * *
Flicker stood in the Meeting Room, watching the dark-colored SilkWing—Seik—talk to the NightWing in the beaine—Uzi. They were talking in quiet whispers as if they knew something she didn’t.
“Hey!” Sakura the RainWing exclaimed as a brown SandWing made her way into the room. “Sina—thank you. A lot.”
Flicker frowned. Why is she thanking her?
”No, really, it’s fine,” The SandWing said quietly. “You looked really scared, so . . . I just decided to help.”
Sakura smiled. “Well—if you ever need any assistance in the future, just tell me. I am in your debt.”
”Debt smebt,” Anuke snapped, suddenly appearing between them. “Now stop being all stupid and get out of my way.” They went to walk through them, but Sina didn’t bother to move.
Anuke snarled and went to strike at her, but Flicker sped over and shoved Anuke, making them stumble backwards. “What the heck, Anuke?” Flicker snapped. “Stop being such a jerk!”
Anuke swiped at her, scratching her cheek. “Get out of my way, two-faced wood-legged dung eater!” She hissed angrily. 
Flicker shoved Anuke backwards. “Stop. I order you to stop.”
”Oh, you order me, huh?” Anuke lunged at her, jumping like a cat on a mouse. Before Flicker would have been crushed by the far muscular dragon, Sina tackled Anuke out of the way with a snarl, pinning her and raising her tail barb like a scorpion.
Flicker blinked. “T-thank you,” She peeped.
Sina didn’t seem to hear her. She lowered her head right down to eye level with Anuke and said something nobody else could hear. With a harsh smack to the face, Sina released Anuke, who scrambled backwards.
”I’m going to kill you,” Anuke hissed. “I am GOING TO FREAKING KILL YOU!” 
But, the tribeless dragon was outnumbered. Sakura, Sina, and Flicker had them backed into a corner.
Anuke hissed angrily and backed down. At least they have enough common sense to do THAT, Flicker thought.
”Woah,” Seik said. “That was cool, guys. Nice job.”
Sina whirled around with a snarl. “I don’t need praise from you, Seik.” She turned, fuming, and slipped away back into her room.
”So . . .” Uzi said awkwardly. “What’s up?”
=== Chapter Nine: Seik ===
Seik slowly turned. Uzi was standing behind him, staring him down.
”I said what are you doing?” She repeated. “And what’s that?” She nodded towards the branch barely sticking out.
Seik swallowed. “I-It’s a fake immunity item. I’m hiding it.” He came clean. “I found one in my room. It said that there was an extra, so I’m hiding it to dupe someone.”
Uzi actually smiled. “Huh. I didn’t think you would actually be honest.” She held up a thin ivory necklace with a branch hanging off it, and a thicker, gold necklace. “I found the same thing, and came to hide mine.”
Seik blinked. “Really? Do you think there’s one in every room?”
”I doubt it,” Uzi shrugged. She tossed him the gold necklace. “See? It’s a fake.”
Seik read the tag on it and nodded. “Yeah. It doesn’t say anything about having it on your person and whatnot. What are we going to do? We can’t hide them together, that’ll be way too suspicious if there were two immunity items in one place.”
Uzi nodded and caught the fake as he tossed it back. “Should I give this to someone?”
“I don’t think so, because then you’d be a bigger target. Like Sakura said—couples are a target. If you give someone an immunity item, you’re basically seen as best friends.” Seik cocked his head. “Or . . . you could hide it during the game today. And maybe—if what Sakura said is true—we can get everyone to vote out the person that has it to flush the item out of play, and then . . . Boom, they’re eliminated.”
Uzi gave a small laugh. “Actually, you’re smarter than you look.” She placed the ivory necklace around her neck and tied the gold one around her wrist. “Who should I try to make find it?”
”I dunno,” Seik shrugged. “We haven’t met all of the contestants yet. I mean, during the game, you could try to hide it where the biggest threat would find it.”
”Good point.” Uzi replied. “I’ll try to do that.” She turned to leave, but stopped. “Hey, what about an alliance?”
Seik smiled. “It’s always good to have friends.”
* * * *
Seik tried to make his breathing as quiet as possible as he dashed away from Brulè, who was listening for anyone to go find. The cheering luckily drowned out his panting as Seik ran to the very, very far end of the arena and jumped into the crowd.
”Everyone shut it,” Seik hissed, ducking down and hiding in the crowd.
The announcer yelled for Brulè to go, and Seik peeked in between the crowd members to see what was going on. The HiveWing searched around for a moment, then ran towards a pile of blankets on the ground. He shuffled through them and found Flap the SkyWing hiding in the blankets. Next he found Jackal, Thunderous, and Dart-Frog all hiding together in a big jungle-gym like area. Then Parrot was found, because he was simply standing in the darkness with his scales camoflauged, trying to not be seen. More and more dragons were found, until only Seik, Sina, Flicker, Abyssal, and both the Sakura-s were left.
”AHA!” Brulè exclaimed, finding Sina on top of the dragonet play structure. Disappointed, Seik watched the dragoness glide down to wait in the spotlight with the others who were found. Abyssal was found hiding in the rafters, and Sakura the LeafWing was hiding in an empty water trough. 
That’s when Brulè had the idea to fly up and tilt the spotlight towards the crowd, and saw everyone in the crowd staring at where Seik was hiding. With a sigh, Seik rolled his eyes and flew over to join everyone else.
Suddenly, everyone heard a muffled cry for help coming from inside a metal box. The box was disassembled to get the SkyWing princess—Flicker—out, and Sakura the RainWing was declared the winner.
Everyone was promptly escorted (by armed guards) out of the stadium, and led back to their respective rooms.
Seik made his way to the Meeting Room and grouped up with Uzi. “Hey,” He said casually as she appeared in the hallway door labeled ‘Uzi’. “So . . . What’s up?”
Uzi shrugged, her tail flicking behind her. Seik suddenly yelped and jumped backwards as he realized there was a mouth on the end of Uzi’s tail. She seemed perfectly cool with it, as if it didn’t bother her.
“Um—you have a—er—a thing on your tail,” He sputtered.
Uzi smirked. “Yeah. Genetic defect.” She casually readjusted her beanie and sat down on the couch. “I got Scimitar to pick up the fake immunity item,” She said in a low tone. “That should buy us some leeway. He’s big, strong, and fierce. A strong competitor.”
“Good point,” Seik whispered back as Sakura and Sina entered the room, quickly followed by Flicker and Anuke. “It should be easy to convince everyone else to vote for him—if we even are voting.”
Seik and Uzi looked over as an argument erupted between the different dragons in the room, ultimately ending up with Sina pinning Anuke, yelling at Seik, then storming out of the room.
“So . . .” Uzi said awkwardly, fiddling with her talons. “What’s up . . ?”
Just then, a large blue SeaWing and a parrot-colored RainWing entered the room.
“Hello!” The RainWing exclaimed. “I’m Parrot! You all had great hiding places!”
Flicker shuddered. “Not really . . . I almost died.”
Abysmal—Seik recognized her from the introductions—cocked her head in worry and started examining Flicker. “Really? How? Are you alright? Any symptoms of stress-induced paralysis? Anything?”
Flicker blinked. “What—um—oh . . . I hid in that metal box, and, like an idiot, closed the hatch after I got in. I almost suffocated.”
“Psh,” Anuke snorted. “Now that would have been entertaining. I would love to see the clean-up crew scraping your remains off the bottom of that iron box. That would have been hilarious.”
“Oh, well, it would have been equally as funny if you had been squished under that pile of metal tubes you were hiding in,” Seik fired back. “Because then you would be all pancaked to the bottom of one, bleeding all over the place. Now that I would like to see.”
Anuke tried to hide an embarrassed flush, but failed miserably. “It was the only hiding spot near me that wasn’t taken by some sniveling two-claws dragon!” They snapped.
Abysmal sighed. “Well. If we can all put our differences aside, for once, we would be able to work together as a team.”
Parrot nodded enthusiastically. “Yeah!” Then she looked at Seik and seemed to speed over to him in the blink of an eye. “Ooooh you’re so pretty! Can I have one of your scales? I’m a collector! I like collecting things!”
Seik recoiled a bit at the sudden enthusiasm. “Um . . . No . . ?”
“Okay! If you die I’ll just take one of your bones then or something!” With that she grinned and started looking around the room.
Anuke groaned. “I am surrounded by idiots.”
“No kidding,” Uzi hissed under her breath.
The crackling of the loudspeakers got everyone’s attention. 
“Hello contestants! It’s time for your first group dinner! Underneath of the rug in the Meeting Room is a hatch leading down to the dining hall. Please, make sure you are there in . . . Let’s say ten minutes! Ta-ta!” More crackling, than silence.
“Alrighty!” Parrot exclaimed, flipping back the carpet. “Let’s get going!” She opened the hatch and started to climb down. Abysmal silently followed her, using her bioluminescent scales to light the way.
Uzi smiled at Seik and said, “See you down there, partner.” Before slipping into the darkness.
Flicker looked at Seik. “What did she mean by that?”
“Oh . . .” Seik replied. “We—we made an alliance. Like, a pact or whatever. We’re planning on y’know, talking strategy and so such with one another.”
Flicker looked interested. “I see. Well . . . Let me know if you need any—uh—royal help, I suppose.” She then followed Uzi down into the shadows.
Seik saw Thunderous, a grey and navy blue IceWing, walk in next. Big silver hoop earrings adorned his ears, and he had a heavy gold nose ring. “Oh. You.” He said dryly. “Why are you just standing there.” His voice held no emotion at all.
Seik blinked. “Um . . . No reason, I guess.” He walked over to the hatch and climbed down. It was a fairly tight tunnel leading down, but he had no problem doing so. Flamesilk lanterns lit the walls, and he dropped down in a huge dining hall set for twenty. Each chair had a name on it, and Seik wandered down the long rectangular table before coming to his place next to the head of the table. He sat down and waited for everyone else to get there. Abysmal and Parrot were sitting next to each other on the other end of the table, and Uzi sat in the middle.
Thunderous, Scimitar, Dart-Frog, and Brulè all wandered down in silence, with Scimitar taking his place next to Seik. “Hello,” He said cooly. Seik was surprised at his voice—it was lovely really, like the sound of a trained singer or something like wind chimes. “Seik, yes?” He was also perfectly calm and collected.
Seik didn’t feel intimidated, even though Scimitar towered at least a head-and-shoulders above him. “Yes. Scimitar of the SkyWings, I assume?”
”You assume correctly.” Scimitar gave a small half-smile. “I am quite exited for the upcoming Game, aren’t you?”
Seik paused as Anuke stormed in, a fresh cut from what looked like a whip on their back. “Idiotic dragons!” They snarled. “Those—those foolish helpers or whatever whipped me when I refused to come down here! I’m going to break their knees and gouge their eyes . . .” They descended into grotesque muttering as they took their place at the table. Seik looked back up at Scimitar. “Oh, um, yeah. I am.”
The two Sakuras made their way down next, followed by Golden-Drop and Crescent. Crescent took his place at the head of the table, sitting next to Seik. Crescent had blue main scales that were light in color, contrasting to the darker blue topscales running down his spine. His underbelly was pale yellow, and his antennae faded to an orange-yellow at the tips. Crescent’s deep blue eyes trained on Scimitar and Seik. “Hello.” He said softly. “Well done today.”
Seik smiled at him. “You too.“ Out of the corner of his eye he saw Sina take her place in silence a few chairs down from him. “You look very nice by the way.”
Crescent blinked. “What? O-oh! Thank you!” He flushed and dipped his head.
He’s only a dragonet, Seik realized. He doesn’t even have wings yet. 
After a moment of silence, all twenty competitors were seated at the table. Silence drowned out everything until finally Sakura the LeafWing stood up in her chair and clinked a claw against her glass to get everyone’s attention. “Hello!” She exclaimed sweetly. “Um, since this is our first all-contestant dinner, I was wondering if we should get to know one another over some dinner?”
As if on cue, waiters silently started placing dishes in front of the dragons.
Sakura beamed. “I think you know, but I’m Sakura! And . . . How about a not interesting fact about me? Let’s see . . . I want to be great friends with Anuke! Who wants to go next?”
Anuke had a look of pure disgusted surprise and flattery on their face. “I suppose I will. I’m Anuke. And I could kill every one of you if I wanted to.” They sat back down.
”I’ll go,” Abysmal said softly. “My name is Abysml, I’m a SeaWing nurse. And . . . I like riddles.”
”ME NEXT!” Parrot exclaimed. “I’m Parrot, a collector! And the coolest thing I’ve ever collected was the pickled eye of a dragonbite viper!”
Thunderous stood. “I am Thunderous of the IceWings. And I come from a long line of Hybrid Hunters.” Promptly he sat back down.
”I am Scimitar,” Scimitar said after clearing his throat. “And I am fireless.”
Really? Seik wondered. He doesn’t look it . . . “I’m Seik,” He said, standing up. “And . . . Well . . .” Tell a lie to get any suspicions that you’re a hybrid out of the room. “Both my parents were weavers.”
That prompted Sina to quietly stand. “I’m Sina,” She said almost inaudibly.
”Speak up!” Xenio the IceWing shouted.
Sina flushed in embarrassment. “O-okay. Sorry. Um . . . Sorry . . . I’m Sina,” She said a little louder. “And I like snakes.” She sat back down quickly.
”I’m Xenio,” The blue IceWing said next. “And I have a pet scavenger.”
”Flap.” A crimson SkyWing barked gruffly. “And I am interested in sparring with Anuke after dinner.”
”Gladly,” Anuke sneered.
Suddenly, the intercom crackled to life once more. “Go ahead and eat, contestants! The next Game starts in twenty minutes!”
That prompted everyone to stop talking and start eating. Seik looked down at his plate. A premium dish of sautéed vegtables, prime ribs, and a small flank steak were on the plate adorned with a garlic butter and grilled sliced tomatoes.
This is the best food I’ve ever tasted, Seik thought as he dug in. He realized everyone had a plate special to their tribe—vegetables and small bits of meat for the RainWings and LeafWings, with more expensive and larger cuts for the SkyWings and IceWings, with less vegetables.
It felt like no time at all had passed when the loudspeaker crackled again. “Alright, contestants! The next game starts . . . NOW!” All the doors slammed shut with steel bunker doors. “This is a simple game of Tag. You can hide, but there isn’t much space to run. Scallion and Dream, you’re IT. Go and get them!”
Whoosh!
The room suddenly became pitch black, and Seik heard Sakura the RainWing scream. Seik dove off his chair, using his NightWing night-vision to pull Crescent out of the way before Dream tagged him. Scallion flashed the room with his glowing pale blue scales, blinding everyone. Seik dove under the table as chaos erupted.
Seik saw Flicker hide under the table with them, and Scallion tackle Xenio before going to tag Anuke. The tribeless dragon dodged and whipped their tail, sending a clear liquid spraying onto the SeaWing. Scallion screamed in pain and writhed on the ground, clawing at his eyes and thrashing to try to get it off of him. Crescent whimpered and cowered closer to Seik as Anuke bludgeoned Uzi with a glass, shattering tiny crystals all over the place.
Seik snarled and dashed out from under the table, throwing Anuke into Dream, who tagged them. “Are you okay?” He asked Uzi, who was bleeding from a gash in her forehead.
”I’m . . . Fine,” She groaned. “Watch out!”
Seik jumped to the side and started running down the long hall as Dream pursued him. Flicker however stuck out her wing to trip the NightWing, who crashed onto the floor but tagged Flicker. Seik ran over to Scallion, who was still shrieking and screaming. “Calm down,” He said, looking around for anything to help. “Just take deep breaths, it’s alright.”
”AAAAAH! IT HURTS!!! IT STINGS!” Scallion roared, eyes bleeding.
Sina dashed over and got Scallion to lay still. “Abysmal!” She yelled. The SeaWing dashed over and whipped out a medicine from her pouch, giving it to Scallion to ease the pain. “Does SandWing venom counteract whatever this stuff is?” Sina asked, wiping some of it out of a nasty wound with a napkin.
Seik helped Scallion to lay down and looked at Sina. “I know this stuff. Hybrid Hunters use it all the time. RainWing venom and SandWing venom counteract Deathlock—that’s what it’s called.”
”I can’t believe I’m trusting you,” Sina muttered, carefully raising her tail barb. Abysmal extracted some of the venom, and dripped it into the open wounds. They instantly stopped sizzling and the blood clotted. “Seik, get Scallion’s claws away from his eyes,” Sina ordered.
Seik did so, pinning them down as Scallion let out weak screams of pain. “You have to open your eyes!” Seik urged him. “Or the pain will be even worse.”
Abysmal peeled open his eyelids to reveal a grotesque sight. Seik gagged, and heard Sina throw up nearby. “Come on,” Abysmal muttered to herself, dripping in the venom.
Scallion groaned and lay still. Seik tied a cloth napkin around his eyes to help with the bleeding.
”Scallion?” Abysmal said softly. “Are you there? Come on . . . Wake up . . .” When the SeaWing didn’t respond, she cast her faint turquoise glow over them. “We were too late,” She whispered.
”Uurgh . . .” Scallion’s pained whimper disproved her words.
Seik sighed with releif. “He’s alive.”
=== Chapter Ten: Sina ===
Sina looked down at the SeaWing. “Where are the medics?”
The lights slowly came back on, and the doors opened. As if responding to her words, five dragons in medical uniforms rushed in carrying a cot. They gently pushed Abysmal, Seik, and Sina aside before getting Scallion onto the cot and rushing him out.
The loudspeakers crackled again. “Well done everybody! The winners of this game are Sina, Seik, and Abysmal! Voting will happen back at the Meeting Room. Goodbye for tonight!”
Sina blinked in shock. “They didn’t seem at all bothered by the fact that someone almost died.”
Seik nodded in disgust. “It’s horrible.”
”Agreed,” Abysmal said quietly. “Come on. Let’s get back upstairs.”
Sina saw Anuke as they made their way over the broken glass towards the door. Something came over her, and her vision turned red. Sina roared and pinned Anuke to the wall faster than you could say scavenger. “LOOK WHAT YOU DID!” Sina roared. She pinned Anuke’s tail to the wall. “IDIOT!”
”He’s the idiot!” Anuke fired back, ripping out of her grasp and tackling Sina. “He was in the way!”
Sina kicked them in the stomach and sliced her tail barb a centimeter from Anuke’s throat. They froze. Sina snarled and turned away, following Flicker and Dart-Frog out of the room. Kill them. A small voice in the back of Sina’s mind whispered when she passed Anuke. Kill. Suppressing the voice in the back of her mind, Sina took a deep breath, and prepared herself for anything to come.
* * * *
Sina sat next to Gold-Drop and Sakura the LeafWing in the Meeting Room. The circle of eighteen dragons was filled with intense silence as they waited for Dream and Scallion to get there.
Dream stepped into the room, looking heartbroken. Before anyone could ask what had happened, the megaphone’s static drowned out everything.
“Hello hello! It is tiiiiiime to vote! Scallion has been eliminated from the Games for . . . Medical reasons. An altar should be rising from the ground right about now. There is a piece of parchment there for each one of you. Write the name of a dragon to vote out, and place it back in the vase when done!” A dark wood altar rose from the center of the room, with a wide intricately designed brown vase with golden designs on it. Carved into the wood was a shelf that held twenty pieces of paper, and a cup with twenty pencils. “Remember: Any votes cast against Sakura the RainWing will NOT count, since she won the first game! Seik, Sina, and Abysmal all are able to be voted out however, even though they won Tag. Allllright, you have ten minutes to vote. GO!”
Sina watched as Xenio and Brulè stepped up first, and everyone quickly followed. Sina looked around the room at everyone else.
Dart-Frog and Jackal whispered to each other, casting glances around the room. Thunderous, Xenio, Flap, and Scimitar were all huddled in the corner, strategizing in hushed tones. Sina looked down at her blank parchment and picked up her pencil.
“Who are you voting for?” Gold-Drop asked her almost silently, her voice carrying a mixture of fear and despair.
Sina looked over at her. “Anuke. You?” She shuffled closer to try to comfort the poor SilkWing.
“I-I think I’ll vote for Anuke too. They s-seem really m-mean. But t-then again, Scimitar is really strong . . . And Seik is smart . . . And Crescent is blending into the background, but he seems like he’s planning something.” She frantically listed off all the names, her voice getting quicker as she spoke.
Sina placed a talon on her shoulder to calm her down. “Hey.” She said meaningfully. “It’s okay.” She covered her strip of paper with her wing and wrote “ANUKE” in big, bold, blocky letters. Then she folded up her paper and dropped it in the jar. “Do you want me to see who you vote, or not? I’d gladly not look.”
“N-n-no,” Gold-Drop said. “You can see.” She bent over her paper and wrote “Anuke” in tiny, bubbly letters. “There. That w-wasn’t so hard.” She dropped in her slip of paper as if a dragonbite viper was coiled in the vase, ready to strike.
Crescent, Uzi, Flicker, and Sakura the LeafWing wandered over to them. Crescent still had his paper, but it looked like Uzi, Flicker, and Sakura had already voted.
“Hey,” Crescent said softly.
Uzi nodded her greeting.
Sakura gave a nervous half-smile. “This is nerve-racking,” She sputtered quickly. “Like, I want it to be over, but I don’t because I don’t know what to do, and—“
“We get it.” Sina said gently. “I understand.”
Flicker shivered. “I have this . . . Horrible feeling. As if something bad is going to happen.”
Uzi looked around hesitantly before leaning in and saying, “I voted for Scimitar. You?”
“Anuke,” Sina and Gold-Drop whispered together.
“I voted for Dream,” Sakura muttered. “She seems like a threat.”
Crescent sighed. “I think I’ll vote for Anuke too. They’re . . . Mean. Horribly violent, actually.”
“Same,” Flicker nodded. “I agree. They . . . They almost killed Scallion.”
Sina nodded and watched Crescent write ‘AnUkE’ in lopsided, rushed letters. The final slips of paper were turned in, and the alter lowered back into the ground.
“Alright, contestants! Let’s count up the votes! Let’s see here . . . First up, we have seven votes for Scimitar. One vote for Abysmal. One vote for Sina. And one vote for Dream. The first person voted out of the Games, and the second dragon eliminated is . . ! Anuke the Tribeless Dragon. Sorry, you’re OUT!” Anuke gaped and looked at everyone, astonished. Before they could protest, something lowered from the ceiling. It was a crossbow. Before Sina could react, a harpoon fired through Anuke’s neck and stuck into the floor. Anuke gave a bloody, grim half-scream before their eyes rolled back and they collapsed on the ground, limp. “Alright! Everyone get a good night’s sleep and be ready for the games tomorrow!” The loudspeaker crackled off and Anuke’s body was raised up into the ceiling. 
Only after a horrible silence did Sina realize she was clutching Gold-Drop’s talon, and the SilkWing was shaking horribly.
What . . ? Sina’s mind reeled, and so did she. A horrible bloodstain was on the ground where Anuke had been. What . . . No . . . Sina felt like she couldn’t breathe. Everyone stood in shocked silence, not daring to move a muscle.
I could be next, Sina realized. That could be me.
* * * *
Sina shivered in her bed, despite having all of the blankets piled on top of her. She couldn’t stop hearing whispers, Anuke’s strangled, gargled scream, and seeing faces in the walls.
I’m not a dragonet anymore, Sina told herself. I’m too old to have nightmares. R-r-right? Sina screamed in her head as her mind replayed the events from before over and over again in her mind. Wait. Why can’t I change the volume of the voice in my head? Whispering and screaming is all the same. She burrowed under her sheets and clutched her head. Her mind whirled in a circle of horrible thoughts until she thought: I can’t do this anymore. I have to sleep. Her eyelids grew heavy and she sighed. We think in concepts. Concepts have no volume. So a thought is the loudest silence of all.
== Part Two: Ready or not . . . ==
=== Chapter Eleven: Flicker ===
Flicker was so shocked she could hardly move. Are they dead? Her mind shouted in panic, but externally she was as frozen as everyone else. Even Thunderous, who never showed emotion, was stunned.
Crescent was the first one to break the silence. “W-what?” He murmured. “Are they-?”
“Yes,” Gold-Drop peeped almost inaudibly. “They’re gone.”
Brulè looked from Crescent, to Golden, then at the horrible blood splatter on the ground. “Why?” He cried.
Scimitar comfortingly put his huge wings around Crescent, Sina, Golden-Drop, and Brulè. “We . . . We can’t loose then. This raises the stakes.”
Everyone silently retreated back into their rooms exept Uzi, who stared traumatized, unmoving, at the splatter on the ground. Even Seik couldn’t get her to move. 
Flicker quickly squeezed through the hall and stood in her room. This is horrible, She thought. If I loose . . . No. I won’t loose. I’ll make sure of it.
* * * *
Flicker walked out into the stadium, almost deafened by the cheering. 
“Welcome the new contestants: with Anuke and Scallion removed from the ranks!” The announcer boomed. The stadium was still pitch-black except for the singular spotlight. “Today we are playing a fan-favorite, and for the anniversary of the sixtieth annual games: a special edition of Nightmare Chase!”
The crowd erupted even louder. Flicker winced as she stood next to Seik and Xenio. 
“You all know the drill, but in case you don’t, here are the rules! Run. Don’t get caught. If you do, you’re OUT. No flying! You’re instantly disqualified if you fly! And most importantly . . . Stick together.”
Cheering drowned out Flicker’s thumping heart as helpers came out and placed metal bindings on their wings. Seeing what happened to Anuke, nobody dared resist. A loud roar that sounded monstrous, but also dragon-like shook the stadium, and, though Flicker didn’t think it was possible, the crowd cheered even louder.
“Ready? Steady . . . RELEASE THE NIGHTMARES!”
Flicker saw over a hundred glowing yellow eyes appear in the darkness. She screamed in terror, and everyone started to run. Seik ran right next to her, Uzi on his other side.
“Flicker!” Seik shouted. “Stick with us!” He nodded to her and she nodded back. Flicker saw the two Sakura-s, Gold-Drop, Brulè, Dart-Frog, and Flap all running in a pack towards the far end of the stadium as the roaring grew louder.
“What IS that thing?!” Flicker screamed as a monstrous beast ran through the spotlight, straight at Abysmal. It had yellow eyes all over its body, and inky black scales that looked fleshy, goopy, and organic. Its jaw stretched all the way to its ears, and hundreds of shining, sharp teeth protruded from its mouth. Its long tail ended in another mouth similar to Uzi’s, with more teeth and a long, sharp tongue sticking out the end.
“Here is Aneil, Kio, and Kurgezaught! Three fan-favorite Nightmares from the last season of The Games!” The announcer cheered.
“Jackal!” Flicker shrieked, seeing the MudWing try to run past the monstrosity. Two other goopy monsters appeared, boxing in the contender.
“We can’t help him!” Seik called over the din of the whooping crowd. “Run! Here comes another one!” 
Flicker let out a scream of her own as Jackal let out a bloodcurdling scream. She saw him being picked up by the mouth-tail of one of the Nightmares, and flung around before being thrown onto the ground, and collected by helpers.
“UZI!” Flicker grabbed the NightWing who stood there petrified as a Nightmare almost caught her. 
“Next up, here come the Nightmares Arid, Scorcher, Strangler, and Wormwood! All Nightmares from season fifty-two of the Games!” More earsplitting cheering rocked the stadium as four new Nightmares pounced upon Flap and Xenio, catching and knocking out both of them. 
“Uzi, Flicker,” Seik shouted to them. “We’re being surrounded!”
Nightmares were on all sides of them, closing in. Suddenly, a pale purple light emitted from the mouth-tail on Uzi, and she shined it right in the eyes of the closest Nightmare. “Make a break for it!” She screamed. They dashed in the space between two monstrosities, Flicker blasting them with fire to get them a little more room.
“Ooh, looks like Crescent and Flap are down for the count! Someone get them out of the arena before Aneil eats them!” The announcer laughed.
Poor Crescent, Flicker remembered how scared the dragonet looked during Tag. “Seik!” She screamed as a Nightmare grabbed him by the wing. Flicker breathed fire onto the Nightmare’s torso and it roared, still holding Seik who was struggling.
Uzi jumped up and dug her claws into one of the eyes on the beast’s chest. The creature shrieked horribly and dropped Seik.
“RUUUUUUUUN!” Flicker and Uzi screamed.
Golden-Drop ran up to them, eyes wild and frantic. “Can I join you? I’m so sc—“ before she could finish her sentence, a creature grabbed her by the tail and she slipped into the darkness with a cry.
“We’re down to Seik, Uzi, Flicker, Sakura the LeafWing, and Sina—oh! It looks like Sina’s being boxed in by Strangler and Wormwood!” 
Flicker looked over at her friends, but Seik was already taking off towards where she barely saw brown scales in a mass of yellow eyes.
Uzi and Flicker sprinted after him, dodging claw-swipes. “Uzi! Jump!” Flicker slid under the talon of a Nightmare and Uzi jumped over.
Seik was defending Sina from the monstrosities, but having a very hard time of it. In no time he was grabbed by one and his head was smacked against the ground. Out cold, he was dragged from the stadium. 
Flicker blasted flames and Uzi shined with her tail-light to get Sina out of the tangled mess of fleshy claws and arms. She gratefully thanked them, but was interrupted by the announcer.
“The final three! Sakura has just been taken out by Arid! Time to release our newest Nightmares: Scallion and Anuke!”
Flicker’s blood ran cold as roaring alerted them to two new presences. No.
A towering black, oozy dragon stood above them with a fierce snarl and sharp teeth branded. Another dashed up, this one having nasty wounds across where its natural eyes would be.
“Scallion? Anuke?” Sina cried. “No . . . Is that you?”
What once was Anuke roared and tackled Sina. She disappeared into the darkness with a cut-off scream. 
“Scallion!” Uzi cried, her voice choked. “Fight it!”
The once-SeaWing bellowed a roar and snapped its jaws, swiping razor-sharp talons across Flicker’s wing as she extended it to block Uzi.
Uzi leapt at Scallion and tore at the black substance, but it was no use. The creature smacked her against the ground, and Flicker was the only one left.
The cheering in her ears was dull and muffled. Flicker stared up in horror at the beast as it slunk into the shadows, slipping away as the announcer said something Flicker couldn’t hear. Her vision blurred, and she collapsed in a pool of her own blood.
* * * *
“Flicker?” A muffled voice called to her. “Flicker. Flicker, wake up!”  Flicker wanted to open her eyes and see that it was all a dream. She wanted to be in the warm embrace of her father, and have no cares in the world once more. But no. She was snapped out of her fantasy when groggily she opened her eyes to see Seik and both the Sakura’s standing above her.
“Good, she’s awake.” The RainWing huffed. “You’re welcome.” Before anyone could thank her she stomped away.
Seik reached down an arm and helped Flicker up. They were in the meeting room. “I’m glad you’re okay,” He said worriedly. “You could have—you know.”
The other Sakura nodded. “Yeah. That was so scary.” She shivered. “Sina told us about . . . About Scallion . . . And Anuke.”
Every memory of the last few days came rushing back to Flicker in a tidal wave of terror. She almost fell over, but Sakura steadied her. “What . . . But . . . It wasn’t a dream?” She peeped.
Seik shook his head, eyes hollow. “No. Sadly, it isn’t. We all already ate dinner while the other Sakura was cooking up something to try and wake you up. It’s almost time to vote.”
“There wasn’t another game?” Flicker asked.
Sakura shuddered. “No. Not yet. Marionette assured us that the ‘fun’ would wait until after we voted.”
“That’s his name?” Flicker wondered aloud. “The announcer . . . It all makes sense. He signed my letter summoning me here.”
Seik nodded. “Yeah.”
“Alrighty everyone! Time to vote! You know the drill! Flicker is safe from elimination tonight, so don’t waste your vote on her!” The loudspeakers crackled off once again as the alter rose from the ground.
Time to doom someone to die, Flicker thought, staring at her parchment. How am I supposed to do this? They have lives, friends, family . . . Siblings, maybe.  How am I supposed to sacrifice a life for my own?
”Just a friendly reminder,” Marionette said. “If you do not vote, everyone in the room will immediately be . . . Eliminated.”
Flicker bit down on her tongue. “Okay,” She whispered to herself. “Just—do it.” She glanced over at the biggest, strongest dragon in the room—Scimitar. S-C-I-M-I-T-A-R. Just like that, she dropped in her paper with silent, terrified tears and wallowed in the corner.
Ten minutes past in a heartbeat. Everyone had voted, and the mics crackled to life again.
“Just a reminder, that if anyone has an immunity item and would like to play it, now would be the time!”
Everyone watched as Scimitar dropped a gold bracelet into the vase. The megaphone answered him.
“Alright. Let’s tally up these votes! Six votes for Seik. Two votes for Uzi. Two votes for Thunderous. Three votes for Brulè. And finally, with the most votes, Scimitar.” Just as the SkyWing was about to give a sigh of relief: “Oh, and by the way, that’s a fake Immunity Item. Sorry! Toodles, you’re E-LIMI-NATED!” 
Scimitar cried out in surprise and horror before the ground dropped out from under him, then closed rapidly. He was gone.
“Another one bites the dust!” Marionette exclaimed happily. “For our last game of the day: Head back to your rooms and try to solve the puzzle cube placed there. The first one to open it by lights out tonight will win a huge advantage in tomorrow’s competition! Goodnight, competitors!”
In silent, unspoken horror, everyone slowly made their way back to their rooms. There are fake immunity items? Flicker wondered. And if I get targeted next . . . I’m done for.
=== Chapter Twelve: Seik ===
Seik felt horrid, bitter bile rising in his throat. Death. There it was again. Striking like a relentless viper, determined to snuff out the light. It was horrible. This time, there was no blood. But this time, everyone knew what would happen to Scimitar. He was doomed, just like the rest of them, Seik thought. 
Everyone cleared out quickly. Seik slowly, like a robot, made his way back to his room. Questions upon questions upon questions flooded his mind, but he didn’t let them overtake him. At least, until he got to his room. He collapsed on his knees with his wings splayed out and rested his head on the rick sofa.
What will happen to me if—when—I get eliminated? What about Sina? And Uzi? Even Flicker, Abysmal . . . I can’t protect them all. Is it magic? I thought it was eradicated! Some sort of mad science? Seems impossible . . . But then again . . . I just spent the last two days trying to not die in a sick competition of evilness. 
Seik turned his attention to the puzzle cube. It had sliding wood, metal bits, and overall a very complex and confusing-looking exterior.
He sighed again. This is just fantastic. Instead of picking it up, he walked over to the door and jiggled it. 
It was completely locked. 
Seik pulled harder, jiggling and shoving at it to try and get it to open. After about a full minute, he stopped and simply stared at it, looking for any weaknesses in the metal, anything. He yelped and jumped a foot in the air as the loudspeaker crackled on.
	“Sorry y’all, Abysmal has completed the cube! She’ll get the advantage in the next game. Now get a good night’s sleep, you’ll need it!” Then the loudspeaker shut off, and everything was quiet once again.
* * * *
Seik slept in the next morning, and was only woken by the unbolting and unlocking of the door. He leapt up and prepared for some horrible monstrosity out of habit.
Sapphire Shore pushed open the big steel door, smirking. She carried in a plate with breakfast on it, then with a sly wave, turned and left.
Click-scraaape! Click-cgnck! The locks slid back into place.
Seik gave a low growl and walked over to investigate his food. Could be poisoned, He reasoned. Not a bad bet. 
The food was half a cow, some scrambled ostrich eggs, and a cup of some kind of sweet-smelling juice.
They used to sell this in the scorpion den, Seik remembered. He picked it up and sniffed it. It’s a kind of orange juice mixed with champagne, right? SkyWings had it all the time. Seik furrowed his brow thoughtfully and stared at it. Liquor at what, ten in the morning? Weird. 
He ate his breakfast gratefully, and only took a few sips of the SkyWing elixir but decided against drinking it. Too sweet for his taste. 
Seik only made it a few talon-steps closer to the hallway to the Meeting Room when the coms blared on again.
“Alright alright, contestants! Make your way out to the stadium for your next game!” 
Seik huffed and walked over to the stadium door, which swung open. All the contestants walked out to the spotlight at the same time. The spectators whooped and hollered as they made their way out and took their places.
“Today we have the Arena Battle!” Marionette announced. The crowd went wild at the mention of whatever that was “Abysmal, since you solved the puzzle cube the fastest, you get to grant yourself and one other dragon immunity!”
Abysmal looked around at everyone, who seemed to be pleading with their eyes for her to choose them. “I choose . . .” The crowd fell silent in anticipation. “I choose Jackal of the MudWings.”
The tan and brown spotted MudWing sighed in relief and beamed at her. She smiled back quietly.
“Okay then! Jackal and Abysmal, please make your way up here with me, the Queen, and the Princess. You’re safe from competing in this challenge!”
Jackal grabbed Abysmal’s talon and they flew up and out of sight. Seik waved at them, and they waved back.
“Okay! Weapons will be lowered by chains from the ceiling,” Marionette announced after the cheering died down. “The first three dragons to be killed will be eliminated! Everyone else will proceed to a group lunch, then another game will be held!” The clink of chains alerted everyone to the various weaponry being lowered down. “Ready? Steady . . . GO GET EM’!’
Seik felt like his eardrums would burst. The cheering was so loud he couldn’t hear himself think. He saw everyone dashing off in random directions, so he leapt up and snatched a cutlass from a chain dangling over his head.
“UZI!” Seik shouted. He saw Thunderous about to stab her in the back with a spear from across the arena. “UZI! RUN!”
Luckily the NightWing heard him and rolled out of the way in time. Seik bolted over and snarled angrily, slicing his cutlass at Thunderous.
The IceWing nimbly dodged and tackled Seik, pinning him easily. Chaos erupted as Crescent came from nowhere, slamming a ball-n-chain straight into Thunderous’ shoulder. 
Flicker emerged from the blackness and dug her claws into Thunderous who roared in agony. “Teamwork makes the—AAAAAH!” She screamed as Thunderous blasted her with frostbreath.
Brulè swooped in on top of Flicker, and was about to snap her neck before Uzi grabbed him with her tail-mouth and flung him like a limp doll into the ground.
Seik helped Flicker get the ice crystals off her neck and shoulder. “Are you okay?” He asked. She nodded, so he turned back to Thunderous and slammed his blade down on the IceWing’s back.
Blood gushed onto his talons but he didn’t care. Descended from Hybrid Hunters, huh? He thought angrily. Not so tough when actually fighting one! Dodging a blast of frostbreath he dove for the killing blow, stabbing his cutlass straight into Thunderous’ neck.
The IceWing let out a final scream and his eyes rolled back. He fell to the ground, limp.
“That’s one dragon down! And it looks like Dart-Frog is coming in for the kill on Dream—And he does it! Dream is dead!”
Suddenly, intense pain shot through Seik’s wings. He screeched and stumbled to the side. His wings were on fire. 
Dart-Frog had ran from killing Dream, straight over to Seik. The MudWing slammed him into the ground and forced him to the ground.
“Looks like Seik will be the final one eliminated!” Marrionette laughed.
Hot tears stung in Seik’s eyes as he roared and started to fight back. “GET OFF!” He thundered, wrapping silk around the MudWing’s snout and using it to tie his mouth shut.
Gold-Drop came in from the side and somehow, even though she was so small, slammed a mace two times her arm’s length into Dart-Frog. 
Uzi and Flicker were atop the MudWing in seconds, and he was dead seconds later. 
Seik gave a smile hiding incredible pain. “T-thanks, guys.” His wings stung like a dragonbite viper had bit him and wouldn’t let go.  The edges of his wings flaked off in ash, and he could hardly lift them. 
Uzi walked over, blood caking her talons. “Are you alright?” She asked quietly. Her eyes were hollow and traumatized.
Seik shook his head. “I . . . Don’t think so. I don’t know if I’ll be able to f-fly.”
“You’ll be okay,” She assured him, eyes scared. “You have to be.”
Armored dragons came into the stadium and started dragging the bodies away. Others surrounded everyone and took the weapons, then started herding every-dragon like cattle. Seik snarled at the nearest guard, but made his way back to his room as Marionette talked to the crowd.
As he walked back into his room, Seik looked at himself in the mirror. His wings had lost at least half their length, and his smaller wings were badly burnt almost to the bone. He inhaled sharply in pain.
You’ll be fine, He told himself. You have to be. For Uzi, Flicker, Crescent . . . And Sina.
=== Chapter Thirteen: Sina ===
Sina was able to hide during the game, and was rather comfortable being absorbed in the darkness. She could see everything from where she wad hiding, and even debated running over to help Seik.
But she didn’t, and it ate at her conscious like acid. Sina saw Dart-Frog sprinting towards him from behind, readying his fire. She saw him almost get killed. 
And she didn’t even lift a claw to help. 
Sina ducked back into her room, ashamed of herself. I could have helped, She thought angrily. But I didn’t. And Seik almost died. She stared at herself in the mirror, frozen in place.
Sina stood there for an undetermined amount of time, simply thinking and standing. Finally, the loudspeaker snapped her out of it.
“Hello my dear contestants! It’s time for the group lunch!” Marionette announced. “Please head down to the dining hall.”
Sina let out a long sigh and turned, squeezing herself down the tight hall and into the Meeting Room. 
Parrot, Xenio, Brulè, Uzi, and both the Sakura-s were waiting in line to climb down into the dining room. Sina saw Flicker slip into the hatch, and Parrot climbed down after her. The IceWing, HiveWing, NightWing, RainWing, and LeafWings all followed suit.
Sina was just about to climb after them when Flap entered the room, scowling. She ignored him and ducked into the hatch, trying to dodge his fierce gaze. She landed in the dining room, and observed everyone.
Gold-Drop and Crescent were sitting next to one another at a gigantic glass table. There were just enough spaces for all the contestants. Abysmal, Jackal, Parrot, and Brulè were all sitting to the left of Gold-Drop, so Sina took the empty chair in between Sakura the LeafWing, and Uzi. Flicker sat beside Uzi on the other side, and Flap took his place in an empty seat on the other side of the table. 
Sina looked over her shoulder as Seik entered the room. His wings were charred and tattered horribly. She shamefully ducked her head, not wanting to make eye contact.
As soon as everyone was seated, the door slammed shut once more. Food was brought out, and everyone ate in perfect silence.
Nobody dared say a word, lest it trigger another deadly game.
Soon enough however, the intercom snapped to life again. “Welcome again contestants! Instead of playing Tag, today we’re going to be playing a very special game!” Everyone exchanged nervous glances. “We’ll be playing Simon Says! I’ll give you directions, and you MUST follow them—I repeat, you MUST—unless you will be instantly . . . Dispatched? Dismantled? Oh yes, eliminated! Anywho, everyone step away from the table please!”
They all did, and the glass surface lowered into the ground, which sealed atop it. 
“Very good, very good! Okay, first up . . . Simon Says . . . Crescent, close your eyes and keep them closed.”
The young SilkWing squeezed his eyes shut.
“Simon Says, Flap, high-talon the dragon closest to you!”
Flap and Jackal high-talon-ed.
“Everyone turn around!”
Nobody dared move a muscle.
“Alright, very good! Simon Says Crescent can open his eyes. Very good practice round! We’re moving onto the real stuff now! Simon Says, Sakura the RainWing, blind Brulè.”
Without a second thought, Sakura opened her maw and venom flew across the room. It landed right on the HiveWing’s face, and he screamed in agony. 
“Simon Says Brulè, shut up. You’re being annoying.” 
Brulè screamed anyways, shrieking in pain as he clawed at his eyes to try to get the venom off. Sina screeched in terror as crossbow bolts suddenly rained from the ceiling, eliminating the HiveWing. 
“Simon Says, Sina should go over and check if Brulè is alive still. And if not, kill him.”
Everyone watched as Sina slowly made her way over and checked his pulse. He was still breathing, but only just. Sina’s talons were shaking horribly.
“Is he alive? Simon Says to tell me.”
“Yes,” Sina breathed. “He’s still alive. But barely. If he got instant medical attention, he might—!” She was cut off by a bark of laughter.
“HA! Did you forget what I said? Kill him. Simon said, after all.” Marionette seemed to be enjoying it far too much.
Sina swallowed a lump in her throat. The small voices in the back of her mind grew louder as she reached her claws to Brulè’s neck. Sina shut her eyes and twisted as hard as she could until she heard a loud SNAP. She looked down and saw he was dead.
“Very good! Simon Says, if someone can kill Sina before she kills you, the game ends!” 
Sina winced as she felt a sting in her neck. She reached up and felt a dart in her neck that fired out from the wall. What the . . . She blinked rapidly as her vision became red. The voices in her head grew so loud she couldn’t hear herself think. The only thing she could do was to give in. Kill. Kill. Kill. They screamed, over and over again. Sina let out a half-scream, half-roar and lunged at the nearest dragon.
Parrot crumpled under her and screeched, thrashing wildly to throw Sina off. Flap tackled Sina off and dug his talons into her chest with a snarl. 
KILL. Sina opened her maw and fire blasted the SkyWing in the face. As he toppled off, she swung her tail barb around to finish the job. KILL. Frostbreath seared into her tail and side, sending her skidding to the side. Xenio flared his wings to protect Jackal and Gold-Drop as Sina got to her claws and rushed him.
“Sina!” Seik shouted at her. “Snap out of it!”
Sina’s wild eyes found his for a moment, but she couldn’t control herself. She tackled Xenio and bit into his throat, blue blood spraying her in the face. If I kill him it will all be over, She reasoned. Or . . . Was it really her thoughts? 
The IceWing still struggled, clawing at her face and neck. She thrust his snout against the ground and raised her barb. She thrust it right into his wrist just as Flicker threw her off.
Sina rolled back to her talons, now locked onto the SkyWing princess. “I don’t want to kill you,” she choked out. “But I have to.” Her talons moved on their own again, but she didn’t even make it a tail’s-length closer to the princess.
Silk wrapped around her faster than she could blink, and she roared and twisted, only making it worse. Seik, Crescent, and Gold-Drop worked together to wrap her up in a sort of cocoon, trapping her.
Sina let out a weak snarl as she thrashed and wrenched at the silk. Hot tears stung in her eyes as the voices started to die down. Her struggling grew less and less until she finally lay still.
“He’s d-d-dead,” Gold-Drop’s muffled voice said. “Poor Xenio . . . He tried so hard . . .”
“Why don’t we just kill her now?” Sakura the RainWing demanded. “She almost killed Parrot, and actually killed both Brulè and Xenio.”
Seik paused before speaking. “First of all, Marionette killed Brulè, not Sina. She was forced to. Second of all, look at this dart. It has poison on the tip.”
“Like the stuff made from hallucinogenic frogs,” Parrot replied weakly. 
“With the right combination, it can make a dragon go insane temporarily.” Sakura growled. “Ugh.”
Flap spoke next. “I still say we kill her. All in favor, say aye.”
“Aye.”
“Aye . . .”
“Aye!”
Seik growled. “That’s three aye-s. Not enough, mind you. All not in favor, say nay.”
“Nay.”
“Nay.”
“NAY!”
“N-nay!”
“Neh.”
“Nay.”
“Nay!”
“Nay?”
“NAY.”
“Nayeh.”
“She burnt me!” Flap protested. “She deserves to die!”
“SHUT UP!” Uzi, Seik, and Gold-Drop all chorused.
Gold-Drop then said, “It’s not her fault.”
“Come on,” Uzi sighed after a moment of awkward silence. “The doors opened. Let’s get her back to the Meeting Room and try untangling her.”
“Good idea,” Flicker replied. “Come on, I can carry her. She’s not heavy.”
Sina felt claws under the silk cocoon, and she started to be dragged across the ground. “Xenio? Brulè? Flap?” She peeped quietly. “I’m sorry . . !” Nobody could hear her, however. She stared down at her claws angrily, and dug her talons into her own arm. The pain drowned out the guilt and she couldn’t help but give a small tearful smile.
I deserve to die. She thought. They should have killed me. Then her mind flashed back to her tiny hybrid dragonet, Grit. Then she furrowed her brow and steeled herself. No. I need to win this. I need to escape. I need to get him back. 
=== Chapter Fourteen: Flicker ===
Flicker squinted in concern as she worked together with Seik to open up the silk cocoon. She yelped and jumped back, shielding Crescent with her wing as Sina leapt to her claws.
Crescent gave her a smile and pushed past her wing. “It’s okay. Right, Sina?”
Sina’s eyes were rimmed with tears, and her claws were stained with blood. “I-I’m so so s-so s-s-so sorry,” She blurted. “I’m s-s-sorry, it wasn’t m-me, I promise!”
Flicker shook her head. “It’s fine, Sina. I mean, it’s not, but living with the guilt should be punishment enough. We found the dart.”
Sina nodded. “I’m sorry . . .”
Crescent smiled shyly and nodded. “We don’t think it’s your fault.”
“We do!” Flap, Sakura the RainWing, and Parrot exclaimed almost in unison.
“I understand that,” Sina said quietly. “If it comes down to a brawl like that again, you can kill me. I won’t hold it against you.”
Seik placed his talon on her shoulder, and she jumped in surprise. “Hey, Sina—let’s talk. In private.” She nodded numbly, and they walked into Sina’s room.
Flicker turned around, and saw everyone already whispering. “Talking strategy?” She asked, joining Abysmal, Jackal, Gold-Drop, and Sakura the LeafWing in a small circle.
Sakura nodded. “Yeah. We still h-have to vote, after all.” She tilted her head and nodded over at Crescent. “I personally am ruling out voting for Crescent. He’s like a little brother to everyone.”
“Understandable,” Gold-Drop mumbled. “But-but he seems like a really strong competitor.”
Jackal arched an eyebrow. “If we’re talking strong competitors, I would be pointing talons at Flap. He’s strong, handsome, and he’s got dragons on his side already.”
“True,” Flicker interjected. “But he’s less than charming. He’s brash and kind of rude.”
Abysmal nodded slowly and finally spoke up. “If we’re looking for the most reasonable option for future games, I would vote Flap. In the moment however, if we are voting purely off of what we have seen so far . . .” She sighed. “Either Seik or Sina.”
Sakura cocked her head. “Explain.”
Flicker listened intently as she spoke. “They’ve both won games, they’re strong competitors, and they have allies.” She looked at Flicker. “Don’t think we didn’t see you save Seik’s life. He’s got you, Uzi, Gold-Drop, and probably a few others on his side.”
Gold-Drop gave her a dry stare. “Which would make you one big fat target if you voted him out.”
Flicker gave a quiet laugh. “True. I just think teaming up with Seik is best for games going forwards.”
Abysmal shrugged. “Suit yourself. I was simply putting the idea out there.”
Jackal nodded. “I see your reasoning. But I think either Sina or Flap would be the best vote.”
“Sina?” Flicker asked. “Speaking for myself, obviously, if you take her out, you turn out Seik and his gang against you.” She curled her tail around her ankle and ruffled her wings. “He seems to have more history with her than they’re letting on.”
Gold-Drop nodded. “So we’ve narrowed it down to Flap.”
“That’s who I’m voting for,” Flicker said sadly. “Dooming another dragon . . .”
“Not if the vote doesn’t go through,” Abysmal said ominously as she stood and walked away.
After she was gone, Sakura glanced at Flicker. “Do you think you’re a target?”
“Oh, for sure,” Flicker replied. “I’m sure my name is being thrown around in a few groups.”
Crescent tapped on her shoulder, and she looked over at him. “Hey,” He said. “Just so you know, I think Flap, Parrot, and the other Sakura are conspiring to vote you.” His voice lowered into a whisper.
Flicker let out a long sigh. “That’s . . . Not surprising, actually. Thanks, Crescent.”
He nodded mutely and sat down.
Everyone jumped as the loudspeaker leapt to a startlingly loud volume. “Look alive, contestants!” Marionette shouted. “Surprise game time! The winner gets dinner with yours truly—ME! Woo! Clap clap clap!” 
Flicker face-palmed. He’s so self-absorbed. Just like I was, She thought guiltily. 
“Everyone make your way to the stadium or be beheaded!” His cheery voice cut off with a loud crackle, and the intercoms died again.
Flicker took Crescent’s shaking claw. “Come on,” She said gently. “Let’s do this.”
* * * *
Category:Content (Starscatter-the-AbyssWing!)
Category:Fanfictions
Category:Fanfictions (Incomplete)
Category:Fanfictions (Fanon)
Category:Genre (Horror)
Category:Genre (Romance)