Swillow entered the new cell, expecting more gray walls, until the door opened, revealing decadent luxury. As her feet depressed into red rugs, wine colored curtains flickered across an open window depicting the lives of bustling crimsons.

Wasting rested on a ranger green couch, a color otherwise obnoxious paired with red, but matching shades invoked a watermelon aesthetic.

Swillow's nostrils dilated, taking in fresh air, but also the scent of mint. She spotted the chocolate candies in a glass bowl. How long since she ate food? At least a day? While it couldn't give her true sustenance, she stuck her head in the bowl to lick them up. The bowl suctioned her head. Citrus rolled her eyes, and popped it off. Swillow munched on the candies.

"You forgot to say 'greetings'?"

"Nah." Swillow laughed. "I wasn't gonna say that at all. Anyway... Nice place we got now."

Khrystol said, "Regardless, we're still their slaves. Their 'gladiators'..." She scratched her head with her foot. "We fight. They watch. And King Talizarin makes all the cash."

Swillow's brow furrowed. She prepared to monologue about corruption, until she noticed- "I only count seven people, not eight. What happened to Eighty... Er, the eight person?"

Snofall said, "That was the Mage, who I beat. After I won, they hauled him away."

"Wonder why," Swillow said.

"Different species, different lock down requirements," Wasting said. "Dires need lots of reinforcements, lest we escape and, I dunno, kill crimsons."

Khrystol perked up. "I think that Mage was a throwaway. In these tournaments, they match players based on conceived rank. He's probably number eight, and Snofall is probably number one. Or two, seven. Regardless, they thought Snofall would definitely win."

Swillow said, "Wait, two, seven... . Wasting, did you win?"

"No."

Fayldspar smirked.

Swillow asked, "Who thinks they got fourth and fifth?"

"That would be us, Swillow," Khrystol said. "We're the closest in strength. But they already know how strong I am, therefore it was likely I was fourth."

Swillow harrumphed.

A plastic brick lit up, displaying Talizarin. Wasting snapped at the machine, and Citrus tugged his tail to restrain him.

Swillow said, "Wasting, it's a monitor.. He's not actually there, it just shows a different location. Cool your balls."

Wasting's hackles relaxed, and Citrus released him. Wasting sniffed the monitor.

"I would recommend you all rest up," Talizarin said. "This tournament ends with one winner." He held a single finger and whirled it around. "Heightening the stakes, that winner picks a friend, and you two will be whisked away... Free at last." He made a sweeping gesture. "Out of the country... The remainders will be fighters."

Wasting played with a button, pressing it on accident. Talizarin's monitor displayed a red line with 20. One push raised it to 21.

"The matches will be FAYLDSPAR VERSUS CITRUS-"

"Get your paws off!" Khrystol shouted, and Wasting retreated.

"AND KHRYSTOL VERSUS SNOFALL!" The monitor turned off. Khrystol pressed decrease volume, plummeting it from 30 to fifteen.

Spar glanced at his wolf opponent, and said, "Can't wait to take you down."

Citrus snarled.

"Stop. He's trying to split us," Swillow said. "He's trying to fracture our group, that way we fight each other, or even amongst our own packs."

Citrus pursed her lip. "In that case, it's best we choose who we're taking with us if we win." She fixated on her followers. "Our main focus should be breaking the others out, therefore, if Snofall or I win, we'll take Swillow with us."

Snofall asked, "Why Swillow?"

Swillow said, "Because I've saved your fluffiness a thousand times before."

Snofall rolled her eyes, as Citrus said, "She also has brute strength. With her void abilities, she can fight forever, and can break walls like a train going downhill."

Khrystol told her own group, "I'll be taking Poinsiet. Spar will save me if he wins."

Spar said, "No," but Khrystol leered, encouraging him to tuck his tail.

After forming the agreements, everyone retired to sleep. But dreams eluded Swillow, as her thoughts went to the previous actions leading to their arrests.

She sniffed Khrystol's bottom. Coyotes captured the pack. The crimsons come for them. Situation escalates. Fight ensues. Swillow loses fight, and they end up gladiators.

"One more thing I messed up."

Wasting peeked over. "Swillow?"

Swillow shaded the light with her paw. "Go to sleep. We can talk in the morning."

Wasting came to her side, and put his belly down. "Swillow, I have little time left with you and Citrus. As soon as we escape the crimsons, that's it. I'll be going to the Decay, and you and Citrus will be going to a different continent entirely, and Snofall..."

Swillow said, "...Wasting, you don't have to leave for the Decay." She groaned. "You keep mentioning that stupid plan. You know it's stupid. Why do you keep bringing it up?"

"Someone has to do it," Wasting said. "Someone has to take the risk. Canida is completely shut off. None of us know about the hyena fusion."

"Most of the planet has no idea about the hyena fusion! In fact, I don't know if the hyenas know their clans are united!" Swillow said. "Just come with us."

Wasting opened his mouth, but Swillow intercepted. "I know the signs, Wasting. You're trying to stay away from Canida."

Wasting's mouth dropped several inches. "How'd you know?"

"I've been trying to avoid the ocean. I hesitate anytime I'm near big, open waters. It's fine until, like... Like I see a river, and have to go in it, then suddenly, this sense of dread, it overcomes me. That's when I lose nerve and back off."

"But you'll have to cross the ocean," Wasting said.

"Eventually. If you haven't noticed, Citrus and I have waited an awful long time to get to it. We'll go when we go."

"I cannot return to Canida nor do I feel like proceeding to Decay, but I don't have any other choice."

"You have plenty of choices, Wasting," Swillow said. "Other lands lack heroes and maybe there's a land you should fight for. But personally, I doubt that land is Canida."

Their silence permeated the room as night overtook them and dragged them to bed.

*

Cheers rang from the arena. Khrystol and Snofall stood atop pillars rising from water. Two pillars stood on either side, each column roughly ten feet apart, but the side columns only stood twenty feet, not thirty.

Snofall glanced down at the endless pit of water. Vertigo overcame her. At a thirty to forty foot drop, she'd break her skull like Swillow did.

The referee stood on an ice floe.

"For this game, both competitors have to knock each other off the pillars. Introducing first, Khrystol, the Queen of Coyotes. Master of using crystal shards, and controller of light and natural magics. Introducing her opponent, Snofall, a user of ice to control wind. Let the game begin."

Snofall held clear advantages. Three elements controlled wind: Ice, Poison, and Lightning. She had Ice, Khrystol had none. The winter Ascended took a deep breath, and blasted a gust at Khrystol.

Khrystol bounded to an adjacent pillar. She tapped a pillar.

Forty feet between her pillars and Khrystol's. Aim and accuracy blessed Snofall, as she clipped Khrystol with several gusts of winds.

Fur clung to Khrystol as Snofall saw dripping sweat. Snofall's barrage continued, and Khrystol jumped and tapped pillars, awaiting Khrystol to make a mistake.

After Snofall won the match, Poinsiet remained her final opponent. Still, Khrystol obsession with touching her pillars made Snofall tense up. What was the point of this ritual?

She waited a few seconds. Nothing happened. Maybe a quirk of Khrystol to touch any surfaces she landed on? Snofall charged a snowball in her paws and launched it. Khrystol dodged a couple pillars over. More and more taps. No pieces of concrete came flying.

Khrystol got to the center. Did a final tap. Her pillar fell forward. In a second lasting a minute, Snofall calculated the landing site of Khrystol's column. It crashed against the base of hers.

The coyote took a leap of faith. Snofall narrowly avoided the coyote bouncing on her by jumping to a side pillar.

Snofall failed at up and dirty combat. She launched snowballs towards Khrystol who ducked them. She gave a final tap, and the water rumbled. All of her pillars collapsed and fell into Snofall's.

Dust kicked up as the plaster filled the air. Snofall jumped into the smoke and blasted cold at water to freeze it. Khrystol landed on the ice floe next to the referee.

Taking down five massive pillars required a lot of magic. Snofall asked, "Are you done yet?" No way she still had mana.

"It's all about knowing how to control it," Khrystol said. A pillar floated, and Khrystol used it to get to Snofall's own floe.

Snofall climbed onto Khrystol's back. Khrystol tried bucking her off, but Snofall slipped her paws into a full nelson. Khrystol fell onto her chest.

"Sorry," Snofall said. She aimed her mouth towards Khrystol's back, and blew air. That propelled them off the ice.

Khrystol would splash first, and Snofall won.

The bell didn't ring. Concrete encased Khrystol's paws. The coyote leaned her head forward. A pillar of stone shot up and knocked Snofall in the head. She lost grip before falling into the water. Then the bell rang.

*

Snofall walked into the room dripping. Her native element kept her from freezing. Still, she gave Khrystol the cold shoulder while entering.

Wasting shook his head. "That's already all but one of us down."

The coyotes politely declined conversation. The wolves talked amongst themselves, albeit in public, and Swillow said, "Could be less."

Citrus asked, "If we lose, do we trust the coyotes to save us?"

"At least we don't have to answer the question - if it came down to Snofall and Citrus, who has to win it?" Wasting asked.

"It'd be wisest in that situation to at least put up a show," Citrus said. "Otherwise it looks like an obvious ploy."

Snofall said, "These crimsons are smart in that regard."

"You know, crimsons in other lands are way more pleasant." Citrus said. "They tickle, poke, and prod other species if they can. They are widely persecuted abroad."

Wasting's eyes widened. He came to a realization. "That's why this is happening? They're getting back for subjugation?"

Citrus said, "Well, it's not that simple. Snofall, how about you explain the story since you are thousands of years old?"

Fayldspar blinked. "How is she that old?"

"Ascended," Citrus said.

Snofall cleared her throat. "You are with Talizarin of the Rose Dynasty. To seek refuge, the Rose Dynasty crossed from Voto to Vytyl. They brought along draconics like wolves and those draconics escaped and formed the rest of Torn."

Wasting blinked. "That's weird to think about." Wasting went over to the mints. Only a couple remained, both touching. "Talizarin didn't do it, right?"

"No, but his great-great-great-bunchagreats-Grandpa did," Snofall said.

Wasting said, "We all came here as slaves. As prisoners. From that we became the most dominant presence."

"Most dominant to our eyes," Swillow said.

Wasting asked, "What's that supposed to mean? The entire country is ruled by draconics."

Citrus said, "No, the entire atlas is ruled by draconics. We make our own atlases. But if you stared at it from a Demonic perspective, it's way warped."

Swillow said, "It's the same terrains. But Canida isn't known as Canida to demons. The demons call it Wolfsrun. "

Wasting shook his head. The culture shock rode up in him. "That means my way of interpreting this world is drastically different from hundreds of different ways?"

"Yeah," Citrus said. "There's like, a different way ants think of this."

"It's kinda hard to take a world for granted when it's inhabited by millions of different species. Facts are it's more that we're the dominant races," Swillow said. "All of us share the same atlas."

"What else do we share with the others?" Wasting asked.

"Erm," Citrus said, "All six of the major races share their cultures. Like, um, child discipline. Hitting your child is a custom from crimsons and oranjs. Most dire cultures don't tend to whoop a child unless they live near crimsons."

Wasting shook his head. "Swillow and I got hit a lot."

Spar said, "Yeah, now that you mention it, my parents spanked me from time to time as well. How do you explain that? Khrystol isn't even from Torn at all."

Citrus said, "Inevitably, cultures connect. Your answer is in this conversation too. Wolves in particular became crimson slaves, and chances are they spread the idea to us."

"More than that," said Snofall, the thousand year old, "it's not exactly a hard custom to cross. Slapping or cuffing a problem has always existed. Crimsons spank their children. Oranjs whip their prisoners. Bohs and violats scratch each other when distressed."

Wasting reclined, and a paper slipped underneath the door. He retrieved it. "Swillow?"

Swillow scanned the golden writing as she took it.

"To King Talizarin?" Khrystol asked, sneaking a peek. "How'd you get that?"

Swillow said, "Don't know, and for some reason, I feel like I shouldn't."

*

Swillow walked dozens of flights of stairs. Her paws ached from stepping on hard concrete. It wouldn't kill them to make an elevator. Guards opened a few locks up on the way, until she arrived in the top hall.

She glanced out the windows. An easy jump... If she felt like falling hundreds of feet.

The escort knocked on a door made of gold. Or of painted wood. The door opened, and she entered the suite.

Talizarin spun around on a swivel chair. He halted his throne mid-spin by pressing his feet onto the metal desk. "Take a seat, Dear Slaughterhound." He gestured to an empty chair with plush red padding.

She hopped onto the chair. Upon impact, it rolled. She gasped and it slid back. The chair stabilized itself despite the three hundred pounds of weight.

Talizarin laughed. Then, "I'm sure you know why we're here."

Swillow gazed around the room. Ornaments lined the shelves. Perhaps a weapon too? No, she'd have to fight head on. Everything seemed cleaned and shiny, from trophies, to belts, to plaques and other awards. Behind Talizarin a giant window which overlooked the arena. Must have been where he did his announcing from.

"Erm, no, not at all," Swillow said. Unless he felt like making her an announcer. That's what everyone felt like hearing, a deep raspy voice on the intercom, right?

Talizarin said, "This has to do with Syenna." Swillow's eyebrows twitched.

Talizarin stood up, and paced the room. "She was destined for the crown." He clenched his fist. "Until..." He pointed at her. "...you came along."

Swillow bared her fangs.

"Thank you, Slaughterhound."

Swillow did a double take. "Thank you?" She almost stumbled on her words.

Talizarin turned her chair around, that way they were face to face. "I rule my dominion thanks to you, Swillow."

"Cool, can I go now?" Swillow asked. "As in, out of this country?"

"Not that simple," Talizarin said, sitting on the desk. He stood taller than her, probably taller than most crimsons for that matter. "I could have cared less about getting my hands on you. Yet, here we are. It'd nice thinking I could have a Snow and Slaughterhound on my show."

Swillow asked him, "Your show?" She understood how the crimsons worked. Still, the king couldn't have a show? Unethical, a kingdom dealing with business.

"You're an outcast. A criminal. A rogue. A murderer. You know what I hear?" He pointed to her. "A good, damn story. It sells like ice in a desert. I am offering you a permanent spot in our company, in our gladiator show."

Swillow showed her fangs. "I'll join you as soon as each hell freezes over, and melts! You shouldn't be working with a company. Haven't you ever heard of corruption?"

"Corruption?" Talizarin asked and scoffed. "Corruption? My money established this building, this business, long before I even knew I'd take the crown. A distant thought to me."

"Yet here you are, still protecting your company afterwards," Swillow said.

"I rule this kingdom, therefore what I say happens with this company goes. Besides, that's why a certain Twayt is supposedly in charge. Then again, she's more or less a casting agent."

"I fought against officials like you back in Canida. I lobbied and brought awareness. I blew all the whistles," Swillow said.

"Yet look where you are now." Swillow gasped. "Have you ever felt like being part of the winner's circle?" Talizarin asked, shaking his head to her.

He turned towards the window."Who cares what's morally right? Boredom is the root of all evil."

"As is the love of money," Swillow said as she upstarted from her chair.

"You think this is hurting others," Talizarin said. "A subsidy here or there never hurt anybody. Besides, we have one of the best economies for it."

Swillow said, "You have lost your mind."

"Have I? Even more money, and our government could raise war efforts against Canida. Then we can simply put them on the show. We can fight the hyenas. We could fight the wolves."

Swillow lit herself on fire. "Lemme give you some practice."

She charged Talizarin, jumping on the table. He ducked underneath. She threw herself out the window with her momentum.

The glass broke, and Swillow found out what it was like to fall for three hundred feet.

*

The beating of wings filled the air. Talizarin walked down the hallways, taking some time to admire the scenery. "We do need some reparations, such as maybe a roadkill shovel next to our fire extinguishers? In case someone else goes splat."

Dryph chuckled at the darkness of his humor, until her eyes widened. Talizarin shook his head. "What the hell!?"

Swillow pushed away at the several guards fighting her off. Her fur barely hid the blood. Despite her staggered gate, she managed to grab someone's throat and chokeslam them.

Archers fired arrows, the twangs of their bows like strumming harps. Two arrows pierced her right side, and electricity coursed into her body. It failed to bring down her massive bulk, as adrenaline flooded her systems. She jumped on an archer, front paws on shoulders and bottom paws on chest. As the archer fell, she stomped his chest out.

Talizarin clicked his claws against each other as he saw his forces fall apart. He clapped. "Good show, good show."

Swillow turned a death gaze to Talizarin, but he waved her off.

The smell of iron wafted around. She stepped on a thick pile of liquid. Her dragon blood slowly healed her wounds.

"You better back down. I fight until the bitter end."

As more crimsons converged, she did a flaming tackle which launched them into the air. One cracked his skull against the stadium. Another she bucked in the face, a click from his teeth being her receipt. She seemed indomitable.

Still, her final power revealed itself once again once she bit into the backside of one fighter. She drained his life force until he was unconscious. Too long since she feasted.

"Such power, which is why I know you'll bring us success. Too bad you probably won't survive this battle. If you fight until, as you say, the bitter end."

Several fireballs surrounded Swillow while she kept hitting guards. An endless sea of red engulfed her.

"I have to get to the ocean, I have to get to the ocean," she said. "I have to get off this damn continent and never look back."

The words gave her strength as her muscles slackened. She tried to clench some again, make them move, but her body wouldn't give in to the demands.

The distant voice of Talizarin asked, "Why are you trying to cross the ocean?"

She already told Wasting why, but she wasn't prepared to tell Talizarin the truth. "I have to get out of here."

"You would have done that already. You have had many opportunities to cross the ocean. You could have gone to Canida, or does that harbor negative memories?"

"The waters are too hard to navigate." She summoned a wall of flames to get time to rest.

"Then cross Southern Torn."

"I was getting to that, but someone interrupted me." She raised her hackles as she took deep panting breaths.

"I see. Still, you have had fourteen years since your incident."

Swillow fell onto her belly. "It's because of this damn war. We're not staying to fight hyenas and wolves. Well, Citrus isn't."

"I think the answer is that you aren't a fan of oceans. I know all about you being a void creature. You ran into a leviathan, the Corruptor."

A rumbling came from Swillow's throat, still she nodded.

Talizarin said, "You feel like you can't cross an ocean. Good news is that a Snow's ultimate goal is wealth. You could make major money working for me."

"I already lost the tournament," Swillow said. "But Citrus will win."

Talizarin said, "How about we change the game? You win. The Slaughterhound wins, and then you and Citrus will continue being gladiators. The other two can go about their lives."

"Again, I already lost."

"Yes, but who makes the rules?"