Looking at the furry creature, Manasa inspected it for a moment and then laughed. "By its demeanor, I would say a she." she said with a laugh. "I'm pretty sure. It's acting kind of bitchy, and those little things are famous for moody females. The males are kind of dopey. I once had one follow me around. Even falling in a hole by accident. But it was kind of cute. Haha. But I think you'll like that thing. They're really loyal. You should name it!"
They had a lovely dinner. Manasa drank most of the wine, insisting that she needed to be drunk for the feast the next day. Dozing off later, she held Dellis with her arms tight. Tail wrapped around her leg. That night, she dreamed of a beautiful wedding. And a passionate night afterward...
******
The feast was as she had said. Manasa spent most of the night drunk, avoiding her relatives and dodging Tivi'ero whenever he came over. Massively hung over the next day, she spent the day with Dellis close. Trying to remain calm before the final test. But she was worried. No one had told her what it was. And that was always a bad sign.
******
"You're final test, is through those doors." Jamor indicated to the two participants. The assembled group stood outside a large building, with two doors that were around thirty meters apart. Jamor said nothing else, and just nodded for each of them to choose a door and begin.
Manasa sat on the ground, a glass of wine in her hand. She had been drinking since early that morning. Her way of coping if something went wrong. Also, there was no viewscreen for this test. So she wouldn't know who won until the end. So she was drunk once more. Scared to death about what might happen.
******
Tivi'ero went right into the room, a blinding flash hitting him at first. A little disoriented, it took him a minute before he could see what was in the dimly lit entrance room. Wearing a sturdy pair of pants and shirt that had been presented to him. The door had led to a small room. The room had another door directly across, and a table in the middle that held two objects. A pistol, and a note. Grabbing the note, he lifted it up with questioning eyes.
"Your task is very simple. " the note read. "You have a gun. So does your opponent. So the object, and the only task that matters is this. Kill. Or be killed."
Those last three words stuck in his head. Crumpling up the note, he grabbed the gun, and a wicked smile crossed his face.
"Well well. I could have failed those other tests." he said with a laugh as he headed for the door. "Time to kill this bitch off, and make Manasa mine forever."
Swinging the door open, Tivi'ero found himself in a maze. A tight mixture of makeshift walls, buildings and cover. The game was clearly cat and mouse. Grinning, he walked forward in a crouch. Pistol at the ready.