Duesr

Sebastian looked at the Canine across from him in cage. The creature was from the pack known as Mastiffs. A short haired Canine that had a dark brown fur that covered most of its body, the Mastiffs were fierce fighters even without the obedience collars. Sebastian knew that he was in one heck of a fight. The Mastiff had a large scar that ran from the bottom of his eye to the jawline. The weapon that he was fighting with a crude-looking morningstar. This, Sebastian thought, was a worthy opponent. All he waited for now was the bell. Sebastian sat still gripping his rattan sticks just right. The lights began to dim and the screaming audience around him slowly faded into darkness. Sebastian licked his lips. He began to focus and slowly he put himself into what was happening. He forced himself into a place where he no longer heard the screams. The only thing there was him and his opponent. The humid air made him pant, he took his right hand and placed the back of it to his forehead, the rattan now pointed to the earth, he offered a salute to his opponent. Then the bell rang.

The fight was quick. Sebastian jabbed. The Mastiff parried. Sebastian hooked. The Mastiff parried again. Sebastian came down on top of the Mastiff’s head with a third strike. Dizzying his opponent Sebastian came undeneath of the beast’s left shoulder with the top of his, placing the right foot behind the creature he slid the foot of the creature out of underneath of him. The Mastiff howled as it fell onto its back. Sebastian turned and with the butt of the weapon contorted the wrist of his combatant forcing the mastiff to drop the morningstar. The Beast attempted to move but as he did the wrist broke, making the creature scream. Sebastian stood back, his foe now writhing in pain. The Mastiff screamed. “I yield.”

The lights turned back on and Sebastian stood there his eyes adjusting to the light. He saw Ferris Fordin standing there smiling. His wicked grin showing all of his teeth. Sebastian dropped is weapons and walked over to the injured creature. He knelt beside him. The Mastiff attempted to bite him, but Sebastian just whispered something to him, which calmed the beast. He grabbed the beasts arm and closed his eyes. A small light emanated from Sebastians hand and suddenly the Mastiffs paw was restored. The huge beast looked at Sebastian and gave him a whimper. He got up and took Sebastians hand into his, bending to one knee he placed the hand onto his forehead.

Ferris did not like this and with a small wand he said. “Pain.” The Mastiff’s slave collar lit a dark yellow and the canine fell to its knees once again. The beast squealed in agony as Ferris delighted in it.

“There will be only one man that these mutts bow to and that man shall be me.” Ferris screamed. As he screamed an arrow streaked through the arena and struck his hand. Ferris screamed in terror. Captain Gale held a small crossbow that he had managed to sneak into the arena past the guards. Instantly the pain that the Mastiff had felt was lifted and the Canine stood back up. Picking up the morningstar he ran outside of the arena. Cassandra and Ioan went to the doors where they met the town guards. They met each one in the hallway with a quick punch or kick. Cassandra disarmed one of the guards and began to twirl, her ballet-like movements quickly cutting down the guards. Ioan unleashed punch after punch. Each was a precise causing a knockout or some other debilitation to the guard. The arena guests that were left began to cling to the walls at the chaos that was happening around them. Sebastian jumped up out of the arena and headed for Ferris who was now standing behind his two bodyguards. The men attempted to stop Sebastian, but were quickly knocked out. All that was left was Ferris, as Sebastian attacked him, a sword parried the blow. Franklin Fordin stood in front of his brother, now very sober he stood ready to challenge Sebastian. The two fought each other. As quickly as Sebastian thrust Franklin parried and vice versa. The Drunkard was quite the swordsman as it turned out. The fight went back and forth. The two men not yielding to the other. Sebastian stood opposite Franklin, panting. He charged the man and sweeping away the sword with his right hand he brought the left to bear against the man’s the skull. The hit was all he needed to crush Franklins head. Sebastian stood there victorious panting looking at his next opponent. Ferris stood grinning from ear to ear. He pointed at Sebastian and said. “Death.” A green light came from the end of the wand and surrounded Sebastian the dog dropped his sticks and grasped his throat, blood spilled out from his mouth and he crumpled to the ground. The air grew thin and silent. Captain Gale screamed out. “NO!” as he shot another dart into the forehead of Ferris Fordin. The strike killed the man instantly. Captain Gale ran to Sebastian and fell to his knees beside him. He grabbed the body of the man that he had known to be his best friend for many years and held him there. Sobbing he let out more screams. The rest of the battle was lost to Captain Gale. Indistinguishable movement, blurred colors. He heard screaming and barking, but barely. The battle outside of this little world was over quickly, but still Captain Gale mourned and cried. Cassandra and Ioan were the first to arrive at Captain Gale. Cassandra knelt beside the captain and put her cape around him. She wept. Ioan offered up prayers to the the Creator asking for a good place in the life hereafter. One by one the Canines came to Captain Gale. The Arena now held nearly 100 of them in total. The townsfolk who were gathered there had fled and the lights had been dimmed. Now only the moonlight shone through. Gale picked up Sebastian and began to carry him away. The Mastiff stopped him.

“Where you bonded by friendship to Sebastian?” The Mastiff asked.

“Yes I was, we took the oath of friendship.” replied Captain Gale.

“I am called Tyro. We will prepare the ritual.”

Ioan and Cassandra followed the group out of the arena and into the woods. As they walked they saw the other Canines who were gathered begin to howl, one by one until all that anyone could hear was the deafening noise of the creatures, The longer it lasted the louder that it got. Cassandra listened carefully and realized that there was a melody to it all. She stood quietly with Ioan, his arm around her shoulders. They both began to cry. They followed Captain Gale and the others out to the nearest field that they could find. The Canines stopped howling just then and several of them began to dig. A smaller canine came out with a bowl of water. He cleaned Sebastian as the others dug the hole. Gale was helping with the digging. Once the fur had been cleaned properly, the Canines wrapped Sebastian in clothes. They tightened the wraps and then lowered him into the grave. A Canine that was tall and all golden brown came forth. Ioan and Cassandra would later learn that he was from the Labra pack. A knife was pulled and each of the Canines in attendance cut a part of his fur off and dropped it into the grave. The knife was finally given to Captain Gale who removed his long ponytail and threw it in as well. The Canines then refilled the grave with the dirt. As the last of the dirt was piled on the Canines began to howl once again. As they did one of the younger members came forth and began to sing.

Land of air and land of freedom,

Land of hope and land of peace,

Friend to man, ally to woman,

Our last breath we protect each.

Land of air and land of freedom,

Land of hope and land of peace,

Born from the Creator upon high,

back to our father’s reach.

We are now home, we are at peace.

The funeral ended much the same way that it started. Quickly and with little fanfare. Captain Gale’s tears had all but left him. He had only a few left. Cassandra comforted him.

“Do you need another to replace the bond?” asked Tyro.

“I do not.”replied Captain Gale. “What I need now is information. Why were these evil men in charge?”

“They came into our packs secretly in the night and placed these collars on our necks. The man you know as Ferris was a powerful mage who enslaved us. We were here for many years underground because it was illegal to have fighting of Canines. Then a few weeks ago something happened and suddenly the Fordins were now completely in charge. Ferris bought his way into the circle of Justice. By the way, word will have probably gotten out by now that we have killed a member of the Circle. We must be leaving soon. Do not worry however, Sebastian will be written into out histories.” Tyro turned and ran into the woods. The rest of the the Canines followed him.

Captain Gale stood looking at the grave. A mean look appeared on his face. Cassandra and Ioan looked on as the man said his final words.

“Come my friend,” said Ioan . “There is much evil in this world and who else will fight if not us?”

The three of them gathered their things and set out in the night for Angeles. After all there was still the matter of saving Ailen.