Why hello! My name Hadley Markson and to fully understand my story; I'll have to fill you in on my childhood.
Not long after my fifth birthday both my parents were floated; they had done illegal experiments on me and a few other children. After they were floated I was left to live in the ark's 'orphanage'. The orphanage was just a few people who 'watched' the children and were rewarded with a few extra rations; they never paid much attention to the children.
I got away with everything; half the time I didn't even live in the orphanage room but in a series of air vents that I discovered when I was six. I would sneak into the main control room in alpha station at night and read the various manuals I could find.
By the time I was eight I had built my own computer in the air vent and used it to hack into the arks resident files; learning as much as I could on everyone. That same year I found a closed off room with a broken drop-pod and space suit.
It took me about a year to fix the drop-pod; thank god there was a manual in alpha station. It made it so much easier to do. The same day, that I finished fixing the drop-pod that is, one of my 'guardians' had caught me entering the air vents. She had grabbed me by my leg, trying to pull me out of the vent; in the process her nails dug into my leg leaving a six inch gash. Her devilish rasp of "get back here you freak," still ran through my mind every time I slept and the scar that I received that day still burns every time I woke up.
The worst part was they had found my perfectly working drop-pod and trashed the landing mechanism. I immediately knew how to fix it because I had done it before, but I needed a curtain piece. They normal don't float minors but I think they would make an exception for me; especially for what I did. I hacked into the mainframe again, but this time I didn't hack into the personal records. I hacked into the inventory log; so it would be like the piece never existed. Except upon retrieval I was caught by none other than Abigail Griffin.
She had cuffed me in a room to a bed as she went to get the chancellor. To her stupidity the hand cuffs weren't tight enough and she left the piece in the room with me. I have to give credit to the massive idiot; she had managed to put me in a room without an air vent, but the door wasn't even locked. Idiot; that is all I have to say about that.
So after my 'escape', I headed straight for the drop-pod. I could hear the angry yells of the guard from within the drop-pod room as I fixed it. As they broke into the room I had climbed into the pod and launched; hoping that whatever happened I would at least not die painfully.
So that's where our story starts. Me, a nine year old, space born, girl landed on earth; right in the middle of a war zone. So you can understand everything; I have translated Trigedasleng into English. You'll know when some words have been translated because I'll write them in italics.
Everything hurt; my arms, my legs, my chest, and my head. The pain was made worse when someone ripped open my pod and pulled me out. My vision was blurred so I couldn't see who it was, but I could see the outline and I could tell it was female.
"Who are you? Where did you come from?" Yep, female. I have no idea what she said, but damn did it sound scary.
I closed my eyes, blinking away the blurriness; I whispered, "I'm sorry, I don't understand."
As my vision cleared I looked around seeing a ton of green and a teenage girl, around 16, standing in front of me. Her hair was dark and in braids; her eyes were as mossy as the fuzzy coverings of the trees.
"Who are you?" She growled.
"I-uh, my name is Hadley," I said nervously, "I came from the sky."
Her grip loosened on my arm, "How many springs have you lived?" She asked taking a step back. She placed a hand on the hilt of the sword around her waist.
I gulped as my eyes stayed trained on the weapon. How many springs? Does she mean years?
"I'm nine," I said quietly, "Um, springs; I lived nine I think."
She nodded, "You are to come with me," She said; her voice filled with demand and a tone that only a leader held.
"Who are you?" I asked as I followed her into the trees.
"Lexa Kom Trikru," She said leading us to a group of horses and people in similar clothing to Lexa. Dark, scary and mostly made of furs; the only difference between their clothes is that Lexa had a red sash around her waist.
"Where are we going Lexa?" I asked, my eyes shifting between each of the warrior looking people.
"My home," Lexa said climbing onto the white horse; this horse was almost twice the size of the others.
"Where is that?" I asked looking around nervously. By the looks of it we were in the middle of nowhere.
"You ask too many questions Skaiheda," Lexa said with a smirk; she held her hand out to me.
"Skaiheda?" I asked taking her hand. Lexa pulled me onto the back of her horse in one swift move. Wow, for such a small person; Lexa is strong.
"It means commander of the sky," Lexa explained as she kicked the side of her horse, making it set out to a trot, "You are the only sky person making you their commander here."
I nodded not knowing exactly how to respond to that. This random girl, who nobody on the ark knew was alive, just gave me a nickname.
We headed off into the forest.
Just as the sky darkened we stopped outside little village.
"This is my home," Lexa said gracefully sliding off the horse, "Welcome to TonDC. Are you coming?"
I looked down at the long distance to the ground, "Um I ... uh," I stuttered with a gulp.
"It is alright for a warrior to ask for assistance," Lexa said walking to the side of the horse.
"But I am not a warrior," I said; my eyes never left the ground.
"I will make you into one Skaiheda," Lexa said, "Look to me Skaiheda. Breathing is important; keep it steady."
I took a deep breath and nodded as I looked down at Lexa.
"Just place your legs on one side and slide off," Lexa said, "I am here to catch all my warriors if they fall."
I once again nodded as I slowly and shaky moved. Once I was ready to slide of the horse I took a quick look around at the little village. There were flickering torches and chattering villagers, "Wow," I whispered.
"I know it's beautiful; just wait until you see Polis," Lexa said drawing my attention back to her; she held a hand out to me.
"Polis?" I asked taking a hold of her hand and jumping off the horse.
"TonDC may be my home but I haven't lived here for a few springs," Lexa explained, "Polis is the capital and as the commander I must live there."
"You're the commander?" I asked as we started to walk on foot into the village, "The leader?"
"Correct, I have been for the last few moons," Lexa explained; leading the horse.
If springs are years, then moons must be months.
Lexa handed her horse off to one of the warriors and waved them off. Lexa headed through the village towards the largest building.
The villagers were staring at me making me extremely uncomfortable. "Um, Lexa," I said looking at the villagers nervously.
Lexa stopped walking causing me to bump into her.
"I'm uh, sorry," I stuttered.
"It's alright," Lexa whispered before addressing everyone else, "People of TonDC, the sky has given us a gift in the form of a child. She will be living with me and training with me. She was born Hadley of the Sky People and she will be known to you as Skaiheda!"
My breathing quickened as everyone chanted 'Skaiheda' over and over.
Lexa turned and looked at me with a genuine smile before putting her hand up to silence everyone, "Tonight we rest; tomorrow we'll celebrate!" She yelled before walking to the building.
"Um, Lexa what did you say to them?" I asked following her. Her strides were large and quick so I had to basically run to keep up.
"I told them you were a gift from the sky and to them you are Skaiheda," Lexa explained pushing open the heavy wooden door of the building.
Everything was lit up by torches, there was furniture scattered everywhere and multiple doors lining the walls.
"I'm not a gift from the sky," I said a little confused, "I'm just a nine year old from the ark."
"You are not just a nine year from the ark," Lexa explained motioning to my bloody leg, "You are special, a Natblida."
"A what now?" I asked more confused than before.
"Your blood is black," Lexa said.
"Yeah so, my parents did it," I said looking at the inky stains around my cuts.
"Natblida or Nightbloods are special," Lexa explained, "They are trained to become the next commander; just as you will be too."
"How can I be commander if I am not from here?" I asked.
"That is not something you want to worry yourself with yet, for now," Lexa said pointing to a door, "That is your room, mine is beside it."
I nodded.
"Sleep well Skaiheda, for tomorrow we train," Lexa said slightly bowing her head before heading to her room.
I headed to the room the commander pointed out for me.
The next morning I was shaken awake by Lexa.
"Get up, it is time to train," She said ripping the furs that were keeping me warm off me.
"But I don't wanna," I mumbled reaching for the furs; keeping my eyes closed.
"Skaiheda, it's time to wake," Lexa said using her commander voice.
"Five more minutes momma," I mumbled before I realized what I was saying; my eyes shot open and I sat up, "I'm so sorry Commander."
Lexa shifted awkwardly before straightening, "It's alright Skaiheda, you were asleep and didn't know the words you said," Lexa said, "Now get up it's time we train."
I fell back into the bed with a huff before swinging my legs off the bed and standing up. The stone flooring was cold beneath my bare feet.
I looked around the room; my eyes scanning my discarded space suit and shoes. I walked over to my shoes to slip them on my feet, but I noticed the sole had completely fallen off, "Um Commander, I uh."
I looked up to see Lexa smirk; she stepped to the side to reveal a pile of dark clothes, furs, and most importantly boots, "To train to be the commander you must look like the commander," She said.
"Thank you Commander, I don't know what I did to deserve this," I said picking the clothes off the floor.
"My people protect their children; now dress," Lexa simply said before turning on her heel and walking out of the room.
I quickly changed into the clothes. It was a tight pair of black stretchable pants; a loose dark blue/grey, long sleeve shirt that hung off my shoulders; a thick belt for around my waist; black leather boots that tied up at the back; and a black cloak that was slightly too long for me and dragged on the ground.
Just as I finished dressing there was a knock at the door and Lexa's head poked in.
"Are you ready?" She asked; waiting for my nod before she stepped in, "Alright, now I know the clothes are slightly too big, but they will have to work. Do you want me to braid your hair?"
I nodded watching as Lexa sat on the bed and patted the space on the floor with her foot. I sat down and closed my eyes as Lexa worked her braiding magic in my long dark curls.
I took a while and my butt was starting to go numb when Lexa said, "Alright," once she was finished.
I ran my fingers gently over her work, feeling the complex designs on the one side of my head; the other side was just left hanging in its mass of curls.
"It is now time to meet with the other Natblidas," Lexa said taping my shoulder so I would stand.
I stretched my legs, taping my left foot because it had fallen asleep, "You've been speaking another language; Natblidas is one of the words," I stated.
"That is correct it's called Trigedasleng," Lexa said standing up and straightening out her clothes.
"Can you teach me some?" I asked, "I would like to be able to talk to everyone in their language, you know?"
"I understand," Lexa said leading the way out of the room, "Among your other lessons you will be taught Trigedasleng."
"Thank you Commander, for everything," I said with a smile. I followed only a few steps behind her.
"Heda," Lexa said and I tilted my head slightly; looking at her confused, "It means Commander in Trigedasleng; it will be what my people call me."
"Alright Heda," I said.
We quickly exited the house and to the training grounds where a few other kids were waiting.
"Skaiheda will be joining our training sessions as a Natblida," Lexa said her voice remaining level and stern.
A boy a little older than I am stepped forward, "My name is Aden, welcome Skaiheda," He said.
"Thank you Aden, please call me Hadley," I said.
"Battle positions now!" Lexa yelled, "Skaiheda will watch before joining in."