Armageddon

Taking a chance, she darted out from the shelf and made her way to the other Human. Michael saw her immediately and stared in bewilderment. He’d never seen a rat before. She hadn’t either, to be honest. She stopped just outside of his reach, noticing an elegant white circle surrounded him. It resembled white dirt and smelled of salt. Gingerly she crossed over it, making sure not to disturb it by any means. Satisfied with herself she sat back and looked up at him, her nose twitching. It was then that it happened. The air around them seemed to suck up and in a white flash, she felt her entire body become weightless.

Hundreds of cheers pounded against her eardrums as the light faded and she squeaked in surprise. Michael quickly scooped her up and held her to his chest, lowering himself as if to protect her. Surprised she looked up at his alarmed face before twisting in his grasp and looking out. They were in a cage dead center of a massive arena. The cage was rested on a tall column, separated from the dismemberment happening below. Creatures of all walks of life sat high up in the rafters cheering down to the sandy pit below them.

The battle cry of beasts and monsters below grew louder and louder. The entire area reeked of blood and Tia scratched at her nose, staring wildly and taking in as much as she could. Everyone below was in their true form; it was almost as horrifying as her first day here. Her animal instincts told her to flee, but her will to save Michael kept her in place.

The cage shook violently as the tower was hit. A large reptile stretched its claw towards the cage, pure starvation glistening in its dead-like eyes. She squeaked at it, demanding that it go away. It continued to climb up until it was wrapped around the cage, staring hungrily at the male Human inside. He remained frozen, unable to process what was in front of him. Something thudded above them and a familiar green man leaped onto the creatures’ head, knocking it back to the earth. He held onto the bars of the cage, keeping himself from joining the fray below.

“You,” Michael gasped, finally finding his voice.

Jaya spared him a glance before noticing the creature in his grasp. A look of annoyance crossed his expression and Tia slowly sank beneath the folds of Michael’s sleeves. “I’ll have ya know Vladimir ordered meh to find you at all costs. The minute he realizes I’m here he’s either gonna kill me or end this entire thing for yer protection.”

“He wants to kill me, what are you talking about?” Michael demanded. Tia couldn’t help but realize that he knew who Vladimir was, and she looked up at him once more. Was that his only visitor? What would Vlad have to say to him?

Jaya groaned and hopped to the other side of the cage, dodging a rock that smashed against the tower where he had been hanging. The debris dusted the metallic floor and a chunk hit Michael in the knee. He didn’t even wince as he watched the Orc. “I’m talking to the girl in your hands, fool. Why on earth would ya think I would ever talk to yah? Did I ever say any word to ya when I brought you here? No, of course not.”

Tia poked her head up and squeaked angrily at him, causing Michael to look down at her in surprise.

“This creature is important to that bastard?” He asked in awe.

Jaya became uneasy and he fixated his gaze on the boy, ignoring the roaring creatures fighting amongst themselves below. “Don’t do anything ya would regret; that creature in yer hands is yer Human fiancé.”

He jerked upwards and stared at the Orc before staring at the rat. She looked up at him, her nose twitching. “How? She died. She was reported going to the Dark Continent...”

“The same Dark Continent I dragged ya into, remember?” Jaya asked. “She’s wearing a magical pelt. She’s gone through a lot to try and rescue ya.”

A howl cut through their conversation like a blade of ice and Jaya whipped around to stare at the far end of the arena. Multiple beasts below roared with rage while even more lay dead in the dirt. Body parts torn limb from limb, blood soaking into the fine sand. Jaya stared at the three wolves, the one in the center staring straight back at him. He could see its mind going hundreds of miles an hour. Slowly a lip curled back, and a growl rumbled out of it. Its eyes turned towards Michael, locking onto the small gray creature.

“He knows, Tiana,” Jaya grunted.

Tia jumped out of Michael’s grasp, her body growing bigger and bigger as scales took form. Michael was shoved against the bars until finally, her body grew so large the cage snapped and a dragon fell into the fray. Her tail quickly curled around Michael as Jaya landed several feet away. A dog-looking creature with spikes on its back lunged at her and with a wave of her claw, she smashed it against the side of the wall. Opening her mouth, she roared as loud as she could, silencing the entire arena. The beasts below her cowered away. Everyone held their breath. She stepped back once, finally looking down at the three wolves before her.

She noticed one sit back and roll its tongue out of its mouth, glancing between her and Vladimir excitedly. She easily recognized him to be Diaval, the instigator that he was. The third one, more feminine in shape, slowly began walking away, as if to circle her. She recognized her as Cloe and dismissed her completely. Her gaze rested on Vladimir’s and fire began licking at his paws. A tiny flame formed between his horns and he began to pace back and forth, never taking his eyes off her.

“You wish to fight, is that it?” Vladimir demanded, his voice angry and impatient. “I can’t allow this; you cannot do whatever it is that you want. You cannot get your way. Yield to me!” He shouted, halfway between a bark and an order.

She shook her head, unable to speak in this form. Jaya exchanged a look with Cleo, who suddenly eyed him suspiciously. He gave her a torn look, before bowing his head in a form of apology. She snapped her jaw in anger and he lunged onto Tia’s back. The dragon tensed and spared a glance back before jerking her attention to the now fast approaching wolf. Vladimir was making good time in closing the distance and she stepped back further, forcing Michael back with her rear leg. She roared in anger, trying to knock the Orc off. He gripped the space between her shoulder blades, his fingers finding the fur beneath the scales and, in an instant, she watched her life flash before her eyes.