Chapter 5 - The Tournament

The announcer steps into the circle that’s drawn on to the ground.

“Here we have on the left-Hand Contestant Jordan and to my right-hand side Contestant Nero.” The guy waves both of them into the circle standing opposite they both just nod at each other as they are ready to shift into their Wolf forms.

In an instant Jordan changes into a very impressive muscular dark brown nearly black wolf as the clothes he had on fall into shreds around him. Luckily, this kind of tactic trying to impress Nero isn’t quite as successful as his opponent has hoped. Nero just watches him with a small smirk on his lips as shifts himself.

A one in a million Wolf is now stood at the side of the circle ready to take on anyone who is stood in his way. Nero is a wonderful colour of hazelnut brown almost golden as it shimmers in the sun.

It doesn’t take Nero long to overtake Jordan and the fight was less than 3 minutes long as he managed to trick him and push him over. He didn’t need a lot of strength to do this just a clever move during an attack led by Jordan used to his own advantage.

Pronounced as winner of the Game, Nero walks back to the tent followed by Samuel and Gordon.

“Don’t you want to watch all the other contests?” Samuel rubs confused his head.

Nero just shakes his head and lies down outside in the shade of the tent closing his eyes. His ears are constantly twitching from one side to another which indicates Gordon that he just pretends he is not interested while in fact all his senses are in overdrive. He has been with Nero now for 15 years he knows him inside and out. Even the fact he isn’t changing back doesn’t surprise Gordon the slightest, he knows that Nero will not use the energy he needs for the final to constantly change around. It is very smart from the youngster who seems to have thought his fights well through already.

Moments later the crowds are cheering as another winner is announced.

“Next up… will be Henry. Do you know him? Henry the great as they call him. I think it’s a bit of an overrated name. Big talk nothing behind it.” Gordon starts to chuckle as he looks over to Nero who ever so slightly lifted his head in acknowledgement.

More and more fights are taking place and it is almost time for Nero to get to his next fight when he notices something. Confused he looks around himself sniffing the air.

“Is something up? What is it?” Samuel asks him as he watches his reaction. Nero touches with his nose the hand Samuel uses to hold the medallion.

“Oh this? Do you want it back?” He opens his hand and Nero takes another sniff rubbing his nose on the medallion.

“You know you could just use the mind link to talk to me, then I wouldn’t have to guess these things.” Samuel points out with a huff and a puff.

“Not half as fun though.” Nero mind links him and you can tell by his voice how amused he is over it.

He still is looking around as if he is searching for something when his name is called for the next fight. He shakes it off and walks back towards the circle where Henry is already waiting for him in his Human form. Just as Nero had thought, another opponent who wants to deliver a show and will be hit soon in the face not having enough energy in the long run. It pleases him all too much that Henry is now having to shift back into his Wolf using this extra bit of energy when he could just have stayed wolf all along.

“The number has now dropped to four Last contestants…  Semi final … let it be a good one!

Here we have on the left Nero the youngster and to my right we have Henry the great… good luck contestants.” The announcer shouts for everyone to hear and the crowd is in hysterics as Henry shifts into his wolf.

A few times while he should be concentrating Nero has to look around, something is dividing his attention even Gordon now notices that something isn’t right.

“What is it Nero?” He asks with a frown as he tries to figure what is irritating the Wolf in front of him.

“It’s the smell, this feeling of a pull, I can’t describe it. It makes me wanting to follow the scent when I know I haven’t got the time for this right now.” Nero answers to Gordon just in time before Henry is starting his first attack.

“Concentrate!!” Gordon shouts at the young wolf who only just about managed to get out of the way.

“I know!!” He shouts back at Gordon who is watching the fight unfold carefully. Nero knows he doesn’t need to use too much of his strength if he can just hold him at arm length for a bit longer, soon Henry will feel the energy drift away as the fight goes on. Every single attack he starts will lead to him getting more and more tired. Nero is playing the long game; he isn’t one to hurt someone if he has the given choice. Then it hits him fully, the scent, he has smelt this before. It causes his heart to beat so fast. One moment of not concentrating as Henry jumps for another attack not even expecting to make it. He pushes Nero right back and he manages to bite into his shoulder in an attempt to flip him over. Gasping for Air as he tries to fight Henry off. He quickly twists and turns, ignoring his own pain pushing his opponent over backwards, tail first into the ground. Blood is dripping off Nero’s shoulder as the crowd is cheering loudly. Even before the Announcer can shout out his name as winner,  he is already walking back towards the tent, to mend his shoulder.

“F!ck” Samuel shouts as he arrives at the tent.

“Don’t be stupid Sam, He heals fast, it’s going to be okay, grab a bandage we will put some pressure on the wound. What the hell was wrong with you out there? You had it, in the pocket when you stopped moving. This can’t happen in the Final.” Gordon warns Nero who is just laid there with his eyes shut.

As if he didn’t already know what’s at stake… but this scent in the air nearly tipped him over the edge. How was this scent so important to him? Why did it have such a strong hold over him?

“It’s the smell.” He mind links as he rouses over the pain in his shoulder, gritting his teeth.

“What smell? It’s a different pack you should just ignore it. It might stink but that’s no reason to behave like you did there.” Gordon moans.

“It isn’t like that. It is exciting and it feels like it’s calling me.” Nero shakes his head as he had never experienced anything like it.

“Oh, for f!cks sake. Of course, this has to happen now, doesn’t it? Any other time would have been fine but right now…” Gordon grabs with his hand on his forehead. Samuel as well as Nero look at him wondering what he means.

“What do you mean? What’s happening?” Samuel asks confused taking the words right out of Nero’s mouth as he was about to ask the exact same thing.

“Your Mate, she must be around here somewhere probably watching you that’s why you are feeling so off. Use it to your advantage, you can search for her when you won this bloody tournament.” Gordon tries to turn it to something positive encouraging Nero.