ii. Fires Burn at Night

War made the soldier suffer.

The further we travel, I feel I will loose myself. The sun had set over the horizon. There was a calming wind that touched her skin. The smell of the sea heavy in her senses. The further I go, I feel like I'm falling. How far shall I go before it all ends for me? Will I even have my questions answered?

She looked at her bandaged hand. Noticing how many more scars were decorating her skin. Constant reminders of what she went through these past weeks. Struggling with her inner most thoughts and no way of letting it all go. Dakota let out a heavy sigh with her eyes looking to the night sky. She could hear the men singing songs around the fire and laughter throughout. There was a ghost of a smile upon her lips, but there was sadness.

Dakota looked like a shadow lingering. Her back turned towards the fire's light against the tree. Two large shadows in the distance, eating away at the grass. Captain had been happy to be free of his confined space below the deck of the ship. When they released him and Phobos to the grassy area, both horses were relieved to be stretching their legs and eating whatever they could find. Dakota stayed close to her trusted companion and watched him closely to make sure he was not neglected. She also eyed Phobos, but the two horses were well cared for.

"Fill to your hearts content, Captain." Dakota said. Captain had grazed close to his master and nuzzled her arm. He nipped at the fabric that she used as a blanket. "Easy, Captain. If you eat this, I will have to make you into glue."

Captain huffed and shook his head. The horse was lucky that he could not understand the meaning behind her words. Dakota chuckled as she rubbed his snout lovingly, then lightly pushed him to the side to continue grazing away at the grass. Dakota would have never dreamed of having a horse companion that stuck by her side. Captain had a personality that was different then Phobos. Dakota adored Captain for his quirks that shined when she would be near him.

"Shall we ride into battle one day, Captain? I would rather much be saving lives then taking them. Soldiers like me," she paused. Soldiers like her? She placed her hand on her chest. No longer did she wear the identification tags that were around her neck. All she could feel was her own skin, not the cool metal tags.

She looked up to the shining stars to ease that loneliness. "Soldiers like me are meant to follow orders. When one of our own falls, we never leave them behind in the fight. Why do I still feel like I've left you two behind."

She heard the sound of feathers in the wind and the creak of a branch. Looking to the trees, she found that Ikaros had landed just a few inches from her. She felt unease with the bird when he stared at her. Phobos and Captain did not seem to mind the predatory bird. They were more comfortable with Ikaros, but Dakota wanted nothing to do with the bird.

"Why do you stare?" She said after a moments silence. Ikaros was still, blinking every so often. His head moving as if he was understanding her words. "If you are truly more then you seem, why must you bring unease to me? Birds should not be signs of fear. They are signs of a god. A deity from long ago. Here I am, talking to animals because of loneliness."

"Talking to animals would make others think you have lost all sense." She looked over her shoulder to see Alexios standing next to her.

He noticed her absence the moment they made land on the small island. The crew needed their rest to recover after the battle. He had lost men to the fight- good men. As a captain- a leader- one must maintain their safety and wellbeing. Barnabas and the crew had entrusted their lives to him. To lead them, all the while- Dakota was also depending on his help to return home. There were already many troubles he was facing and many unknowns.

He was not looking forwards to facing his own father. He would keep that thought in the back of his mind. Dakota noticed something about him, but chose to ignore it. Bad enough the string of fate was pulling them into something unknown.

"Sense of what? Who else would want to be around and hear my ramblings?" She stated with a bit of a smile. She wanted to ease the tension as best she could. She was bothered by her own thoughts and having Alexios bothered was not a good mix. As much as Dakota wanted to settle her own troubles, there was a factor that bothered her. Should I go ahead and say it? "Animals do not speak; therefore, they do not judge someone like me. Unless your Captain. I think he judges me."

Captain twitched an ear. Dakota lightly chuckled.

Out of good humor, Alexios sat next to Dakota. "You do talk about strange things that come to mind. Have you always talked to animals when you are alone? I am sure they talk back when no one is around."

Dakota rolled her eyes in annoyance. Alexios smirked at the woman. Trying to get her to be out of her mood had been a challenge no one wanted to face. Dakota was struggling to cope with the events that had occurred with seeing blood and fighting in a battle. To Alexios, it seemed she had lost a part of herself. She clinging to him for comfort or safety. He wasn't sure what it was at that time. When Dakota came back to her senses, she wanted to avoid him at all cost or so according to Barnabas.

The older man had a glint in his eye and a sly smile.

"Yes, yes. The horses gossip about you and I am sure Ikaros complains to no end. They have such interesting conversations about the world. Human troubles are nothing to them. What are you doing here instead of with the crew?" She said as she poked his chest. Dakota would not admit that she had enjoyed Alexios company. When she was around him, she did not feel so alone.

"I am curious as to why you are not close to the fire. It is a bit cool for the night. You are much part of them, instead of being alone. Your stubborn ways are a mystery to me. You have shown your worth among them. Lionheart, they call you." Dakota raised a brow. Was he complementing her or trying to get her to lighten up a bit- possibly both from the looks of it?

"Before you know it, they will sing songs of me and tell their children." She said sarcastically. She flicked her hand into the air in flamboyance. A goofy smile to her lips. "I can hear them tell tales of Lionheart and the eagle bearer. Well, maybe you would play a small part. Men give themselves too much of an acting role."

"Is that truly what you think?" He said. "Would they tell your tale as you say?"

"We all want to be remembered, never to be forgotten. It is why we build statues, pass down stories, sing, and many other creative things. What I did today was something I never thought would happen to me. I thought I saw enough of war. A soldier never stops being a soldier." There was a sad smile. A woman who looked defeated and bruised by the world. Alexios could see how she was fighting internally with something dark. Dakota had come to him a broken- yet, stubborn- woman. One who was a mystery and strange to him. She had her days where she would irritate him to no end.

There truly no other woman as strange as Dakota.

"If you find yourself in another battle, will you fight?" He wanted to know if Dakota was still willing to carry on in this journey. She wanted to return home. She wanted answers. She wanted to find the man who made her weak. This woman was struggling, but she still followed behind him.

"I have no other choice. I have told myself many times that I have accepted it. It's not easy to suddenly head straight into battle. My training involved not going in and dying so quick. We had to observe the situation. Control our surroundings. Make sure we did not have casualties. Everyone deserves to go home." She clenched her hands.

Her nerves have been on edge since earlier in the day. The fight had taken its toll upon Dakota on a physical and mental level. Looking to the eagle that was still perched upon the branch, Ikaros spread his wings and flew towards her; causing a reaction out of the woman to stretch out her arm for the bird to land on. Surprised at her reaction, her heart raced hard against her chest.

Alexios was surprised to see that Ikaros had willingly come towards Dakota. "It is not often I see him come to anyone."

"Please get this bird off me." Dakota pleaded, making Alexios chuckle. "It's not funny."

"Why are you afraid of Ikaros?" Alexios had to hold back his laughter. Seeing the desperate look upon Dakota's face made it even more humorous to him.

"Afraid is not the word I would use. If you don't stop laughing, I swear that I will throw you over board." She could feel the sharp talons upon her flesh. The heavy weight of the eagle and how close Ikaros was to her. The bird's predatory eyes looked deep within her soul for a moment.

"If you throw me overboard, I will drag you down with me." Dakota glared at the man.

"I'll make sure you drown. Now, can you please take your bird. I do not know why he has a fascination for me. All Ikaros does to me is give me an uncertain feeling. Please, Alexios, get him off my arm." The woman was trying to put distance between her and Ikaros. It was hard since her limb is attached to her body. Alexios could not hold back the laughter.

Ikaros ruffled his feathers; not wanting to be a bother to Dakota. He spread his wings and flew off into the night sky. Dakota continued to glare at the man who found her being off putted by a large bird. If only Alexios knew, but Dakota scuffed and folded her arms.

"Why is it that you hid your Spartan heritage? It is not everyday someone tries to hide who they are." She unfolded her arms. Her glance had softened on Alexios.

"That was long ago. Who I was at that time died when my own father threw me off the cliff." All of the laughter had been lost the moment Dakota went from a playful mood to serious. There was no dodging what she thought. The woman was always in her thoughts.

"When you see your father, will you kill him?" She was afraid to ask the question. It would have slipped her mind, but she was curious. She did not know Alexios and his past. Maybe snippets of what he was willing to speak about, but to know he was raised as a legendary warrior; how was she supposed to feel about it?

There was a calm silence between them. Dakota felt guilty for having ruined the mood of cheer and laughter. It was an inconvenient time to be speaking about heavy subject matter. She moved closer to the man and placed her head on his shoulder. Hoping for the night to ease the tension.

Black horses. Men in black robes

Bare feet running through the thicket. They were chasing two figures through the bush. She could hear the horses deep breathing. The dark riders were at their feet with swords ready to cut them down. She noticed one of the figures holding something close to their breast. The figure of a woman with long dark hair, looking back. She was frightened of the riders that were ready to strike at her and the person running next to her.

The sound of an eagle's cry.

The riders were shot down and what emerged were men. Men in hoods. Dakota's heart almost stopped when she recognized one of the men. His features so familiar to her that she could not believe what she saw.

Father.

Breathe.

She took in a sharp breath.

She felt the blow to her ribs.

"Agh!" She fell hard to the deck. Spitting out blood from her mouth as she felt a foot on her hand.

Ikaros's cry echoed in her mind.

She dodged the oncoming assault when she noticed the glint of the sword from the sun's light. As much as she was hurting, Dakota had to survive. Blood could be pouring from her wounds and blood coming from her mouth, but the fight wasn't done with her.

There were already casualties on deck. Dakota wasn't going to be a number to add. Human nature evolved during times of war. Killing another human being had been engraved in their minds for survival. What she has been thought was to never kill, only control the fire fight.

Where was the fire fight? Only swords, spears, arrows, and brutes. Dakota only had her hands and strength to help her survive.

Breathe.

She took in a deep breath of the salty air. Her lungs burning from the pain of bruised muscles and ribs.

'Fight! Please fight!' Her thoughts screamed at her.

Her muscles began to ache with burning fire. Breathing seemed all too difficult when she smelled the heavy scent of blood. Screams of men had echoed when the blue hue had surrounded her. Embracing Dakota within it. Her body moved on its own accord to the threat at hand. She moved with such ferocity as her lean body built enough strength to kick men down. Armor could not save those who tried to attack her. Brutes are all muscle and slow. Men with light armor are faster and use spears for long range. Men with arrows waited for an opening. Swords used for close combat.

She did not have armor. She did not have weapons.

Dakota could only find openings when she saw fit.

She attacked.

She felt the pain.

Blood had come from her mouth when she spat to the side. The side of her cheek had burned when a fist made contact. He thought she would fall to the ground when he hit her with his fist. A woman who tried to handle her own against a man. She must have been out of her mind when they made contact. He believed that she was not up to par with his skills, but he could not have been more wrong.

When you see them coming for you on all sides, react. Do not stand still. If you stand still, they think your scared.

She unclipped the fabric from around her shoulder. Letting it fall to the deck where it would mix with the sea and blood. Her eyes were like hollow shells when she went into fighting mode. All her focus was on her opponent. Dakota had to block out the noise. She had to block all the distractions that were happening all around her.

Forget the flashing lights. Forget the people shouting at you. The men, they say vulgar things about you- ignore them too. What matters is what is in front of you.

A soldier focuses on one enemy at a time, because you have a team- a squad. People you trust to have your six and you watch over them. A squad works as a team. Dakota had to put trust in men she did not know all too well with her life.

She had to survive.

She had to fight.

Eyes narrowed to her opponent. Her arms raised; fists curled tightly. Muscles clenched and moved underneath. Dakota took a sharp breath when she collided with her opponent. His weapon thrown to the side. Sliding across the deck, while men screamed for mercy or death. She had to watch his hands

Feral instinct had boiled within her blood. A burning sensation underneath her skin had kicked in her muscle memory. Dakota had a deadly kick and a hard punch that hit its mark. No one has ever seen such fast movements from a woman. It seemed so unreal. Like a legendary warrior bred from the gods. Dakota was blinded and scared at what the blue hue was causing her to do. The shadows mimicking her movements- as if telling her what to do.

Her breathing was deep and heavy from the way her chest moved. Her eyes so focused on the threat to her life, had sent an animal-like instinct that seemed long forgotten. There was only a hand full of time were Dakota had lost all sense of herself. It all started with Egypt. Everything seemed to have originated with the incident and death of that fucking place. Dakota's mental stability had gone downhill dramatically after that.

Breathe!

Her eyes opened to the field of reeds. Just above the hill, he stood there holding out his hand.

Breathe, Dakota.

Her heart had slowed down and the blue hue had faded into obscurity. She blinked a couple of times when she noticed that there was a young man, looking at her with wide and scared eyes. She had straddled the young man, while her hand was around his throat. Dakota was ready to throw a punch at him when she realized her compromising position.

"Do it." He stuttered out. His voice had become hoarse the tighter her grip around his throat became.

She could see his hands at his side lying flat. The look of defeat from a man that knew he was not going to win this fight. Dakota had squeezed his throat, but she held herself back from suffocating him. Her eyes observed the young man and found something rather disturbing to her.

The fighting had ceased with the smell of blood heavy in the air. The sound of the gulls flying close to the shore. Dakota could faintly hear the sound of a battle close, but she wasn't sure where. Her focus was on this young man who was missing a small patch of hair on his eyebrow. The sailors had kept their distance from Dakota. No one dared to come between a lion and her prey. Her reputation as a skilled fighter did not go unnoticed.

"I knew you could not kill me." Dakota felt pressure on her thigh. His hand was trailing up too close that she felt disgusted by being touched. She had to compose herself before acting out irrationally, but it was hard when there were eyes on you. There was a chill going up her spine that she did not like. A sly smile upon his lips. "He was right about you."

The man with the grey eyes touched her cheek.

"I will not humor a man who is trying to cop-a-feel." She said threatening the man underneath her. That sly smile never leaving his lips, while his eyes were looking her up and down. Her fingernails were digging into his skin out of irritation. Never has any man dare to be so pig headed and touch her without her consent. Was this just a game to him? Was he ordered to get underneath her skin by the grey eyed bastard?

"He will see you again, soon." His voice tried to be as smooth as honey in her grip.

Gripping her skin with his hand, Dakota narrowed her eyes and punched the man hard. She punched him again. Three times in the same spot on his face. Her punch packed enough force to crack his nose. The anger she felt burned with rage. Her muscles twitching underneath her skin from the adrenaline coursing through her body.

Dakota's heart was pounding hard against her chest. Everything that she feared about the man that left her for dead had all come flooding back. The memory of helplessness, resentment, and anger boiled her blood.

"Enough!" He pulled her off the man's body. He could feel her muscles tightening from his grip on her arms. "That is enough, Dakota. There already has been enough blood spilled today. Let us have this victory."

She glared hard at him when she looked over her shoulder. Her mind was already racing with anger, but she was also scared. The man with the grey eyes was like a nightmare- a monster- that was hunting her. Dakota had played right into his trap without even knowing it. How could that bastard know where she was and how could she be lucky enough to run into one of his lackeys?

She could feel angry tears in her eyes. Anger that has been bottled up since that encounter. If she could find out where he was, Dakota would not know if she would hold herself back. She did not want to go in blindly to a fight where she would have another run in with that deadly dust.

"Dakota." Alexios said.

"Yes, Dakota. Such a foreign name for a woman hunted." The bloodied man laughed. "But she does have a lovely face and soft skin."

Dakota pushed herself forward, but Alexios kept his hold on the woman. There was so much anger within Dakota that she would have gotten out of his hold, but luckily for him, her body was out of strength. She wanted to get her hands on the man once more.

"Let me go, Alexios." She looked over her shoulder to see the misthios. She was glaring hard at him, but Alexios wasn't letting her go. Her eyes were so hollow. There were scratches on her face and blood on her lip. Dakota looked a true mess, but she did not care for appearances. Her braided hair was coming loose and her clothing was close to being tattered.

"I do not think that would be a good idea, unless you want to kill him." The man laughed even harder.

"Death would be too pleasant for a lunatic like him." She said through gritted teeth. She was still struggling against the misthios. Trying to escape from his grasps to kick the living shit out of the laughing maniac. Shouldn't he be hurt from that broken nose?

"They will show themselves. For so long they waited and here you two are." He spit out a tooth that landed at Dakota's feet. This enraged the woman even further. Those angered tears had fallen from her cheeks and the man continued to laugh. Seeing her cry with clenched teeth was all he wanted to see out of the woman. Being held back by a man that was also a threat to them.

"They? Who the fuck are they? Let me go so I can further damage that fucking nose." Dakota was basically pleading to be out of his grasp. Her feet were stationary and her legs were shaky. At any moment she would collapse from the exhaustion.

"Yes, let her go, eagle bearer. Let the raven claw out my eyes with her talons." Dakota collapsed to her knees, causing Alexios to let her go. The manic man grinned like a fox.

This was playing out too long. Alexios walked towards the young man. Placing his foot on his chest, the young man groaned from the pain. The broken spear he carried was pointed at the young man's throat.

"Your spear does not threaten me, eagle bearer. I do not fear any of you." The man spat.

"What are you trying to gain?" Alexios said. The pressure of his foot causing the man to cough up blood.

"Gain? I am merely a pawn to the grand order of things. You and her are much more then pawns. The center of it all." He pointed from Alexios to Dakota with much glee. Though he was in pain, he was happy to be in the center of attention. Dakota felt disgusted once more to the point she wanted to continue beating the life out of the man.

"Soon, they shall appear."

Alexios was about to ask more questions of the man, but it all ended too soon. The man reached out for the broken spear with Alexios's grip and impaled the weapon into his own neck. Dakota closed her eyes tightly with clenched fists. She wasn't going to watch a man kill himself all in the name of escaping. He took the easy way out like a coward.

"Bastard." She said. "Only a coward will kill himself."

AN: Saw the new assassin's creed game trailer. I am in love with this series even more.

Let me know what you think. :D