Forewarned (BEING REWRITTEN)

Training to the Death

The "relaxation" time passed surprisingly quickly. Before I knew it I was being told to change into gym clothes, which consisted of a long-sleeve grey hoodie, biker gloves, black sweatpants and durable socks with some off-brand tennis shoes that were a uniform black in color. Then I was led out and through the maze of hallways, stairs, and buildings to a humongous gymnasium. The guy who had led me there, an absolutely silent beast of a man with ginger hair and solemn eyes, had not said a single word the whole time and when we apparently reached the destination, proceeded to shrink into the crowd of kids without another word.

Questions had been burning in my mind, waiting to be asked but I could tell he didn't seem inclined to so much as look at me. I was getting absolutely no good vibes from this place. It seemed my future here was looking pretty grim.

I had no time to sulk about it though, because this had to be the craziest gymnasium I had ever seen in my life. Directly in front of me was a huge tapestry of a gold dragon with a rhino horn, brutish small eyes and the antlers of an elk was featured blasting a stream of scarlet flame through cavernous jaws, which was pretty badass if it didn't have the generic encouragement of 'COURAGE' written in the flames. Below it was the basketball court, which seemed to have recently fallen in disrepair, the metal neck of the basketball hoop completely bent and fractured.

I stepped inside tentatively, very aware of the crowd before me that were probably no happier about me being here than I was. My eyes skimmed over their faces, their uniform attire to the area around them. I wasn't ready for social interaction yet. This all seemed too much like a dream.

Behind the group was a workout area, or a target area. I wasn't sure which. There were punching bags and moveable targets that had crude arms wielding wooden swords. There was a rack of weights of varying sizes under a different tapestry, this one being an ice white dragon that looked like it had pulled itself off a glacier. Its regal profile was featured next to the words 'INGENUITY.'

I turned around, ignoring the hum of conversation, undoubtedly about the new guy with a hissing black dragon on his shoulder. In the very back of the gym was this humongous tank that went halfway up the ceiling. Illuminated from the inside by rays of artificial light, it was stocked by undulating clusters of seaweed and bright pockets of corals. Dark shapes flickered within, some a whole lot larger than your average pet goldfish.

"BLAAAWWDDDCLAWWW!"

Before I could investigate the tank, Caed and I were shook by the most obnoxious drawl we had heard in our lives. We turned to see what the real reason for the gathering crowd was—a little dragon, stuck up in the rafters thirty five feet above our heads.

"Bloodclaw get your bloody rump down here!" The source of the screaming was a girl standing in the center of it all, her hands on her hips and her eyes narrowed up at the little beast. She wore the same shorts and shoes as everyone else but her shirt was a loud band shirt with a multicolored zombie and a skeletal raven. She was pointing a black nailed finger at the beast above.

The poor thing. It was clinging to the rafters like it was afraid for its life. Its tail was curled under the underside of the wooden beams. It shook its tiny head and whimpered. The green kitten sized beast didn't look exactly like a 'Bloodclaw.' It was more like a Puff.

"Bloodclaw, if you don't come down here this instant, you're not getting your kibbles tonight!" The loud girl said, her accent decidedly Australian. Her threats seemed to be working because the creature shifted itself forwards, as if about to leap off. Then it dipped too far and meeped in fear, scrambling back for a more secure hold.

When she started screaming again, a guy stepped through the snickering crowd. He wore the tightest surfer suit I've seen in my life, bearing shades of grey and black that made him look sleek as a dolphin. He kinda looked like a superhero. In his arms was a high-tech bow and arrow. "Bet?" He called to some other kids in the crowd, who burst into laughter. He pulled back the arrow on the bowstring and aimed at the quivering beast.