Young Writers Society

Jackle started to laugh and hugged Hok back.
"What are you doing? You pushed me off of you." Hok said.
"I dunno. Why not?" Jackle asked.
"Good point. So is this Eko?" Hok asked as she patted Eko on his front leg.
"Yes it is." Jackle replied.
"He's gotten kinda fat, hasn't he?" Hok asked.
"I'm not fat. I'm pleasingly plump." Eko said as he stuck his tongue out at Hok.
"Oh they're picking the pairs soon. I should get over there so I know who I'm fighting." Jackle said looking over Hok's shoulder at the main tent.
"Oh, okay. Guess what?" Hok asked playfully.
"What?" Jackle asked. He was tying the combat harness onto Eko's back.
"I'm the referee this year!" Hok exclaimed.

Tyr wandered into Fryten's stall, his face grim. "Fryten, we need to go see who we are up against next."
Fryten snored, unaware of the impatient half-elf.
Tyr sighed, and bent over the large head. "Get up, lazy bones!"
"Who you calling lazy?" One large eye opened as Fryten studied his rider.
"You. We need to go."
"Fine," Fryten stretched luxuriously. "Where are we going again?"
"To see who we face first."
"Oh! Great. I was sick of lazing about anyway."
"I'm sure you were." Tyr let a small smile creep across his face.
"Are you mocking me, mortal?" Fryten demanded.
"Always."

Crysiana walked out of the mess hall, whiping her lips on the sleeve of her shirt. She whistled one, high and shrill, and almost immediatly Palin flew up next to her. His blue eyes gazed down at her, almost laughing.

"What are you so thrilled about?" she asked him, playfully tweaking one of his black scales. He turned to look at her, now seated between his shoulders.

"I find the competition this year looking realtivly..." Palin searched for the right word. "simple. The only ones we need to even consider worrying about is that white over there and red one, over there." palin said, nodding in the direction of the two dragons.

"They shouldnt be a problem." Crys said, patting Palin's muscular leg.

"Shall we see who we're up against first?" Palin asked.

Crys waved her hand and Palin took off, easily gliding across the sand. They reached the white regestration tent with all different colored dragons surrounding it. Crys directed Palin through the crowd so that they stood in the front. She settled herself comfortly on Palin's back, leaning against one of his spikes. She crossed her arms and waited for the referee or whoever to come and announce them.

Jackle grinned, "Well, so much for trying to survive the competition. With Hok judging..." he lazily looked around, "We'll survive...oh...maybe ten seconds?

"She'll burn down the fields, eat all the food, and pick the worst person as the winner!"

Hok crossed her arms and glared at Jackle. Behind her, Chiino unwound himself from the tree. He bent his head down so he could look into her eye.

Hok turned her head and observed Chiinos large sapphire eye. "Ok ok. I'm going." she turned to Jackle, "Head over to the gathering over there. I gotta announce the match ups."

She quickly mounted Chiino. He grinned as he launched himself towards the platform where they would be standing.

When they got above the platform, Chiino looped twice and spiraled towards the platform. At the last possible second he swooped up and landed gracefully. The crowd clapped and Hok made it to center stage. She had learned a tip on how to spread your voice. She did this, creating the voice deep in her chest and called out to the contestants.

"Fellow riders! Last year was a remarkable year. I see many familiar faces among the crowd. As many know, I am last years Champion, Hok. Along with my companion Chiino, we faced great hardships. This year, Chiino and I have come back to be the judge and referee of the competition. I will be judging many things. Your teamwork, your skills, your technique and your drive. How you play in this competition will be your choice. Ok now, enough small talk; now for the matching!"

Chiino raised his head, "The first pair will be Tyr and Fryten against Jackle and Eko."

A cheer rose from the crowd and riders clapped the first pairs on the shoulders.

"The second shall be Lyin and Hyte against Crysiana and Palin."

A similar cheer went up.

""The third pairing shall be Dane and Yuri against Siren and Neo."

Chiino continued naming more pairings. When he was finished, Hok took the stage again.

Hoks voice soared over the crowds talk and cheer, "If anyone has a problem with their pairings, take it up with me. No fighting, play nice...for now, and the end of the day marks the Week of Feasting. Enjoy, train, and be ready for hell."

Crysiana smiled. "That took care of thiose two." she said. Palin knew what she meant.

Palin lifted his wings and soared off towards a small, nearby mountain only a mile away. This was their usual hangout and Palin and Crysiana could practice without the crowds.


Palin landed gracefully on a small ledge near a cave. Crys hopped off and unloaded their things. Palin flexed his muscles, ready to start training some more. Crys laughed.

"Dont you ever just want to sit down?" she asked.

"No, should i?" Palin said, nudging Crys. She laughed and climbed back up onto his back, not even bothering with the saddle. Palin took off again.

Crys directed Palin to hover higher in the sky. Then she told him to preform many complex and diffucult manuvers in the air. Palin did so with an easy grace, and Crys hung onto his spikes and applauded him.

"Now, this is a new one. I want you to dive down, as if you are evading an attack. Then, swoop back up, do a back flip, and pretend you are going to smash the other dragons back with your tail. Can you do that?" Crys asked, patting Palin's muscular shoulder. He snorted.

"Of course." he said and took off. He flew fast and straight, and at Crys's command, he dived, swooped back up, back-flipped, and brought his tail crashing down in midair, just in a matter of a few seconds.

"Very good. Now drop me back off at the cave and continue practicing that. I want to see what it looks like from on the ground."

Palin flew to the cave and Crys offered him something to drink. He took a large gulp from a water barrel thay kept stashed up here, and flew back out. Crys stood on the ledge watching.

Palin did the routine again and again, doing it perfectly every time.

"I am lucky to have such a gifted dragon." Crysiana wondered. She called Palin back in and told him to get some rest. He put up no fight.

Dane was standing on Yuri's back as they flew towards the stadium. With his arms crossed Dane thought of the up coming battles.

"Dane, would you stop day dreaming and focus!" Yuri came in for a landing.

"Fine." Dane hopped off and headed towards the main tent to sign in. When he returned he saw Yuri staring off into the sky. "Now whose losing focus." Dane hopped back onto Yuri.

"Where do you want to go?" Asked Yuri taking off.

"How about that mountain to the right. It's maybe a mile away. We should be able to rest up there for a little while at least."

Yuri took off towards the small mountain, but when they got there there were already a dragon and rider practicing on one of the cliffs. Yuri went in for a landing and Dane jumped off.

"I hope were not interrupting anything? we were only looking for a quiet place to rest."

A young girl came up to him, "Not really, me and Palin were only practicing."

"I see.' Dane went over to stand next to the edge, a gust of wind blew waving his hair. "The air is nice and crisp up here. It's also quiet and relaxing, i can see why your up here. By the way, my names Dane and this is Yuri." Yuri lowered his head to do a sort of bow. Dane did the same.

"Wow, gentlemen. I'm Crysiana and this is Palin."

"It's a pleasure to meet you."

Jackle walked up to Hok.
"I have one problem with the match up between Tyr." He said.
"And that would be?" She asked with a hint of annoyance.
"I had my eye on that loud mouthed brat who called Eko a piece of garbage. He's the one that I wanted to fight." Jackle explained. He looked over and saw the man sitting there with the girls huddling around him, laughing at every little thing he said.
"Him? You want to fight him?" Hok asked with disbelief.
"Uh, yeah. That's why I came to you to change my pairing." Jackle replied.
"I'll see what I can do." Hok walked off towards the main tent. Jackle looked at the man again and saw his first look at the dragon he flew. It was an orange Easterner with white markings on its face. It didn't have wings. Just really sharp claws. Jackle started to walk away when he heard the man talking to him.
"Hey! That's the one that said he made it to the Semi-Finals last year! The poor peasant would make up any lie to fit in wouldn't he?"
"Leave him alone, Drakus. He didn't do anything to you." The orange dragon spoke with an annoyed voice.
"You will speak only when spoken to. You understand me?" Drakus asked the dragon.
"Yes." Jackle just walked away with rage filling him.

Hok hadn't actually walked away after speaking to Jackle, she wanted to see what was up between him and the other kid. She climbed a tree and waited. Soon The boy and his orange dragon walked below her and threw his tongue at Jackle. She was ok with those words but she was upset with what he had said to his companion.

You will speak only when spoken to. You understand me?"

"Yes."

Hok broke a branch from her tree and aimed carefully. She let it fly at the back of the kids head.

"Oi!"

The boy scratched his head and glared up, "Why you little i should..." he recognized Hok as she jumped to the ground. Her landing wasn't very graceful but she recovered.

"I don't like the way you talk to your friend."

"I can't talk to my pet anyway I want to."

Hok looked at the dragon and swept her arm to her stomach in a bow. "Excuse me, may I ask your name?"

The dragon looked pleased, "Sacurus. I believe you're Hok?"

Hok straightened up and nodded. Sacurus looked a lot like Chiino but different colored and sized. No horns either.

Hok turned to the boy, "The companionship between dragons and humans should not be master and beast of burden. It should be a partnership. I would remember that, that's why the judge last year didn't choose you."

She started to walk away slowly. As she did she turned her head to Sacurus, "Oh yeah, you're getting better at your spirals and loops. Just try to arch your back more and sideways a bit."

Chiino chuckled as Hok approached him, "Playing nicely?"

"No." she stated. She grabbed an apple from her pouch and took a bite. She sunk her teeth into it again and mounted Chiino. When she was in her riding position she released the apple, "Where to?"

"Well, I saw two pairs going up to the mountain over there," he extended a sharp claw, "We could see how they're doing."

Hok nodded as she ate. Chiino arched like a cat and sprung upwards.

Crysiana looked up from her small meal she was sharing with Palin to see the judge and her dragon flying towards them. She sighed.

"Will the intrusions never end?"

*all i got.*smiles guiltily**

Dane looked back, "If i was bothering you, you could have asked me to leave. It wouldn't bother me none."

(I don't know what else to put.)

Tyr frowned. "It says on the board we are no longer paired."
Fryten shook his head. "What?! Why not?"
Tyr absent mindedly stroked the curling horn of his dragon. "I'll go see. Wait here."
Tyr entered the tent, and coughed loudly. A official looked up. "What is it?"
"I'm Tyr. I noticed we are no longer on the board, when we were just before."
The woman glanced at her books. "A contestant asked for a change of pairings. You will be informed when we have you against another contestant." Tyr frowned, and turned to return to Fryten.
Fryten looked up, waiting for an explanation.
"It seems someone asked to have a different opponent."
"Jackle?"
"Possibly."
Fryten shook his head, grinning. "He chickened out."
"Or maybe you're a bit too confident."
"Never!"

Jackle walked up to Eko.
"Are you okay, Jackle?" Eko asked as he laid his head down.
"No. But I will be once we beat that over confident bastard Drakus." Jackle said. He sat down next to Eko. Tyr walked up to the pair of them.
"I had to ask why you changed the pairing of us." Tyr asked looking down at Jackle who had his face covered.
"Look, Tyr, it had nothing to do with you personally okay. I was looking foraward to our match but then that, Drakus, fool came and started to call Eko and I names. So I had our match up changed so that I could fight the dunce." Jackle explained. He lowered his hands. Tyr nodded and walked away.

Tyr strode bake to Fryten. "Vengeance." Tyr muttered in explanation.
"A worthy enough cause."
"But a dangerous one. If Jackle plays the game emotionally, he may fall at a critical moment."
"Not everyone was raised by the elves, Tyr."
"So? My father was not an impulsive man. He was human."
"You confuse me, Tyr. Do you have no fire in your soul?" Fryten demanded, snorting with annoyance.
"Yes, my old friend, of course I do. The trick is to keep it here," Tyr pointed to his heart, "But use what's up here." He tapped his head.
Fryten shook his head. "I hope your wisdom will not be the ruin of us."
Tyr laughed. "Your wisdom involves relying on brute strength."
"It works." Fryten grinned. "You're the one with the crafty plans, my friend."
"Exactly! Trust me on this. Emotions and fighting rarely mix."
"Alright. But I want to go sunbathe."
Tyr nodded. "I'll join you. I need to do some meditation."
Tyr jumped onto Fryten's neck, who launched off to find the warmest spot.

Lyin walked back to the stables after she heard the announcements, Hyte was resting up, too tired from the trip to bother coming to the stadium.

As she approached she saw Hyte head peering over his door, watching her.

"Well," He said, "who are we against first?"

She smiled, "That Crys girl. Have you seen her dragon perform?"

"Can't say I have, but I'm sure they'll be a good match. They better be, or I'll be dissapointed. I need a warm-up."

Lyin grinned, "I'm sure she'll be good. Let's go practice."

They left the stables, walking out to the fields.

Crys turned to Dane. "No, you're fine, i suppose."

The other dragon and rider approached and landed on the ledge.

"How are you guys doing?" the judge asked.

"Fine." Crys said, turning back to her meal.

"Very good." Dane said, bowing to her.

"Well...good."


*omg, i hate writers block*Head/desk**