"So what do we do while we wait for the others to arrive?" I ask Ka'ni. It's been a couple days since I first arrived.
Ka'ni shrugs. "Just wait around, be bored. They have a library, but we're only allowed to read like three books out of the whole thing. I usually just hang out around the stables."
"I know they have a library, I was reading the name book and I looked up our names remember?"
An idea hit me like a punch. "Ka'ni . . . do you still play the games we used to play when we were real little?"
She blinks. "I usually just act 'em out in my head now . . ."
I grin. "Let's get playin'."
We race each other down to the big, open field. Most of the other "softclaws", as the Wyris called us, hung out by the smaller field, the one with all the benches. The big one was completely deserted today.
Ka'ni smiles. "I'll start us off . . . you're a wyvern patrolling the trench when a freak storm catches you off guard. You get swept past the mountain ridge and end up somewhere in the middle of the desert, far from home . . ."
In my mind's eye, I flare leathery wings and shoot into the sky. With my imagination and Ka'ni's gentle narration, I can see it all perfectly clear in my mind.
We play games with our imaginations for a couple of hours. Before I knew it they're calling lunch.
"I swoop to the ground and land, exhausted from my battle with the terror birds. I crawl up onto a rock and curl into a ball to sleep." I finish. "Let's end it there for now."
Ka'ni nods. "I'm starving!"
We're both tired, sweaty, and hungry from running around the field and narrating our movements. We trudge back to the tables, panting and brushing sand off our clothes.
I sit down heavily in at a table. A blonde female Wyri places two pieces of cooked meat and a rockarrot in front of me. She gives the same meal to Ka'ni and we dig in as the other softclaws arrive. I'm used to fluctuating meals after a couple of days here. One day we'll get two pieces of grilled prime meat along with a handful of azulberries, two citronals, and a longrass each. The next day we'll get a couple of tintos and a piece of fishmeat.
A big, bulky kid sits across from us. He has short golden-blond hair, and dark green eyes with a hint of blue. What was his name? Gtir? Yes, he was the leader of the Bloodletters.
"Alright, silkie, remember what I said?" He growls.
"You told me not to storm with you or your gang. I have no intention of messing with you or you gang, so we're good." I respond. What is this kid's problem?
He opens his mouth to respond when another softclaw sits beside him. I recognize the tall, slim build and longish black hair. When he turns to face me, I feel a flash of satisfaction of being able to recognize Lnar before even seeing his bright blue eyes. I can't really appreciate his personality or attitude, but I can definitely appreciate his looks.
More and more softclaws fill the tables. I've already finished my meat, and I'm gnawing on my carrot when a Wyri comes running and whispers in the ear of another Wyri. They both start running towards the gates. Quite a few wyverns soar overhead. I glance at Ka'ni.
She nods.
I grab the half-eaten carrot and run for the gates. There's only been one other person who came after me, and I was inside at the time so I didn't know until they came through the doors. I want to see them walk through the gates this time.
I arrive just in time to hear the Wyris say "Congratulations, M'ta. You have completed Part One of your Initiation."
M'ta. Meaning "creator of beautiful objects". I grin. The little bit of research I did on names the second day here paid off. Ka'ni means "sharp metal", and my name, R'zya, means "animal with claws". Coincidentally, or perhaps purposefully, the male variation of my name, Ryzet, means sabertooth. I wonder what Lnar's name means. I'll have to look it up later.
M'ta looks bewildered and exhausted and relieved. She's leaning heavily against a greenish gray raptor with a brown belly and yellow feathers. I notice that her left leg is bleeding quite a lot. She has dark brown-bronze skin, long black hair, and yellow eyes which are currently as wide as the stones used in bolas. Poor girl.
The Wyri who slid off her wyvern is not the same as the one who greeted me when I first entered.
"Does the Wyri who says 'good job' to you depend on what colony you're from?" I whisper to Ka'ni.
"I think so." She hisses back. "Do you see her leg, and all the scratches on her arms? She looks like she got beat to the Arena* and back!"
I nod, then return my attention to M'ta and the Wyris. The Wyri who's off her mount beckons to M'ta and leads her away as the other wyverns soar back to wherever they came from.
"Probably leading her to the clinic," Ka'ni explains. I nod.
"Poor thing." I say, shaking my head. "Can we go visit her or something?"
"Nah, she'll be fine." Ka'ni waves her hand. "The medics are incredible here."
I shrug. "They better be. Anyways, I'm gonna go look at that naming book again."
"Again?' Ka'ni complains.
"Names are cool! Did you know your name means 'sharp metal'?" I protest.
Ka'ni rolls her eyes. "I was the first name you looked up."
"Oh yeah!" I laugh. "Well I'm gonna look up some stuff, you comin'?"
Ka'ni shakes her head. "Sorry. I'm gonna get some quality time with my tames."
"Alright, seeya!" I run off in the direction of the library and Ka'ni runs for the stables.
I open the name book and settle into a chair.
Lnar. Means "night hunter", as in someone who hunts during the night.
I nod approvingly. His parents chose one hell of a name. I wonder what that kid who kept getting all up in my face- Gtir! Yeah, what's his name?
I quickly flip to the G's. Gtir. Means "thorny stone".
"Hey, can I read that book after you?"
I blink and look up. A skinny male softclaw is looking down at me. He has pale skin, bright green eyes, brown-blonde hair, and cracked glasses.
"There's only one copy in the 'softclaw section' and I rather like that book, so . . ." He trails off.
I shake my head. "Oh yeah, here, I only wanted to look up one thing." I pause in the motion of handing him the book. "Wait, what's your name?"
He smiles. "I'm Tgal."
I'm flipping to the T's when he interrupts me.
"It means 'unmovable stone'." He flashes another grin.
I rather like this softclaw. I hand him the book. "Alright, unmovable stone. I'm 'animal with claws'. See you around?"
He sits down in my seat with the book. "Seeya, R'zya."
I grin and sprint out the doors. Ka'ni jumps in front of me.
"Aah! You scared me!" I say, putting a hand over my heart. She giggles.
"Hey, the Wyris told us to go into the dorms. I don't really know why either."
I roll my eyes, then poke my head through the door of the library.
"Yo, unmovable stone. The Wyris want us in the dorms." I shrug as he glances up. "I don't know why either."
He sighs, writes something on a slip of paper, and pushes the book back into the shelf. "Coming, animal with claws."
I grin. "Are we just gonna call each other that forever? Like an inside joke?"
He smiles too. "Why not?"
I come out of the library with Tgal in tow. Ka'ni looks up from tapping her foot impatiently. Her gaze switches from me to Tgal in a heartbeat.
"Tgal, this is my friend 'sharp metal'." I introduce them.
Tgal dips his head respectfully. "Hello, Ka'ni."
I raise my hand for a high five, which he slaps eagerly. "Dude, you are the best at this!"
"Aren't I fabulous?" He strikes a dumb pose. Ka'ni and I both laugh.
"Anyways, we better get going." Ka'ni says. "I wonder why they want us all in the dorms."
We all race to the dorms. We make it in just before a Wyri walks in behind us.
"Now," he begins. He has dark, reddish skin, black hair, and odd, pale, blueish lavender-brown eyes. "I'm sure you're all wondering why I've gathered you all today."
We all nod hesitantly.
"I am Janner Rkiro. For those of you who don't know, this Wyri colony is ruled by two people, each of whom are elected by you and the Control Council. This year, we have one female ruler, Ta'ji, and one male ruler, me. Female rulers are called Karatans, and males are called Janners.
"I am here to tell you that training will start very soon. It will be far harder than you expect. I encourage you to prepare yourself. We expect two more arrivals within the week. After they arrive, you will have one week where you will be required to prepare for the training. Then your training will begin."
His sharp eyes rakes each of us, catching on each of our gazes.
"I would wish you good luck, but you need to be able to work without the promise of luck."
Then he steps out and slams the door behind him, leaving us bewildered. I glance at Ka'ni and Tgal.
This is it. This is what I've been working for my entire life.
I close my eyes, memories rushing past behind my eyelids. Memories of me slowly losing friends as thoughts of being a Wyri consumed my mind. Memories of me slaving over homework for entire nights at a time. Memories of me skipping out on fun things to practice martial arts.
My eyes flare open.
I'm ready.
*Arena used in this context simply means the desert equivalent of 'hell'.