Brutes 1 [Nasale / Osaka / Sitka]

It was hard for each of them to go through the Forgotten before this, Sitka’s journey mate practically jumped on him before leaving, Osaka and Nasale each had their own journey mate abandon them after the Forgotten. But what luck would have it that they would find each other in the caves while working towards the Brute clan. 

They each would tell the other two their own separate journey’s within the Forgotten, about the Reosean they were each assigned to. It was hard for them all individually to be left hanging to start the journey to the Brutes alone. But the relief they felt knowing they all were family and could count on each other for the rest of the journey. There would be no more abandonment here. 

It wouldn't be too long before they were officially entering the Brutes territory. The moss covered walls and pillars made that part clear. The paint on the walls depicting probably fake battles were an interesting sight as well. Then they came to the edge of the arena, headians battling it out over golden rocks to get more than the rest. Their proud leader perched high above on a wooden platform watching the game intently. 

It wouldn't be long till the game ended and Zarod herself would announce the winner for all to hear. She would perk up at these newcomers, “Welcome above grounders! We will have two rounds of our little game here today and you three are automatically entered in. To continue towards the Tranquil you must participate, win or lose.” 

It was clear to reoseans that she wouldn't take no for an answer. “You can count us in.” Osaka would confidently state in response. 

“Perfect!” Zarod would reply, “Then get on down into our lovely arena and we shall begin when the bell rolls.” 

Osaka, Nasale and Sitka would head down into the arena without any further hesitation. They were pretty confident in each other as a team. Nasale and Sitka were mates who practically fell in love at first sight and have been almost inseparable since. Osaka was Sitka’s minute younger brother, and were close since birth. They knew each other pretty well by this point and didn't need much verbal communication to know what the other was thinking. A simple facial expression was usually enough, or a tail flick or ear gesture. 

The bell would ring vibrantly, its sound echoing off the carved stonework and then muffled by the moss. Headians wasting little time before going after each other for each previous golden rock. The three vayrons joining into the fray.

The sheer chaos of the bodies clashing into one another for a single rock, and of those running each other down for a bag worth was insane to the three. It was hard for them to keep track of who had the most, let alone know how many they themselves were grabbing. But grabbing some they were, but also surely losing some to the grabby hands of the headians. 

They struggled to keep each stone, and more so to keep a hold of a bag. But no one could say that weren't participating, the occasional cut and bruise would also attest to that. Nasale would manage to keep a bag worth of rocks just from her sheer size and muscular shape and determined personality. Sitka and Osaka had less luck keeping a mere stone or two each. It was challenging and rough, with no time to even think about hiding the precious stones at the time. 

The Brutes always seemed to have the edge during the entire round. It wasn't until the last half until Osaka managed to get himself a bag worth off a black headian and run off with it. Sitka however still hadn't much luck with prying any bags out of anyone's possession. But Nasale still had her own bag tightly gripped between her teeth. 

At first they didn't even register that the bell had run to signify that the round had been over. But the Brutes having stopped on their heels made it click that it had. With the round over Osaka and Nasale would reluctantly drop their bags and Sitka his two singular golden rocks for the count.

It was no surprise that they hadn't won the first round, but they did have a second round left to prove themselves capable. They knew they would have to come up with a better plan for the next and final round. Perhaps they would attempt to hide the rocks next time. But Osaka, Nasale and Sitka would enjoy their mini break to contemplate their actions. 

It was clear that most headians here weren't paying much attention to what was happening around them. They were more focused on those Golden rocks. They could surely use this information to their advantage.