As soon as the voice disappeared, we all became mice. Everyone scurried around trying to gather what they could, as fast as they could, while I stood frozen, staring out in front of me, like a mouse someone was reaching out to pet.

I probably would've stayed frozen for ever, but Arnaud, being the friend he was, came over and shook me out of my transe.

"Come on Luke!  We've gotta go!"

"Right! Everyone, over here!" Danielle and Olta ran over and joined us. "We need the flags correct?"  Everyone nodded, "Then I think we should split up. Danielle, the gear down there, you didn't specify.  What can you do with it?"

"Oh uh, I can make a weapon or maybe a trap, I guess" she replied.  I'd caught her off guard, observing our opponents.

"Hmm," I hummed, racking my brain. "Towers! We're on towers!" I exclaimed, scurrying to the edge and seeing the pillars holding the tower, hurrying back over. "Climbing gear? Can you make climbing gear?"

"I think so,"

"And there's an exit out back?"

"Mm-hmm"

"You're our strongest, our fastest, can you go put it on and scale down the tower. Try to find a way to get over to that big team's tower across from us? We can cover the rest, hopefully."

"Wait!" Olta butted in, "She can't do this. You're telling me that she's going to scale down our tower, to theirs, and snatch their flag from behind, then come back over to us? That's insane! Won't they notice and, I don't know, attack us here or throw stuff down at her or something?"

"They can't, it'd destroy their flag, and charging us, that's why we're here. I trust Danielle, she can do this, and frankly, do you have a better idea?"

"Plus, we have two lives right? I'd better go," Danielle said. Her voice sounded torn between excitement and resentment.

"We'd better move on. I, having only my own, single, life, will stay here. Using some of those weapons, I can defend our flag.  Arnaud, you can help me defend until there's an opening for you to snag a banner. Olta," I stopped.

"I have an idea!" She exclaimed, rushing down the stairs to the floor below. That was the end of that.

"Smooth bro," Arnaud chuckled walking over to the weapon stand. "But no time to dwell on that, we need to get suited up if we're going to win this thing!"

I wanted to go down and see Olta's idea, and explore the lower floor, but it would be smarter to keep more than one person atop, and to help Arnaud get ready to charge. I needed to get some weapons as well. This challenge wasn't going to be peaceful like the first.

I helped slip a sheath onto his left flank.  He looked at the arrangement and grabbed a broadsword with his left hand.  He twirled it and slipped it into his sheath, slipping a small flintlock pistol into his right jean pocket.  No armour, but otherwise, he seemed ready!  I slipped a dual-action pistol into each of my pockets and slung a sheath of arrows over my back.

"Bow and arrow?"

"It felt... right"  I said, slipping a smooth wooden bow across my back.  The center handhold of the bow was metal, pure steel as I could see.

Then of course, Team Red decided to charge us.

The boys were hardly ready, armed with clubs, maces and a few swords, none of which any of them were handy at using, but it was the one thing I'd forgotten to grab.

Arnaud stood in a silent face off with them while I swiveled around and hurried back to grab a sword as fast as I could. a silver sword caught my eye and I reached out and seized it. It was perfect. The perfect weight, perfect length, everything down to the very design was just my style.  It's silvery-white color was accented with a blue streak running up both sides to meet in the center of the blade near the point. The blue had a sort of shimmering watery effect when you looked at it. I stepped up to Arnaud and together we whipped out at the crowd.

The boys charged and we stood together, protecting out flag.

They were so stunned by our half-coordinated attacks that we mostly just pushed the first two off the edge.  Once we'd rammed and parried a few more, Arnaud took off for their tower with a nod, leaving me with the two huge, buff guys who certainly meant business.  They ignored the escaping prey and focused their attention on me.

I sidestepped the club of the first, but the second punched me straight in the stomach.  I flew backwards into the short wall that stood as barrier around our tower.

It was more real than I could have imagined. Immense pain shot through my body the second I collided with the rock.  What's more, I had no muscle to defend myself, only skin and bone.  Olta ran up the stairs, greeted by being picked up by her scarf, dangling over the pit unarmed and helpless. This was not going to be good, and there was no escape...