Chapter 3

Nadia

I woke to the sounds of a camp being roused. What looked like supplies and scrap metal were being loaded into to horse driven wagons and it was clear they were from the facility. I realised that there must have been a team that worked overnight to get it all in such a short time. I was torn away from my thoughts by the sound of a branch cracking.

I snapped my head over and looked at the girl unwaveringly. She seemed slightly startled by the intensity of my gaze but recovered well. I guessed her to be older than me by two, maybe three years. Her eyes were smeared with ash like Anya, Lexa and Lincoln's were but her movements as she stood, the way she checked her weapons belt, even the shift of her eyes assured me that she was new to the world of warriors. I could recognize it the same way I had seen it in the younger fighters at our facility.

I knew it was still very early from the pink in the sky. My breath created little puffs of frost and my toes were a bit numb despite the wrappings on them. I wiggled them and contained a wince as they started to tingle with sensation.

I looked back to the young woman guarding me. It was a bit disconcerting to know that I had not woken when she had swapped with whoever had watched me last. In fact, it was disconcerting to know I had not woken for any of the watch changes.

Regardless, I narrowed my eyes at her, committing her face to memory. Something about her seemed to be slightly...cleaner then Anya and Lexa were. Perhaps she was transitioning.

I finally looked away from her, instead watching the camp. I instantly located the doctor, and kept my eyes on her. I saw glimpses of Anya, Lincoln and Lexa but did not bother to track them. They were not currently threats. I did, however, keep my ears open in case the girl watching me got any ideas.

The bindings around my waist, legs and hands were definitely biting into me now, but I ignored it. Yesterday I had been scared, disorientated and desperate for...companionship and it had made me weak.

I remembered asking for a name when I was told I needed one, I remembered trusting Anya for no reason and I remembered Lexa's eyes igniting a sense of mischief in me. I silently cursed myself, unable to believe how foolish I had been. It must have been the after effect of being in the ice so long.

Yet even now when I thought of Anya I could not see her as a threat. I mean sure, she had already proven she was worth her salt and could kick some serious ass if needed, but if I didn't cause trouble it shouldn't be a problem. If I could make them trust me, eventually I would be able to slip away unseen.

And go where? Asked that annoying voice in the back of my head, persistent in its goal to ruin all of my plans. The thing that stung was that that was the truth. As much as I could take care of myself in the wild, and had been trained to, I had no idea what this newly evolved planet held in store. The chance of getting myself killed by accident was high.

I sighed softly, under my breath. Maybe I could stay with them for a while, see what they were like. It should be fine as long as they kept me away from the doctor and her cold hands.

I broke my eyes away from the doctor when I saw two familiar figures brake away from camp and stride towards me. I heard sound from behind me and new the girl was moving. I flitted my eyes to once and found her pose non-threatening, and decided to keep an ear out for further movement whilst I watched Anya and Lexa approach me. I stiffened my spine. Today I would not be weak, nor would I be so forthcoming with information as I had been yesterday. Despite the calming presence Anya presented me with and the interesting aura surrounding Lexa, I had to be smarter.

I tilted my chin up a bit and set my jaw, not realising that this made look like a stubborn child. I also did not know that this made both Anya and Lexa hold in a smile.

"Good Morning, Nadia," Lexa said.

I did not reply, but tilted my head in response. The sound of my new name was oddly pleasing. It made me feel somewhat human.

"You caused no disturbances in the night. This is good news. Today, we head back to our respective camps. As much as my home is further away, I will be staying in Anya's village a while where you yourself will reside for now, under her careful watch," She looked at me as she said this.

I gazed back at her. I finally decided to take that as a warning, and not a threat. Her eyes were far too...alive for it to be a threat.

"You will double up with Anya, and you will ride with your hands bound. Do not cause trouble, or you will walk the whole trip. If for some reason you cannot ride with Anya, you will ride with Lincoln. Do you understand?" Lexa asked me.

I nodded tightly; considering how I was stuck in a situation I knew nothing about. Also, it was a hundred years in the future and I had no idea what radiation had done to the planet. A part of me was still coming to terms with that. Also, there was a slight worry for those who had been frozen and then taken, but I pushed it away. They could take care of themselves.

Not while they're frozen. There was that voice again. I ignored it, instead focusing on Lexa when she began to speak. I caught sight of Anya shifting her weight slightly in the background, and my ears picked up on the restless movement of the girl guarding me.

Lexa's voice was stern. "You will answer me with your words, Nadia."

I did not like the way she said that, speaking as if I was a small child. I answered perhaps a bit too tartly. "Of course, Lexa."

Her lips tightened and Anya's eyes narrowed. I heard the girl behind me stop moving and her breathing quicken a bit. I remembered Lexa and Anya's smart battle tactics and the way Lexa had slashed into all my unguarded spots with speed and ease, and felt a slight twinge of regret for my words. I refused to call it apprehension. A warrior such as me would not feel such a cowardly emotion. I repeated that in my head at least twice before meeting Lexa's eyes.

I instantly stiffened. Her gaze held a challenge. "Octavia, leave us."

The girl left instantly, uttering a soft, "Yes, Heda."

"You should not be disrespectful. Especially not in front of my people. This is the only warning you will receive." She gave me another stern look and I suddenly felt younger than ever.

I refused to look away from her intense gaze and did not reply, almost missing the tiniest quirk of Anya's lips before her face became neutral again. Almost.

When it became obvious I had no answer for her last comment, Lexa continued. "You should also address me by my title."

This was followed by a pointed look and I immediately lied, "I don't know what your title is."

"Do not lie. You are perceptive; you would have picked it up by now. You may use either of the terms, whether spoken in my language or yours." Her tone was unforgiving and I knew she wouldn't take no for an answer.

Not in the mood to submit, I merely put my chin up again and said nothing.

"We will break within the hour. Do you have any questions?" Lexa asked, and we both knew she had caught me.

I did not want to seem foolish and young for asking questions, but I also had things I was itching to know. Lexa knew this and so did I. I cursed her intelligence and tried to hold my tongue but ultimately failed.

"What will I do once I reach Anya's village?" I felt this was the most important question.

"Anya can answer that," Lexa watched my every move, much like I watched her and Anya.

She reminded me of a predator, the same way I reminded myself of one. I felt my respect grow a bit and tried to ignore it as I turned my gaze upon Anya.

She stepped forward, her coat giving a light swish as she stepped forward to stand in front of me. I refused to tilt my head up, instead straining my eyes to see her. I knew I would look less vulnerable this way. The binds itched and hurt, but this time I did not shift against them. I focused my attention on Anya.

"In my village, we will teach you. You are already as good a warrior as the majority of my men, but I will hone your skill to make it better suited to the opponents you will face. You will learn basic healing arts, and you will give me any information I ask for, if you yourself know it." Before I could protest the information bit, Anya ploughed on.

"You will also be given a room in my home, a warm bed and food. The position you will be in will be similar to my second, or what you might call a one on one training relationship. However, you are still strange and foreign to us, a possible threat. Until we know for sure that we can trust you, you will not be my second."

She looked at me before finishing off her speech with, "Does this make sense to you?"

I nodded and Lexa gave a soft cough. I remembered her words from earlier, about using my voice. I held in a small sigh.

"Yes, Anya," My voice was not nearly as curt as it had been before.

Anya's eyes had a strength to them that was not to be challenged. It was almost as if she could say with a single look that I am a child and I will do as she says. I didn't like it, but at the same time there was a promise of being cared for if I was to be a child.

A part of me liked that idea, the thought of being looked after. Another part of me rebelled against it, longing for freedom and independence.

"Good," Her voice was firm.

Anya looked back to Lexa, and at her nod reached for me. I instantly stiffened and went to bear my teeth. I received a light rap on the head, curtsey of Anya's knuckles.

"You will not do that to either Lexa or me, understood?" I looked at her blankly before realising she meant baring my teeth.

I went to nod, upset because I knew it would be a hard habit to break, before realising I was to use my words. "I understand," I refused to believe my voice was anywhere near sulky.

I also made the choice to ignore the slight quirk in Anya's lips or the amused air that suddenly surrounded Lexa.

I stiffened yet again when Anya reached me once more, and settled for a bit of lip curling. She gave me a look, one that said get your ass in line, and I was embarrassed when my first response was to behave. God, I was finally free and I was following rules?

Anya made quick work of the bindings on my hands, and it took everything in me not to sigh in relief when the ropes were off. It was also hard work not to rub the angry red lines. I watched her mass of blonde brown hair slide over her head and shoulders as she bent to remove my ankle bindings. Finally she removed my waist bindings and I couldn't help but roll my shoulders out after having been against the tree for so long.

"Thanks," I said softly, refusing to look at her face.

"You are welcome, goufa," She replied.

"I am not a child!" I looked at her angrily.

She raised an eyebrow and simply said, "You are not yet recognized as a tradesperson, healer or warrior of a clan. Therefore, you are a child."

I glared at her as my only response, stubbornly refusing to accept what she said.

She just shook her head and muttered softly under her breath, probably cursing me. I looked her straight in the eye and she said, "You are very stubborn, perhaps even a bit headstrong. I will find training you amusing."

"I am trained," I said.

"Not enough," was her simple reply.

Before I could say anything in return Anya stood up and dusted off her knees before reaching and grabbing my forearm. I was so startled by the movement I didn't stop her. Once I was standing I saw Lexa nod at Anya and stride away, back to the main camp.

That's where Anya then dragged me. As we went through the camp all of the curious faces were met with Anya's glare. I could now clearly tell the difference between Anya's people and the doctor's people.

I caught sight of Lexa talking to a blonde woman about her own age, and realized that she was also of the doctor's people. It made me instantly dislike her, but when Lexa gave her hand a gentle touch I realized they were close. Perhaps even intimate. Maybe she was slightly ok.

But when she looked at me and gave me a vicious glare for apparently no reason I glared back and found that my original dislike was well placed.

Anya and I finally made it the destination she had in mind. It was a log with a few packs and a person sitting by them. She was a tough looking woman with dark brown skin, wicked scars and a tattoo adorning her face.

I gazed at her curiously and deduced she was a warrior as she ignored me and greeted Anya. When she did finally look at me I could tell she was assessing how much of a threat I posed.

"This is Indra. You will treat her with respect," Anya did not give me time to answer before she was shoving me into the ground.

I sat with a huff, wanting to disobey yet at the same time wanting her praise. I suppose this is what having no decent adults around for most of your life could do to you.

I watched Anya curiously even as my body was alert for threats. She picked up a roll of bandage and a small jar of something.

"Hands out," She ordered.

I did as she said and almost yelped when she smeared the slave inside the jar along the small cuts I had caused on my wrists from twisting against the rope.

It stung but eventually cooled and eased the sting. Anya then firmly wrapped the bandages around them. I watched all this, and yet was somehow not quick enough to jerk away when she twisted a rope around them again.

I struggled a little bit, but Anya snapped softly, "Enough!"

I curiously did not want to disappoint her, so I obeyed. However, the feeling of wanting to create mischief was growing as well.

It was then I noticed that the camp had almost been completely packed up. Anya led me by my binds to where a horse waited. It was a nice bay with a white blaze on its head. It snuffled to Anya in greeting and she rubbed its muzzle affectionately whilst murmuring a few things in her own strange language.

She yanked me over and in a swift movement lifted herself onto its back. This created some awkward pulling on my binds considering the rope attached to my bound wrists. I glared at Anya but she merely yanked me into an ungraceful heap in the front of the saddle, before she shifted and rearranged me so I was sitting in front of her. I went to sit straight, but she yanked me back.

"I won't be able to see if you're doing that. Rest your chin below me head." Her voice was steady and commanding.

I huffed at my rough treatment. Sure, the adults at the facility had done worse, but I wanted to see if these people were genuine about not hurting me.

"What if I don't want to?" I asked.

Instantly I was cuffed over the head, and when I tensed to head butt her she pressed her thumb hard into a groove in my hip. I gasped in pain and she simply said, "I don't care."

I let out a displeased sound but nonetheless settled back into her chest. I turned my face to the side and found my ear against Anya's neck and the rest of my face buried in her fur collar. I could hear her heartbeat and it was very soothing. It made her seem so much more real.

Lexa came into view and gave a few orders, and then we were on our way.

I watched everything with obvious curiosity. I could feel the anxious and curious gazes of the people travelling with us. It was clear that I made the doctors people more nervous than I made Anya's people. But after assessing them all for threats I ignored them, instead fascinated by my surroundings. I could practically feel Anya's amusement.

It was then that the doctor rode up, clearly uncomfortable on her horse, bouncing around like a newborn. I stiffened and went to snarl, sitting up completely straight. She had just enough time to shoot me a frightened yet determined look before Anya yanked me back into her chest, breathing into my ear, "Don't even think about it, Nadia."

I found the use of my name soothing, but seeing the doctor was still frustrating. I struggled a little bit before Anya gave me another sharp cuff over my ear. This time I did snarl.

"Nadia, behave!" This came from Lexa, and I turned my head towards where she was at the front of the pack quite sharply.

This time there was no lightness or amusement in her green eyes. Only a promise of a punishment I would not like.

Outnumbered and feeling pretty useless, I slumped against Anya, giving the doctor my most hate filled gaze. She stiffened, but then Lexa beckoned her and she moved up to speak with her.

"Better," Anya said softly.

It was enough to slightly sooth my injured pride. Of course, it did nothing for my now stinging ear, I thought dryly. Oh well, I had had much worse.

It was with that thought that many of my battle sustained injuries flared to life. I gritted my teeth and knew I would bare it rather than admit I need help and have that doctor touch me.

I felt a tingling sensation and knew someone was looking at me. After gazing around I determined it was the blonde who had been speaking with Lexa earlier. She was in fact, glaring at me. I scowled slightly as she moved her horse alongside the doctor and Lexa.

I watched her back for a moment before dismissing her. She was not important.

With injuries catching up on me fast, I felt fatigue take over despite the sleep I had had. Hell, despite the one hundred year sleep I had had.

I knew I was hungry, but also knew it could wait.

My head shifted and I found the same spot from before, Anya's fur collar making a pillow and her heart beating a steady rhythm against my ear. It was unsurprisingly not long before I fell asleep.

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