THE FIRST FRIENDSHIP TOURNAMENT

4 MARCH, THURSDAY, NIGHT

It was finally the historical moment of Night Leaf's 1st Friendship Tournament (not counting all the times Morning Light hung out with us? Or the rare occasion when we did something with the Lorents or other minor packs. Don't look at me, I didn't name it!). There was even a banner hung across the side porch of our packhouse where we usually left for our training runs from. We had flags hung across the outdoor training grounds, tables on the side, a large rectangular box drawn in white lines in the middle where the action would take place, and even a stage set up up front. Actually, it looked a lot like one of our monthly picnics on that side of the set up, but it was official! Our 1st Friendship Tournament! We were making history here.

Anyway, Ki prepped the coolest outfit for me. Okay, it was mostly my tshirt (the one with the "A" printed on it), but that was cool and it was the rest of the outfit that was coolest. I got the dark blue warrior gear! And not just the warrior jacket, the whole works - trousers which were like joggers but in the same waterproofy type of material, and solid warrior boots that were worn over the trousers army style.

I couldn't stop grinning. I think I'll NEVER take these off.

Ki was far less than satisfied by the outfit, but they were for practical reasons. Our warrior gear were all by Betamen. All slash/bullet/fire proof stuff.

We couldn't even do anything with my hair, since I was expected to kracken. Poor Ki looked a little put out that I had to wear such plain basic warrior gear. Poor Ki who had no idea how I had ALWAYS wanted to one day wear warrior gear. And check it! These were even in my size! Seriously, I was like a super fan who just got my hands on official merch.

"Considering that goddess will be sparring with Sir Wolfgang, it seems prudent that your outfit be fire resistant." Ki sighed. He was holding a tulle skirt. It was a cute skirt - if I wore that and leggings under the jacket, it would have rocked. BUT it would also have been extremely flammable.

I remembered the bomb explosion taking off my clothes and nodded. Okay, Ki was probably thinking about my physical safety or something, but I'd rather DIE than have a wardrobe malfunction. I did up the jacket all the way up to my neck. If this caught fire, I'd shift. Yeah. Good thinking. I was so smart.

Satisfied that I had mitigated any risk of mortally embarrassing episodes, I let Ki lead me out to the party.

Lots of wolves came to watch our home wolves VS the snow wolves. Night Leaf and Morning Light wolves mingling and helping to set up created a busy friendly hub. I stopped to watch the Morning Light goons dragging a full drum kit up on the stage. And of course everyone brought food to share and left them on the side tables so that a pot luck party appeared like mushrooms after the rain as more and more wolves streamed in.

"Yo, Princess!" Some wolves would call out to me. I waved back feeling the happy excited buzz in the mindlinks around me. I suspect most of them thought this was going to be just like one of our usual monthly gatherings - with a free fight show thrown in.

Why not?

Ki showed me around and then informed me that I was supposed to give the opening address. Dad had decided I should do it, since this event was my idea.

Like seriously?

"And you're telling me that now?" I asked.

"A hundred apologies, goddess." Ki smiled, "We only just received the notice from Beta Lucas."

Oh, well I guess if it were Beta Lucas, then this was early notice.

"Okay then." I agreed, "Is there something I'm supposed to say?"

"I'm sure whatever goddess say will be perfect." Ki smiled like a flower to the sun before thinking to inform me, "Ben will be host the program and make the salutations and introductions before inviting the goddess up to the stage."

Oh okay, so my betas were taking care of it. All I had to do was step up and give my stamp of approval. No problem.

Wait, why BEN?

Like we were talking about my monotone bada** beta right?

As if on cue, Ben took to the stage, shooing away the goons setting up the drums. They laughed and dumped a few more amps up from the pick up truck parked behind the stage. Ben feigned a kick in their direction and they laughed some more. Now that they were laughing out loud, I knew at the very least, one of the goons was Ethan because I heard his distinct hyena laughter.

Ben picked up the mic, "Testing."

It worked. Then he started ordering everyone around to sit down, but also to the unlucky wolf standing next to a open black trash bag lying in the middle of the grounds to go "throw out the crap."

After a few minutes, everyone was seated or standing on the right side of the training grounds where the training mats and chairs had been lined out.

"Just sit down." Ben ordered, "If you can't sit with your friends, go make friends with whoever you're sitting with. Alphas gonna come in, and you guys gonna stand up and greet them properly. This is a friendly. You are not allowed to jeer or cuss at the other team. If you ever want to see another tournament come to Night Leaf again, you better make our guest want to come back, got it?"

And to my absolute surprise, the wolves in the audience, the warriors on duty, and the other wolves finishing up whatever task they were doing or working behind us on PA all answered, "Yes Beta."

Yeah. Because Ben was their beta.

And then everything started. Ben would announce Dad, Mum, and Alpha Gunter's entry, and our wolves would greet the alphas very properly. The only thing that gave us away was Prince River and Savy coming in right after them, which resulted in some hooting and catcalling because my gang was loud and immature like that. River laughed and waved while Savy blushed.

Next our guest's fighting team was invited up to the red mats on the left of the training ground. Ben named every wolf and their pack position and special fight skill - all in monotone, but our wolves would cheer for every one of the guest team members when they went over to their assigned mat, took a bow and sat down. They were screamed at like they were proper super stars. I guess it wasn't just my gang, my wolves in general were the type that were very noisy. Delta Felicity was screaming "I love you!" to every single one of them. (Who let Delta Felicity in?)

Our home team was next.

"Representing Night Leaf and Morning Light..." Ben started and was immediately drowned out by screaming and battle cries. He stopped, "Shut it. At least let me read their names first, alright?"

Our wolves laughed and clapped. Our guests looked mildly dazed but I think that was the after effect of the welcome they got.

Anyway, Ben read off the members for our home team, and everyone went ballistic - the fight hadn't even started yet. I was starting to think the main event for my wolves was the cheering... it wasn't even cheering, more like crazed screaming and random battle cries - and I don't mean like, "For king and country", I mean like "Eieieieieiaayyyhhhh..." kind of battle cry. Whatever, its not like Alpha Gunter was expecting classical music and serious commentary when visiting a barbarian pack anyway.

"And last but not least, the team captain on home side, Luna Bell..." Ben intoned in dead pan.

"REBEL! REBEL! REBEL!" My wolves shouted in unison. I'm not sure who's dumb idea that was - but everyone was shouting and howling and like seriously, Bell wasn't even looking the part! He was still dressed to the nines - evening suit, slinged arm and all. He shook hands with Beta Glenn, the captain for the guest team. Beta Glenn was properly attired in Snow Moon's dark olive warrior colors. The two team captains exchanged words, shook hands, and sat back on their respective mats with their team.

All with the backdrop of chanting and clapping and stomping, "REBEL! REBEL! REBEL!" It was like the underground all over again... Which might explain it because the large group of underground wolves were here too. They had joined us from the back of the woods and were now pooling at the back of the crowd by the treeline.

Ben had enough of the ruckus by now though. He lifted one hand in the air for them to stop. It took a while, but eventually the audience shushed. When everyone was quiet enough, Ben asked into the mic, "Really? You guys had to do that?"

There was more laughter and a few hoots. A group of girls decided to scream, "We love you too, Ben!"

To which Ben replied in his monotone, "I hate you."

Only for the girls to bursts in peals of laughter.

Ben sighed. His patience was wearing thin with this crowd, "Okay, just shut it for five minutes. Let me read all the proceedings and we can start the matches."

The crowd cheered in response.

"Your time starts now!" Gamma Endo yelled from somewhere behind the alphas.

"Yeah, someone time him!" Gamma Harry shouted.

Ben took a quick glance at his watch and read very quickly.

"Welcome to the first friendship tournament hosted by the NL FAO with the purpose of..."

Blah blah blah. Let's skip all of that and get down to the really important bits:

But the bottom line was that there was going to be five matches. First match would be a demonstration match by the team captains. (Ben completely avoided calling out our Luna Bell by name so nobody got the chance to chant "Rebel" again. Hahaha.)

Then there would be 3 matches by young warriors. Honours went to the top fighter of each cohort. Marlow represented our shifting year wolves. Jack (Jessica's brother) represented wolves between 15 to 16 years old. And Link was representing wolves 17 to 18 years old. All three of them would be facing off Snow Wolves - the sides of their heads shaved and their silver white hair tied in little stubs - just like how the Lycan legends described young warriors. So cool! Real Snow Wolves!

Finale match would go to the Alpha Princess, Sam, that's me, VS the Fire Pillar of Snow Moon...

Sir Wolfgang, a real life fire wolf! But Ben didn't tell them. Or he couldn't.

The moment my match was announced, it went quiet. And then a murmuring among the wolves and a rippling through the mindlinks, and then suddenly a synchronized low growling.

Gamma Endo stood up, "What Pillar? What kind of pillar bullies little girls?"

"Boo!" Someone shouted.

"Yeah, boo!" Someone else yelled.

Ben's response, "I told you guys. No jeering."

Which I'd like to point out was besides the point here. But my wolves obediently stopped jeering and switched gears - intimidation.

"No one challenges the alpha Princess without getting through me!" Gamma Endo folded up his sleeves and stepped out to the fight ring.

"Yeah, Endo! Beat him up, or I will!" Gamma Harry cheered.

Now my wolves were back to cheering and clapping, "Go Gamma! Beat up that pillar!"

Gamma Endo turned to me, "Don't worry, princess. Leave the pillar to me."

"Endo, the fight is for the young ones." Beta Gerald reminded him.

"But..." Gamma Endo pointed directly at the Snow Beta, "That guy's as old as I am."

"They're just doing a demonstration gamma." Ben said into the mic, "Do you guys want to watch the fights or not?"

"We're young!" Barry and some of the Special Team stepped out from the tree line. No prizes for guessing who they were, but they were not the brains of the team.

"If its a fight they want, we can show them a fight." Barry said.

"Yes, yes! Good. Go beat up the Pillar guy!" Gamma Endo ordered.

Barry patted Torque's broad shoulder, "Leave it to us, Gamma. This big guy is an expert at breaking pillars!"

My wolves took one look at the human tank Torque and cheered, "Break the pillar! Break the pillar!"

Except according to the report, the pillars Torque typically broke (by accident) were building structures... Not people. And seriously, why were my wolves chanting to break another pack's pillar at a friendly tournament?

All of the sudden, the underground stomped and punched their fists in the air. It was in this moment that they revealed how large a group they were, so many that their numbers spilled past the treeline and gathered about the woods behind the training grounds.

"Our loyalty to the Alpha Princess!" Their combined voices rang out so that the woods around us fell into a dead quiet.

And then all my wolves, even the ones who should have known better, punched their fists in the air and yelled, "YO!"

Even Ben from the stage and Ki from behind me. WTH.