Between Scylla and Charybdis

Chapter 9. The second trial (Part 3)

Her mother was gone. Scylla raked her gaze across the crowd, but the familiar silhouette of her mother was nowhere to be found. Why? What could possibly be more important at this moment?

A couple of mer darted out of the way as the two brawlers reached the top of the crater. Fearful gasps and disgruntled growls rippled through the crowd. Scylla forced her gaze back upon them, just in time to see Scython plant a fist against Diz' jaw. The latter hurled backwards, almost bumping into a panicked looking female and her young. He regained his bearings quickly, positioning himself back towards his opponent. A glint of rage glistened in his eyes, unlike Scylla had ever witnessed in him before. She bit her lip. This was insane.

Diz shot sideways, making as much distance from Scython as possible. Their gazes met for only a moment as he rushed by, but the fatigue was clear on his face. The fins on Scylla's neck stood upright and she tensed her body while watching him climb out of the crater. Scython was hot on his tailfin. With the slightest curl of his tail, Diz looped around and turned back down, colliding into Scython with an audible thud. The mers collectively held their breath as both males barreled down towards the edge of the crater. Scython clawed and bit all the way down, until they impacted halfway down the pit. His back slammed into the hard stone, and he let out a sharp and painful wail. A silence fell upon the crater as the fight lulled ever so slightly.

Scylla hurried towards the two males, pushing aside and threatening several Mer who'd already begun curiously swarming them. Now was not the time for them to be curious! When she arrived, Diz leaned against the rockside panting, his tail draped limply across a ridge into the crater, his arms braced trembling against the stone. Scython hadn't moved from the spot of impact, but from a glance, he looked to be breathing at least.

A strange sort of relief flooded Scylla. She scuttled down the rocks, sand and small pieces of stone giving way and rolling deeper into the pit.

'Are you okay?!' It was a stupid question. Both males looked battered beyond belief. Diz' ears perked up a little as he looked up towards the sound of her voice. A nasty gash ran just below his throat towards his shoulder. Scylla shivered as she realized how close that one was to being fatal.

'I trust,-' Diz took a ragged breath. 'That was enough entertainment to satiate your bloodthirsty lot?' He winced as he massaged his hurt hand. 'At least for a little while.'

'Good to see you haven't lost your sharp tongue.' She smiled while crossing her arms and puffing up her chest.

'Indeed.' Diz groaned. 'Though it was closer than I'd care to admit.' The muscle underneath his chest shifted as he pushed away from the rocks and towards Scylla.

There was a moment, one of pure serenity and relief, where Scylla just watched the male. He was littered with cuts and bruises and looked tired, but had a cocky expression on his face. One that caused a warm flush to rise to her face and ears.

The moment didn't last long. A female shrieked, both Diz and Scylla instinctively turned towards the sound. Scylla's stomach filled with horror as she noticed Scython charge directly at the pair of them. It was too late. They couldn't move out of the way. A sharp pain shot through her wrist as Diz yanked on her arm to pull her flush against his chest. A split second later, Scython collided into Diz's back, the latter letting out a blood curdling roar.

Scylla couldn't move. Couldn't breath. Diz's body slumped over into hers, his weight pressing down against her chest and on top of her shoulders. Scylla did her best to keep him from sagging to the side, bracing her tail against the rock and wrapping her arms around his waist. A sharp and numbing sting traveled up her arm and she instinctively retreated her hand. A black quill portrided from her palm.