Hunter watched the match between Jake and Martin, cringing more than half the time. When the fight was done, it was a tie and it was up to the judges to see if they could continue. By the end, they were both more or less unconscious. Hunter watched with wide eyes as Duke took to the ring and started practicing by jabbing the air. “Hunter. Please, take the ring.” The satyr referee said. Hunter swallowed and let out a soft whimper before walking into the ring. He stretched nervously and waited for the fight to start.
“You nervous?” Hunter looked up from the ground to see Duke looking at him as he bounced on the balls of his feet. Hunter nodded casually. “Good, because I’m going to rip your throat out.” Hunter looked at him and blinked a few times.
“That doesn’t seem very sportsmanlike.” Hunter said with a sigh. He was afraid of Duke, but Hunter had a feeling that he was all bark and no bite. “You know, Duke? Why don’t you come and try?” He said calmly before stretching his arms and cracking his neck. Duke grinned.
“My pleasure.” He muttered with a chuckle. The satyr referee stepped between them.
“Gentlemen. No eye gouges. No crotch shots. No scratching. No intentional bone breaking. The winner will be called when one fighter submits or is unconscious.” He explained. Hunter took a deep breath. “On my count. 3…2…1…Fight!” Duke charged forward with a big right hook. Hunter ducked under it and landed a blow to his ribs. That became his new target. Duke turned around and chuckled.
“Did you feel that breeze, Hunter?” He said as he ran a hand across where Hunter had punched him before charging and tackling Hunter to the ground. The slid on the ground for a moment before Duke took position and landed two quick strikes to Hunter’s face. Hunter knew that he was bleeding. He blocked Duke’s right hand and then his left hand. He grabbed his arms and brought him down toward his face where Hunter landed a few strong headbutts. Duke looked at him in a daze, allowing Hunter to push out from under him and kick him onto his back. Hunter laid there for a moment as he got his bearings again.
“Why did I use my head?” He said with a groan before standing up and leaping on the still downed Duke. He pinned Duke’s arms with his knees and punched him in the face. Once, twice, three times. Duke shook his head and looked up at him with rage-filled eyes. Hunter put his forearm against his throat and put all of his weight on it. Duke struggled against Hunter’s knees and finally managed to free his arms. Duke put his hands against Hunter and shoved hard. Hunter flew back and landed hard against the wall. He quickly stood up and rubbed his back. Duke stood and wiped the blood away from his lips. He rubbed his neck and nodded.
“We don’t take it to the ground, then.” He said with smile. He cracked his knuckles and stepped forward after taking a stance. All Hunter knew was knife fighting and even spear fighting. This was neither. He put his hands up in defense and waited for Duke’s inevitable strike. Hunter dodged a strong jab and hit him in the ribs much harder this time. The exact same spot. He blocked another jab and strafed around his opponent. He waited for his moment and landed a quick kick to Duke’s ribs which were starting to turn red. Hunter ducked under a hook and punched him in the ribs again, but he wasn’t fast enough. Duke grabbed his wrist and twisted it, making Hunter cry out in pain. Duke smiled deviously as he twisted Hunter’s wrist farther and farther. Hunter gritted his teeth and managed to land a kick to Duke’s knee and then another to Duke’s ribs again. Duke obviously cringed and loosened his grip enough for Hunter to slip his arm out of his grasp, but his wrist still burned with pain. Duke made a quick approach and Hunter boxed his ears, causing his wrist to flare up in pain. Hunter rolled against him and landed a kick to the back of his knee. Hunter kicked his other knee and put his knees on Duke’s calves and wrapped an arm around Duke’s neck. He put his other hand on the back of Duke’s head and pushed forward. With the arm wrapped around his neck, he grabbed the crook of his elbow. Hunter had successfully applied a sleeper hold, something he had learned in his early years at camp. He felt Duke’s hands against his arms, pulling and scratching. Hunter held on tight as Duke fell backward. Hunter cringed under Duke’s weight, but held on. He wrapped his legs around Duke’s torso and landed several heel kicks to that same spot on his ribs which were already starting to bruise. Hunter could feel Duke’s struggling getting weaker and weaker as his supply of oxygen was decreasing.
“Tap out, Duke!” Hunter shouted. He really didn’t want to have to deal with an unconscious Duke on top of him. He felt a last surge of strength, but finally he felt 3 quick taps on his arm. A horn sounded and Hunter released his grasp. Duke rolled off of on top of him and Hunter laid on the ground, spent. Hunter had found his new least favorite sport. He glanced over at Duke who was on all fours trying to catch his breath. Duke managed to stand up and exited the ring, grumbling something Hunter didn’t want to repeat. Hunter looked up at the sky and breathed heavily. A satyr entered his view.
“Congratulations, Hunter. Can you continue?” He asked with a raised eyebrow. Hunter didn’t want to continue, but he had to for the quest. Hunter nodded and swallowed. “Good. Jake and Martin beat each other senseless. They’re out. That means it’s a tie between you and meathead over there.” Hunter exhaled. He hadn’t realized how important it was that he won the fight.
“So…what’s the next event?” Hunter said quietly. He really hoped that it wasn’t anything he had done already.
“It’s a tiebreaker. That means my favorite game.” The satyr replied with a chuckle. “Capture the Flag.” Hunter smiled ear to ear. Capture the flag was not a concern of his. He had been on the winning team every time back at camp. He had a personal unbeaten streak. Some Ares kid wasn’t going to break it. He finally stood up and slowly left the ring. He walked to the track and sat down again after getting a drink of water from a big cooler. He was curious where they were going to have the capture of flag, when he noticed Demeter standing up. She put her hands up and the middle of the stadium started sprouting trees. They grew tall and thick and in a few moments a dense forest had grown. “Here’s your flag.” Hunter turned to see the same satyr handing him a bright pink flag. He looked at him with a raised eyebrow. “You’re an Aphrodite, remember?” Hunter sighed.
“This is inconspicuous.” He said holding up the flag. Hermes took the podium again.
“You’ve got 30 minutes to get all rested up and to hide your flag. That time starts now. Go! Mush, children!” Hermes said with a chuckle. Hunter finished his glass of water and casually stood up. He twisted the flag around his belt loop and strolled into the forest.
“This is going to be a good game.” He said with a chuckle.