CM Round 2 - Page 8

Saiph stared at clump of leaves in his hand. They were even a little bit damp, he could feel it wet against his palm. Wet and very cold.
It was eerily silent now that the orphans were gone. Usually, this world had been filled with the sounds of children's laughter and playing. Now, it was just quiet.
The Hylan was first to break the silence, strolling over to where Saiph and Helena were clustered together, catching their breath and taking in what had just happened. Avon swirled around her feet as she walked and now the air was filled with the sounds of hasty footsteps and the swirling of water.
"We need to talk." She said, her voice a lot deeper than it had been when she was pretending to be nothing more than an innocent little girl. Saiph felt his heart crumple in his chest, but did not move.
Helena instantly stiffened, bending her knees that slightest bit, ready to pounce and attack if need be.
"What do you mean? What is there to talk about? You're my opponent and-" The Hylan raised a hand to stop Helena's stream of words. She turned to look at Saiph.
"You…You lost your story didn't you?"
Saiph said nothing, but his eyes widened and his hands started to shake. Helena felt a dead weight drop in her stomach. She thought of all the people she met, all the places she'd been in her own world. She clenched her fists, hard enough to dig her fingernails painfully into her palms.
Their opponent gave him a sad smile.
"My world is dying. Fading away." She said, and Saiph saw that her hands were shaking too, very slightly.
"I need the prize so I can save it. I have to win. I need to save everybody. "
Helena looked at The Hylan sympathetically.
"Well, my home is in danger too. I can't afford to lose either."
Both women stared each other down, the tension in the air suddenly replaced by a distinct wave of understanding. The two smiled at each other. They knew how much the other was sacrificing by entering this tournament.
Helena held her hand out to the Hylan.
"Let's agree that since we both have so much to lose, that none of us will back down. There's just way too much stake for us to settle this peacefully." She said all this with a smile.
A newfound respect for the younger woman shone in The Hylan's eyes as she reached out to shake on the agreement.
"A fair fight." She said as the pumped their hands up and down.
And then, in an instant the grins turned into determined as scowls as both girls jumped away from each other, whipping out their manipulators.
"Avon! Distract her" said The Hylan as she cut a piece of the world out using her knife, deft fingers already setting to work folding it.
Avon nodded and rushed Helena, it's fingers stretching and hardening into claws of ice. It scraped a shallow cut across Helena's cheek and pinned her down.
Helena gasped as she hit the ground. Instinctively, she grasped the pen in both hands and stabbed upwards. She felt it sink into Avon's belly. The lizard gave a little shudder before dissolving, wetting the her down her front.
She spluttered and sat up, some of the water had gotten into her mouth. Suddenly she stopped and swallowed, her eyes going wide. She smiled and sprang to her feet.
"Saiph! I know how to beat her!"