I felt the sun pouring in through the window as I heard its drapes being pulled back. Of course.. I only slightly noticed it I mean. Its hard to notice things when you are only half way awake. I was kinda in that little stage between alseep and awake, when you know what is going on but you really don't care. Well, to-the-point, I just didn't want to get up. A few memories of my dreams were still lingering in my head as I tried to get back to sleep. After a moment or two, I suddenly got a really big urge to open my eyes, although I wasn't sure why. So I did.

Not only did they open, they got really big too. Kinda hard to look casual when you wake up and find a large, sharp, tiger-clawed staff head pointing at you.

"Gooooooooood mooooorrrrningggg!!" Tellka smiled a smile that matched her little early morning sing-song voice. I did the best I could to keep from leeping fifty feet into the air and strangle her for waking me up the way she did. Carefully, I moved the staff aside and sat up.

"Why is it so good?" I blinked. Tellka imediatly leaped up and twirled her staff victoriously over her head.

"I just found out today, they're gonna let me keep fighting!" She did a few mock-hits at a dresser near my bed, then raised her staff up for a strike. I grabbed the staff and snatched it from her grip as her hands came down empty at the dresser. She turned with a little look of surprise before taking the staff from me and returning to her normal, calm deminer. I smiled innocently.

"As long as you keep fighting in those arena's, could you please try and keep the house in one piece?" I balled up my sheets and threw them on my bed. Tellka and I both looked up as we heard a sound on the stair case and Carrie entered a few minutes later.

"What is it I keep hearing up here?" She glanced around. I shrugged.

"I haven't heard anything. Maybe it came from outside."

Carrie scratched her head. "Well," she turned to leave, "be sure to get some breakfast before you go anywhere, alright?" I nodded and she left. Then I turned back to Tellka as she reappered.

"That was interesting... See? You almost got me in trouble." I grumbled and Tellka answered me with one of her sly grins.

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I sat in with the crowd at the Colluseum. I can't believe she always talks me into this.. I mumbled. I hate fights, always do, always will, and I just can't see what Tellka likes in them.

"They make me feel young."

"Sure they do.. " I grumbled again. How can beating the crud out of someone make you feel young? Oh well, of course I wouldn't understand. After all, I am young. I grinned as I felt Tellka's annoyance at my last comment. Then perked up in my seat as the announcer began.

"Presenting, the Armored Armadillo, the former champion of the Colosian Coliseum, Archone!" I heard the crowd explode into cheers and applause and clapped a little. Archone.. where had I heard that name before? Oh yea, the highlander girl. Why would they pit a newbie like Tellka against Archone already? Oh well.. This should be interesting.

"And his opponent, is a feral wildcat ready for her next fight, please welcome this newcomer, Tellka!" I glanced up as Tellka entered, twirling her staff as she usually does. I wondered how she could look so calm. But, then again, she had spent most of her life fighting anyway. I shouted my support and was concouis of a few people next to me giving me a few strange looks. I sank back into my seat. I couldn't help it, I hated making a scene of myself. The announcer left and then the fight began.

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Tellka gazed at Archone cooly, her movements a slight mirror to his. Finally, she thought, an opponent that will be a match. I can't wait to hear the crowd when I give the final blow. She ran his title through in her head. 'Champion of Colosian Coliseum'. Dang would it feel good to bring this guy down too.

"Don't get your hopes up." Her eyes drifted back as she heard Kate's mock-play voice in her mind. You sound like your going to fall asleep.

"Hey, I came, I saw, I cheered. Fights aren't my thing and you know it."

You don't think I'll win.

"I think you have quite an ego for fighting. Come'on Tellka, the guy is a champion."

So was I.

She continued her slow movements. The crowd was getting restless and she knew it, but for right now, she needed to study her opponint. Big, bulky, she wondered about his speed.

In almost the blink of an eye she drew her staff back and lunged forward, lashing out at Archone's head. It was a good placed blow, but the skilled Armodillo-mon blocked up before she could land the hit and she jumped backward, trying to regain her distance.

"Geez, that was fast. I almost missed that move." Tellka heard Kate's voice and almost didn't notice the hit Archone had sent at her. She regained her placing as the hit caught her lightly. She fell a little, turned, and smashed the butt end of her staff into his armored back as Kate's apologetic voice rang through her head.

"Oh geez, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to distract you.."

It's okay.. She moved aside as Archone came at her again. She moved out of his fists range, but didn't notice the kick until she felt her staff being ripped from her grasp. She turned in the direction it fell and lunged after it.

Not good, can't fight without the staff. Archone rushed at her, rolled up the way that the Armodillo clan was known for doing, and forced her from her weapon. Clever, she thought, but this is a little downside many don't seem to notice.. and she jumped back as he rolled by her. She pranced up behind him and did a small crouch as he stood back up and grabbed the staff. With a flick of her tail she lunged into the air as if she would fly away and dropped onto his shoulders, a small cat-like growl slipped from her throat. It had been a while since she had had a good fight. She grabbed a hold of the staff and flipped off his head, slidding under him and kicking up with a great deal of strength, and flipped the Armadillo fighter over. She jumped back up to her feet, her staff in her hands once again.

She turned back as Archone began to put distance between them. Oh no you don't. She growled angerly and lunged after him in a spinning strike. She came down hard on the ground as Archone dodged her attack, and with the quickness of a snake she slashed out in a berserker force, relying mostly on her in hopes of confusing him with her movements. He blocked every move, as she did his. Suddenly she heard a scream pound through her head and it ran down her back like ice. KATE!

Her face pailed and she almost turned to look over at the spot where Kate would be sitting. Suddenly, she felt something slam into her face and she was thrown backwards.

I have no time for this! Then, without thought, she reverted herself back to her spirit form and vanished before the entire Collisuem.

e-mail author, talonr@hotmail.com