Please note this is a guest entry.

April eyed the splint. A bar with a shirt wrapped around it had stabilized the leg, while four bars tied around the upper leg had made a frame for walking.

“how's the design?” Oliver asked.

“looks like bad modern art”

“... thanks, I meant if it is functional.”

“Functional!?” April pulled up her leg and let it drop.

THUMP.

“it's only slightly worse than a ball chain tied to my broken leg.”

Oliver looked to the floor, scratching his neck. “I know, I'm useless. So-”

“But at least I can stand, and move a little. Thanks, Oliver.”

He still looked down at the floor, but his smile showed even with the angle on his face..

“Let’s go to our quarters.” Oliver said.

April nodded. THUMP... THUMP... THUMP...

The quarters were essentially a small space with a dozen beds and a lone straw man and a single target for practice.

“I told you not to bother with her, she’ll be dead by tomorrow.” Rob said.

Oliver stared at the wall next to him.

“Don’t be so hard, Rob. The girl can move, she’ll be useful for something. At least she can stand her ground, amirite?”

Rob threw a glance at the short stout man. “Cain, I coudda trained the kid for those five hours he was flirtin’.”

“Ach, look at it as a new weapon. Imagine anyone got stomped over the toes with that thing. Heh-heh.” Cain nodded towards the improvised splint.

“Ah, shut it, Cain.” Rob said, grabbing a two crossbows. “New blood, now that the kid invested in you, I’ll show you how to fire one of these. At least take one of ‘em down with you, as you disappear into the void.”

Rob threw a crossbow to April. “Here, this is a goatsfoot. You stick your foot into the ring at the end of the crossbow a--” Thunk.

A crossbow bolt was embedded in the center of the practice target.

“Surprised I couldn’t even get a windlass.” April said, putting the crossbow over her shoulder.

“Alright, pup, you might know how to shoot after all. I’ll call you that – Windlass.”

“My name is April."

“I don’t care about your name, Windlass. You’re an airhead and a girl. Wind. Lass.”

“An airhead?” April said in disbelief.

“You broke your leg. Idiot.” Rob said, putting his crossbow back in the rack.

“Hahaha, can’t argue with ol’ Rob, can ya?” Cain said. “Start gettin’ used to the crossbow, we’ve got a big fight tomorrow.”

“What are we fighting?”

“Other groups.” Cain said. “Since we’re the lowest in our tier, we usually get a death or two in every battle, mostly ending in draws. Last one was grim, fought the Hopeless Rangers, upper F tier, even within the same tier, it’s a large difference.”

“Tomorrow should be okay. We’re fighting the Greenhorns. Name says it all. Plus they’re eight man down as well.” Rob said.

April shook her leg. “At least I’ll get an easy star–”

A voice echoed from a nearby pipe. “Forlorn hope, 501st of the F tier will be fighting the Iron Brigade, 295th of the E tier. Winning price: Character theft. Time to start, five minutes.”

Rob glared at April “Windlass. What. Did. You. Do?”

“I may have... punched... a minotaur in the nose.” She said.

“What?! If any of us survive, I’ll shoot you myself. I’ve never had a character theft round, usually that’s reserved for challenges.”

“C’mon, we’re late.” Cain said. “We can’t afford the penalty against the F tier.”

They all darted down a hall. THUMP... THUMP... THUMP…

“Puh, hah. Wait up?”

“It’s just in here. Hurry! Thirty seconds left.” Oliver yelled.

When April arrived, Cain already held a bearded axe. Rob had a shield and spear, like Oliver.

“Good thing you brought a crossbow. Get it loaded before the gate opens.” Rob said.

Rattle-Rattle.

“Steady, kid. Your hands are shaking.” Cain said.

Click.

“The gate is open… Get into formation.” Rob ordered. “We have to hold out for ten minutes.”

“H-How many are there?” Oliver said.

“32, by my count.” Cain said. “Don’t die. If we surrender, it'll be together.”

"You can surrender?" Oliver asked. "Then why did–"

Cain shook his head. "Only in Character Theft fights."

April lifted the crossbow, aiming at a thin blonde man. Next to him, a minotaur. “Crap. I know those guys.”

“Let me guess, you punched that bull-guy in the nose? You know, if we lose they’ll probably take you on their team. I can only imagine what horrifying plans they have for you.” Cain said.

April gulped.

“Shoot the minotaur, perhaps we can intimidate them.” Rob said.

April’s finger touched the trigger mechanism. She held the aim at the face of the bull… But he finger would not move. She muttered to herself. “C’mon April. It’s kill or be killed. Do it.”

“I knew it. Damnation.” Rob said, darting towards the minotaur. “If I’m gonna die, I’ll die in a bloodbath!”

Cain followed closely behind.

April lowered her crossbow, targeting the leg of the man trying to flank Rob.

Thunk-Splosh.

Rob stabbed in wild frenzy, forcing back several men before arriving in front of the minotaur.

The minotaur hit him. Hard. He staggered backwards.

Cain came to his aid, hooking a man with the beard on his axe, throwing him to the ground before several more rushed in to stop him.

Cain backed off, only able to hold off the onslaught because of several crossbow bolts, hindering the advance, yet never striking anyone.

Rob feinted and got past the minotaurs axe. His spear skewered the minotaurs stomach. “Take that, bull-man.”

CLONK. The flat of the minotaur's axe had struck Rob dead on his skull. He fell to the ground, unmoving.

“I surrender!” Cain yelled. “We can’t hold another 8 minutes. Surrender!” he stared directly at Oliver and April.

“I-I give up!” Oliver yelled.

April grit her teeth, raising the crossbow. “Stupid bull. I’ll show you.”

Thunk. Cling.

The bolt bounced off of the flat of the axe.

The minotaur advanced towards April. She loaded.

Thunk. Cling.

She loaded. The minotaur started a mighty charge.

“I-i give up!”

Smash.

April fell to the ground, ramming her head into the wall behind her.

“Worthless rat.” The minotaur said, eyeing April. ”We’re choosing the unconscious guy, and the axe guy. The rat isn’t even worth it as a toy.”

“You can’t do that!” Oliver yelled. “It’s only one person!”

The minotaur shoved his nostrils into Oliver’s face, breathing so hard Oliver’s greasy hair waved backwards. “Try to stop me, pants-pisser.”

Oliver fell to his knees while four of the Iron Brigade’s members forced Cain to the ground and dragged him along. "Let me go you pieces of crap!"

He looked back at April. “S-say something?”

But April’s eyes were wide open, yet she just sat against the wall. Unmoving. "It's my fault... In the next fight, we're both dead."