A loud scream pulled Xuhong out of his trance, and he pulled Shengsheng away from the crowd with a sharp jerk, ignoring her cry of pain.

He looked around the area for something, anything he could defend himself with, but the pile of weapons across the arena was not an option – the wolfdogs were already approaching the large group of slaves who scrambled there for weapons.

But they were unexperienced and scared and were torn to pieces before they even had a chance to swing their weapon. 

Near the cages that originally trapped the wolfdogs, Xuhong saw a faint gleam of metal – an arrow from a past match that must not have been picked up.

He ran that way and grabbed it, squeezing the single arrow tightly as if it was his lifeline. And it could very well be one – it was probably the only way he and Shengsheng were even going to have a standing chance against the wolfdogs. 

The two wolfdogs made fast work out of the slaves until they realized there was more prey to be found with the two scrawny slaves huddled in the corner of the arena.

They turned to them and realizing that he couldn’t protect the Shengsheng and fight the wolfdogs at the same time, Xuhong pushed her away to face the creatures head on. 

Immediately, one wolfdog pounced on him, clamping hard on his left arm. Hot, white pain flashed through him until he saw stars, nearly blacking out, and he would’ve done so if he hadn’t heard Shengsheng’s scream.

He wrenched himself around to see that the other wolfdog was slowly approaching her.

He had to act quick. Swinging his good arm with the arrow clutched in his hands, he hacked into the wolfdog, stabbing until the creature fell limp and released his arm. 

His left arm hung uselessly at the side now.

As the other wolfdog leaped at Shengsheng, he realized he wouldn’t be able to make it if he ran so he slid, hot sand burning his skin, leaving a bloody trail behind him and jammed the arrow into the beast with all the force he could muster, pushing so deep that the arrow lodged itself almost completely inside it’s massive underside.

Xuhong barely had enough time to roll out from under before it fell with a thunk, blood already beginning to pool beneath its matted black fur. 

The crowd fell silent at this unforeseen event. They were here to watch a slaughter and a slaughter they did witness – just not the one they wanted to see. 

Xuhong looked at the creatures, remorse filling him. They were victims just like himself, but he couldn’t feel pity when his life was still on the line. There was no way he’d be able to guarantee his life and Shengsheng’s unless he took drastic measures. 

He looked around again to see what he could do and spied a rung close to where the two wolf dogs had fallen with a flag on it. Bingo. He could probably maneuver himself up that way to use someone as hostage. 

“Stay here,” he commanded. 

Shengsheng nodded.

Xuhong wiped the blood off his hands and onto his tattered tunic and took a deep breath, praying that he would make it to the top.

He ran towards the wolfdogs and jumped on them for a little extra height, almost slipping on the blood, and leaped up to catch the rod with his right arm. 

He nearly lost his grip on the slippery metal, his sweat and blood sliding on the bar, but he was able to pull himself up just enough to reach over to the balcony’s metal bars.

Moving quickly despite the devastating pain in his left arm and the aching burn that ravaged the entire right half of his body, he swung himself around the balcony and unsheathed a sword from a nearby man. 

The onlookers started yelling when they realized a slave had made it to where they were. They panicked and began to ran, giving Xuhong the opportunity to grab a woman amidst the confusion. 

"If you want her to live," Xuhong growled, his blade pressed flushed against her jeweled throat. "You let us leave with our lives and don’t come after us. We will be free, no longer slaves.” 

“What a monster!” Someone yelled, appalled that Xuhong, a mere slave, would dare raise a weapon against his better. 

Xuhong gave everyone a bloody smile, running purely on adrenaline and whatever survival instincts he had now. Indeed, he was a monster, sounding savage even to himself, and he knew his appearance was equally wild.

People were either offended, terrified, or both, and the owner of the arena looked about ready to faint from the situation. 

Xuhong tightened his grip on the woman when no one responded, ready to draw blood if needed when suddenly, a stabbing pain shot up his legs. He crumpled to the ground as his legs gave out on him, making him lose his hold on the woman.

When he looked up, he was greeted with the end of several swords.

He cursed himself. He’d lost his and Shengsheng’s only chance of survival because his body had given up on him. 

The owner walked hurriedly towards him, his jewelry echoing ominously in the arena. He leered at him, spittle flying angrily at Xuhong. "You, a paltry slave, dare do such a thing? You will suffer greatly for this!"

Xuhong could not believe that after everything he’d been through that he was going to die under the sadistic commands of an overweight man he could’ve easily been able to overpower had he had faculty of all his limbs and not had weapons pointed at him.

He stared resolutely at the man, defiance raging in his eyes before impending doom and spat in his face. The man’s face grew red in anger and he raised his hands up. 

Xuhong braced himself for the slap and– 

Someone stepped forward and gripped the owner’s thick wrist with such force that Xuhong could’ve sworn he heard a bone crack. The owner fell to the ground and let out a shout of pain. 

Behind the new arrival appeared another man. He was dressed modestly – almost plainly – but Xuhong took one look at his countenance and noticed the way the owner scrambled to put on a show of courtesy and bow despite his likely broken wrist was enough reason for Xuhong to suspect that he was a very high ranking noble. 

But the nobleman paid no attention to the man grovelling at his feet, regarding him as if he was just a speck of dirt on the ground, and instead motioned for the guards to move their swords away from Xuhong while his companion took a position behind him.

Xuhong looked up at the nobleman. The distance between his savior and himself seemed so vast, like he’d never be able to close it. 

"What is your name?" He asked.

He looked like he’d have a domineering, audacious tone, demand answers and not take “no” for an answer, but surprisingly he sounded quiet and husky – his imperatives masked behind a question.

But Xuhong knew that behind this carefully presented man was someone dangerous with an agenda. For only dangerous men would intervene in such a situation. 

He debated on whether or not he should give him his name. Seconds passed then minutes yet the nobleman did not remove his eyes from him. In the end, he decided to remain silent.

The nobleman’s face betrayed no emotion. Turning around, he started towards the arena's exit while his companion threw an embroidered pouch on the ground. This time, thick gold bars – this Xuhong could hear clearly – thunked together. The owner scrambled to get it while thanking the man profusely. 

His companion turned to follow the nobleman. When he saw that Xuhong wasn't following, he let out a terse sigh before motioning for him to follow. Xuhong shakily got up and followed him cautiously.

At the arena's exit, where his savior was mounted on a horse with another riderless horse by his side, he saw Shengsheng. Thank the gods. 

As soon as Shengsheng saw Xuhong, she began fussing over him."Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere? Did they do anything to you?" 

Xuhong tried to crack a smile. “I’ve been better, but it’s okay.” He exhaled but winced when his lungs expanded painfully against his ribs.

Shengsheng reached out in concern, but Xuhong shook off her inspection. He didn’t want her to worry about things she had no control over. 

"It's nothing. Don't worry." 

“You girl,” the man Xuhong followed said. “You’ll ride with me. The boy will ride with my master.” 

Shengsheng tinged bright pink at the prospect while Xuhong merely groaned. He didn’t really care about the fact that he had to ride a horse with someone – just that he had to ride the horse with that nobleman. He’d much rather share the horse with the servant. 

But did he really have a choice as to who he would be riding his horse with? Shengsheng was already getting helped onto the horse with the servant, and Xuhong had no other way of getting away aside from sitting on the horse with the noble man. 

He’d do what he had to do. He anchored his foot on the stock and propelled himself upward, hating that he shook since his body told him he was very familiar with horses even if he’d lost his memories, and sat squarely in front of the man.

Only now did he notice how large the man was compared to himself. He had to be at least half a foot taller than him and thirty or more so pounds. (It also didn’t help that Xuhong was half-starved.) 

But Xuhong didn’t have any time to really ponder the specifics before the nobleman leaned forward to take the reins on the horse, masculine warmth enveloping him before they were off, headed towards somewhere Xuhong didn’t know. 

Xuhong tried to stay awake – there was no telling what his apparent savior would do to him if he fell asleep or fainted – but somewhere along the journey, he must’ve fallen sleep from exhaustion or pain.

The last thought he had was that he wasn’t sure if he had just escaped from the wolf’s den only to get trapped in a dragon’s den.