543 CHPT 543: Desperation and Dilligence

The night was warm. The job was done. Claude and the rest of his metal workers sat at the steps surrounded by buckets of Liquid Metal. It steamed like fresh stew. He could almost smell it if he stopped paying attention and just dreamt.

But that felt wrong ever since he'd spoken to Fenrir. Even the concept of sleeping made him uncomfortable, like he'd lose a physical thing the moment he closed his eyes.

The thing was, he couldn't sleep anyway.

Fenrir had a point…..

That was terribly unfortunate for a myriad of reasons. One of which growled from the pits of his stomach as it had always been. Only louder now, as if acknowledged for the first time in a while.

[+2 Stat Points]

"[Thats twelve…..]"

"Arne…. What do you thinks happening back there?"

"[Not whatever horror you're imagining. You know, back in my day, before big events. Raids… Wars in the wild, you name it, we'd go on Grand Explorations in Romulus' name. In these, we'd often hunt— kill. Now that I think about it, the High Alphas must have known our growth was his. Maybe your Lupines do the same. Maybe your absence and the waxing moon forces them to hunt.]"

Claude shivered at the idea. Better than them being in Alpha's Tower. Or dead in Islandia…

"Can you tell us anything else about Dragons?" Don suddenly whispered. He sat a step beneath him. Sweat clung to his thick curly hair. Everytime a pellet dripped off, they bounced.

"I'm tired." Really he was laying out the plan. The meal— to which he already had the ingredients. Furnace meant no chain which meant no Hexes. Hidden Octolepid blade meant weapon with no Mana required. Dragon in the basement meant, free Wild Magic.

Don blinked, "We're all tired. Only one of us knows about Dragons extensively."

"None of us know about Dragons, extensively." Claude eyed the door.

The silence was uncomfortable because Don was still staring.

"Motherf— what? what do you want to know?"

Don dropped his eyes, "Will she ever like us?"

"Dragons see humans the same way we see dust in the wind. If I sound corny that's not my fault. Blame Eragon Poalini." Claude replied.

"Who?" Someone whispered.

"Scholar and leading mind of all things Draco-Kin."

"Dust in the wind?"

Claude referred to the air around them, "You don't see it."

Don looked at Furnace, "Really?"

"They're on a different plane of existence. Time spins slower, energies move differently, magic comes smoother— obviously. It wouldn't make sense for them to view us as an enemy or an equal. Just dust."

"What about someone like The Nine? Would Dragons look at them different from us? Do they still exist?"

Claude regarded him oddly, "How long have you been here?"

"Too long." The Older Crocodile woman answered.

CLANG!

Alpha came flying down the steps, punching the walls and hollering over the terrible flutter of his longcoat.

"FIGHT!! HOO HOO! FIGHT FOR BALANCE! HOO!"

The rest was high speed madness once again. Trying to run up steps without spilling Dragon scorched metal was like walking on a tightrope surrounded by Wasps.

Metal was spilled. Feet and legs burned.

By the time they reached the newest top floor, they had no chance to recover as their collars were placed back on before being shoved amongst the others.

They waited in a tight circle. The moon was larger already. Had it been a day?

The boost of Wild Magic he once felt faded as the Hexes swallowed him whole.

Claude found himself amongst the lions.

More specifically, Marcel.

He stood at his right. Gaheja watched his flank like an opposite colored shadow. Her white hair and eyebrows glowed under the moon. Marcel did the opposite, he felt darker.

"You did this. Shifters— good shifters will die pointlessly here. Because of you. If my sister is harm—"

"You're a Gladiator in a cage with a Dragon. Wake up." Claude cut him off and eyed him down.

"I'm more awake then ever. And you're a problem. I don't like problems, outsider."

Claude turned all the way towards him, uncaring of Alpha watching from above.

"Are you that dumb?! How am I the problem? WE'RE both enslaved! Your problem is sitting on the scaffolding above us showing us his sweaty ass! But you want to worry about me, right? Where's your fight at?"

He felt Fenrir's voice in his words. As much as he was talking to Marcel, he felt the words ricochet back onto himself.

The other Lions hissed. The Wolves growled, trying to split them.

Tom came and stood between them.

"Easy, boys. Let's save our aggression for the ring."

"My fight is right where I need it to be. You think we can just stage a rebellion? You think that hasn't been tried? Ask yourself why there's always predators in the sea around us. I've seen more death than you. I feel sorrow. You aren't Silver Cursed. You don't know what it means to be without an Alpha. I'm here for my sister and that's it, I don't give a damn about a cage."

"You will."

They both turned around to find who spoke into their conversation. Only they couldn't. And Alpha was seemingly done waiting.

He dropped into the circle. Everyone's eyes hit the floor like they were being pulled by a thread.

He walked in circles, knuckles banging against the floor. Nostrils flaring and eyes twitching.

Eventually he grabbed Marcel, dragging him to the center.

"Hoo… hoo… strong boy. Be strong….." He grabbed Marcel's hair and held it high around his head, "Lion… HOO HOO! Fight and roar…. Hoo!"

Marcel nodded, "Yes, Alpha."

"Die and …. Go for swim…. Hoo.."

"I understand, Alpha." Marcel was emotionless before battle.

Alpha dropped down to a crouch to meet Marcel's eyes. "Hoo…..stand! STAND TALL!"

Marcel straightened.

"[It's like a child with toys….]"

"That's one way to put it." Claude thought.

Alpha beat his chest, creating a war drumming boom. "Show…. Fight. Now… hoo… you."

Marcel hesitated for a moment before shutting his eyes. His muscles tensed beneath his steel scarred skin. Black veins thickened and his skin dropped to a dark grey color similar to Alpha's. His once black slicked back hair gained Silver highlights as he threw his head back and roared.

Alpha hopped around the circle.

"HOO HOO! SHOW FIGHT!"

Out of nowhere he snatched the next person and threw him into the center.

"FIGHT!"