When the time came for Star to wake up she was exhausted, but the guard at her door was loud and unrelenting as he yelled at her about getting ready for the next fight. She said off her cot carefully and stumbled over to the cell door when she noticed that Windbreaker wasn't around to greet her and escort her to her change room. She was worried but she didn't think about it too much, as she walked beside the darkly shaded gryphon at her side, mentally preparing for the battle to come.
Soon after Star had suited up and began to leave her room she noticed other gryphons lining the hallway, all staring at her, some were smirking while others were glaring and even spitting at her feet. She made no attempt to show any weakness or acknowledge them, though, keeping herself in the right mind so her focus would solely be on the fight. When she entered the ring and lifted her wings there was an uproar of screaming and cheers, she looked around at the crowd above her and scanned their faces for anything that would tell her why they were so excited. Her answer soon came when the doors in front of her began to open, revealing a female gryphon, the first she was ever expected to fight inside the circular room. But regardless of the species, she was ready to fight for her life just as much as she had before. She lowered herself to the ground slowly as the gryphon across from her began to circle, and she reflectivity copied her movements as she lowered her wings slightly.
It’s not like intimidation would help me here, she's a lot bigger than me and she'll tear me up anyways.
She thought as she began to quietly snarl, trying to trigger the more feline instinct in the hybrid, and as a result got a hissing snarl back as her back arched and her fur stood on end.
Well now I’ve got your attention, let's dance.
Star flinched at her and made her jump back before she hissed and jumped at her with her talons out. Just as she did, Star jumped up and stomped on her head as she launched herself into the air and landed behind her, regaining her balance in a second. The gryphon quickly got back up off the ground, turning on her as she shook the fuzziness out of her head and charged at her at full speed, talons at the ready again. But like before, Star dodged and kicked her in the throat as she went over her, causing her to cough and choke. But this time, the gryphon had a lot more trouble righting herself as she tried to dig her claws into the ground beneath her.
“Are you feeling ok miss?”
Star said in a quiet tone, but the gryphon hissed at her, as she held her throat and glared back at her.
“Why do you care night bitch!? you're a murderer anyways,”
Star’s ears drooped as she sighed and flapped her wings, and flew up above her, before diving down so fast that the impact of her hooves on the gryphons skull was almost enough to break it. And with that, the fight was over, and star had once again made her way back to her dressing room, saddened by the act she had committed and the words that she heard. And as she walked to her room she felt so alone in the packed hall she was in.
****
Later on, in her cell, Star was still pondering her life deeply as she began to really crave some conversation, and she made a small letter that wasn't really saying much about what was going on, but she really wanted to talk to Windbreaker. She would never admit it to herself but she did miss him, he was so sweet and genuinely cared for her, and it was worth trusting and going for if she was planning an escape. So when she gave the letter to the guard she was anxious to see Windbreaker come back, even if things got a little harsh yesterday. But when he arrived, he was silent but she could see that he was clearly uncomfortable standing there, so when she approached him she made sure to make it obvious and clear what she was doing.
“Windbreaker? are you alright? you seem kind of….out of it,”
She asked, and she reached out to touch his shoulder gently, and he jumped at her touch. The sudden movement made her move her hoof away from him, and her ears drooped sadly as she backed away from him.
“My superior got involved after the guard from yesterday said that I was getting too close to you, so I’m not really supposed to talk...to you,”
He said in a shaky quiet voice, his uncertainty and nervousness showing through and making Star feel like she was responsible.
“We are getting kind of close, but I don't think it should be considered a reason to be punished, that guard hurt he physically not you, you should be just fine,”
She reached out a hoof to him, and as he turned to her and held her hoof, a smile beginning to take the fear’s place on his face.
“Besides, if anything does happen I can protect you,”
She smirked at him just as he began to lean in to kiss her, and as a result, she kissed him back.