Lottery Arena: Escaping my Mate

Beer, anyone?

MARIE

16 years old

It was early morning, we’d just finished breakfast and Amaris and I were walking toward the arena. Nonparticipants were not authorized to go inside, I was nervous at the aspect of finally stepping foot through its massive gates.

15 shewolves total had been selected for this year’s lottery arena. They divided us into two groups. The guards accompanied us for our one time tour of the arena.

We’d be given 5 hours to explore and get the jist of the arena before we would actually be released inside it’s walls in just four days.

We’re going to be fine, don’t be nervous, Marie. We have Amaris and Annukka to show us the ropes. Sakari, my wolf thought to me. I know I’m small, a lot smaller than all of the other shewolves, but that’ll make it all the easier for us to hide in unusual places. She added.

I know. I thought back to her. I’m not nervous. I’m just ready for next week to be over with, whatever the outcome is. I’m just tired of waiting, of being afraid of the unknown. I thought back to her.

I loved my wolf, I didn’t care that she was small and skittish. She was as white as freshly fallen snow with bright blue eyes, I loved glancing at our reflection whenever I could.

I didn’t need her to be brave, I could be brave enough for the both of us. Amaris gave me so much strength and confidence just by being near her.

I felt so incredibly grateful she’d taken me under her wing when I arrived this past year. I was from our pack just like Amaris was. I’d actually gone to grade school with her sister, Ava.

She had been adventurous and mischievous, but she had always been kind to me too.

Our Alpha and a few guards had arrived to take me from my father shortly after my 15th birthday. We’d been allowed to stay in one of the family units while we had been together.

Any surviving young shewolves were allowed to stay with whatever remaining family members they had left until sometime between 14 and 16 years of age, just depending on their personal development.

I was used to male wolves' constant presence. Young females weren’t allowed to go anywhere alone, a guard arrived daily to take me to and from school or the store.

Wherever I had gone, it was with a guard. My only solace had been my bedroom, but after I arrived at the barracks my father had been relocated to one of the single male complexes.

I hadn’t been permitted to see him since I was processed and assigned to barrack A.

Amaris felt like the only family I had left now.

She’d gotten quite a ways ahead of me, I guess I’d slowed down a little while I was lost in my thoughts. Just as I was about to pick up my pace, Maya bumped straight into me causing me to fall on the concrete pathway.

“Oops, you should really watch where you’re going.” She giggled at me before looping her arm into Cali’s.

She was one of her little shadows that followed Maya around everywhere. I huffed as I stood up inspecting the palms of my hands, they were scraped up from catching myself.

Great, all I needed was any type of injury that could slow me or Amaris down.

One of the guards had seen me fall and approached me quickly. He pulled my hands out in front of myself to inspect them.

“Be careful, we don’t need shewolves getting hurt out here today.” He said, looking them over.

“I’m fine. May I go?” I asked searching for Amaris. He nodded and I jogged to catch up to her.

“Where’d you go, Pip?” She asked, looking me over.

“I… I tripped, but I’m fine.” I thought it was best to leave Maya out of it. We needed to focus, I knew Amaris had plenty to show me and we only had five hours. I didn’t need any fights breaking out over me.

“Come here.” She said, wrapping her strong arm around my shoulders and pulling me close. We walked the rest of the way with my head resting against her shoulder.

We arrived at the gates and Ms. Anne stepped forward to go over the expectations with us. “Girls. You’ll have five hours to explore and get a general lay of the woods inside. Guards will be patrolling the area as well, remember this is just a practice run. There'll be no fighting today, so let’s be on our best behaviors.” I rolled my eyes, I was still pissed at her for making me do a little twirl completely naked in front of a room full of males.

She was just as bad as the males as far as I was concerned. “Follow me if you're interested in seeing where the feeding areas for the females are located.” I took a step forward and Amaris shook her head pulling me back. “The males find those immediately. It’s one of the first places they stake out. You and I will be hunting for our food.” She whispered to me.

About 3 females followed in after Ms. Anne. A few went off in their own directions including Maya and Cali.

Amaris and I entered and headed off the opposite way of everyone else. Once we’d walked for 30 minutes or so Amaris stopped and looked around, I guess she was checking to make sure we were truly alone.

“Ok. Let’s go over the basics. Any area set up for us in advance is going to be surrounded by males. We’ll have to ditch our clothes immediately when we are released. They give us a one hour lead before the males are released. It’s important we use that time wisely. Our clothes and supplies will be covered in our scents, if there’s any decent trackers amongst the males they’ll pick up on it. I’ve figured out a pretty effective way to cover my scent though.” She said, kneeling and pulling a small bottle out of her boot. It looked like...beer?

“What’s that?” I asked her, inspecting it.

“It’s the guards’ urine.” She said opening the bottle. “Gross!” I shouted, jumping back in the process. “Where would you even get that?” I asked, trying to hide my disgust.

“You think I volunteer for bathroom cleaning duty every week for fun?” She asked me, swirling the bottle. “If you think it’s gross now, wait until I tell you what you’ll have to do with it.” She said laughing a little.

“Oh god damnit.” I huffed out. If I was going to take this seriously, I’d have to learn as much as I could from Amaris. I was determined to follow in her footsteps.