"Urk." Damion gasped out as Alvar scruffed him once again. This time though he landed on his feet as Alvar dropped him. They had been at it for hours now and Damion still hadn't been able to scruff Alvar even once. 

"One last time then we'll get a few hours to sleep before the tournament starts." Alvar rumbled, barely out of breath. Damion, on the other hand, was exhausted. He panted as he slunk over to his side of the ring, his two tails dragging behind him.

"I'm not sure I can do another." Damion gasped feeling his legs wobble beneath him. Alvar narrowed his eyes and angled his ears at the entrance where footsteps could be heard.

"Are you guys going to show off for us?" Miyuki asked as she poked her head in, her green eyes playful. She was in her human form, looking the same way she had when she left except her hair was wild and dark rings could be seen under her bright eyes.

"Hurry it up in there! I want to get at least two hours of sleep!" Kiki called in irritably, following Miyuki with a scowl twisting her face. Damion gulped, realizing that hundreds of Kitsune would be watching the tournament. Trying to summon some extra energy as Miyuki and Kiki sat down to watch, Damion squared his shoulders and faced Alvar. He nodded, signaling he was ready as he moved his body into a fighting stance.

"Fight!" Alvar's bark rang out and Damion ran at him, feeling his blood pumping. Alvar moved just as quickly, ready to scruff Damion as he aimed for his belly. But Damion knew he was waiting for that.

Tucking his head in he rolled off to the side rather than under Alvar and leaped up, bolting for his back. Damion was surprised to see a smug look in Alvar's eyes as he landed on the large fox's back and tried to scruff him. Before Damion could even get close to Alvar's neck Alvar had reacted in a flash, rolling over and crushing Damion.

Damion felt his breath squeezed out of him as the Alvar's bigger form steam-rolled him. Gasping for breath beneath Alvar's bulk he sucked in a breath of sweet air as the large Kitsune rolled off of him. Before he could regain his bearings he was smacked around and found himself on his stomach on the ground, everything spinning around him.

A twinge in the back of his neck caused his legs to go limp as Alvar lifted him up by his scruff. Damion glared at the ground as Alvar dropped him. His legs buckled beneath him the instant he touched the ground, causing him to sprawl out in the middle of the ring.

"No surprise there." Damion heard Kiki mutter as she got up and stalked out of the training room. He laid there, catching his breath when he heard someone approaching.

He lifted his head, expecting to see Alvar's stony face but was surprised when he saw Miyuki leaning over him instead. His fur bristled and he glanced away, feeling embarrassed that Miyuki saw him get scruffed so easily.

"Aw don't be that way about it." Miyuki murmured as she crouched down and laid her hand on his head.

 "I'm heading to bed. It'd be wise if you two did the same." Alvar mumbled from around his Yukata as he left the room, leaving the two of them alone in the cave.

 "You know," Miyuki started as she scratched Damion's head, his eyes turning to meet hers. "Scruffing matches are pretty difficult but I thought you did great."

 Damion felt his cheeks grow warm at her words and sputtered, "Really?"

 She smirked at him as she removed her hand from his skull and stood up. "Well, great for a human. Now get back to your human form so we can go to bed. I'll wait for you outside so I can show you to your room." She said as she left the training cave.

I wonder how I turn back? It's probably the same as turning into a fox, right? Damion thought carefully, scrunching his eyes shut as he focused. An image of his human form slowly took shape, fuzzy at first but slowly becoming clearer as he took on his normal form. His eyes flew open and he held up his human hands. He glanced down and realized he had no clothes on. Quickly he rushed over to his discarded Yukata and slipped it on, along with his undergarments.

 "I guess I should have my Kitsune ears and tails out again." Damion murmured as he quickly pictured the now-familiar ears and tails. He opened his eyes and felt his hearing increase once again as he swiveled his fox ears.

 I'll miss having these when I turn human again. Damion thought, surprised by the pang of sadness that hit him when he thought of turning back into a human.

 "Are you coming Damion?" Miyuki's voice called. Damion hurriedly gathered his things and raced out to her. She grinned at him and led him down a passage off to the left.

 As they walked down the winding pathways, Damion was amazed that Miyuki didn't get lost at all in these twisting tunnels. He certainly wasn't sure which way was the right way or even how to get out of here. A long yawn escaped his lips and he blinked his drooping eyes as he asked, "What time is it?" He knew they had arrived at the village in the early evening but after everything they had done tonight, and with no phone or view of the sky, he had no idea what time it was anymore.

 "Three-thirty in the morning."

 "Wow. I had no idea it was so late already." Damion said, finding it hard to believe that that much time had passed. Miyuki grinned at him, leading them down another passage to the right. This tunnel was lined with numerous doorways carved into the walls, each with a curtain that acted as a door and a lantern hanging above them, casting flickering yellow light into the corridor.

 "Well based on what I saw we have the tournament in the bag." She said, smothering a yawn. Damion grinned back at her, feeling his heart flutter. His grin faltered as he thought about the way Kiki had been acting ever since Alvar had joined them.

 "Do you know why Kiki has been acting so. . . irritable? Does it have something to do with Alvar?" Damion asked and was surprised to see a pained expression cross her face.

 "It's, complicated. I don't think I have the right to tell you. When they're ready they'll tell you." Miyuki answered carefully, her gaze locked onto the path ahead. Damion turned his gaze ahead too, not sure what to make of Miyuki's answer. He glanced up at the different lanterns that hung over each covered opening, realizing they had crests on them just like the ones at the festival.

Finally, Miyuki came to a stop outside an entryway with curtains obscuring the view of the room on the other side. Hanging above it was a lantern with the image of a Honey Root imprinted on it. Damion glanced at Miyuki questioningly and when she nodded he pushed through the curtains. The little cave was littered with blankets, rugs, and pillows scattered across the cold stone ground. A few less ornamental lanterns hung from the ceiling, just barely lighting the room. He stumbled on the plush pillows as he tried to walk in, falling straight onto a fluffy mattress hidden underneath.

 "My room is two doors down if you need me. I'll come and wake you when it's time to get ready." Miyuki said as she tried to hide her amusement. Damion struggled to his feet and walked back over to her, nearly tripping again but catching himself in time.

 "Goodnight then, or good morning I guess," Damion mumbled as he smothered another yawn with his hand.

 "Good morning. See you soon." Miyuki murmured with a sleepy grin as she slipped out of the room.

 Once she had left Damion finally started to feel the aches and bruises from the training session with Alvar. On shaky legs, he ripped his Yukata off, tossed it to the side, and collapsed onto the pile of pillows and blankets. He fell asleep instantly, dreaming of the moment he finally scruffed Alvar in the tournament.

"Damion!" Damion jerked awake, glancing around in confusion. He pricked his ears as someone shuffled outside his room. Rubbing his eyes, he sat up, a groan escaping him as his sore muscles protested the movement. Slowly he got up and poked his head out of the curtains, expecting to find Miyuki there but instead found himself face-to-face with Alvar.

 "Ack!" Damion exclaimed, ducking back into his room and clutching his heart.

 I was not expecting to see him out there waiting for me. Damion thought as he took a deep breath and poked his head back out.

 "Get ready. The tournament will begin soon and I intend to be there on time." Alvar rumbled. He nodded and retreated back into his room, still feeling exhausted and beat up as he grabbed his wrinkled Yukata and slipped it back over his head. He threaded his tails through the little hole in the back and patted the pockets hidden on his Yukata to make sure his stuff was still all there. He was tempted to make Alvar late to the tournament but decided against it when he heard Alvar's voice through the thick curtains.

 "If you hurry we will pick up some breakfast on the way." Damion rushed out of the room, all traces of exhaustion gone and replaced with hunger. He glanced up at the lanterns, searching until he found the one with Miyuki's crest.

 "I thought Miyuki was going to wake me up," Damion said, disappointed that he had woken up to the sound of Alvar's deep rumbling instead of her familiar, sweet voice.

 "Miyuki tried to wake you earlier but she couldn't get you up so she headed to the tournament with Kiki," Alvar replied as he turned and started walking down the tunnel. Damion jogged up to his side and slowed to match his pace. Before long, succulent smells starting filling the air, causing Damion's mouth to water. Alvar guided them through a couple more winding tunnels until the passage opened out into the large cavern.

 "Is it busier today?" Damion asked as he dodged a large group of Kitsune girls rushing to a stall overflowing with beautiful jewelry.

"The Scruffing Tournament is the biggest event of the Festival. Everyone goes to see it." Alvar replied as they weaved between the hundreds of Kitsune on the pathway. Damion could tell they were drawing close to the food stalls as the scent of pork buns and dumplings swirled in the air. "Here."

Damion followed Alvar's voice and found him ordering at a small stall with a Kitsune in the form of an old lady. Alvar dropped some coins in the Kitsune's wrinkled hand and took a steamed pork bun from her, thanking her as they left. He handed Damion the still hot bun and Damion breathed in its savory scent.

"Didn't you want one?" Damion asked as he took a bite, the juicy succulent meat tasting like a bite of heaven. Alvar shook his head, his eyes trained on the crowd ahead. "Thank you." Damion murmured as he munched on the bun;the snack not lasting near as long as he wanted it to. He pricked his ears in alarm as he heard loud shouting ahead. "What is that?"

"We have to hurry; the tournament is about to start," Alvar growled as he grabbed Damion's arm and started running down the path. As they ran Damion listened intently to the yelling, slowly realizing that the shouts were more like a chant. It grew stronger and louder the closer they got.

"What are they saying?" Damion shouted over the deafening roar of the chanting. They were behind a huge crowd and more Kitsune were squeezing in and joining in the chanting. He squished his fox ears down with his hands, trying to block some of the noise.

"They are shouting in the ancient Kitsune language. The words they are shouting translates to: fight for us. It's always been the tradition to start the tournament out this way." Alvar yelled back, making a path through the crowd for them. Damion lifted his hands hesitantly off his ears and tried to make out the words but soon gave up. It sounded like thousands of foxes growling and snarling in different pitches.

"Quick; over here." Damion jumped as he heard Alvar's voice in his ear. He turned and followed Alvar's six blacktails as they weaved between the ear-shattering crowd and into a black opening in a giant boulder. Damion let out a yelp as a door shot up behind him, enclosing them in the small room.

"What is this?" Damion asked, growing anxious in the darkness. He squinted his eyes trying to make out Alvar and found he could barely make out his stone-like face. Without a word, he watched Alvar silently stepped up to the door, reached out, and pressed something. A tiny click sounded and a door opened on the other side of the one that had trapped them.

Bright light flooded the small room and Damion had to shield his eyes as they adjusted once more. As his vision cleared he noticed that they were not alone. Hundreds of faces, both fox and human, were staring at them. Damion gulped as he followed Alvar out of the little room, trying to ignore the stares boring into him.

 "It's about time you two got here. I was afraid you were going to spend the tournament sleeping." Damion's heart leaped as he heard Miyuki's voice and saw her standing by Kiki and an older man with dark red ears and several tails lashing behind him.

"Yes, about time. Now if you excuse me I have a tournament to start." The older Kitsune harrumphed, turning on his heel and pushing his way out through a pair of thick scarlet curtains. The chanting outside immediately ceased and a muffled voice started announcing the start of the tournament.

 "What took you guys so long?" Kiki snapped, clearly still in a sour mood. Damion let out a sigh of relief as the Kitsune around them returned to whatever they were doing, over the surprise of the latecomers.

"Damion was still out cold and he still had not had anything to eat," Alvar replied, his eyes narrowing at Kiki. Damion started feeling the tension between the two again and decided he should say something before Kiki caused a scene.

"How did your training session go last night?" Damion interjected, noticing Miyuki's grateful gaze. Kiki's demeanor changed completely as she faced Damion, a smug grin on her face.

"We'll be able to take anyone down after the rigorous training we completed," Kiki said with a gleam in her eye.

"Good thing we won't be facing you," Damion replied with a nervous smile. He watched Alvar stalk away into the crowd, Kitsune quickly moving out of his way as he drew near. Damion glanced around at everyone warming up for the imminent tournament. He tried to figure out what he'd do if he had to face any of them, calculating their strengths and weaknesses as they worked. He jumped as Miyuki touched his shoulder.

"You do realize in the first round we won't be facing anyone in here, right," Miyuki said quietly, sweeping her hand over the large group.

"If we're not facing anyone in here then who are we facing?" Damion asked, bewildered.

"There is a total of two hundred and fifty-six competitors. The first one hundred and twenty-eight that sign up are directed to the room on the other side of the ring while the last one hundred and twenty-eight competitors are directed to this room. That way no one knows what their opponent looks like unless of course, you've faced them before." Miyuki explained, closing her mouth as the older Kitsune pushed through the curtain.

"Alright, everyone! The tournament will now begin!"