Ferocious

Chapter 3

Discovery

Astro laid back on his bed starring at the ceiling, the events of the past week had been playing itself over and over again in his mind and giving him all kinds of rush.

He got the best feeling whenever his thoughts got to Sheila, just yesterday night they'd finally had their first kiss.

after what you can call episodes of admiration from a distance that had been going on between them.

What she saw in him he'd never know, he hasn't even developed yet which was odd enough considering his age and supposed lineage and legacy.

(He'd always been told of how brave and powerful his father was and how the bloodline of his mother was so very powerful and so ancient it even extended far into the dark ages, he'd never even bothered to ask for more details because he didn't like as it wasn't his parents themselves telling him about all that, and since they were dead there's no point in even knowing anymore).

He closed his eyes and stilled his mind, then the sounds started coming in.

He could hear the excitement in peoples movement and voices, excited as they moved towards the arena for the event of the day.

After every betrothal ceremony comes a series of duels where all the friends of the betrothed come together and challenge each other and sometimes even the betrothed was challenged and it was really fun to watch, a really exciting event.

He himself would've been there if it wasn't for the fact that: if he was there he would have to challenge someone or be challenged as well since he is also one of the friends of the betrothed.

'They'd understand' he thought to himself then said aloud "they'd understand I can't be there cos they know I can't really challenge anybody cos I haven't developed and besides who would also challenge an undeveloped too?".

Suddenly a young boy of about twelve barged in making Astro jump to a sitting position as he said "You've been challenged by Keith!".

Astro at first couldn't even think not to talk of speaking but he finally got himself and looked at the brown haired boy he knew as Cole (Keith's younger brother).

"what did you say?" He asked and Cole rolled his eyes and said as if speaking to a foreigner that didn't understand his language,

"Keith told me to come get you cause he's gonna challenge you, he already gave your name so if you don't show you'll be taken as a coward" after saying that Cole folded his arms and rested his back on the doorway.

Astro ran his hands through his hair in disbelief, shock, excitement and fear and a whole lot of other emotions all coursing through him at the same time,

then he jumped up away from his bed and rushed to freshen up and from the bathroom he yelled "tell them I'm on my way", Cole just smirked and left.

***

When Astro got to the arena there was an ongoing battle that involved Lucas himself, he was fighting Adrian (another high ranked clan head's son).

There was a rumor that he had a thing for Leila and wished they were betrothed, but they couldn't have been because he was much older (twenty two years old now) and already has his own betrothed though they are now considered as mates because they'd been joined in a moon union (what humans call wedding)

(Most clan traditions dictates that five years after development a werewolf has to be betrothed to another, then three years after or more they can be joined in a moon union).

Astro made his way to the fighters angle and only nodded as a sign of greeting to Keith who was smirking heavily.

The battle in the center was tough, there was so much body slamming and the fight didn't seem to even favor anyone yet which shouldn't have been so, mainly because Adrian was way older than Lucas and that should've given him the edge.

But he lacked experience because he wasn't used to fighting as well as Lucas was,

Lucas is a warrior as well as a hunter and from hunting, he got to hone his skills and got enough battle experience especially considering the event that occurred a couple of days ago with the werepanthers.

Adrian on the other hand was just a warrior and that was even just for show because he was hardly seen in the training grounds and didn't do any dueling or patrolling or any other warrior business with the others (though he wasn't the only one in that category, most high ranked clan head children acted that way save a few like Lucas and Keith).

As Astro watched he discovered Lucas could've actually ended the fight if he wanted to because about two times now Adrian had been open to being completely knocked out, but Lucas pulled back on his hits.

If Astro was to guess, he'd say this was intentional on Lucas part because he knows how Lucas feels about duels: that getting knocked out by your opponent means you're a good fighter, but yielding to your opponent means you're not equal to your opponent,

and right here that's exactly what Lucas is aiming for, for Adrian to yield to him, hence prove he isn't equal to Lucas.

Astro knows this as a fact and sure enough he saw the next couple of moves lead up to confirm that very fact.

First, Adrian with his dark grey coat of fur bristles in his werewolf form (as they both are) lunged from his hind legs (a mix of wolf hind legs, feet and claws) and twisted mid lunge as he struck with his right arm (also a mix of hand and wolf claws) while hiding his poised left arm so he'd attack with it once Lucas ducks to the left, setting a perfect trap for him.

But Lucas was well seasoned and saw the trap so instead he dodged further more to the right coming up beside Adrian's unprotected right stomach side and struck at him with his claws really hard.

Lucas, all sweat and blood in his black fur coat, snarled and came up behind Adrian whom after the claw strike had landed on one knee from his failed trap yelping in pain from the wound to his stomach.

Lucas kicked at Adrian's other leg so that both his knees were on the ground then he grabbed Adrian's right arm around his neck then reached to pull his left arm which was clutching the wounded stomach around the stomach putting more painful pressure on the wound.

Adrian yelped the more as he was constrained by his own limbs while on his knees firmly gripped by Lucas who just kept tightening the constraint.

Astro couldn't believe his eyes as he saw the fact he'd anticipated play out but in a more spectacular way,

because now with a fresh wound and both his arms held fast, Adrian couldn't tap out as a sign that he had yielded,

he would have to say the words "I yield" out loud, which was one of the highest shame that could befall a higher ranked and older werewolf at the hands of a younger opponent.

Astro couldn't help but smile at how the ingenious plan of his friend had worked and watched as Lucas kept tightening the constraining hold he had on Adrian who didn't want to say the words.

Then a sudden a loud pop was heard, the crowd oohhed and aahhed at the sound of Adrian's shoulder dislocating, and they cheered and clapped as he finally yelled the words "I yield!" with so much pain and shame.

The crowd cheered Lucas as he did his victory dance and right in front of his betrothed he gave his victory howl.

Healers came to help Adrian away and a few workers redressed the arena as the announcer came forward to announce the next fight.

"The next battle will ensue between Keith and.... Astro!!" On hearing this an uprising murmur started amongst the crowd.

The announcer quelled the murmurs and said "yes and yes, one of the fighter hasn't developed yet, which makes this fight different and special,

first the rules: the fight will take place in a drawn ring, first to get out the ring loses, but if any part of any of the fighter's body comes out of the ring that fighter loses as well even though the other body parts are still within the ring,

there will be no full transformation on the part of the developed fighter and just like the other battles first to yield or get knocked out loses as well",

at that announcement the crowd started getting excited again, they clapped enthusiastically as the announcer said "fighters take your position".