"Fine, I will make this quick." Ariana sighed and stood up. She started to feel dizzy and raised her hand to her forehead to try and steady her head. She started to see double, all her tough words were only for show and she had hoped to have scared Vera enough to forfeit but now she had to act before she lost her consciousness. She finally focused her vision raised her leg and brought her foot down on an angle to Vera’s elbow.
Vera screamed as she fell back to the ground. Her hatred for Ariana only grew as she tried to raise her arm, something was wrong, she moved her clawed fingers to feel her arm and found a gap between her arm and elbow. It was a clean break. Ariana took a few steps to the side and raised her leg again. Vera heard the movement and sensed what she wanted to do. She quickly moved her tail underneath herself and propelled herself forward. Ariana’s attack missed, she looked over to Vera’s new location and watched, waiting to see what she would do next.
All she heard was Vera clicking her tongue before a flash of marigold light appeared. Ariana shielded her eyes. When she moved her hand away Vera’s fist was already an inch away from her face. She quickly diverted her fist but the momentum of Vera’s body was not stopped. Her whole body collided into Ariana’s causing her to fall backwards. Vera scrambled to try and position herself on top of Ariana but Ariana acted quickly she swung her legs up and wrapped them around Vera’s neck, pulling her off.
Vera was head locked in between Ariana legs, she brought her hands up to pry the legs off, her eyes were darting everywhere until she saw Ariana’s wounds. She brought her hands to the open wounds and dug her thumbs into them. Ariana screamed and released Vera. They both scrambled up, Vera was red from anger while Ariana had gone pale and started to breath erratically. Vera brought her hands up and lunged for Ariana again. Ariana caught her wrists, mid air and brought her knee up. She struck Vera in her abdomen causing her to spit up saliva. When she felt Vera go limp, Ariana brought her whole body forwards, throwing Vera only a few feet in front of her.
She felt a cold chill run down her body and looked to her right. She saw a marigold crocodile struggling as it tried to approach her, her eyes were bleeding. Ariana got up with great difficulty and dashed towards Vera. While Vera started to lift herself from the ground she looked over and saw Ariana coming, her fist was flying towards her face when suddenly the ground started to shake. Ariana tumbled towards the ground missing Vera completely. "Arizona run!" Vera screamed as the crocodile tried desperately to drag itself towards the water.
It was too late, the ground erupted and out popped out the gigantic, indigo, two headed snake from before. Vera paled, it really was over now, she failed, her familiar was going to be eaten and she would get a severe punishment for going against the school rules. There was nothing left for her but utter defeat. Ariana looked into Vera’s face and smiled. She brought up her hand and pinched Vera’s nose. "Do you admit defeat or do you want me to knock you out?" She asked playfully. Vera blinked her eyes a few times unable to utter a single words. Ariana let Vera go, she pointed towards the snake and watched as Vera followed her direction.
Vera’s jaw dropped as she caught sight of something unheard of. A chibi, pink deer was sitting on top of one of the snake’s heads, lazily looking down towards his master. While the other snake head was locked on to Arizona, waiting for the command. "You said so yourself the creatures here are meant to kill familiars and it looks like your familiar is on the hit list." Vera turned and saw that Arizona had lost all her strength. She stopped moving and turned her head towards master pitifully as she let out shallow breaths.
"I concede!" She started to shout. "You win! Please Professor Rain end the battle!" There was a moment of silence and the sky above flashed black a few times. "Winner, Ariana Drake!" He shouted and the two headed snake started to retreat. Vasu gave the snake’s head a rub with his own head before floating back down into his master’s arms. The sun’s position suddenly moved and the stands appeared. Students were cheering and applauding enthusiastically. They had never seen such a battle.
Vera got up and went to grab hold of Arizona. She wasn’t a big familiar but she was very long. She scooped her up and pressed her against her chest as the familiar groaned in delight. "I’m sorry Arizona, I’m so sorry." Vera cried as tears spilled over top of the crocodile’s head. Ariana sighed and walked up to Vera. She placed her hand on the crocodile’s head. "You made your familiar take your wounds, she doesn’t hate you for it but I don’t think she has to suffer from it either." She said gently as her hand started to glow white. Vera stopped crying, she watched as Arizona’s leg slowly healed and her eyes return to normal.
"What are you doing?!" Vera asked in astonishment. Ariana pulled back her hand. "Healing your familiar." She said as her body went side ways. "Ariana?!" Vera called out as Ariana hit the ground. "Medic! We need a medic!" Ariana heard Vera scream as she closed her eyes. "I’m fine, I’m just tired." She said as everything turned black.
Ariana fluttered her eyes as a white light disrupted her sleep. "Looks like the medicine worked. Good morning sunshine! See look your friend is awake now! Give her a moment and she will be up and about in no time, I can guarantee it." A cheerful voice said as she pulled back the light. "Idiot! Moron! Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!" She heard Edlyn say as small fists pounded on her thighs. Ariana laughed as she sat up. "Honestly Edlyn when your fired up your manner of speaking is perfect." Edlyn glared at Ariana with tear filled eyes. "Come on now, you heard the nice lady, I’m fine now." Ariana said as she brought up her arm to flex but winced the moment she did. "Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!" She cried as she reached out to hug her friend. "Yes, yes I am very stupid." She said as she patted Edlyn’s back. Suddenly she felt someone watching them, she turned her head in time to catch the fluttering of a white curtain by the window but no one was there.