I hated the arenas. Every time I sat in those stands, I hated them more. I wanted to burn them all down, if only to stop the fights while they were rebuilt.

It was a bright day. There were two events to be held today. Cyrus had entered Crimson Claw in the first, Cerberus in the second. I hadn’t forced myself to sit through the amateur and intermediate classes; there would be plenty of trainers during the second event. So we waited until the pro classes were about to start before we arrived.

The little lycans no longer surprise me. I was no longer shocked by the trainers' harsh methods. That in itself disgusted me, for I knew all of Preene had grown compliant to this way of life. I may have grown used to the workings of the fights, but I would never accept them. This was wrong. Whether they knew it or not, lycans were not mindless animals.

It was Crimson Claw's turn. His opponents faired better than Cerberus's, but hardly. The lycan had already gained both weight and strength from a week of a proper diet. The others simply couldn't compete, not with their weak, frail bodies.

I wondered if their malnutrition was from ignorance, or if the trainers knew they couldn’t control a lycan at full strength.

Then came another, a lycan of nearly the same stature. Yet he was built thicker, wider. He reminded me of Thorn, though his coat was a scorched gray. Although he was clearly still underweight, I knew the moment the lycans collided he was the stronger.

Crimson Claw fell back, only to immediately spring forth again. His claws buried in his opponent’s fur, drawing blood from behind his ear before he was thrown away. The gray pounced upon him.

Perhaps my lycan could take him were he at his prime. Maybe the gray would fall to him, were they wild-raised. But a week of good feeding couldn't compare to this lycan, who had clearly taken better to the harsh environment than mine.

Crimson Claw crashed into the arena wall. The crowd cheered. They certainly loved seeing a champion fall. I expected he would surrender. Surely the match was already decided.

But he got up. My lycan rolled to his feet, showing his teeth in a silent snarl. His opponent bounded into him. The gray’s fangs sunk into red chocolate fur. Crimson Claw's jaw dropped in a soundless howl.

The muscles of my own neck tensed, as if it were my flesh being bitten. Why wasn’t he surrendering? I already told him he would never be whipped and he wouldn’t be forced to fight.

The gray secured his grip. He was going to kill him. I couldn't let Crimson Claw die, not after he had returned to captivity to help me. No more lycans would die for me. I wouldn't allow it.

I twisted around in my seat. The officials were right above us. I clambered over the back of my chair, climbing across the two rows of seats separating us from the booth. My fingers clasped at the edge of the doorway. I pulled myself inside.

"Stop the fight!" I cried.

Eemeli turned, raising an eyebrow before speaking. "You're doing this again? People won't appreciate their show being cut short."

"To hell with that!"

The elder man sighed, glancing at the fighting lycans below. The gray's grip had tightened. Thin red streams weaved their way down his jaw.

"It would be unfortunate if your new lycan were to die." He pursed his pale lips. "Seems you're a friend to the crown, I'll grant you this favor. But I'll expect one in return."

"Anything," I panted. Crimson Claw had managed to push his opponent off, but it would only buy him moments more. "Just stop this!"

The head trainer looked to the trumpeter. "Stop the fight."

The small smirk that twisted the old man's features promised trouble for me. I knew this, but didn't care. I had to save my lycan.

***

The click of the lock was louder to my ears than a lightning strike. The metal collar about my neck weighed more than a boulder on my shoulders. I glared up at the official's booth from my place beneath a pole that had been hurriedly planted in the arena's center. To do another demonstration of my training abilities was no matter, but I could do without the theatrics.

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"So sorry for the interruption of that interesting fight, I know we all wanted to see if our new star would surrender or not," the official's announcer called out, a big man with an even bigger voice. "But fear not! We have a special treat for you. Surely you have heard of the albino trainer's special performance with a rogue lycan?" He paused, taking in a breath, before continuing his speech. "Well, here she is, ready to give us a show with an even more daring stunt than she has before!"

The crowd cheered. Some of them may be genuinely excited for my success, but I wasn't a fool. This was a blood sport. Most of my audience wanted to see me ripped to shreds.

"You may be wondering about our girl's predicament. As you may know, she is capable of taming a killer lycan without a whip or chains," the announcer explained. "So, today, she will be testing her skills while she is bound herself. What do you say? Will this mysterious albino trainer be eaten, or tame the wild beast we have brought her?"

Wild beast? Those words held a bitter edge in my mind. There was something wrong with that. I thought back to Eemeli's wicked smirk. Something was wrong.

Then they opened the stall door. The animal that stepped through wasn't a lycan.

A grizzly. The bear shook its head, immediately bombarded with a shrieking roar of applause and cheers. It took off, loping a loop around the arena, pausing every few strides to test the wall. I frantically yanked at the chain connecting me to the pole. That failing, I kicked at the wood, hoping beyond all hope that it would fall.

But it didn't. Neither did the bear find escape. It turned, clearly agitated by the roar of the crowd. I froze, staring into black eyes. It chuffed, digging those long claws into the arena sand. I swallowed. The people above us shouted words of encouragement, both to me and the bear.

Then the grizzly charged.

I screamed.

Wood shattered. A massive white form slammed into the bear, knocking it on its side. The grizzly stumbled to its feet, pivoting to face its newest adversity. The lycan stood up and roared his challenge. The bear did likewise.

The people of Preene were silent. No one moved in the whole arena, all locked in the tension between the massive predators.

Then they collided. Almost immediately, the bear's heavy paw smacked the side of Cerberus's face, knocking him to the sand. He got up just as quickly. The lycan leapt at it, attacking with renewed ferocity. They tumbled down, a mess of claws and teeth. It didn't take long for red to stain fur and sand.

The bear was almost a foot taller than Cerberus and built twice as thick. Its superior weight was proved over and over as it forced him to the ground. The lycan's eyes were nearly closed, fighting against the glare of the sun. Deep lacerations soaked his fur with blood.

Wild lycans didn't fight bears. They avoided them, each preferring to leave the other be.

Growls filled the air, now accompanied by the hollering of the crowd. They thought this was part of the show, a planned event conducted solely for their amusement. They loved the blood and gore. Its consequences meant nothing to them.

The bear reared, pushing Cerberus backwards with a mighty shove. The creature pinned him down with its massive paw while the other swatted the side of his face. The lycan cried out as the skin of his jaw ripped open.

"Cerberus!" I screamed.

The grizzly's lips curled back, preparing to deal the final blow.

The alpha lycan lunged forward, grabbing the bear's exposed throat. His paw-like hands caught its shoulders. Long teeth sunk into fur, then flesh. The bear's strangled cry was cut off as its windpipe broke, flooding Cerberus's face with blood. He snarled, flipping them over so he was on top of the creature. The muscles of his neck twisted and flexed under his thick coat as he shook his head. The bear's throat was torn away and released in the same instant. It collided with the pit wall with a dull splat.

The lycan stood, wavering as he turned to face me. He stumbled forward until he collided with the pole, using it to brace himself. His other hand curled about the chain. With a mighty yank, he pulled the thick staple from the wood.

We stood there, me against the pole, him towering over me with my chain in hand. I stared into the unfocused crimson depths of his eyes. His whole face was the color.

The lycan roared. I closed my eyes, turning my face away from both the sound and the blood which spattered over me. A mixture from both him and the bear dripped from his nose. Tears stung at my eyes. It physically hurt to see the extent he had been mauled, as if my heart was being crushed under my ribs. His jaw was missing large sections of fur, though it was impossible to discern the exact length or depth of the wound. The same went for his shoulder and side, where he had been hit or bitten. His breath rattled in his throat and I suspected he had broken at least a few ribs. I choked on my own breath as wetness rolled down to my chin.

He swayed. His mouth opened, his tongue falling out. His eyes rolled upwards. Then, he collapsed.

I fell beside him, screeching as I did so. My fingers buried into his thick fur as I released a shriek of pure, animalistic emotion before finally finding words.

"Look at him!" I screamed out at the audience. "Save him! You've got to SAVE HIM!!!" My voice cracked as I pressed my face into Cerberus's blood soaked chest. It rose and fell, though just barely. "You monsters!" I sobbed, "You have to save him..."