Chapter 18

Finally the day had arrived where everyone was at least adequately dressed for a challenge. Then again, once in wolf form we are all dressed the same. It was another beautiful gray morning. A light fog covered the dewy grass where soon there would be an all out brawl. I looked around and saw even Oakley looked nervous about what was to come. 

"This is the challenge you have all been waiting for!" the Luna Mother announced to the group of about 14 remaining challengers. Soon to be seven. They shuffled nervously in place. 

"Now we would greatly regret having to put any one of you in the ground tonight so please do us all a favor and abstain from killing blows whenever possible." She announced. Very comforting. 

"Remember a Luna must be fierce and strong and might have to fight people off to protect her pack," her eyes met mine for a moment, "We are hoping to see that perseverance and determination from you all today. Each of you will be assigned a partner and depending on what happens here one of you will stay and the other will be going home. To the half going home, we thank you humbly for your participation."

First up was Rayven and a wolf I didn't know, a scary looking redhead. It was a shockingly polite match because it was the first. They both had a lot of nerves to get out of there system, but also hadn't seen anyone else go yet and didn't want to go too far and draw blood. I swear Rayvens opponent may have been shaking and it was quickly over before it began and Rayven was declared the winner of a good clean fight. 

"Its not so bad," she said coming up to Jules and I out of breath, "I can't believe it's already over. I did it." We both gave her a congratulatory pat on the back, but we were too nervous to feel really happy yet. The second match was between two wolves I didn't know, but I felt like I knew them by the time it was finally over. It was long, cruel and didn't feel fair. There was scratching and hair pulling and even a rock thrown, but the Luna Mother said nothing as we gasped and flinched at each new attack. When finally the winner was declared the other wolf was taken off the field in a stretcher to go to the med room.

"Fight with honor is for the males. If you ever have to find yourself in a fight as a she-wolf you shouldn't hold anything back." She said simply in explanation. My face hardened. A Luna never gives up. Dandilion was picked next and to my horror she was set to spar against Oakley. She gave me one nod as if she had accepted her date and transformed into her black and gray wolf. Oakley transformed as well into her warm brown wolf. I could hardly bare to watch. Dandilion must have been paying attention to the last match because she dodged Oakley's first attack and gave Oakley a long scratch down her side as she passed. Oakley turned and fury filled her eyes as she let out a vicious growl. Dandilion backed off a little bit and Oakley took the opportunity to lunge again and knock Dani onto her back. I held my breath as Dani struggled and bit at her assailant, but she just didn't have the muscle. I looked away as I heard the crunch of bone. The match was called when Dani could no longer stand and Oakley was glowing with pride. The long line of blood dripping from her body hardly seemed to bother her as she strutted past us. She'll pay for this one day. I ran to the stretcher where Dani, now in human form, was being dragged off the field. 

"Are you ok," I asked stupidly looking at her shattered arm and shoulder.

"I'll be fine, it was always going to end like this," Dani replied through gritted teeth, "Remember the promise you made me." 

"I remember, " I said as they pulled her away to go set her arm. Hopefully they wouldn't send her home for a couple weeks until she could walk again. 

"Up next is Elma and Trina," the Luna Mother announced. I turned and met the soft blue eyes of a strawberry blonde wolf. Now it was her or me.