Snippet #111

Fighting? He was going to be fighting in an arena, possibly to the death. That's what the others in the cells told him. He was fresh meat for the gladiators, easy pickings for the creatures he'd be pitted up against.
The endless possibilities of what could happen to him in the next few days wouldn't leave Toya's mind, the boy hadn't moved from the spot in the corner of his little cell, ignoring the scraps of food that'd been sent his way. He wasn't meant to be here, this wasn't what had been planned. Did they not understand that he was still a mere child compared to everyone else, he might've been 18 human years old, but that did not make him man enough for fighting to the death.

He probably looked like a coward, curled up in the corner of his cell, knees pulled up to his chest, feline brown tail curled round his feet. His appearance had dulled a lot in the short time he'd been in the Dungeons that apparently belonged to the Montale family – like he gave a damn who it belonged to.
Before he'd gotten here, he looked in tip top shape, the fur on his ears and tail sleek and shiny, hair falling in soft curls about his face. His skin was always clean, without a blemish, clothes without a mark or rip in them. Now his fur was matted, mousey brown hair tangled, skin scuffed with marks from his tussle with the guards when they'd ripped him apart from his brother. His appearance wasn't going to get any better by the sound of things.

From what the others had told him on arrival, he had one hope of finding his brother again. A hope that was immediately extinguished when he found out that he had to beat one of the toughest people ever, who was currently the champion of the games. There was no chance, he wasn't going to be able to fend off many people and beast with his limited knowledge of how to fight, and a power over lightening which he could barely control. He just hoped Avis wasn't in as much trouble as he was facing.

~ ~ ~

Avis had managed to find his way from Moonvale, where he'd been separated from his brother, to a small village that was not that far from Arcadium. .He was surprised that he'd not lost all hope in finding his brother and getting him back safe and sound, especially after he was told what a challenge it would be to get him back.
When he'd spoken to other travellers and villagers on his journey, they'd told him that his brother had probably been taken to the capital to take part in this years games. The thought of his brother fighting without being willing shocked Avis, though apparently that was the way of life for these people.
It was a ridiculous way of life, but it seemed that barely anyone was bothered enough by it to make some sort of rebellion against it. Either that, or all these people were too scared to do something to get their loved ones back.

Avis still had determination in his eyes as he lay in an inn's smallest room that he'd found for the night. He was using the money that he and his brother had earnt together, feeling like he was cheating Toya for using it, but in if in his situation, Avis was sure that Toya wouldn't mind the expenditure to save his life.
He knew he was nowhere near as strong as Toya secretly was. Avis had no power like his brother, that he knew of anyway. He just had to rely on the brute strength, athletic skill and basic knowledge of swordsmanship to find and retrieve his brother. Only then he would be able to relax properly, rather than laying wide awake as he was now.