No violence for once.
By now the entire group including the returned Jae-ha and Shin-ah stopped.
Realization hit Yona and Yoon, and they turned to look at one another. Yona turns Hania, who had turned her back to her, around by the shoulders. " You decided to save Yoon and I, knowing that you and your friends would lose your home?" Yona asks with fire burning in her eyes.
Hania grabs Yona by the wrist, eyes wide at the question but resolved. "I am not so powerful that I could so forget what it's like to be weak. You needed help. As a village who devotes their entirety to the people who cannot protect themselves, I would have never been able to accept passing my rite of passage with the blood of apathy on my hands."
The rest of the warrior girls nod quickly in agreement with Hania. One turns to Yona, with gentleness in her eyes. "We accepted the consequences of the decision well before it was made. Hania is our leader, and she can speak for our hearts. None of us blame you!"
Hania continues filled with pride at her companion's words. " If anything we should apologize for not sorting the bandits out sooner. Anyone who passes through our territory is meant to be safe. But look, we've unjustly injured all of your friends, so, please. Forgive us." Hania says removing her hand from Yona's and going down on one knee head bowed.
Yona is exhausted from the change of emotions. Even she, who is day by day coming to understand the new world she's been thrown into and the people of these lands, knows that further arguments about whose fault it is have been lost. Yona just marvels at the strong, and confident girl in front of her. The admiration warms her heart, and she promises herself she will do everything she can to pay Hania and the warrior girls back for what they have done for her.
Yona pulls Hania up, laughing. "Fine, Ok. You win, I'm not angry. I will say a final time; thank you, and not bring it up again." Hania smiles at Yona as she gets up, to address the group cheerfully. " Well then, now that that's settled. Hurry up ladies; we want to make it to the village before these girls die of the cold!".
The group moves on, the village upon them. But Hak is only looking at Hania and Yona.
Hak had seen Yona angry when he or the other dragons had got injured in their protection of her, and he thought it was just because she cared for them and didn't want to see them hurt. He couldn't understand how she couldn't see the fact that many were willing to risk their lives for her, because of who she was. She was the type of girl who enthralled the hearts of men, women and children, many drawn in by her compassion and determination. But this situation had stunned him into silence. A turning point. A big realization.
Yona was angry at herself for being weak. Taking up the bow had given her courage and an outlet for her frustrations. He had hoped that would be enough, never imagining that she would need to rely on her own strength. Not realizing that all he was doing was confirming her insecurities, about her position. But what could he do, all his life was about protecting her. All he yearned to do was to keep her safe.
But he had seen this look in her eyes when she looked at Hania. It was fiery hunger. The desire to be stronger. Something he had seen when Yona had encountered Gi-Gan. It scared him.
They arrive at the village to the sound of silence, and darkness. The dragons tense as if readying themselves for the unknown until, Hania shoots Jae-ha and Hak a sharp glare, and they stop.
Suddenly a curtain twitches and whisperings begin to come from the darkened buildings. Suddenly doors are flung open, and light shines into the streets, men and children running out into the arms of the young captive women.
The sound of soft tears are heard through the noise, parents rushing to take their children to bed, and warrior girls, shedding small hidden tears into the shoulders of the girls they are returning home.
From the largest house, a group of elderly, robe clad men come out, and the citizens quickly clear the area, sinking into silence as they approach to face Hania and the group.
Hania steps forward, refusing to show fear. The head village elder comes forward, hushed voices among the other elders, who look suspiciously at Yona, Yoon, Hak and the dragons.
"Hania, we have been informed by our scouts that the bandits are still at large after a failed mission earlier today. While I am grateful that you have returned our precious daughters to us, I feel that your compromised decision making to put the outsider's safety before that of the village your clan has promised to protect unacceptable. We now believe that you have only endangered us further, as you have riled up the bandits to take revenge on us!" The elder angrily huffs.
Fathers and husbands in the crowd barely manage to hold back the mouths of their enraged daughters. Yona is furious and moves to speak, glaring at the elder. Instead, she is met with the warm sensations of Hak's hand on her wrist, and Yoon's hand on her shoulder. She can feel the other dragons, moving closer to her, calming her down as she recollects herself. She doesn't get a chance to speak, as Hania, for the second time that evening gets down on a knee.
Hania places a hand across her chest, pushes down her hurt emotions and looks up at the elder with as much respect as she can muster. "My humblest apologies my elder, I recognize your concern, and I will bring it to the attention of Chikara's clan leader. My only hope is that you place the failure of this operation on me and not the clan. I can assure you that the clan will be sending additional support until the bandit situation is resolved.".
"So be it." The elder replies coldly, as he and the others leave.
Hania remains on her knee head bowed until she hears the elders close the door to the house, and till the sounds of the villagers quickly entering their houses, fades away. She lets out a relieved sigh as she gets herself back to standing.
She wipes the dust off her clothes, refusing to acknowledge the multitude of eyes on her. Quickly turning she, briskly makes to walk back to Chikara. She hopes they ignore the waver in her voice as she shouts "Hurry up, let's go.", over her shoulder.
Big fan of consequences as you can probably imagine! Next time the Clan will decide the fate of Hania and the Warriors.