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Nadzia

“I hate Gocke,” Makissa spat as she stunned one of the large horned lizards. “There must be another nest of them somewhere nearby.”

Besides the heathens in red armor and other candidates wearing yellow, which conveniently blended in to the rock, they had to keep an eye out for disgruntled wildlife as they climbed the rocky hills.

“Probably.” The broken bits of eggshell were familiar, a favorite food source for some feathery friends.

We must be in the right place.

“I don’t know why they insist on holding the Trials in the fauna refuge,” Makissa groused as she kicked another broken shell.

“Oh, I actually know the answer to that. This is sacred land. There used to be a big sanctuary and estuary here. That’s why they made it the refuge to prevent anything from destroying the ruins,” she replied, recalling the information she’d gleaned over the last few days.

“Kind, athletic and smart,” Makissa repeated what she’d said to her earlier.

“Ha ha! Good one.” She shook her head in amusement at her new friend.

“I get the logic of taking the high ground, but the best water source is with the vegetation that way.” Makissa gestured to the distant stand of trees with her weapon.

“That’s where everyone is heading.” She’d seen it in the replays. “The heathens and candidates will all be concentrated in that area. I don’t like the odds. And I don’t know how much water we can wring out of those poor trees, but I’m gonna need more.”

Incredulously she eyed the tiny flask. It was obviously ceremonial and not meant to be an actual canteen.

‘Cause Osivoire don’t sweat out all their moisture. Add that to their lists of annoyingly efficient adaptations on this oven of a planet,she huffed, feeling exhausted.

“I can see that. You’re pouring as much water as we’d possibly collect. Nadzia, perhaps you need to forfeit.” There was true concern in Makissa’s eyes, none of the competitiveness that she boasted earlier.

It was true. She was sweating a lot and was on the verge of overheating. But she’d wisely swallowed a ton of water on her swim. And if she’d planned right, she’d soon get a reprieve. Although she was getting cranky. And if she got sloppy it would mean game over.

So, pull your shit together.She studied the landscape, recalling the map she’d attempted to memorize.There’s the flat section where Aculus’ cruiser landed when he found me.She searched the area around it, pausing when she spotted the trio of flat rocks jutting up from the ground. Knowing what it was, it was easy to tell they were the ruins of an old wall.

“No. I know where water is.” She smiled at Makissa.

A shot struck the rock nearby and they both ducked.

“Break me!” Makissa barked.

They fired in the direction the shot came from.

“Was it one of us or one of the heathens?” she asked, scrambling over the crest of the rocky hill.

“I think I saw red.” Makissa followed her over the rise.

“Damn disrupters. Where I come from you at least hear the shot that’s about to take your ass out,” she grumbled as she searched for their attacker.

“You lead the way to this mysterious water and watch the front. I’ve got the rear.” Makissa covered her back.

Aggravated, she climbed down the hill. Besides spotting the entrance to the underground cavern, she’d been hoping to catch one of the roving projection screens as it made its rounds over the course.

But I don’t know what good that would do. I don’t have any more of a clue about who the assassins are than when this started, she grumbled.

For some reason she thought she might be able to tell who the real enemy was by how they behaved during the Trial. That was obviously wishful thinking since the broadcast only showed snippets of what the various competitors were doing, and she’d been too busy not getting shot to pay attention.

Well, hopefully no one’s reached the arena yet.

“So, stop bitching and get your ass in gear, soldier,” she mumbled to herself, summoning her father.

“What was that?” Makissa asked.