Chernobyl Curs Audition Part 2

The ferris wheel stretched into the clouded skies, rusted and desolate. The vast stretch of concrete around it was cracked and overgrown weeds had poked their way through it's hard surface. A gas mask along with bits of old garbage were scattered around the wheel, but the people who'd left them there were long gone, along with all the humans who'd once inhabited the city of Pripyat. 

The area was definitely not devoid of life, whoever. There were countless dogs of all shape and color crowded around it the ferris wheel, waiting. The aroma of fear and anticipation met Chomp's nostrils as he padded towards the wheel, a small cat perched on his back. 

The sight of other dogs looking confused and scared seemed to encourage him; he liked the company of other dogs and it was reassuring to know he wasn't the only one feeling queasy about the tournament. Most of them huddled in small groups, surveying the other dogs with their hackles raised. Chomp greeted the dogs openly, but most of them either snarled at him or edged away, low growls rising in their throats. 

"They don't seem like a very friendly bunch. They all look so edgy and sad or angry, I don't see why, I'm just trying to say hello and they all look so-

"They're all about to fight each other, Chomp. And most of them have no reason to be friendly to dogs they don't know, because they're just someone else to compete for food and territory with." Lytett muttered. Chomp felt the urge to respond, but it was one of his very rare moments when he couldn't think of anything to say.

As he made his way forward dogs were starting to give him strange looks, and he sensed Lytett stiffen on his back. A large, heavily built grey dog was eyeing the cat with hunger gleaming in his eyes, a string of drool hanging from his droopy jowls. Chomp felt a growl rumble in his throat and sped up.

"Maybe you should have stayed back at our tree." chomp muttered uneasily, staring back at the grey dog. "You'd be considered lunch to a lot of these mutts, y'know."

"Come on, I'm not going to let them eat me." She huffed, but chomp could sense her unease. 

There was a loud, booming bark and the muttering of the dogs fell silent. A large brown and black dog that Chomp recognized as Beyra leapt up onto the platform of the ferris wheel. She gazed at the dogs gathered around her, then began to speak.

"You all know why you're here. The time has come for the tournement to start. Food is getting scarce as the dog population has grown too large for Pripyat to handle. Half of you will be chosen to compete, or volunteer." She said, her voice loud and confident. "I was the winner of the last tournament, so I will be the host of this tournament and the one to choose who must compete. The stronger of you will be safe, but whoever can not defeat me in battle will participate in the tournament or be driven out of Chernobyl for good. This competition is for the good of Pripyat and is necessary for the survival of it's canine inhabitants." 

Under the booming voice of Beyra, the clearing was dead silent. Chomp noticed several large dogs pacing the perimeter of the clearing, watching the curs with peeled eyes. He guessed they were there to reinforce Beyra's rules and to make sure no dogs made a run for it or fought among each other before the tournament began. 

"The losers will lose the right to breed, if they live. I will bend their tails or savage the back of their legs to let everyone know who they are, and to stay away from them. The winner gains fame and immunity from the next tournaments. Even the losers benefit, for by the time this tournament is over, food will be much more plentiful. We appreciate the losers, because they ensure the survival of the dogs of Pripyat." 

Chomp tried to stay silent, but he felt a thousand protests and questions itching to be said. He felt Lytett dig her claws slightly into his back, a warning to stay silent. Staying quiet to him was a very difficult task, but he managed to obey.

"I will fight you each, one by one. The goal is to pin me down or wear me out. If you do, you will not have to participate in the tournament. You are allowed to use your teeth to an extent, but if is blood is drawn you automatically become a contestant, and severe injuries are forbidden. If I pin you down before you can defeat me, than you must become a contestant. I will not fight to the best abilities to be fair, unless too many dogs are passing the test. At least a third of the dog population is required to participate if the tournament is going to efficiently help reduce the population. If you try to run, you will be killed or driven out by me or one of my guards. Am I clear?"

The smell of unease rose from the dogs around him, but none of them said anything.

"This test ensures that only the weaker have to fight, and only strong dogs will be born. Alright, line yourselves up, without any fighting if you can. Are there any questions?"

"I can do this, can't I? I can win. I'm big and strong and I have my special eye.. But I can't hurt other dogs! I'm kind, I can't do that. I'm civilized, geez. I don't wanna hurt other dogs, I hate that Beyra character, she seems so full of herself. I.." Chomp paced back in forth, heart racing as he babbled even faster than he usually did. Lytett sighed, getting dizzy as he circled around and around, making a dent in the earth. 

"Sure you could, you got one hell of a temper! Just image them doing something really irritating, and then kick their ass." Lytett suggested, grooming an orange paw to reduce the dizziness. "Oh, and your turn is coming, so you gotta calm down." She hissed, watching as Beyra pinned a furious, tough looking dark brown dog with a scarred face and a spiked red collar. There was only a small, multicoloured and insane looking dog left before it was chomp's turn. A black and white cat sat beside her, eyeing the dogs around her like she would eagerly slash open their faces if an opportunity presented itself. 

Chomp wasn't sure it was a good idea to introduce himself to them, even though he would have liked to, so instead he continued to pace until finally Beyra faced him. 

He lowered himself to the ground so Lytett could slide off him, then stared blankly at Beyra. For the first time in a long time, he didn't feel like saying anything as she observed him. Dogs had gathered around her, eagerly watching, muttering to each other. 

Beyra lowered her eyes to Lytett, and snorted. "Why do you carry that thing around on your back? She could be a food source."

Chomp stared blankly for another second before a hot wave of rage consumed him. "How dare you say that, you disgusting bitch!" He snarled, standing over Lytett. "Her back leg is lame, but she's my best friend." 

Lytett puffed out her fur, back arched. "Food? I'd like to see you try and get your fat snout anywhere near me." She hissed, indignantly trying to stand straight without wobbling. 

Beyra was not impressed. She narrowed her eyes, looking surprised that the cat knew how to speak. "I'm sorry to hurt your feelings, cat, but it's not like we can be picky of what we eat 'round here."

"Well, if you dare consider her to be part of your menu, consider your throat to be on mine." Chomp growled, as Beyra began to circle him. A large crowd had gathered, dogs watching with wide eyes. He glared at the dogs around him. "If any of you touch her-

"Chomp, I'll be fine! Focus on Beyra, she looks severely pissed." Lytett hissed, irritated. She gazed around at the dogs around her calmly, but her claws were unsheathed, their perfectly sharp points digging into the concrete. 

By the time Chomp's attention had focused back on Beyra, she lunged. 

Chomp ducked just in time, then sprang as she landed, ramming into her headfirst and causing her to stumble. She teetered on the edge of balance for a moment, and the crowd held their breath. Then she stabilized herself and ran at him, snapping her jaws at his right ear. He felt searing pain as her teeth connected. He managed to shove her away with his front paws and darted around her, trying to use his quickness to his advantage. She snapped at him repeatedly but her powerful jaws were not quick enough, and he managed to stay out of her range. She was getting closer every time, however, and she was intent on staying on his right side, out of his field of vision. If he was going to win, he had to make his move soon. He saw an opportunity and lunged, seizing her back leg in his jaws, hoping to trip her, and succeeded, but she thrashed wildly as he tried to pin her, whacking the side of his head with one powerful paw. She scrambled up as he fell back, feeling dizzy. She wasted no time and leapt. Chomp sidestepped, but not quite quick enough. Beyra was able to pin his hindquarters down, her impact knocking the breath out of him. He writhed and struggled violently, twisting to try to get his jaws close enough to bite her, with no success. For a moment their eyes connected, and chomp seized his chance. He narrowed his blind eye and locked gazes with Beyra. She stiffened for a moment, then slid off him in a daze. He leapt to his feet, shaking his thick fur, his back aching from being pressed against the cold, hard concrete. Beyra shook her head, looking confused, but got to her feet just as Chomp charged her. He felt a surge of confidence as she nearly toppled, but she struck out with her hind legs, trying to fend him off. He didn't acquiesce, grabbing her scruff in his jaws and attempting to shove her over with his front legs. Her paws were firmly planted on the concrete, but with Chomp's weight pressing against her, she would fall any second. 

"If you win.." She muttered, nearly out of breath, "your friend is dead." She finished, her voice barely above a whisper.

For a moment the words didn't register. Then Chomp stumbled back, eyes wide with shock. As Beyra quickly regained her balance and barreled into him, his shock was quickly consumed by rage. He opened his jaws with a vicious snarl and drove his teeth deep into Beyra's neck, feeling his strong jaws clamp down through her thick coat. 

The crowd let out surprised yelps. Beyra howled in pain, yanking backwards, her large paws scrabbling at his chest in an attempt to free herself. He held on for a second, enjoying her yelps of pain, then let go, stumbling backwards with his muzzle stained red. Beyra took a few steps back from him then stood panting, smelling strongly of pain, shock and fury, her blood beginning to drip steadily down onto the concrete. Chomp felt a mix of victory, anger, confusion and guilt as he stood glaring at her, breathing heavily. 

A few tense moments passed before Beyra hollered for her guards, without taking her eyes off Chomp.

The crowd parted as two large dogs ran towards him, snarling menacingly. "You broke the rules. You will participate in the contest, or get your throat torn out." A german shepard told him, tail raised and ears pricked forward defiantly. 

Chomp opened his mouth to defend himself, to tell the crowd exactly what Beyra had done. She'd cheated. She'd used his weakness against him. He would have won, if she hadn't manipulated him. He looked over at the cluster of dogs, surrounded by guards, who were going to participate. They looked a lot less prolific than the rest of the dogs who weren't participating, so perhaps Beyra was getting desperate. He remembered her saying in the woods the day before that he was a large dog, so he'd need a lot of Chernobyl's dwindling food. Maybe she just disliked him, which wasn't too uncommon. But he didn't think bringing it up would do any good; none of the other dogs had heard Beyra utter those words, so she would probably deny it. Beyra seemed completely bent on making him enter the tournament. Her expression was almost smug; he realized she probably wasn't even serious about Lytett. She'd seen other cats with the other competitors, and didn't seem to have any problem with them; she only said that to make him lose control of himself. He felt the urge to make her realize what he was made of. He remembered Lytett telling him he could win, and he believed it. At least if he couldn't win, he would go down in a flame of glory.

He raised his head and smiled. "That's fine with me." He willingly followed the guards, bending down to let Lytett scramble on to his back before strutting over to the large cluster of competing dogs. 

"What was that all about?!" Lytett hissed into his ear. "What were you thinking, you just broke the rules -

"I'll tell you later," He replied quietly. "But trust me, once you know what she said you'll be glad I bit that bitch."

La Fin : D