Rival

Uncharted

We are not free like your kind, we walk amongst the shadows. Bound by the laws of are kind. Stay hidden, obey your superiors and don't show weakness. Othrivic (oth/riv/ic) is are people, an ancient skin walker tribe that have been wandering the plains of earth free for millennia.

The legends the privileged of are people have concocted over the years would make are ancestors thrash in their tombs. You think we deserve punishment for the wrongs are ancestors did. We are innocent to their crimes yet bound to slavery.

I do not follow your precious gods of the moon. I am controlled by much darker powers and they are not as kind as your gods.

The moon gives you light, a beacon in the sky shining its glow onto the lands like a warm blanket. Are curse is one of the darkness, suffocating everything in its grasp- including us.

You see the moon doesn't watch your every step, your every decision.
Are rulers are our both are curse and are gods and they are as cruel and unforgiving as an ocean storm beating against the cliffs edge. Wearing down the rock from its wall, like are alpha who takes pups from their parents, cornering young Othrivics-wearing them down until they have no choice but to follow lead like a dog on a chain.

I was born into this world. My name is a number and my life is under constant supervision. I've fought in the underground rings of Veralron. I've rolled in sand, grit and blood to kill my opponents, to survive. People like me. Raised to kill.

Now I wait in my cell shifting from human to wolf -shacked by the ankle. Pacing with the upcoming fight, my last one before I enter the largest arena in the biggest city in the world-Zevak.

The muffled roars of the crowd sent a thrill down my spin setting my fur on end. They waited above the underground for one of us to emerge. I would survive tonight. As I have for the last four years.

My first fight was when I was fourteen. I was thrown into the ring, newly taken from my grandmother with no training . I only survived thanks to the mercy of my opponent. He left me with my tawny brown pelt drenched scarlet with my own blood. He took the little bit of hope I had left for this world. After my first fight I lost the hesitation. I had no choice to fight back- to kill.

My ears pinned to the sound of door groaning opening and the  footsteps that followed "Ninety" the ring leaders voice sounded.
I flicked my dark gaze to him and the two guards flanking his side. 

 I closed my eyes with the overwhelming freedom that came with loosing my chains- The only feeling of freedom I've ever had. 

"Win " the ring leader sneered stepping to the side. " You know what will happen if you fail"
Death, a bullet in my skull. That is if I could escape the suffocating grip of my rival, "Don't you worry," I sneered back, stalking past him, "you'll get your money" .

The underground held fighters before fights. I could hear them as the howled and paced in their cells, humming with the crowds muffled cry.

Maybe we are more animal than the rest, but then again we are nothing but beasts to the rest of are kind. Enslaved for the rest of are days to entertain the rich. Some of these Othrivics could have been teachers, doctors, the sky could have been their limit if they had the money. They might of never known this pain if their ancestors had not committed the crimes that doomed their bloodline. Once the law gets wind you have broken the code you and your family are better dead. condemned to life in the underground. They prefer pups most of all whom could be manipulated and raised to be far deadlier and loyaler than their older counterparts.

My muscles ached for the battle as I walked up the massive stone steps leading to the surface. The crowd's cheers becoming louder and louder like the beating of drums as I neared the the surface- the ring. I closed my eyes to the blinding light of the midday sun shining through the glass roof as my paws met sand instead of stone.

"Shewolves and and males!" a female voice rang through the speakers. "I welcome you to this weeks Dathrex!".
I turned my gaze to the brown male exiting the underground opposite to me. His face scarred and his muzzle grey from years in Dathrex, an experienced fighter he looked like as he sauntered closer his paws hitting the sand in confidant strides. Good I wanted my last kill in this boring ring to last more than a few seconds.

"Looks like we'll be having an interesting fight tonight", the chirpy voice rang "One-thousand-and-six VS Ninety!"

I rolled my eyes as the crowd became deafening at are names- If you could call them that. I could feel the males eyes on me, could sense his growl as he sung it, sending my blood boiling and my heart racing at the promise of battle.

The ring darkened like the sun disappearing behind the clouds, I look up to find huge shutters clanking as they ran along the tracks, blocking out the light and trapping in the darkness.

The spotlights snapped to us temporarily blinding me as my eyes adjusted to the massive glow.

"Today one of these soldiers will win!, the other...," The crowd erupted in laughter with the commentator.

I shook my pelt baring my teeth at my opponent. I would make it to Zevak, I will kill for Zevak and for any other chance of freedom.
He advanced, his pace quickening. I lunged forward, my back legs pushing me off the floor. The crowd stood jeering as they circled the ring. I blocked out the smell of alcohol and sweat as I honed them towards the monster of teeth and muscle barrelling my way. He was massive standing a foot taller than me. I choked in shock as he neared skidding to a halt with a spray of sand. This was an unfair fight, it must be. They'd never paired me with a Othrivic this big.

I leaped out of the way turning into my human form as I hit the ground tumbling into a crouch s. They  must want to kill me off. I was stupid to think they would let me make it to Zevak. 

The male skidded to a halt spinning to face me,"What's wrong...," he drawled. "I saw you take down that shewolf last year. Ripped her throat out," he laughed "your not so cocky now are you little wolf".
He's not ever a soldier, how could he be if he's seen me fight?. I could feel my jaw dropping as he stalked around me. There wasn't even a mark on him. He was not one of us, he was one of them. One of the riches boys by the looks of him. Well fed, scar free... . He pranced around the ring soaking in the crowds cheers. A soldier would just get it over with, but not him.

I lunged at him turning, sinking my teeth into flesh. He yelled snapping wildly before pushing himself backwards. I gasped as I hit the ground choking under his crushing weight. He scrambled up grabbing me by my neck.

I choked pawing at his face helplessly. This was it, All this for nothing, all the Othrivic's I killed, the years spent pacing my cell to stay in fighting condition to one day get to Zevak and win my freedom. All this for nothing but a cruel unmerciful death.

" Enough!" a voice rang over the speakers "Vienx dathro !", I did not understand that language but I'd heard more beautiful words as the crushing of my windpipe ceased and air once again flooded my lungs. I looked to see the silhouette of the male walking away the blinding light of the sun as once again the shutters open. The last thing I saw before I was dragged into sleep.