"Okay, you know I have to ask." Cybelline said as she felt the ground shook beneath her feet. The dwarf looked at her, surprised, she continued, "Why haven't you run away?"

Oqir, the dwarf, scoffed, "You've been living among the humans for too long. We dwarfs have honor."

"You were leading me to my death." Cybelline looked for rocks she could use in this situation.

Oqir had the grace to look guilty, "I..."

"Never mind. Why don't we just go back to the platform?" Cybelline said.

Just then, twenty mages stood up and started muttering a spell. A thick barrier formed around the arena.

"Well this just get more and and more fun." Cybelline remarked.

RAAWWWWWWWWWWW...RAWWWWWWWWWWWW

An enormous creature crawled out of the largest cavern. Black feathers covered its large body, ending up to the chained talons. It was enormous, ancient, and deadly. From its beak issued a black cloud of smoke. Blood from gashes seeped from its grey skin, the creature was as ugly as sin. Patches of feathers were missing from its body, evidence of scarring left from its battles.

A great vulture looking creature the size of a small building lumbered forward. A stinking, putrid smell came off of it. It's wingspan seemed to take over a quarter of the arena.

"What the hell are you people feeding these animals." Cybelline said as she stared at the monstrosity that crashed into the rocks blindly.

"Us." Oqir spat.

RAWWWWW! The creature tilted its head up to the sky and from its mouth issued a large mass of flames.

A barrier of magic flared as the fire hit the barrier. Cybelline looked around and saw mages buckle with effort of holding back this great beast. The beast shook its head as it screamed its fury.

The chains did not seem to impeded the beast as it raised its head to look around, its body, though large, was still agile.

"Any weaknesses?" Cybelline said as she stood very still.

"No. No one has survived long enough to find one."

"You know, this morning, I definitely did not think I was going to fight to the death with a giant, fire-breathing turkey."

The bird sniffed hungrily, spotting the two of them, opened its beak. A jet of iron-melting flames rushed at Cybelline and the dwarf.

"DOWN!" Cybelline roared and grabbed the dwarf. She pushed him onto the earth, as flames shot above their heads.

She studied the great, fire breathing beast from her hiding place. It tried to go towards the barrier, to break free. The mages strengthened it, their magic spreading out on the dome like lightning. The bird screamed in anger but retreated, stumbling a little on the uneven ground and rocks.

Cybelline looked at the Dwarf and smiled, "Can you dig well?"

"Can fish swim?" Oqir scoffed.

Cybelline was busy looking for rocks the size of her fist, "It has to be a bit deep. Enough for me to stand in without being able to get out." The dwarf nodded. He was a mining dwarf after all, if there was anything he know how to do, it was digging.

"Hey, Chicken Mcnuggets!" She called out and threw a rock at it. The bird roar as it hit it on the beak and charged at Cybelline.

Phillip and Killian had both stood up at that moment, when they saw what Cybelline was doing.

Alistair tried to hide his glee, "How unique. Your friend is the first to run towards death." He turned to the group and the crowd of wealthy patrons, "Honorable Lords and Ladies, I present to you the Black Vulture. A magical bird the size of a small mountain, the last of its kind. I found this at the heart of a volcano, and brought it back for your enjoyment!"

A roar of pleasure sounded as people hooted and cheered for the great beast below.

Cybelline as fast as she could, and slipped past the bird's legs. On her way, she grabbed a more rocks, pelting the bird, making it follow her as she ran.

For a moment, everyone stared and then roared with laughter. The child must be insane. Did he really think throwing measly rocks at the great giant was going to do much?

Alistair was laughing to the point that he couldn't breathe. "Does he really think that would work? That thing took down a hundred mages before we could subdue it. And he's... throwing rocks? What's he trying to do, make it more angry?"

Walking over, Alistair picked up the row of pearls that Cybelline had thrown carelessly on the table next to her, "How pretty a bauble. I'm glad to add it to my collection"

Killian glanced over, then, taking another look at the pearls, frowned.

They watched as the giant bird turned and roared, giant fireballs flew at Cybelline, who, despite running with her back to the thing, dodged them easily.

She ran the thing in circles. The bird spat mouthfuls of flame at it. Sometimes at Cybelline, sometimes missing the youth, at the barrier.

Philip, unaware of the exchange, turned to Lord Alistair, "Open the barrier, let me in."

Alistair raised his eyebrow, "My lord, you agreed, this is a wager between me and that young man. Upon your honor, if I may add. Besides, this is the only thing keeping the beast inside and us safe."

Philip drew his dagger and advanced, "There is no honor among thieves." But he was stopped by a hand. Killian looked at the prince, "He's not an idiot."

People laughed as the youth below ran around like a hapless monkey, jumping from rock to rock. They oohed and ahhed as the youth dodged the beast.

"Let's release the wolves. Make it more fun." Alistair muttered. His servants nodded.

A great horn sounded as another door opened. A pack of wolves as large as horses charged into the arena. They ran for Cybelline, directed by their human masters to destroy the youth.

A wolf leapt at her, its great maw open and aimed straight for the head. She grabbed the thing by the throat.

The laughter seemed be cut off instantly.

Everyone stared with their mouth open as they saw the youth catch the wolf in midair easily. She gripped the beast, turned, and lobbed it at the giant bird creature.

It turned into ash in the burst of flames. The fire hit the barrier with a thud. Lights flashed as the barrier dealt with both flying projectile and flames.

"Interesting. Looks like wolves work better than rocks." Cybelline said as she scratched her chin.

In what was an unprecedented turn of events, Cybellined turned to chase the wolf pack. These giant wolves were magically powerful and physically strong, but they were no match for Cybelline.

With one hand she grabbed one and then another in her other arm. Throwing it at the giant creature, the two vicious wolves became fried instantly. Hitting the barrier with a thud.

BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.

Giant wolves the size of horse hit the shield in a roar of flames.

Cybelline watched as a fresh wave of fire hit the shield, the mages held strong as the onslaught of fire hit their barrier again and again. But their shaking legs and ashen faces told another story.

The remaining wolves weren't idiots. This wasn't a normal battle. And they weren't on top of the food chain.

Inside barrier, it was becoming increasingly harder and harder to see as the giant creature's movements stirred up dust and debris. People murmured their dissatisfaction, it was as if the giant clear bowl of a barrier was becoming more and more muddied every minute. Occasionally there would be a yelp, and a huge spout of flames would hit the barrier.

Today the mages felt that they woke up on the wrong side of the bed. They were usually there to make sure that the victim didn't escape and the occasional fireball. But this, this was more than they could handle, it was a miracle that they'd held on for so long.

The bird roared in anger and frustration and threw another round of fireballs into the air. They landed everywhere. Out of the corner of her eye, Cybelline saw one of the mages buckle. She grinned, it was about time.

She took one last rock and began to fill it with her own fire magic, as powerful as she dared. Turning around, she saw the aggravated creature was running at her with full speed.

As it approached the edge of the barrier, she suddenly took a giant rock and threw it with all her might. The bird, without thinking opened its mouth and issued a huge mouthful of flames at the rock.

BAM BAM BAM, the barrier was upheld by powerful mages against one magical entity. They were not prepared for two.

The barrier cracked as the fireball lobbed through hit one of the mages. The mage screamed and turned into a pile of ash. The barrier cracked as light flashed around it like lightning bolts

Alistair's face showed shock and awe. People screamed and everyone froze for a second. But, soon, they all started running for their lives.

Cybelline ran with all of her might and leapt at the bird during the bright flash of light.

The bird shook its head and roared in dissatisfaction. But Cybelline had now climbed onto its back, and with great difficulty she grabbed it's feathers, "DOWN" She roared and with all her might dragged the bird's head to the ground.

BOOM, the youth dragged the bird by the head to fall onto the ground. A ring of dust and rocks flew into the air as if a bomb had exploded.

The bird continued to scream and rocks flew throughout the arena. People looked down nervously as entire area seemed to shake violently. The mages scrambled away from the area, their magic too spent to recall the barrier. They retreated to the high platform.

Below, the giant beast had thought this human was nothing more than a mosquito, a small annoyance that dared challenge its supremacy.

But in the fire and flames, the youth stood, her back straight and her eyes full of icy, deadly intent, "I think it's time we stop playing games. Just because I don't want people to know I have power, doesn't mean I can be taken for a weakling. " Her fists began to glow red hot as her magic filled her fingers. She may have no control over other magics, but fire, she knew.

She charged at the bird, faster than the eye could see. The storm of clouds and flames was as if an volcano had erupted. The upper level shook as the magical spells that kept the space intact began to buckle.

Alistair threw up a barrier as a massive rock came towards him. His barrier held. Barely.

A few mages threw up theirs, some weren't so lucky.

People looked around nervously, but Alistair smiled, "Lord and ladies, this house is magically protected. You are safe." They watched as the fighting grew more and more intense.

Oqir watched from the hole that he had dug, in this fight, he had been miraculously safe. Cybelline had kicked over an unusually large rock over his hole. He prayed the same could be said for his people, locked in the underground dungeons.

In the arena, the one powerful and mighty bird was reduced to a quivering mass. Cybelline worked quickly, not wanting the people above to see what she was doing. Luckily, the dust had not settled just yet.

"I know you probably have difficulties of your own. But you've been pretty nasty towards me. Throwing fire and flames." Cybelline gave the bird another punch to the head, "And if you had been a little nicer, I would have been equally nice. Because I'm pretty reasonable."

Punch.

"Patient."

Punch.

"And understanding."

Punch. Punch.

"But I have to thank you for helping me take down the barrier so I can have a go at Lord Alistair. That's why I'm going to give you a chance."

The bird shook its poor head and felt as if its brain had been punched into jelly. Stop! It wanted to tell the scary youth.

Cybelline smiled, "Are you going to be good?"

The bird nodded eagerly. Cybelline climbed onto its head, "Then let's be friends."

From the center of the arena, a column of flames shot up. It was thicker than a thousand year old tree, and more powerful than a rushing waterfall. It tore through the roof of the gambling house and shot into the air.

From the flames giant figure erupted into the air. The black bird had risen from the flame, docile to the youth sitting on top. Its giant wing tore even more of the roof off as it rose into the air, the gusts even knocking down some of the guests from their seats.

But everyone was transfixed at the sight of the slight human on the head of the bird

His eyes were greener than spring, his hair as red as fire. It was his expression that drew everyone. His face was angelic in the fire and destruction, he was mesmerizing.

A young woman who had been sitting far away from the crowd looked up from her seat. She stared at the youth above and felt her heart skip a beat. She had never seen someone who could make her look twice. Today, this youth was the first. She grinned. How interesting.

Cybelline sat on the bird's head and patted it, "Good chicken."

The thing screamed but dared not throw Cybelline off. It learned in the last few moments just how scary this person was. Cybelline smiled, "Let's go have some fun."

She saw Killian standing on the platform.He stared up at Cybelling, as if trying to read him across the distance. She reached into her pocket and drew out a gold crystal the size of her fist. It shone with the power of the sun.

"A Light stone?!" Someone screamed with incredulity. It was one of the most powerful crystals of the land, able to increase a mage's power by a level. Cybelline smiled, "I've won, Garlic."

Alistair stared at the light stone, he looked at the rock he had chosen. Crushing it open, he saw that he had only a light blue crystal smaller than a pea. It was valuable, but nothing compared to the stone in the youth's hand. He'd lost spectacularly. His heart dropped as people looked at him.

Alistair motioned and a line of mages ran towards him, "Kill the little bastard!"

But what came next, no one expected.

Lord Alistair flew into the air like a broken kite, his body hurtling down the platform and landing with a thud. He bounced once, twice, and then tumbled to a stop.

On the area floor, he lay moaning and coughing.

Everyone looked at the one who kicked him off the platform.

Killian lowered his foot and took a handkerchief from Jacen. Gently he wiped the area that had came in contact with the unfortunately lord. He looked at Jacen and Evan, who nodded and drew their swords

They it casually at the neck of the head mage, Jacen grinned, 'A bet is a bet." No one dared to move.

Cybelline grinned, "Let's have some fun now, shall we?"

Alistair sat up, he heard growls around. Five wolves remained from the pack, five larger than horse wolves.

Above him, Cybelline pointed down and told the giant monster, "Snacktime."