CC Chapter 3 Verse 1

The gym echoed every sound that dared enter it. Every breath, every step was made aware to the remaining competitors because of the smooth walls and floors. Not only was it the sounds, but the smell began to agitate them too. The heavy air was crowded with scents of wet fur mixed with blood and whatever else the stray dogs had managed to drag in.

Tyson sat passively in the far end of the court area of the building, near a flight of concrete stairs. As much as he wanted to get back to check on Charlie, he knew he wouldn't get past Beyra's helpers that patrolled the outside. The young mutt could only hope his friend had woken up and found shelter before whatever bad thing the host kept warning about happened. Beyra had never really elaborated on why they all had to hole up in one place, only that it was for their own good. Since when had Beyra done anything for their good?

Thinking too much about it sent a stinging pang through Tyson's broken heart. He couldn't dwell on it anymore. He'd made a promise to Charlie that he'd end this. If he could make it through this once, it'd never have to happen again. Kill one to save a thousand.

Kill one to save a thousand.

Kill one to save a thousand.

Kill one to save a thousand.

Kill one to save a thousand.

Could he really do that? He almost had, mere hours ago. He was willing to kill the demon dog. But it was a monster, did that really count? Beyra had escorted him away before he could see the beast's fate. Could he count on his next opponent to be as horrible and evil that would justify their murder? A part of him hoped they would be, then he maybe wouldn't feel so awful about attacking them.

Tyson shuttered, ruffling his fur to stiff points. The most he could hope for now was a bit of sleep so he slowly sank to his belly. Every time he'd laid down the rest, it felt like the ground would get colder, no matter where he was.

As he slipped his lids closed, a burst of noise snapped them open, aggravating his weakened eye. The rapping of claws against wood and an explosion of Beyra's deep voice.

"What are you doing? Get out of here!" Her command boomed in the vast chamber. The sound of steps seemed to pay no attention to the host as they continued to tap at the same pace. Tyson blinked the darkness out of his vision in time to see a blur of white and gold rush past and up the stairs beside him. Next arrived the hulking form of Beyra, her run stopping at the base of the steps. She threw her head behind her and gave a low growl.

"Where are those lazy bastards when you need them?" After a flurry of shouting, three dogs came to the call of their host. "Get that bitch out of there, she's not allowed to be here. I want her dragged as far away from this building as possible! I don't care if your pads start bleeding, just take her away!"

The helpers dashed up the steps without a word. Almost immediately, the all too familiar sounds of a fight roared from the second floor, an explosion of snarling and stamping feet. Tyson backed into the wall as far as he could once the seething mass of fur and teeth made its way to the landing. Unintelligible shouts and cries disturbed the whole building as the wrestling dogs struggled to make it safely down the stairs. The white blur from before, a lithe female now that it wasn't moving so fast, was being restrained from all sides by jaw and muscle, but never giving up the struggle.

"KAT!" The poor girl would scream between fits of fighting. "Let go of me! Let go! She needs me! LET ME GO!"

"Nana!" Another, pitcher voice sobbed from the top of the steps.

Tyson felt in his heart he should do something, but the fear of the host combined with utter confusion about what was happening froze his limbs in place.

The group finally made it to the floor without tumbling down and presented the writhing female to Beyra. The two's eyes met in a spark of hatred and condescension.

"I thought it would be clear to you that you wouldn't be allowed around the tournament anymore. Guess I gave you too much credit. Get her out of here." Beyra spoke maddeningly slow and the lithe hound let out a flood of curses at the old girl. The host barely even flinched as her attacker tried to lunge and snap at her face between barks.  

"No! I'm not leaving! This is my home! I can't leave, you can't do this!" Uncontrollable tears fell from the sight hound's eyes, partly from the pain of three set of teeth on her body, partly from the pain of total loss setting in.

"Are you deaf? I said get her out." Beyra growled to her helpers who tried their best to keep the Afghan from tearing into the old champion. Their teeth pulled deeper into her flesh as the three dogs tried to pull the wrathful female away. But they could barely move her an inch; her paws planted firmly on the spot and adrenaline held her muscle tight. Beyra rolled her eyes with a groan.

"Gotta do everything yourself..." She mumbled as she used her strength to help back the sight hound into the wall beside them. Despite her rage-fueled power, the young female was unable to fend off the alpha female. Step-by-step, her body was forced onto the ungiving wall, skull pressed firmly to the side.

"W-wait... wh-what are you-" Tyson barely managed to whimper, cut short by his question being answered. Grabbing the lithe hound's head in her jaws, Beyra used her whole body to smash her skull into the concrete. A streak of blood followed the girl's fall to the ground, burning eyes slipping shut from the shock of impact.  

"Now will you please take her away? I don't care where you put her, just make sure it's nowhere near here." Beyra ordered her assistants off with a turn of the head and nodding in reply, they dragged the body off.

Shaking now, Tyson stared in dumb horror. It all happened so fast. From pursuit, to attack, to limp body slowly disappearing on the horizon. Beyra seemed to notice his quivering form and shot him a snarl.

"What are you looking at?"

The young mutt didn't have the courage to reply and instead scurried further into the gym; more closed quarters and hopefully more warmth.

Kill one, save a thousand.

<sub>Kill one, save a thousand.

Kill one, save a thousand.</sub>