For Our Amusement
"Attention, all that are within the arena!" A loud voice boomed overhead. I had just woken up in a jungle-like area, feeling the tranquilizer drug work its way out of my system. My head was swimming with questions and grogginess, but I managed to stay relatively alert. "You're probably wondering why you're here." I had summoned my ice bow and was resting my right hand on the bowstring. The place where I was touching was releasing small amounts of fog into the nearby air, begging to have power fed into it. "I'll tell you why you're here," the voice continued. I rubbed the back of my head with a callused paw. I remember falling asleep in the graveyard. Why did I fall asleep there? I know I spend a lot of time there, but to actually sleep among my minions? I shivered. I was feeling the air for any disturbances nearby as the announcer continued, "You're here for the express purpose of what you are." The currents brought me the smell of decay. It was so overwhelming that I wouldn't be able to focus without it gone. I sneer in the general direction it came from. "You aren't entirely human, so you fall under the category of those that we wish to kill," the announcer said. The air around me smelled of ozone as clouds formed above me. "But we've come up with a new source of entertainment. Allow me to make a deal with each and every one of you." "And what would that be?" I yelled to the skies. I heard a rustling in the bushes and pointed my bow. A dark-furred husky appeared. His fur was a deep, almost navy, blue with black underneath separated by dark yellow stripes. He was carrying a very dark sword with very little detail upon it. His attire was a normal one: A black hooded jacket covering a dark grey shirt and jet black cargo pants on his legs. Like all anthros, he didn't wear anything on his feetpaws. His fluffy tail was slumped slightly. He was afraid, though his piercing orange eyes were trying to portray otherwise. "Sword sheathed, hands up." I commanded. He obliged reluctantly. "One of you can leave this arena alive." the announcer continued. "And that is the one who kills the other nine." "So there are ten of us here." the husky replied, looking me up and down. His tail was beginning to wag. "The Treasonous Ten." "Where do you know that from?" I asked him, approaching him with bow drawn. An arrow made from the frozen atmosphere waited to be launched. "My family is very religious. I was blessed with the Nocturnal arts on my sixteenth birthday, and my parents told me of their religion's prophecy." he explained. The plants around me grew restless as the truth of it all set in. I have to kill my brother. He's somewhere in here. "Now," the announcer prompted, "allow me to introduce each of you to the others." "Ten furs with extrasensory
gifts of the elements or forces of life will overthrow the demonic government." I recited, much to the husky's amusement. His tail wagged more and he allowed himself a smile. "A cryomancer, noctomancer, cleric, druid twins, a storm mage, a wind mage, a time bender, pyromancer, and a time regresser. Each with a predetermined pair that gets along as brothers. All male..." I mused. "There's no way that's us. We aren't oppressed by a demonic government." "Obviously something is happening." The husky insisted. "Wasn't the only pair known besides the druid twins one who could manipulate shadows and another that manipulated the cold?" "We have two time controllers. Their names are Timler Chronor and Regir Chronol." How similar, I mused to myself. "They're even both bears of some sort." Typical... "Next up, going alphebetical by last name, is Alfenze Fallenoak. This usually energetic tiger has a knack for controlling the forces of nature, as does his twin, Furiolo. They both have normal tiger anthro appearances, so that should help you spot them." My eyes widened as my brother and I were introduced. A picture was displayed in the sky, matching our descriptions. I'm Furiolo, by the way. Call me Fure. I touched a tree and sent a message through the vegetation. "Our next contestant is a certain Nick Halloway. He's a necromancer wolf." The announcer said bluntly. Looks like I'm the only wolf if that's how I was announced. I was preoccupied, however, with a fox through the trees. "Next is Fluhr Maelstrom. He's a storm creator and a leopard. We also have a wind controller in Julio Nautica, a seemingly wingless dragon." I was announced in a pair with Julio? Why did I recognize that name? An unnatural breeze flew my direction. I went to its source. "Next," the announcer continued, "We have Friz Nightly. He's a panther with black overfur and navy blue underfur. He has ice-related abilities." I dissipated my bow. "You could probably assume that that's me." I said. I looked the husky over. He looked as though he was five years younger than me. If that was true, that would make him eleven and me sixteen. I saw a certain pain behind his eyes. One he was trying desperately to hide. "Our next one is a husky. His name is Ghastillo Nightshade. That name's a mouthful. He controls shadows." "And that would be me." The husky said, smiling a sad smile that betrayed his obvious tormenting past. "Call me Ghast." "We have a pyromancer by the name of Feir Pyrolight. He's a fox." "So far the prophecy's been accurate." I mused...