Daryn looked up as the rain began to pour. As much disdain as she had for mages, not even she could deny the awesome capabilities. The rain was warm, and it plastered her curls to her head, running down her shoulders and arms. Although the clothes could use a good washing, this wasn't how she wanted it. She looked over at Daelyn who looked just as sad as she probably did. He ran a hand through his hair, smoothing it back against his head. 

Both of them took a minute to face the obstacle course. It wasn't long, and it didn't look particularly hard. First, there was a rope about the width of Daryn's forearm. It led straight upward into a platform where more ropes ran horizontally to another platform and a ladder back to the ground. Next was a field of wires strung across the ground. Daryn couldn't tell if the wires were sharp or charged with magic. The space between the floor and the wires was just enough for someone to crawl on their belly. Next was a pool of green water. The rain picked up the current in the small pool, and there were several tall waves cutting across the surface. On the other side of that lay a wall, clearly for climbing. The challenging part was the very few hand holds present on the wall. They would be nearly impossible to climb with the rain. 

The knight in charge told them to pair up, making four even groups. Daelyn pulled Daryn in line to be second, wanting to get it over with but not wanting to go first. He wanted to watch, to know what to expect. He watched carefully as the first pair took off running, scaling the ropes easily. They got down on their knees and swung themselves to hang upside down on the ropes, sliding across them slowly. This took much more time that the first rope set. Then, the cawing started. Daelyn's head jerked up to the ceiling where a massive bird sat. It was black, with a long red neck and black eyes. It's feathers were falling off as it sat there, mouth open, eyes watching. It swooped down right as the men made it across the ropes, both of them jumping off the platform instead of taking the ladder. The bird returned to its perch, sharpening its claws where it sat. 

The two men got down on their bellies, using their flattened elbows to propel themselves forward. The ground was wet, making it hard to move at an appropriate speed. It was going fine, and Daelyn felt himself relax. The air cracked; the smell of burning hair hit Daelyn. One man was still, poised in the same position he had been when his back touched a stray wire. The other man looked back at him and crouched even further to the ground, emerging at last from this part. He dove headfirst into the pool, easily swimming to the other side. Daelyn strained his eyes to see the blisters that rose from the man's uncovered skin. The water was green, because it was toxic. The man hoisted himself up to the wall, just as the barking on the other side of the arena. Daelyn watched the dogs, massive black dogs bolt across the area, nipping at the heels of the man who was just crossing over the top of the wall. He fell over the side, laying there with his arms and legs spread out, his chest rising and falling rapidly. 

Daryn looked at Daelyn, finally letting go of his hand. She wasn't strong. She was smart. Daelyn was the strong one. And this was a test of strength. The knight gave them the signal to go, and Daryn watched Daelyn pull himself up the first ropes with ease. She, on the other hand, struggled as the rope swayed and bucked under her. Daelyn had to climb back down and hold the rope still so she could climb back up. With an eye on the vulture overhead, they both got down on the ropes, moving as quickly as possible. Daryn felt the wind around her pick up, smelled the rotten flesh of the bird before she heard it. But it was beside her head, cawing, before she had time to react. She tucked her face into her shoulder, feeling the bird's beak rip into the skin of her hands and legs. Daelyn finally reached a leg out and kicked it, stunning it enough to get himself and Daryn across. 

She fell to her knees on the floor once they got down the ladder, holding her hands in front of her. They were a mess of open wounds, blood dripping into the ground. 

"Are you okay?" Daelyn asked her, grabbing the hands. She simply nodded, trying to catch her breath. "You have to make it," he continued.

"So let us go," she replied, dropping to her stomach to crawl under the wires. This part was simple. They took their time, crawling around the dead man's body that hung from the wires. Daryn didn't even dare touch the edge of his tunic. They pulled themselves up, jogging for the pool of water. Daelyn swam across, pulling himself up. He took a moment to inspect his skin. Time was key, he thought, as he found no marks from the water. His eyes searched the water for Daryn, who had been pushed against a wall by a wave. She found against the water, feeling it bleed into her open wounds on her hands. It felt like needles being pressed into her skin. She moved along the wall, afraid the rest of her body would fail her, too. Daelyn pulled her from the water, leading her shaking body to the wall. 

The dogs were no where in sight, but they could hear them waking up, barking the alarm. Daelyn found him a hand hold and started climbing, surprised at how difficult it was. He looked down at Daryn, who stared at her hands. 

"I can not feel my hands," she yelled up at him, her hands shaking. He leaped down, kneeling.

"Get on my back," he commanded, and the dogs appeared. Daryn linked her legs around his waist, her hands around his neck. He turned as the dogs ambushed, find Daryn's back and ripping into it with teeth and claws. The woman buried her face in her brothers neck, bearing down on the pain that emanated from the wounds. The pair of them tumbled over the edge of the wall, landing in a tangle mess of limps and blood. Daelyn stood, his legs shaking under him. He pulled the man, still spread out on the ground, and his sister over away from the course, pressing his fingers against his temples. Daryn lay on her stomach, awake but unable to move. Her body was a mess of pain, crippling pain. She found Daelyn's hand and the strength to push herself into a sitting position. She leaned against him there, waiting for the rest of the group. 

A long time passed, as the next two groups made their way across the course. Many came across bloody, covered in boils and scratches. One man fell from the first ropes when the vulture attacked, only to be carried away by the dogs, allowing his partner to come through unscathed. The group huddled there, waiting on their next trial.