Chap 2 Warning, this chap contains a scene some may find disturbing
The morning gong rang, waking him from his restless sleep. Man I do NOT want to get up today. he thought as he sat up in his tent. More training, more them trying to get me to do want I don't want to do. he thought glumly as he stepped out of his tent and headed to the dinning area. As usual the dinning area was a madhouse, here if your not fast enough to get your share of the meal you go without. He deafly snatched up some fruit and a hunk of meat and calmly walked off, dodging other males as he went. Finding a relitively peaceful spot under a tree, he sat down and started to eat.
Blah, undercooked meat and overripe fruit again he thought with disgust, how do they expect us to stay in good health if they give us crap like this. I bet even the females eat better then this. Then he remembered what his superiors told them about what the females role was. Their role was to mine the ore within the Iron Mountians and to bear many sons. Then again maybe not. He looked at the mountians which towered over him. He pityed the females, forbidden to see sunlight, forever trapped within the tunnels of the mines. He also heard stories of males who betrayed the Alpakian race and were casterated and sent to work in the mines for the rest of their lives. He shuddered.
"Thinking of what goes on in the mountian again Sabono?" a voice asked.
Sabono jumped. "I wish you wouldn't scare me like that Xaner" he complained.
"Well someone has to wake you from dreamland." Xaner said with a smirk.
"Funny, so what are you doing in this part of camp Mr" he looked at Xaner's armor carefully, "4th rank"
"Well I shouldn't be doing this, but I'm here to warn you they are planning on testing you again today."
"Again?" he shuddered.
"Sabono, you are going to have to kill sometime or you'll be rank 1 all your life. Or..." he glanced at the mountian, "they'll but you in there."
"I am perfectly aware of that." Sabono said standing up.
"Sabono in terms of fighting skill you are the best, but in terms of deadlyness..."
"I know I'm as deadly as a blade of grass"
"Sabono, you really need to do it this time, Hasik himself will be watching."
"Hasik?" Now Sabono was really worried, Hasik is one of the most ruethless Alpakians around, and he doesn't take shit from no one.
"That's right, and if you fail today, Hasik might cull you himself."
"But I..."
"I know the first time is hard, but it gets easier each time. Trust me I know."
"But I don't ever want to be like that."
"Then you might as well kill self now, if you can even do that." Xaner said and he walked away.
Sabono watched Xaner leave and sat back down, trying to push back tears. What I am going to do? If I don't kill, I will be killed. And I don't want to die. I could ran away, but what good will that do me? The first Serian that spots me will kill me on sight, and if they don't get me, my own kind will hunt me down and kill me. There has to be more to life then this.
Straki was worried, its been nearly 8 moons* since he last saw Chiatsa and no one knew where she was. That and his mate has been acting strangely. She jumped everytime he came up behind her and has been strangely depressed. He also noticed a small scar on her neck, but everytime he asked where she got it, she would just say that she had a minor accident and that it was nothing to worry about. And lately she has been having nightmares.
"Oh please please don't I haven't told anyone I swear." she mubbled in her sleep one night as she thrushed in bed.
"Shasha wake up, your having a nightmare." he said shaking her. Her eyes flew open and she sat up with a scream.
"Easy Shasha your safe here at home."
"No no we not safe."
"What are you talking about? Shasha please you need to tell me what is wrong."
"Jukco, its Jukco" she finally said.
"What about Jukco? I know he's been acting more screwy lately."
With a sigh Shasha told him about the night Jukco threatened her.
"What!? He did this to you?"
Shasha nodded. "He's gone mad, he really has."
"What are we going to do? If we suddenly disappear he'll know you've told me and will come after us."
"There's something else. I had a different dream the other night. I vision I think. I've spent the last 2 days trying to decifer it."
"What?" Straki asked now curious, Shasha has been known to have visions, visions that always came true.
Shasha took a deep breath before she continued "There was battle raging between two warriors, one was clad in black, the other in steel."
"A Shadowhunter and a high ranking Alpakian warrior no doubt."
Shasha nodded and continued "Then they stop and just stare at each other, their eyes unblinking."
"The Calling*?" when she nodded he shook his head in disbelief "Alpakian don't have the ability to feel The Calling."
"This one did, he was different."
"Well that I will have to see to believe."
"Whatever, anyway to make the story short, they both make a break for the northern border. Toward the Dragonlands. However they are pursued by both sides and both are badly injured. Then they are surrounded."
"Ok go on."
"Then was a flash of silver and a roar of a dragon."
"And?"
"That's when the dream ended."
"Man I hate it when they leave you at a cliffhanger like that."
"I know, that last part was pretty hazy, like it was only a possiblity it will happen that way."
"Did you figure out who the Shadowhunter was?"
"No, but I did get the feeling it was someone we both care about."
Straki layed back deep in thought Could it be Chiatsa? he mused. No it can't be, she isn't a Shadowhunter. Unless Jukco recently promoted her. That would explain why she disappeared all fo a sudden, it is a secritive guild, and she would have had to go though training. I hope she is all right.
Sabono was terrified, here he was along with five other males who were considered 'ready' to achieve their second rank on the training grounds (or the slaughter grounds as some called it). And as Xaner had said, Hasik was there, standing on the other side in his full plate armor. His battle scars could be plainly seen, including two scars running parallel to each other on his face. His tail looked like it was chewed on by a Miniclaw* (though anyone who teased him about it quickly lost their head he heard). He stepped out into the circle of the training ground, clearing his voice.
"Alright you weaklings!" he boomed "Today is the day some of you will prove yourselves worthy of the second rank. You have two tests and you have to pass both tests to acheive your second rank. The first is the test of skill, where your fighting skills will be evaluated. The second is the test of how well you can kill." Sabono glupped subconsiously "Now I have heard that some you are a bit squimish about that part. So I will give you fair warning, if you do not pass, I will kill you myself. And don't think of running or sneaking away for that will be considered cowardus and you will be hunted down and excocuted publicily. Now let us begin!"
So began the first test. There were two parts to it, hand to hand and with weapons. Two males didn't pass with one being so bad he was killed on the spot. Sabono had just completed the hand to hand portion and was about start the second part.
"Hold I will test this one myself" Hasik said taking off his armor.
Sabono gasped as Hasik enter the training circle, he was huge!
"Better fight with all your heart kid, I won't be easy on you." he said with a snear as he accepted he sword.
With that Hasik swung at him, Sabono was barely able to bring up his sword in time to block the blow. Geez he's both fast and strong. All he did for the first few moments was block and dodge.
"You better make an attack kid or I will kill you." he threated.
Seeing no other recourse Sabono attacked, one which Hasik blocked easily.
"You'll have to do better then that." he laughed.
The fight went on for quite some time. Sabono got some light wounds for not being quite fast enough, but nothing serious. He hadn't even scratched Hasik, who was still going strong, while he was exhausted. Geez when is he going to say I passed or not? What is he looking for? Still the fight went on, until by some mircule he landed a blow to Hasik's arm. It wasn't a serious wound, but Hasik looked it in shock. Sabono looked at him, wondering what he'll do next. He wasn't sure if he could block another attack, since he was so tired. Then Hasik started to laugh.
"You pass kid." he said as he turned to exit the training circle. "Prepare for the next test!"
Everyone was allowed to rest before the next test started, so Xaner took the opportunaty to check on Sabono. He found him sitting under a tree.
"Hey man that was a really impressive fight there." he said.
"Thank you." Sabono managed to say.
"Boy you look beat, here have some water." he offered him a water skin and as Sabono drank he continued "Even Hasik was impressed."
"Bet he was, but he probaly won't be when the next test starts."
"Huh you mean you still don't think you can do it? Sabono you heard what Hasik said, he'll kill you if you don't."
"I know. I don't know what to do."
Xaner looked at him straight in the eyes "You KNOW what you have to do." and with that he walked away.
It seemed like everyone from the higher ranks was there for the second test. Again Hasik was there, his arm bandaged. Not far away there was a cage of prisoners, destined for death. Sabono shuddered. Hasik ordered one of the prisoners to be taken out, a young male, no more then 10 cycles old. The boy was brought in front of Hasik, who spoke.
"Now the second test is really simple, all you have to do is kill your target." he said as he unsheathed his sword. The boy whimpered, and trying to crawl away but Hasik stepped on his tail preventing him from going far and raised his sword.
Oh god he's going too...Sabono couldn't finish the thought.
"Like this!" Hasik brought down the sword with murderous intent. The boy didn't have a chance, Hasik's blade cleanly severed his head off. Blood splattered everyware and everyone cheered, except Sabono who felt sick.
Hasik ordered another prisioner taken out of the cage, this time an old male. He was chained to two posts in the center of the circle. Hasik looked along the line of the remaining 'testee's'. Oh please not me first. To his horror Hasik stopped front of him and smiled.
"You first kid."
Nooo! he thought as Hasik put a sword in his hands and pushed him toward the prisoner. Sabono to look at Xaner who only gave him a 'you better do it' look. Fighting back tears, he approached the old male. Hasik was right behind him.
"You better not take long," he growled in his ear, "or my blade will taste more blood...yours."
Sabono hesitated a moment, then he heard what he thought was the unsheathing of a sword behind him. Then without further hesitation, he pulled back his sword and with a heavy heart ran the sword through the old male. For a moment there eyes meet.
"I'm sorry" Sabono whispered tears in his eyes. The old male nodded slightly and then slumped against the chains, dead. Sabono fell to his knees not believing what he had just done, he looked at his hands which were covered in blood.
"Well done kid, you even made sure he lived for a few moments before he died. Thats the level of cruelity I like." Hasik said with a laugh.
Cruelity!? I thought I was being merciful! he thought, shocked.
"Xaner! Take him to his new tent and get him the proper armor for his new rank! And get him washed up!"
"Right away sir!"
Sabono didn't notice Xaner taking leading him away from the training grounds, he was in too much of a shock to notice anything.
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