Rifters: the lost tribe

Chapter 2: ember

Chapter 2
Ember
Ember stepped out into the bright skylights of the stadium's high ceiling. It contained high sets of stone bleachers with more of the soft cushioning. The ceiling was way high and the ring in the center was huge. Ember looked up at the big empty space, sudden sadness gripped her belly as she was reminded of the stadium at her old home. A sudden face popped into her head, her dead brother... Ember stepped forward and tripped, she hit the ground hard. The stadium gave a silent stare, the whole kingdom was her. Ember put on a fake smile and laughed, "How am I gonna win a fight if I can't stand?" She said trying to stand but the sadness in her belly weighed her to fall again. Apala trotted towards her offering a wing, his purple and gold eyes bearing into her soul. Ember grabbed his wing with her, half paw, half wing bud. She stood and shook herself. "Thanks." She smiled. Apala smiled back, fluttering his large wings. "Go back to your side of the stadium, quick! We'll get in trouble!" She laughed slightly fakely. He launched himself back to his side, with one large flap of his strong wings. "Everyone, meet our new contestants, Ember, and Apala!" Queen Orca's voice boomed across the stadium. The crowd began to cheer. Apala took a deep bow looking up at the crowd. Ember looked up too, trying to see how many dragons were in the stadium, then it hit her like a bomb. A familiar face she hoped she wouldn't see had just slipped out of the crowd. Fear rang up her belly, was it him? She looked around frantically till she saw a white Wyvern. He was beaming at her with this goofy face. Ember signaled at him with her wings, "Danger!" She whispered. He seemed to get it and looked around. The white wyvern nodded. "Now! Because they may not know the rules, No killing, No outside help, No weapons, Just abilities and special powers! Shall we begin?!" At the last words the crowd erupted into cheering and roaring. Ember took a small step forward, readying her body. "Ready?" Apala stepped forward and nodded. The guards and healers at the rim of the stadium readied to spring into action. Ember scanned the arena again and saw complimentary barrels of water, she could probably utilize those later. "Let the fight begin!" Apala launched into the air, disappearing and reappearing behind Ember. Ember whirled around and shot a bolt of flame right into Apala's face, just hot enough to blind him momentarily. She lunged away and ran for a set of water jugs. He launched some quills at the jugs and Ember. Ember whirled, grabbed a jug, and used it as a barricade, then threw one hard into Apala's right wing. He ducked and shrunk down. He flung a quill right at Ember's face. Ember dodged only by a little, the quill struck right on her left cheek. The entire crowd went silent as her blindfold fell to the ground. Ember shrieked, not just from pain but from fear. Maybe no one had seen? Was her secret really revealed? The crowd went off loudly, "Four eyes?" "Monster!" "A monster in our kingdom!?" "Kill her!" "Burn her at the stake!" The crowd went on with insults and calling Ember a monster. Ember let out a despaired wail and tears streamed down her cheeks. Apala whipped around and tail barbs launched at the wall threateningly. "Silence!" He roared loudly. The white Wyvern Ember had noticed before, let out an ear breaking roar and glided down to Ember, wrapped his wings around her, whispering things to her. Ember was crying hard and she was wailing things like, "I didn't want four eyes! I am no monster! You can't help what you're born looking like! I AM NOT A MONSTER!!!" An explosion of golden light went off and Ember was suddenly gone. The crowd went ghostly silent. "NO! look what you did, you have no clue what it feels like to hate the most beautiful part of you. I HOPE YOU PAY FOR THIS!" The white Wyvern roared at the crowd. Apala launched into the air to go look for Ember. The white Wyvern dashed off to the entryway where when Apala looked he found Ember lying in tears with her wings drooping and blindfold in hand. Her left side of her face was covered in scars, right over her right eyes. Apala flew over, hugging her with his wings.The white Wyvern gave a weird look at Apala, Then sat and lifted Ember into his lap. "Frost..." Ember whispered, crying limply into his shoulder. Apala looked up at Frost "No need to worry about me, I'm gay." He said, nodding at Frost. Frost cocked his head back and looked confused, then chuckled. "Oh... OH WOW WRONG IDEA! Were, were not mates." Frost blushed hard then looked down at Ember. "I just don't know if I can trust you, we've been through a lot together..." Ember lay limp in a deep sleep in Frost's wing claws. "Earlier she signaled me danger, I'm not sure if she meant you or... him..." Frost hissed, staring at Ember's now soft face. Apala smiled "you don't need to worry, I wouldn't hurt anyone" he said as he ruffled his feathers. Frost chuckled, then he suddenly became serious. "He's here for you! We need to go, everyone here is in danger! Follow me!" Frost lifted up Ember and hoisted her over on his back, readying to run. Apala's eyes widened and opened his wings to launch himself. Ember suddenly snapped to it and was awake again. She rolled off of Frost's back and looked around, eye's wild with fright. Ember moved so quickly and suddenly, shoving Apala downwards and standing atop him. Apala yelped as he went down. "Why are you on me?! Get off!" A few drops of blood dripped down onto Apala and he looked up. He was stunned. There Ember was, gushing blood, with a sword right through her heart.

Cliffhanger! Good luck while we write the next chapter! 1027 words!