Battle of the Gente Animali

Trial and Arena

The Next day

The Dungeon cell Canis, Anne and Ferre found themselves in was dark and dingy.

"How can they do this to us, we were friends," the words were full of forlorn as they left Canis's mouth.

"They didn't see it that way. To them, we were conspiring with an enemy spy. It was foolish to bring that girl along," Ferre said. It was almost as if the words had poison on them.

"She helped us back in that village against the black soldiers," Anne said defensively

"And she saved my life from those wolf thugs," Continued Canis.

"And for what? We're the ones sitting in a dungeon and shes the one probably flying free half a mile away by now," Ferre retorted.

"She wouldn't abandon us," Canis said a lump growing in his throat.

"Oh really, when we first met her she robbed us. Come on boy you barely know her," said Ferre more forcefully this time. Canis couldn't retort because, as much as he didn't want to admit Ferre was right. He hardly knew Passerie. By now she probably had escaped the city and was heading back to her home. The thought made Canis want to cry however his train of thought was interrupted.

"Breakfast maggots," a prison guard yelled. The guard shoved three bowls of slop through the cell bars. The food tasted disgusting and in complete contrast to the diner, they had yesterday but they were starving so they ate. At ten to noon they were led through the castle in chains. They were taken to a massive open-air arena. When they were led out into the sunlight a wave of cheering washed over Canis and almost destroyed his ear drops.

"SILENCE!" King Leeuw boomed throughout the arena. He stood up from his chair. Leopold sat on a cushion next to him. His bodyguards were nowhere in sight. "These three stand before you because they have committed acts of treason towards the Kingdom of the mammals." The crowd booed and the sound filled the entire arena.

"As you know our laws state that they be given a chance to prove themselves in combat. If they are able to defeat my champions they will be banished from Mammifero. If they can not defeat my champions then they will....," Leeuw let the sentence linger for a few seconds before uttering then next word, "...die." The crowd cheered and a wicked smile spread across Leeuw's face.

A large wooden door opened underneath the Kings' box and out stepped the two bodyguards and another man whom Canis did not recognise.

"My champions today will be my personal bodyguards Tikeri and Gerpardi, brother and sister, skilled in combat and both Gente Animali. They will fight the two men as I believe the men who stand before are also Gente Animali." Canis had a quick thought to yesterday when his party stood before the king asking for his blessings. Then the king had called him a child, now that the situation suits him the king called Canis a man.

"I thought this kind wickedness was characteristic of the reptiles," Canis muttered under his breath.

"For the woman who is not Gente Animali, she will fight my head of the guard and non-Gente Animal but an excellent combatant none the less."

"Hey your majesty, how do you expect us to fight without our weapons," Ferre yelled.

"Guards return the prisoners weapons to them," the King commanded. Guards approached the three and dropped their weapons at their feet. Canis picked up his sword and looked at his opponent. Gerpardi was well built and toned. King Leeuw said she was a Gente Animali but what could be her animal form. 

"Let the trial begin!" the king shouted.

Gerpardi ran at Canis and swung at him with ferocity and speed. Canis was only just able to block the attack in time. Gerpardi slowed the speed at which she attacked giving Canis a chance to regain his footing.