Chapter 63: Chapter 63: Next Level Obstacle Course (1)

“Now, Blaze, this won’t be the same as before,” Kaline says, leading me out of the villa. Demos and Lobo trot after us, with Vedette and Minette and Niall bringing up the rear.

I can’t wait to see the new upgraded obstacle course, but Kaline blocks my view, and so do the other humans. Argh! I’m dying of curiosity here.

Lamant awaits us, shielding Gussie’s eyes. Of course, she keeps maneuvering and tilting her head this way and that to try and peer around his hand.

I’d give anything to have X-ray vision right now. Somehow, I doubt that my Divine Vision will allow me to see the new and improved obstacle course.

I utter another “mrrrp,” hinting at my longing to see the obstacle course.

“Blaze. Don’t be a fussy tiger,” Kaline laughs. “We have to make sure everything is perfect. Is it, Father? Is it perfect?”

Lamant sounds confident. “It’s even better than before, because now we’re even more serious. After all, agility training is part of the Beast Taming Elimination Tournament. It’s the first event.”

“Why is that?” Vedette asks. “You should explain to Kaline.”

Ser Maartenwitz materializes beside Lamant. No doubt he’s been checking the obstacle course to make sure everything is regulation. “The Agility Training Trials are meant to demonstrate the bond between tamer and beast. Of the hundreds of contestants, half are usually eliminated during this event because the bonds between tamers and beasts can be tricky. The tournament tests that connection like never before. It can spell doom for first timers.”

Oh. That makes sense.

Kaline’s spark flutters through the bond. She’s suddenly nervous. Why? Doesn’t she believe in me? Haven’t I proven myself?

Calm down. Kaline is just a kid. A talented, smart, brave kid, but still, she is a kid. And anyone would be nervous. The first event of the tournament is make or break. EVERYONE can’t get to the final round, and some contestants probably need more training.

I lick Kaline’s hand and send a wave of love and support through the bond, as well as an affectionate “mrrrp.” Instantly, I feel a weight lifting from both of us.

Lamant is mildly reproachful. “Ser Maartenwitz, this is the Young Miss’s first tournament. Let’s not overdo the warnings.”

Mama bear Minette speaks up. “And Kaline’s connection to Blaze has proven powerful. After all, it did help her rescue him from the goblins.”

Maartenwitz shudders, aghast. “The less said about THEM, the better. Very well. The Young Miss and Blaze will acquit themselves honorably, I am sure.”

Kaline beams. “Awww. See, that wasn’t so painful, was it?”

Coughing into his sleeve, Maartenwitz says, “I think you and young spirited Blaze will be pleased with the obstacle course.”

Lamant clears his throat, “Speaking of which…feast your eyes.”

With that, he steps aside and uncovers Gussie’s eyes, and with a grin, Kaline darts aside as well. Indeed, I feast my eyes, and my jaw drops.

The simple obstacle course I conquered, despite Demos’ interference, has been transformed into a challenge worthy of W City’s most popular reality competition show, W City Ninja Warrior.

Stairs lead to a landing where floating platforms hover above a tank of water. Beyond that is a dark tunnel, and past the tunnel, rings like the kinds gymnasts use hang waiting for us to navigate them however we can. I can’t see the portion of the obstacle course past the rings.

[How do we swing on rings?} I ask Kaline.

Her answer is simple. [Magic.]

Right. Of course. This world has different laws of magic at times.

Lobo puffs out his fur. [This will be simple. I’ll be the fastest.]

[You’ll get your pretty fur wet.] Demos can’t resist winding him up. [After you spend all morning having it washed and brushed.]

Lobo flicks his ears forward. [Yes, well, you evidently rolled around in the dirt.]

Demos lets out an “uff.” [I got washed and brushed just like you.]

Lobo bares his teeth. [Washed in what, a mud bath?]

I nudge Demos. [Silly! Don’t you realize what he’s doing? He’s just baiting you, trying to psych you out so he gets through the obstacle course the fastest.]

Demos is a brown-furred statue for a moment. He looks like a stuffed bear in a museum display. Then, a low rumble rises from the depths of his belly. [Then he will see the fruits of him baiting me. As a bear, I hate baiting.]

I grin and shove him playfully. [I’m still going to beat your time.]

Niall states, “This obstacle course is a replica of the one at the tournament, and even if it looks impossible for beasts, tamed beasts do have magic that makes miracles.]

Lamant clears his throat. “Indeed. And so, let it begin. Ser Widdershins–”

“Niall.” Niall smooths back his wild white hair.

“Niall.” Lamant smiles slightly. “Niall and Ser Maartenwitz will be running this Agility Training and recording the times, and evaluating all our performances. That’s the best, fairest way.”

Maartenwitz stands up straight, correct and neat as always. It would be a bizarre day if I ever saw him with a bad hair day or clothes that weren’t perfectly pressed. In contrast, Niall is the picture of the veteran who is comfortable being a bit rumpled and ruffled. A weirdly complementary and clashing duo.

Niall holds out a bowl with four slips of paper in it. “Ser Maartenwitz, will you draw the first name? It’s only fair to have random selection as to who goes when.”

“If you wish.” Maartenwitz sounds starched and pressed, but there’s a touch of respect in his voice. He sticks his hand in the bowl and pulls out a slip of paper, then unfolds it. “Mistress Minette and Lobo.”

I utter a little disgruntled “mrrp” because I so wanted the first crack at that obstacle course.

“BLAZE. We have to wait our turn,” Kaline chides. “Besides, Lobo is new.”

She’s so bossy, and the tiger part of me loves it, but not the hidden human part that has been taking turns long before she was born. Taking turns with Damon.

Oh.

Lobo is Damon.

I bow my head. [I should let my little brother go first.]

Demos gives an impatient “uff.” [Brother?]

I growl. [He’s our beast brother. And our little brother because he’s new.]

I have to stop letting my previous life bleed into my new one. Wasn’t that what my vision of my own death was all about? Time to let go.

But I will never let Damon go. In my way, I can still be his older brother.

Kaline scratches behind my ears. “Blaze, you’re so good. But pay attention! Lobo is starting the obstacle course. Let’s cheer him on.”

Okay. I can cheer on Lobo. [Go, Lobo.]

Demos tries to take a swipe at me, and gets feathers rained down on him from Gussie’s indignant flapping. Vedette keels in front of Demos and has a private telepathic conversation with him.

When she’s finished, Demos lowers his head and paws the ground. He might push back against Gussie or me, but not against his Mistress. Truthfully, Vedette is the only person who can get through to him, as it should be with a tamer and beast.

Meanwhile, Niall blows a blast on a trumpet, and Lobo mounts the stairs, climbing up to the landing. Watching him as timekeeper, Ser Maartenwitz holds up a pocket watch and tracks his time. “Good start. Three seconds in.”

Before one of the magic hovering platforms even gets close to the landing, Lobo leaps…scrambles midair, flailing, lunges…and snags the platform with his claws. With a mighty effort, his muscles straining, he pulls himself up and lands on the platform with a THUMP.

Minette calls out, “Too soon, Lobo! Wait for the next one to come closer!”

Unfortunately, the platforms have a gap of air between them, drifting apart, back and forth. And I notice something about their movements. A pattern. Should i tell Lobo, or should Minette?

I can’t resist. [Lobo!]

He doesn’t answer. He sits sphinxlike on the platform, then approaches the edge, preparing to jump again.

[Lobo! The platform moves in a synchronized way. If it drifts too far, wait two seconds or so. It’ll come back.]

Again, he doesn’t even acknowledge that he heard me. However, as the platform drifts farther away, he doesn’t jump, either. Like clockwork, the platform drifts closer…closer…Lobo jumps!

This time, he makes it without any problems. I roar, cheering him on. Gussie squawks. “Good! Wait for the next one!”

Even Demos grunts in response. It’s not exactly a rousing cheer, but it’s not hostile, either.

Lobo leapfrogs across the platforms and reaches the tunnel, which seems to suck him into it. Now we can’t see him. Ugh! It’s a lot less fun waiting and watching for him to emerge than it is to race down the tunnel.

“One minute eleven seconds,” Maartenwitz reports, neutral.

“He should be out of the tunnel any second now,” Minette remarks.

Lamant rubs her shoulders. “You’ve done magnificently with him in a short time.”

“Ew, would you two stop being nauseating?” Kaline complains. “I’m trying to watch for Lobo.”

“One minute twenty seconds,” Maartenwitz reports.

More seconds pass by.

“TWO MINUTES.” Maartenwoitz sounds nervous now.

“Two minutes?” Kaline gasps.

The family is uneasy. I am, too. know it’s a long tunnel, but Lobo should have emerged by now. Don’t tell me he got stuck! Should I go in?

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