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The spark of light was warm, inviting. Falair smiled brightly at it, she liked this feeling. It was bright. No darkness or shadows here to tear at her. But as the light began to fade she noticed wisps began to float away from her. She almost reached out, trying to grasp at them to pull them back.

Where she was....it seemed so charming. Like a fairy tale story. Ethereal. Was she dead? No, she didn't remember dying. What was this place. A thin mist drifted between trees, low to the ground it wasn't thick like the fog before. Was that music? Singing? It was so lovely and peaceful Falair wanted to seek it out but before she knew it more wisps had appeared and begn to guide her down a path.

More and more trees. They seemed to line the path, making sure she went this way and did not stray. It was not long before she came upon a particularly large tree, silver and beautiful but there was something sad about it as well. A heart? A soft, quiet voice came from the tree. Falair leaned forward to listen.

When the tree was done speaking Falair stepped forward. She felt sorry for this tree, the spirit that dwelled within it. But she would help them fulfill this last desire they had.

Acorn size: 5

The world was harsh. Dusty, sun baked. Falair grew up in this town of dirt and strife. She had seen Sheriffs come and go, corrupt assholes who thought the town was their milk and honey. They would bleed them all dry before finally somehow, one day, the Sheriff would turn up dead. Or missing.

Which generally brought in an new and just as corrupt one. It was a revolving door.

Her family was well off enough, they had a small cattle ranch. A handful of horses. Some nice land her parents had claimed in the mad rush west. Little did they know how barren and hard this land would be. But this was their land.

The dust blew thick through the air as Falair rode into town, one destination in mind. She pulled up in front of the Sheriff's office and tied off her horse. Dusty boots kicking up more dirt as she made her way up the wooden plank stares and pushed her way through the door. "Sheriff! Those no good jerk offs have done it again! They stole our cattle. I want them shot or hanged! No! Shot AND hanged!"

The Sheriff had his feet up on a table, dark eyes peering out from beneath an even darker hat. The shiny star pin on his vest was the only clean thing about him. "Well now sugar dumplin. I think we've had this conversation before. You give ol' Johnny here a good ol' time and I'll think about handlin' it."

She wrinkled her nose. "I wouldn't touch you with a thirty foot pole you disgusting pig."

"Awww don't be that way Falair. This little piggie will squeal real good for you if you just give him a teenie bit of your time." A wide grin spread across his lips, revealing rotting yellow teeth. Even more reason for her to feel an overwhelming need to vomit.

"Forget it." She huffed, turning on her heels and storming out the door. He wasn't going to help her, or her family. Not without her lowering herself to that sort of level and even then it was just a maybe. She knew if she gave in once it wouldn't only be a one time thing. Falair climbed back onto her horse and rode out of town. Pushing her horse faster and faster, but she did not return to her home. No, she took a different path that lead to another town. Another farm.

Finding a grove of scraggly trees, she sat atop her horse watching. Not far off she could spot a small gaggle of cows being herded into a pen by two men. They were laughing and having a good ol' time. Anger flared deep within her chest and she snapped her horse into a dead run. The two men didn't see her until she was right on top of her, she kicked one off his horse, pulled out a pistol from her boot and shot him. The second man tried to run but she shot him in the back. Circling their bodies, she jumped down and reached to feel their necks. No pulse. They were dead.

Good.

She reached into her saddle bag and pulled out a length of rope. Wrapping it around the two bodies tightly then tying the rope to her saddle horn. Falair went into the cattle pen and opened the gates chasing all the cows, her's and the ones in their previously. She didn't know if they belonged to them but even so she was taking them. It wasn't a large group of cattle so it would be easy to herd them home.

Which she did, Dragging two corpses behind her through the dirt.

A few days later the Sheriff decided to make a visit to the family farm. Falair sat in a wooden chair on the porch, sipping a cup of cold tea with a pleased look on her face as he pulled up on his horse and climbed down. "So Falair, had you thought a bit out my proposition? I promise I'll take care of those cattle thieves if you just do what I want."

She pointed towards the cattle pen, the Sheriff's eyes went wide. Two bodies hung from the overhang to the entrance. Ropes tied around their neck. Dusty bodies that had their flesh ripped apart by vultures and hawks. "No thanks Sheriff, I got it handled already. And he was a wild ride too. I don't think I'll stop smilin' for months." Falair chuckled to herself as his face went bright red. "Now, if you'd kindly get off my father's farm I'd be mighty appreciative."

Her turned quickly and got back onto her horse. Giving her a look of disdain before kicking his stallion into a quick gallop back into town.

Cries and moans filled the air of the labs. Humans, resistance fighters. They all were crammed into various cages. Each give a different number. A different scroll of paper attached to their bars.

Falair sat on a cushioned chair, scribbling in a log book. Unaffected by the cries and screams for death or release. It was merely another day to her.

'Trial 356 - Trial is unsuccessful. No results or new effects. All trial subjects did not survive. Will not be trying on Subject Zero. Gather replacement subjects to make up for loss.'

With a sigh she closed the log book and set her quill aside. Arms lifting into the air as she stretched with a soft moan. It felt like she had been sitting here forever. Writing on this scroll and that. At least it was time to go home for the day. She quickly exited the labs and began to make her way home.

It was almost dark, the smell of burning flesh in the air. She had grown used to it by now it was so common. Cutting across the marketplace, she stopped briefly to chat with a few shop keepers. Glancing only briefly at a chained group of humans who looked like they could pass for a Famine member.

The cry of a crowd came from a nearby square. It seemed another resistance member had been captured and was receiving punishment. Death was too easy though. Public torture was more the norm. Then death.

After purchasing a few things she went on her way, passing open tent flaps on occasion. She glanced in a few, catching glimpses of Clansmen beating a human for not performing a certain task properly. Or perhaps they were just beating them because. She could only imagine went on behind closed tent flaps. But it was no matter to her, what did she care? The humans deserved their fate.

She finally made it home, entering her tent a warm glow of candle light filled the living room. The jingle of a bell as a small human with light blonde hair came shambling forward. She wasn't starved or bruised like the other humans that some of the clansmen kept. Honestly, Falair had just a bit of sympathy for this one. Saving her from a fate possibly worse than death. Though the girl was treated more like a pet than anything. "Hello Shaina. Have you been a good girl today? Put the tea on? Done your chores?" The girl nodded but did not speak, scurrying over to the hearth were a small fire burned, pouring hot tea into a cup as Falair made herself comfortable on her chaise.

A smile came to her lips as she took the tea filled cup from the girl, playing with a few stray blonde curls that fell onto her forehead. "You know you are lucky Shaina. You might have ended up in the labs if not on the auction block. Be thankful for what life you lead. Never take anything for granted." Falair sipped her tea, brown eyes shimmering in the light of the flame as she watched the girl who just stood there, staring at her bare feet. Falair reached over to a small gold box, flipping open the top and plucking out a single candy.

She held it out to the girl. "Here you are, for being such a good girl today. Maybe if you work extra hard tomorrow I'll give you two." Shaina reached out and took the candy wearily, sniffing it before unwrapping it from it's gold wrappings. Falair's eyes shimmered as she smiled into her cup. As the girl ate the candy she suddenly dropped to the floor, not dead of course, but she was in for a good long sleep.

Settling her tea on a nearby table, Falair climbed off her chaise and scooped up the small girl's body. Carrying her over to a small cage and placing her inside, locking it with a heavy golden lock. It wasn't just to prevent the girl from running off but to protect her as well.

With that done Falair settled back onto her chaise, drifting into a light slumber with the warmth of the fire dwindling. Tomorrow she would have to start some new tests, ideas floated in and out of her half conscious mind before she finally fell asleep.

The Arena.

Falair knew it. It was the only thing she knew. She was born into it. Raised in it. And lived it every day. Friends and enemies died day after day and you were lucky if you survived. There were so many of them here. All slaves. Some like her, born into this life. Others bought. It didn't matter how you got here. The only thing that did matter was how you performed.

Today Falair was being prepped for a highly anticipated battle. She did not know the details, but of course they were never told the details anyway. Attendants rubbed oil into her skin to make it shine. Hooking up her armor and handing her her spear. She knew her spear well. Many said she was born with it in her hand.

She could hear the roar of the crowd in the stadium as she approached the iron gates. They listed slowly as the crowd grew louder and louder. The sunlight blinding but she took proud steps to the center of the arena. Planting her spear butt end into the ground and thrusting a fist into the air with a yell.

The crowd yelled back. Hooting and hollering. Their blood lust crying out. They wanted a show. She would give them one.

Falair turned as the opposite gate began to rise, but no other human stepped forward. A roar erupted from the darkness as a large, golden lion burst into the open air. It's tail lashing, it looked at Falair with death in it's eyes. She was taken a back for a second but did not falter.

Grabbing her spear, she leveled it to the lion who charged. Claws tearing into the dirt as it sped towards her. Falair's focus was entirely on it, nothing else mattered. It lept in the air and she thrust her spear into it's stomach. Falling back as she lifted it high over her head with it's own momentum. As it landed she jumped on the spear, driving it deep into the large wild cat's gut, she pulling back to open it up. Hot, pink insides hissed and steam rose as the lion's intestines and stomach hit the dirt.

The lion was dead.

It was a quick death for a majestic beast. The crowd erupted into a roar of cheers. Falair removed her spear and headed back to the waiting area behind the gate once more.

She'd live another day.