Reset OCT Round 3 Page 4

New creatures. Look like animals. Act like people.

Odd noises. Talking?

Striped male. Angry. Hateful. Bad person.

Tan female. Very sad. But good person.

Hurting. Both hurting. Burned. Not by fire.

Bad smell. Acid smell. Terrible hurt.

Sister can help. Ask her.

Sister? Will you help?

***

Juni glanced down as Rainy pawed her skirt. He stared inquiringly up at her, and shot a glance at the two dragon-dogs. The male's angry hiss made them both start, but neither creature took any notice of the girl and the dragon, too absorbed in whatever conflict they were having. After a moment Juni grinned wearily and shook her head.

"I don't think now's a good time," she said quietly, "The round's about to start, anyway."

She glanced towards the Ferris wheel, watching as Chimera was directing Ro, the tall, bipedal "dragon", and the miniscule raptor, 18, to a waiting car.

"And it seems," she mused, glancing back at the dragon-dogs, "That they're our opponents. It wouldn’t make much sense to help them, just so they could feel well enough to beat us."

It was small comfort the competition seemed to have taken its toll on them. The female especially was putting on a stoic air, but Juni had a feeling that's all it was. Not that she blamed her; Juni certainly wasn't going to give any indication of how tired and sore she was feeling.

She fingered her pendant, noting it was nearly recharged.

I'm as ready as I'll ever be, she thought to herself, And we're getting close to the finish. Just one round after this.

She glanced down at Rainy, marveling at the thought that she could actually do this. Go back and save his people from near-extinction…

Rainy was gazing back her, cocking his head with a quizzical expression. Juni felt a sudden lump rise in her throat as a new thought occurred to her.

And if I succeed… when it’s all been undone… I'll never see him again.

No, I'll never even meet him. I'll never have known him at all.

Juni closed her eyes, trying to absorb, to accept this unsettling revelation. Then she exhaled, and bent swiftly to gather Rainy in her arms. He gave a startled grunt, and then wriggled happily in her embrace.

Just as quickly Juni released him and stood up.

Chimera was coming, greeting the dragon-dogs in what sounded like a mangled attempt of their tongue.

No time for this now, Juni admonished herself, We still need to finish this. To win this.

And we'll spend what little time we may have left as best as we can.