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Reset OCT Round 1 Page 7

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… I'm outside.

Blearily the female dragon-dog lifted her head, trying to blink away afterimages of the flashing lights, to see their winged host striding towards her, a blue blob bobbing excitedly at her shoulder.

"<So!>" the creature grinned, cocking her head towards the door, "<Be you finding way out!>"

"<Wha…>" Szethei heaved herself up to stare at her, "<What was that room? All those lights... and the noise!>"

"<Ah!>" the creature laughed, "<Be you in Room of Strobe Lights! Silly odd room, yes? Very much best-rated by visitors!>"

Szethei gaped.

"<I-I nearly went mad in there! Ugh, and my ears are still ringing->"

The creature raised an eyebrow and cocked her head, clearly puzzled.

"<Be part of House of Fun,>" she replied, "<Would happen, I said, when gone you in, yes? But, still... Be I make apologies, be that room a little loud for you, yes?>"  

"<A little?!>" Szethei sputtered.

Her host waved her hand impatiently.

"<Be you out now, yes? Gone is noise, gone is bright lights? So! Now do I say… Congratulations!>"

Szethei, about to fire off a retort, instead stared back at her, realization dawning.

"<Oh… you mean we won.>"

"<Most clever, most smart!>" her host nodded happily, "<Ah, here be Galen. Wait,>" she excused herself, "<Be speaking to him, yes?>"

Szethei nodded silently, too tired, and too numb with relief to answer. She sunk to the grass, and closed her eyes. She rubbed at her ears, savoring the cessation of the barrage they'd endured. One thought kept going over in her mind:

We did it… we won.

The winged creature was greeting the smaller biped as he stumbled out. Szethei could smell and see he was bleeding rather badly, and she felt a twinge of guilt. She wished she could tell him she was sorry.

'Galen'… Szethei mused wearily, Seems I can make his name work in my head, anyway. And 'Anton'. I wonder what outlandish designation our host has. Have to ask.

Galen and their host jumped suddenly as Zhirrik shot out the door a moment later. He hissed menacingly at the sight of them, but their host, clearly undaunted, shooed him away, much to his indignation. He slunk over to join Szethei and flopped down a few feet from her. With a snort he began to rub his chin and neck on the grass, apparently attempting a dust bath, minus the dust. She was too drained to acknowledge him, or even wonder what had happened between him and the larger biped, Anton. She just watched as her opponent and host exchanged words.

Galen's strangled shout brought both dragon-dogs' attention. He was staring back into the darkened doorway, from where a faint groan had issued. His friend, Anton, crawled into view. Szethei drew in a hiss, and shot a look of outrage and horror at Zhirrik. For the first time she registered her companion's face, neck, and the grass beneath him as well were smeared, no, soaked in blood.

Another groan rumbled from the large biped as his friend helped him sit against the wall. Szethei felt her gorge rise at the sight of the poor devil's face. His face was a shredded mess, covered with slashes that could only have been made by dragon-dog teeth and claws. One eye stared dully ahead, stunned and bewildered, but the other…

"<Zhirrik,>" Szethei hissed, "<Why?>"

Zhirrik shuffled, haughtily refusing to meet her gaze. His expression was defiant, like a spoiled pup caught sneaking the best sweets from the cupboard. Caught, but unrepentant.

Meanwhile their host was talking quickly to her wisp servant, and it streaked away towards the main grounds. Then she knelt by the two bipeds, and her next words brought a bitter response from the smaller.

***

"Lost?!" Galen spat, " How?! They didn't defeat us-!"

"I have it on good authority that Szethei found the exit first, dear Galen," Chimera shrugged, "Using the heat-sensing abilities her race possesses, no doubt. And thus she did defeat you, and was able to leave. Remember what I said?"

Galen glared at her incredulously.

"You said we couldn't leave until we defeated our opponents!"

"And I also said," Chimera held up a finger, "Both to you two and your opponents, the first one to find the exit could win as well."

"She didn't find it! I just threw her-"

"-and helped her go right through it, though I must say in a rather rude and violent fashion."

Galen sputtered, at a loss for words.

"Now," Chimera went on briskly, "It would seem you both have sustained rather nasty injuries. You're both bleeding quite badly, in fact you're both in danger of severe blood loss, Anton more so."

Bitterly Galen swung his head to stare at his friend.

"And," Chimera added softly, gently placing a hand on Galen's shoulder, "His heart can't be taking this well, either."

Galen shook his head in numb denial.

"Galen," Anton's voice was a bare croak.

Galen turned to him, trying hard not to let his eyes stray to what was left of his friend's right eye. Anton was shaking his head wearily, and rubbing feebly at his chest.

"Can't," he breathed, "Can't… anymore. I'm done, I- no, Devna," he added more loudly, seemingly unaware of Galen's puzzled look, "It's over…"

"Anton," Galen pleaded one last time, "We can't... think of the village... the illness!"

But Anton didn't seem to hear. He was mumbling and growling to himself, repeating that strange name, Devna, a few more time before lapsing into silence once more.

After a moment Galen sighed, and with a final glare at Chimera, gave her a curt nod.

"Well, then!" Chimera stood up, sweeping her arms to the two dragon-dogs, "Round one goes to Team Szethei and Zhirrik!

"<Congratulations!>," she switched languages for their benefit, "<Go, eat! Rest for now! Be speaking later, yes?> Ugh, and it'll be much later. I need to give my poor tongue a break."

She waited as neither dragon-dog made a move to leave, and then shrugged.

"Now let it be known," she declared as she turned back to Galen, "That I am still a proper host, and the welfare of my guests, even the losers, is a priority. So behold, Anton and Galen! Your assistance has arrived in timely fashion!"

With a flourish she gestured to the stretchers that floated towards them, supported by a host of swirling, chattering wisps.

"Your rides, gentlemen," Chimera said cheerily, "You'll be taken to our infirmary in next to no time. And say, Galen, maybe when your injuries are doing better, you can give our medic a hand. We've been short-handed, see, and he's been driving himself batty…"

Chimera babbled on blithely, standing back as Galen helped Anton onto a stretcher. He cast a final baleful glare at her before settling into the second. Clean rags were produced by a swirling pink wisp, and he gratefully pressed them to his arm and leg. Anton was likewise being attended to, though he was still in a state of shock, and had to be further aided by some helpful wisps.

The number of wisps struggled visibly under the wolf and fox's weights, but with a collective cry of fortitude, they slowly moved off across the grounds.

Galen, closing his eyes, thought he heard an intake of breath and a faint clicking as the procession passed where the two dragon-dogs lay. He ignored the sounds. But as he lay there, wondering what the hell they were going to do next, he heard a soft warble by his ear. His eyes flew open, and he looked over to see the female dragon-dog following him, her head tilted up slightly to look at him.

"What?" he mumbled irritably, "Have you come to gloat?"

She blinked, and warbled again, louder this time, her eyes somber. Trying to tell him something. Was it an apology? He stared back at her in silence, wondering if she had any idea just what chance she and her friend had taken from him and Anton. Then his gaze fell on the male dragon-dog, shuffling some distance behind, level with Anton's stretcher. He was staring, eyes gleaming and wide, peering intently at his mangled face. He turned his gaze to Galen with a distinctly smug look. Galen's lip curled, and he glared back at the female.

"Whatever it is you're saying," he snarled in disgust, "Just save your breath."

She frowned slightly, with a half-glance at her companion.

"Go away!" Galen shouted suddenly, snatching up a bloody bandage and hurling it at her, "Just… go mess up someone else's life, and leave us alone!"

She dodged his throw easily, but she slowed to a halt, and solemnly watched after them as they faded into the growing darkness.
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Epilogue --> tephra76.deviantart.com/art/Re…

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Anton and Galen belong to :iconmichangs:

Chimera belongs to :iconcloudbat:

Szethei and Zhirrik are mine.
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