LaF:Blowing Smoke-Part 4

I wandered down the dimly lit hallway, past doors with numbers lazily scrawled on, going the way Prime had come last time. It felt odd, her body did; it had taken a few minutes for me to get 'filled in.' Wiggling my toes around for the third time that day, I glanced at the others in the elevator before I stepped in. A tall wolf-like creature stood in the corner, a stoic look in his eyes, and Prime's friend... Avonna, was it? She waved a gloomy hello at me, the dripping thing that always hung around her snickering from below us. Shooting her a grim nod, I leaned on the wall and stared at the glowing Ground Floor button.

Judging by the crowds, I could tell we were late to breakfast. I followed Avonna to our normal table, where a small white kitsune, Dolly; an anthropomorphic raccoon, Koona; a snake with an attitude, Pakwa; and a small mouse with a hat and goggles, Maikeru, sat, discussing something animatedly. If I could even remember correctly. Prime wouldn't shut up about them; Koona this, Pakwa that, Dolly, Maikeru, Avonna, blah blah blah, though she barely even talks to them. She really needs more friends.

I took my seat next to Dolly, who shot an uncomfortably confident smile at me, then returned to her conversation with the others.

"So anyways, there's no doubt I'm going to win this thing and get my stick back."

"Don't be too rash, Dolly," Koona murmured, her mind focused elsewhere as she fiddled with her hair. Her eyes stared lazily at the ceiling for a few seconds, then flicked to me, then Pakwa, Dolly, lingering on Maikeru, and back to the ceiling.

'Nervous,' I presumed, studying her closely. 'I wonder who her opponent is.' A flash of white caught my eye and I glanced over at Maikeru, who grinned at me over a flask of hot cider, then snickered at Dolly, who had started yelling something about how she doesn't even need to try. I scoffed at them, turning away to stare at the crowd and letting their voices fade off.

A patch of suspiciously red fur caught my eye, and I squinted, trying to pinpoint where I had seen it. There! Fox... Jeez, he was gigantic; at least two or three inches taller than me, huge black claws sprouting from his thick paws. His sharp yellow eyes -- he had four of them -- glared at anyone who passed.

Leaving the others, I stood and padded over to the hellhound, lightly, as if he was a sleeping giant. He was sitting alone, as expected, one of his paws splayed out on the table. If he noticed me, he didn't show it, closing and opening his eyelids wearily.

I stopped in front of his table, setting my jaw. He gazed in my direction calmly.

"Prime, correct?" his voice was low and gruff, his mouth barely moved at all. Nodding mutely, I sit awkwardly on the minimal space on the bench.

"The tournament." he shifted slightly, waving his tails warningly when I got too close. Sizing him up, I paid little attention to whatever he said. We sat mostly in uncomfortable silence, watching the hustle and bustle around the room.

A clot in the flow of the crowd formed around a stage halfway across the cafeteria, angry shouts were heard and food was thrown.

A tan dog sat calmly upon the stage, his mouth curled into a cruel smile. His white and black eyes stared hungrily into the mob, and his tail wagged in deadly excitement. Two navy blue ravens pecked at anyone who tried to climb up onto the platform.

I recognized him as the guy who got us into this mess in the first place. The Thief, that's what the others called him. Thanks to this guy, I can't be happy. Bitter thoughts pressed in on me as I watched his grin grow wider and wider at every insult, revealing his razor sharp teeth.

He spoke; his voice was silky and deep, almost mocking as he scanned the crowd.

"Hello all, and welcome to the tournament."