“Nah man, the Bereaved could never win!”

“Whatchu talkin’ ‘bout Carl?!”

“The fuck you mean what I’m talking about? Isn’t it obvious? No way he can win with that broken down leg— its even swollen and dripping leg goo!” Carl vexed.

“Ughh, you just don’t get it. Stop looking at his deformity, you should know better than anyone that looks don’t mean a thing—“

“HEY!” Chimed Carl, looking more basic than usual, “—That was uncalled for, and out of line!” He huffed as he knelt to the floor. “You know I try. I’m just saying. In this world such an injury is automatic death. No one wants a deformed. You’re worth more ugly than disabled, unless you prove useful that is, like Oscar.”

“Man, this is why I don’t like hanging with you. You're clueless, you can’t just say these things—”

“—Yeah I can!” Carl roared. “DEFORMED, DEFORMED, DEFORMED!” He gathers his breath again while leaning his crossed arms on his right knee-thigh and yells through his scared mouth and snaggled front teeth.

“DEFORMS SHOULD BE BANISHED! UNLESS THEY’RE USEFUL, WE DON’T NEED THEM DRINKING OUR WATER, EATING OUR CROP AND WASTING OUR RESOURCES! THEY’RE A WAST—”

[THAK!]

“SHUT UP!”

Carl gripped his neck-back as he rolled all over the floor in agony and screamed, “FUUUCK!”

He was astonished. He couldn’t believe his usually docile, yet perplexing friend could ever put his hands on him. “FUCKERTY FUCK FUCK!” He screeched as he wiggled in the dirt of the Forrest grounds.

“YOU CUNT!” He driveled. “You got me! You fucking got me good, huh? You’re lucky I’m in this sorry state or you would’ve been done for!!” Carl spat as he carefully pushed himself up from the ground.

“I’d like to see you try.—” Said his friend in response to Carls threat.

“—Bitch!”

“Half baked beg of a bastard noble.”

“You abstemious pleb!”

“OHH! So the village fool can use big words?!”

“—WHAT DID YOU SAY! SAY IT AGAIN I DARE YOU!”

Carl grew more agitated than ever, his friend, seeing Carls forehead wrinkles scrunch up tighter knew he got Carl where he wanted him.

“You heard me well and clear, or is it your ears are as clogged up as your prehistoric beliefs? Your empty threats carry nothing but wishful thinking at it’s worst.”

“ARRGH, UHH, ARGAhhhhh” Shamed by his actions and his friends harsh words Carl unsheathes his rusted weapon and makes a dash for his friend. His face, pink and plump as a smacked village thief caught in the act and full of embarrassment; his friend however, indifferent and laid back easily avoids Carl’s head on assault.

[WHOSH] His friend stylishly backs off.

“Wow.” He sighs, “Just wow.”

As Carl is pushed back, he's tripped over from a swift toe clip.

[THUMP!]

“Arrgh!”

“I’m actually disappointed… All this time we’ve had to practice and this is all you’ve achieved?” Carls friend says with a disappointed glare as he shakes his head.

“No wonder Oscar always says talk is cheap, since thats all you do… It probably gets on your nerves that someone who you believe to have a disability is actually better than you.” “It’s no wonder you hate him so much.”

“Shuck a cork!” Carl snapped.

Just as Carl sucks his teeth at his friend he sees rustling in the bushes not too far from him and jumps.

“WHO’S THERE?!” he yells as he edges closer to his friend for safety.

“CARL YOU DOG! HOW DARE YOU DISRESPECT FEROCITY THE GREAT WITH THAT CHEAP ATTACK!”

“HUUUUUUUH?” Both Carl and his friend said in disbelief.

“Azekah, you’re really going to let him get away with that? Like, he totally disrespected you!”

“YEAH, YEAH!” Another chimed.

“AZEE—BOOM!” The fourth yelled as he jumped out the bushes in excitement.

“We. Saw. It. All.” Said Nilly.

“A million and what to Az, and ZERO to Carl; another loss buddy…” Tyle said sarcastically as he leaned on a large tree next to the bushes.

“Sup Az” Tyle motioned to Azekah.

“Yo.”

“Oscar wants us all to be back at base an hour before sun fall…”

“Really? Do you know why?” Az replied.

“Not really sure he never specified, my guess is a surprise mock—”

“—An assessment!” Carl interjected distastefully.

“…Yeah…” replied Tyle as he shrugged his shoulders, “I’m just guessing…”

“Seems probable considering its never have been on an official date, it might even be the final.” Said Azekah, deducing probabilities.

“I agree.” Tyle pauses and takes a deep breath.

“Listen well everyone. If this is what we think it is, then theres no room for failure. We’ve practically been training for this our whole lives. Us 8 are the potential new protectors, should even one of us fail, it will put not only us, but our whole species at a huge disadvantage. I refuse to sugar coat it, so ill say it only once.” His cheekbones protruded more than usual as his face emoted to a serious one.

“Get your shit together.” Tyle looks around and gives eye contact to everyone in the party to confirm their resolve.

“You hear me?” Everyone nods, some murmur in agreeance; but that wasn’t the response Tyle wanted.

“I SAID, DO YOU HEAR ME?” His eyes unusually serious and commanding an immediate response.

“YES, CAPTAIN!” The group howled in retaliation.

“Okay.” “Anything you want’t add Az?”

“No, you’ve said all that needed to be said.”

“Good, let’s head back.”

Everyone gathered their belongings and headed back through the bushes, the earlier air of freedom fun which then swiftly became anxiousness was easily cleared and replaced with soothing composure.

“Oh! And by the way Carl, The Bereaved totally won.” Said Tyle as he jumped on the anchor tree vine before it catapulted him to the sub-human metropolis.

[WHOSH] [SWISH] [FTWEE] The anchor vines clamoured, rustled and swished as each member jumped and grasped the thick stems which yanked them over the 70 foot wall to enter the metropolis.

“Whatever… Ferocity the Great will always be a winner in my eyes.” Mumbled Carl as he followed suit.

[SWHOSH]