Nearly all of Falken turned out for the new election. The beastkin gathered around the central square of the town. Children clung to the side of buildings. Women and men craned their necks over the crowd. Ada led Fritz through the throng of excited onlookers.

"What kind of election is this?" Fritz asked.

"Our yearly one." Ada answered.

"Every year, isn't that excessive?" Fritz asked. Ada merely shrugged.

The two of them eventually pushed past a black-haired catkin to the front. Before them, Neva stood alone in a large clearing. Her long pipe puffed a long languid line of smoke into the early evening sky. A free hand rested on the pommel of her shortsword. Fritz looked around him. The other residents of the town threw him some strange looks, yet their primary concern was the graying wolfkin standing alone in the center. The crowd murmured and mingled as they waited for the main event.

"Is this for the mayor's office?" Fritz guessed.

"Yeah. That's the only one out here. It's pretty important too. The mayor settles all conflicts out here. Anything from missing livestock to drunken brawls." Ada answered.

"Small town problems." Fritz said. He crossed his arms to mirror Ada as he waited for the election to start. "So who are the candidates?"

"Neva, and Regus. The two are competing this year. Same as last year." Ada answered. Her gray eyes fixated on Neva.

"I doubt I can vote as a non-resident of the town." Ada turned to him, giving him a strange look.

"I mean you could compete if you wanted too, but you'd lose. Neva's powerful."

"Not interested in politics. Besides, I'm not looking to stay." Fritz said nonchalantly.

Across from Ada and Fritz the crowd parted. Regus walked confidently through the crowd. The broad-shouldered wolfkin sauntered forward to the center of Falken. His muscles rippled openly from his shirtless body. His black tail flicked around betraying his excitement. Ada took out her pipe momentarily to speak. The onlooking crowd went silent.

"Still want to do this Regus? Remember what happened last year?" She asked casually.

"Ha! This time's different." Regus growled out. "I'm gonna wipe the floor with you. My time is now! This is about to be my town!"

"Why's his shirt off?" Fritz asked Ada, leaning towards her. Ada quickly turned to shush him.

"Fine. Don't say I didn't warn you." Ada said with a long protracted sigh. With a steadying breath she addressed the gathered residents.

"Regus, has come to challenge my office for this year's election. Let all gathered bare witness to this year's results. Ada!" The blonde wolfkin to Fritz's left snapped to attention. "Since you are here, you will be the officiant. Do you protest Regus?" The shirtless wolfkin did not respond. His hand drifted to the sword at his side. Fritz's brow furrowed as Ada left the crowd to stand in the center of the town. The two candidates turned to face each other.

"Neva. Regus. Any words before we start?"

"Let my sword sing my strength." Regus lifted his sheathed sword in the air. "My time is now. A new generation is rising. Today, all will witness my triumph. Falken needs a new leader. One not bowed with age." Regus grinned savagely towards Neva. A look of boredom passed over her as she sighed.

Stolen novel; please report.

"Let us start. I'll try and teach him some manners." She said to Ada. Regus scowled as he stared daggers into Neva.

"Watch your words. I'm about to be mayor."

"You got to win it first, boy."

"Are you ready?" Ada asked. She turned to the two. Each nodded. "Whenever you wish to start." She stood slightly off like a referee. The crowd tensed in excitement as the two candidates stood across from the other.

Regus drew his sword in a blinding flash as he charged forward. A loud battlecry rang out from his lungs. Fritz barely had time to register what was happening. Neva stood unmoving. The long pipe in her mouth bobbed slightly as a look of annoyance overtook her face.

Why were they fighting? Wasn't this supposed to be an election? A sudden sinking realization hit Fritz as he began to understand the situation.

"This isn't democracy!" Fritz shouted. His voice was drowned out by cheering, bloodthirsty beastkin as Regus went on the offensive.

Regus' sword swung in an horizontal arc towards Neva's throat. The gray-haired wolfkin ducked underneath the slash. Regus surged forward in a series of cuts, slashes and piercing strikes. Neva's limber footwork carried her around the open square as she dodged everything Regus threw her way. The crowd cheered on at the spectacle.

"Stop dodging! Draw your sword and fight me seriously!" Regus screamed. The two stopped, squaring off again. Neva took a deep inhale of her pipe before letting out a large cloud of smoke. Neva turned her pipe over spilling the tobacco onto the ground. Stuffing the pipe into her waistband, she squared off with the younger beastkin.

"You're not strong enough for me to draw my sword." Neva warned. Regus let out another battlecry and charged Neva. The tight muscles of the beastkin contacted, as he held his sword high. Fritz watched his arms flex and core tense as he threw everything into the next slash. Fritz's breath caught as he watched on. Neva was completely calm as she faced down the blade. The slash came faster than Fritz's eyes could watch. The steel sang through the air, as Neva repositioned herself. A quick hook impacted Regus's jaw, sending him to the ground. His steel sword flew away from his hands, as his body started to fall backwards.

Neva followed through, striking her opponent in the liver, chest, stomach, and face. When Regus hit the ground, his body was completely limp. Blood oozed from his lips, as bruises began forming on his skin. Neva looked towards the crowd. The residents cried out for Neva to end the fight. Jumping up into the air, Neva extended her elbow out. Her lithe frame dropped into Regus. Her elbow hit his stomach, as a spray of blood exited his mouth.

The crowd erupted in applause. Beastkin chanted Neva's name, as if she were a gladiator. The older wolfkin barely acknowledged them. Instead she turned towards Ada.

"Well?" She asked.

"Neva has won this year's election! Regus has been defeated!" Ada shouted over the crowd. "May her sword purge the unworthy! May she rise to all challenges and lead us forward!"

The gathered crowd cheered Neva's name. The gray-haired wolfkin turned around as she raised a fist into the air. The crowd cheered with renewed vigor. Applause erupted heralding the end of this year's election. Neva was swarmed by congratulatory residents. With the spectacle over, members of the crowd began to move away towards the local tavern. Children broke off into groups re-enacting what they saw. Older beastkin huddled together speaking in hushed tones of the future. Fran finally made her way towards Regus. A faint green flow from her hands started to develop the defeated challenger.

"Ada, what the hell was that?" Fritz asked as Ada returned.

"Huh?"

"That wasn't an election. Nobody voted. That was just a duel for the mayor's office."

"It's how we've always done things." Ada said with a look of genuine confusion.

"You have always beaten each other to bloody pulps to determine who runs the towns?"

"Don't put it that way. It's a noble and honorable duel to determine rites of succession. If Regus wasn't such an idiot, Neva wouldn't have to punch him. She went easy on him too. Sometimes, it's to the death!"

"But that's not an election. In an election you vote for something. You'd all gather and cast ballots for who you think should be mayor."

"That's stupid, Fritz. The weak would band together and elect their own. The strong would have no space to rule. Besides, Neva's a good mayor. Is that how they do things from your kingdom?"

"Yeah, but-"

"No wonder you're so weak." Ada teased him with a jab and a smug smile. Fritz frowned in annoyance.

"You're just freakishly strong. Way stronger than you should be. It makes no sense." Fritz said.

"I'll take that as a compliment. Come on, let's head back. We can strategize about how to beat her." Hooking her arm through his, the two walked back to Ada's cottage.