The Arena novel Chapter 28

When Ish and Kali return home, they tell us they found the arena. Kali is pacing in the way only a predatory feline can. Back and forth, back and forth.

“Kali, please have a seat.” Her nervous energy is making me nervous.

“Ishir, we can’t just leave them in there for another week,” Kali says.

“We have to. You didn’t see the locks.” He turns to me. “They made preparations for another attack. You can be sure they will be prepared to fight when we show up.”

“I’d like to see them fight against my fire.”

“It’s not you that I’m worried about. Kali, me, and every other shifter in the arena… we’re the ones that will be shot with whatever crap they fill their bullets with. I’m not worried about the silver, but that’s not all they use. And don’t even get me started about their possible use of poisoned arrows.”

“Okay, so what’s the plan?”

“Same as before, except this time we have Kali. We’ll stop and get Avani on the way …”

“No. We didn’t need him last time, and we won’t need him this time.”

“Tana. We do need him. If you’re fighting the spectators and the ranked members, we’ll need him to rip the cages out so the shifters won’t burn alive.”

“We have Kali this time. I’ll fly in and lay down the fire. You can go into the arena and fight the spectators that jump into the arena, and Kali can work on the cages. We don’t need Avani.”

“What do you have against him?”

“He’s an arrogant asshole, and we don’t need him.”

“Fine. But you better hope that we can get the shifters out before your fire gets to them.”

“I can rip out cages while I blow fire.”

He shook his head but didn’t say anything more about it.

Because I had been leaving early for Kenna, I decided not to take a day off before we left. I took the week before the arena to take Kenna out after work and begin teaching her about her fire.

My daughter is an amazing girl.

We practiced pulling on the different kinds of fire, and then we practiced how to open and close her wings. This was harder because I couldn’t help her feel her wings; she had to find them on her own.

Her development was strange to me. As a one-year-old, a dragon is considered much more advanced in age than a human child. Dragons are considered fully grown by age five. So, while my daughter’s body continues to grow at a human’s pace, making her a one-year-old in looks, her intelligence, balance, and strength far exceed her appearance.

On Friday, we prepare to leave, and I warn Kenna about using her fire in anger. “You need to maintain control. What do you do if you get angry?” I ask her, making sure Jena and Palila are listening.

“I can count. Or I can use my words, or I can take deep breaths until I calm down.”

“That’s right. And what happens if I come back and you’ve hurt our friends?”

“I will answer to the dragon.”

“That’s right.” I kiss the top of her head. “You know I love you, right?”

“Yes, Momma.”

“And that I know you can do this and be a good girl for me while I’m gone?”

“Yes, Momma.”

“Okay, Jena and Palila are in charge. Say goodbye to Kali; she probably won’t be coming back with us.”

Kenna says goodbye to Kali, who rubs her face against my daughter’s. She says goodbye to Ish, who is a total sucker for my little girl. Then she comes to me. She wraps her arms around me.

“Please be safe, Momma.”

“I will, sweet girl. Remember, listen to Jena and Palila and practice your healing if you get a chance. We’ll be back in a couple of days.”

I strip and put my clothes in the bag before leaping off the outdoor patio and shifting mid-air.