Ava Dune - Arena Chronicles 1: Fionas POV

Arena Chronicles

Ava Dune

F lailing my arms and legs like a mad woman was useless, and yet, I did it, like anyone else who falls. The ray of sunlight hitting the tip of my wings as if to emphasize their uselessness made me feel warm, and I even took a moment to wonder what had made me focus on anything other than the solid ground quickly approaching me.

Its weird how a mind can squeeze so many things inside a split second, multiplying a fleeting moment so that it almost resembles a life lived in full. I was in the air for only a few seconds, but in that moment, I thought about everything and nothing.

Though my life did not flash before my eyes, as they say it does when people are close to dying. Perhaps you have to believe that youre dying for that to occur; I was too young.

As I helplessly waited for that crushing pain I could no nothing about, I thought about the beautiful day around us, and I wondered how Gethin could manage to hold onto the branch while I had nothing to stop or soften my fall. I thought about my father and my little brother, the ones Id left behind thinking there was no way the arena could get to me.

I thought about the arena that quickly approached me. In that brief second, I realized that I would not prevail against its monstrous attack.

It had won, already.

When I hit the earth, the crush stole my breath away. I dont even know if I moaned or groaned as I heard the horrible sound of bone twisting.

I smelled blood as the shooting pain swallowed me at once, quickly culminating on my ankle as I heard Gethins groan beside me. I could not utter a single word as my mind turned a fuzzy white.

The shock of it all prevented me from making sense of what had happened to me. One moment we were in the old castle, waiting in the courtyard alongside other champions and in the next, I was at the arena; up in the air, above the trees, and ready for a fall.

The forest around us was a stranger one, but as I tried to locate the pain that quickly swelled in me, I could not focus on anything other than myself.

I moved my arms.

Nothing.

I came to a sitting position.

Nothing.

My lungs hurt from the impact, and my head was still spinning.

But I was fine.

At least, I was fine until I tried to put a tiny bit of pressure on my right foot. My attempt to get up, quickly showed me my mistake. And then, the only thing I could feel was the throbbing pain on my ankle.

I felt more than heard my cry. The pain grew as my eyes teared up with it; and for a moment, I thought it would never cease.

Gethin turned toward me as soon as he heard me. His blue eyes twisted with worry.

Are you okay? He asked, just as I reached a hand out to check my ankle. It was red-hot, which wasnt a good sign. The pain of it was still overwhelming, but the shock of finding myself in the air, the adrenaline that pumped through my veins was keeping it at bay. For now.

Yes, I replied as Gethin pushed himself off the ground with ease.

He was taller now that I was on the ground, and as he walked, his soft limp told me that he was slightly hurt too. He cocked his head as if he did not believe me.

My ankle is hurt, I told him, my tone factual more than pleading. I wont be able to walk.

Gethin stared at my ankle for a long moment. His brow was lifted slightly, giving his handsome face a tinge of innocence that suited him well.

I knew what he was thinking.

The arena was a dangerous place even if you werent hurt from a fall like I was. There were monsters at bay, waiting to get us; other champions who wouldnt care about how unethical it would be to kill someone who was already hurt.

And now, his partner was useless.

I could not walk, nor fight.

We were in a race for our lives, and helping me could mean his death. Although nothing on his expression suggested it, he had to have been thinking about the best way to get rid of me, to make sure I wouldnt slow him down.

Cold water would help, he finally said, averting his eyes from me and searching our surroundings. I think I hear a river down that way. Ill try to grab a stick too, you can use it as support.

He gestured with his head toward what I judged to be the west. His long dark hair was ruffled, and it was falling onto his shoulders uncharacteristically. His clothes had been torn by the branches of the tree that had softened his fall, and his face was smeared with dirt.

He looked nothing like the orderly lordling Id met a few days back, except for the elegant way he started to walk away from me. And yet, despite his appearance, Lord Gethin was unharmed by our fall.

He would do fine at the arena on his own, and now that hed found the justification for leaving me behind; the pretense of getting cold water, he didnt have to make up a complicated explanation on the spot.

Dont you want your things? I gestured with my hand toward his bag.

Gethin paused and gave me an odd look over the shoulders. We stared at each other for a lingering moment, and I did my best to keep my expression blank. Still, he understood exactly what Id been thinking.

Im coming back, he said, not assuringly but confidently.

And then, he left, with only his sword at his belt.

As soon as he disappeared into the forest, I took in a big breath to calm myself. His backpack was still here, untouched and seemingly unharmed by the fall. It indeed appeared as if he was planning to come back to me, but suddenly, I felt utterly alone.

I had to plan for all possibilities. My father had taught me well on that regard.

I had enough food to last for a while, especially now that Gethin had left his rations behind. My quiver was still on my shoulder, and when I checked I saw that the dragonbone bow was intact despite the fall.

I could protect myself even if Gethin didnt come back. I could survive on the food until my ankle was healed.

But none of that mattered, not really.

We were in a race for our lives.

There was no way I could be quick and fast enough to reach the bridge before the others, not when I was forced to wait for my ankle to get better.

If Gethin came back, I could use the cold water and the stick to support myself, but I already knew our paths would soon split.

Even if Gethin was nice enough to forget about the ancient animosity between our kinds and endanger himself to help his slowed down partner, I could not let him waste his chance like that. He had to leave me behind so that he could try his luck with the arena without any hindrance.

But as time passed and Gethin didnt return, I became assured that forcing him to leave me behind would not be a problem in the foreseeable future.

I dont know how long I waited, since nothing in my surroundings changed. The sun stayed up in the sky, sending warmth and helping with the annoying chill I was starting to feel. The forest was silent except the birds and the incests swarming.

A sound of water splashing interrupted my train of thought, bringing me back to the reality around me. I was out in the open, in the middle of a thick forest full of monsters; not smart. ,

My instructors would have berated me for such foolishness.