Twenty

The fights have been consistently gruesome, and even with our newfound yearning, they have been hard to watch.

The ground where the fights are happening has turned to mud due to the amount of blood wetting the dirt. After almost every fight, the winning male has run over to a female, including a very handsome Shikaz, who left Zuri beaming.

As the next pair of fighters walk out to the center of the field, I instantly recognize Tilk. The two champions position themselves in the center, and my eyes sweep over him eagerly.

He looks focused and beautiful as he stares down his opponent, but I get none of the fuzzy feelings I had when I saw Burk. I still cross my fingers in the hope that he will be mine. I enjoyed my dance with him. He is someone I could see myself falling in love with. Burk might not want me, or Tilk might place higher. Either way, I think I would be happy.

The man Tilk is facing down has the signature strip of greenish brown scales going down his spine and across his