Muffled conversation filled my ears. Why was it muffled? I couldn't tell. I dared to not open my eyes as my skull pounded in pain. My entire body shook from the cold, and I could feel my shoulder throb. My memory was clouded, I couldn't remember everything that happened. The intense pain in my shoulder though, I knew was from being shot, but what happened after that, I was still unsure.
"Ah," A voice echoed. I tried to open my eyes to make contact with the person, but my vision was too blurry. In fact, I didn't think my left eye was opening at all. "You're awake." A shudder rolled down my spine. Painfully, I opened my eye and looked in their direction. Leaning against the closed door was Torrad. His gaze cold and amused.
Looking at the man now, my mind forced itself to retrace its steps. I could remember finding a quiet place to camp and releasing Hel to go hunt and freely stretch her wings, and being ambushed, chased to the obelisk, and even Torrad's fist colliding with my face.
I groaned, my hands sliding along the stone floor, trying to find my way up into a seated position. Wincing in pain and gritting my teeth as I gently leaned against the cold wall. To my surprise, as I looked around, I was free of any constraints. I was left with only my clothes, my fur missing, although I didn't know if there was any salvaging my shall anyways.
"What," I started, my voice hoarse and dry. "No chains?" I asked cynically, holding my arms up to the giant man. Torrad's shoulders shook, a low chuckle rumbled from the man, obviously entertained by my satirical sense of humor.
"You've been liberated of any items you had in your possession." He stated. "You're no threat to me." He gestured at me loosely with one hand. My eyes travelled over his body. In the light, it was easier to see the bulky muscles under his shirt. He was annoyingly attractive.
I snorted at this, rolling my eyes. "If that helps you sleep at night, big boy." Torrad barked out a sharp laugh, the loud volume making me jump.
"You know," He began, pushing himself off from the door with his shoulder. Long legs carried him to where I sat in mere seconds. "I almost feel sorry for giving you that black eye." He chuckled. I frowned up at him from the floor as he lifted me to my feet as if I was a child. I couldn't be sure if he was being gentle or if it was just that easy for him.
"You really are quite striking." He smirked. His breath was warm on my skin and smelled of tobacco. I turned away, brow furrowed, only to feel his fingers wrap around my chin, pulling me back to his gaze. "But that mouth." He rumbled, a rough thumb strayed from his hand on my jaw, stroking my lower lip. "It's going to get you in trouble." Torrad uttered quietly, leaning in closer.
His ice blue eyes scanned my features for a few short moments before a wicked smirk spread across his face. A familiar feeling of unease and nausea washed over me. His behaviour triggering painful memories to rush to the front of my mind. I didn't want him to touch me that way, and with what strength I had left, forced his hand off of my face.
He allowed his hand to drop to his side, watching as I quickly backed away from him. Torrad followed my movements, matching my steps, until my back hit the stone wall. I let out a hiss as pain erupted from my shoulder. Instinctively, my hand flew to the wound.
This made the man chuckle quietly. Now leaning against the wall to keep myself upright, he calmly placed both of his hands on either side of me. His icy, blue eyes alight with amusement. "As beautiful as you are though," I could smell the light hint of his cologne. It was musky and made me think of cold nights under the stars. It was nostalgic.
"It brings me great joy to see someone like you suffering so much." Torrad sneered, showing a glimpse of his teeth. The sight reminded me of a predator after it has caught its prey.
"You don't know me." I growled. My chest heaved, despite my exhaustion, in anger.
"Oh, I don't need to." Torrad exhaled, his gaze bore into me. "I know what your people have done, the lives you've destroyed." He growled, pushing himself off the wall, now pacing the room. "For what?" He snapped. I stayed quiet, green eyes never leaving the heated man.
"It's all a fucking game." He snarled. His eyes were dark, and shoulders heaved with his exaggerated breaths. I don't remember exactly how the alliance war started, just that it really was one big tit for tat, see how many of each other we could wipe out.
Neither the Faction alliance, nor Supremacy were necessarily bad in their own sense, but neither of them were good either. A simple feud that turned into a total war, leaving a path of utter devastation in its wake. I should know best, the number of innocent lives turned upside down because of it. My hands were covered in their blood.
The tribe always tried to justify it, believing that Supremacy was trying to overtake every tribe, we believed we were helping everyone be free. We were just the same. Shamefully, my gaze dropped to the floor.
A tear leaked from my swollen eye, slowly trailing down my bruised cheek. "What do you have to cry about?" Torrad rumbled. I didn't bother to look up at the man. "You're a monster." He snarled.
"Maybe." I said quietly. I could hear Torrad scoff from where he stood in the middle of the room. "But why should I apologize for the monster I've become?" Our eyes met again, I watched as his brow furrowed. "No one ever apologized for making me this way."
Momentarily, he looked like he might say something, but before he could, the door behind him swung open to reveal Halfdan "Get out." He barked to Torrad. Without a word, the smaller man turned his back and exited the room. Once he was gone, a sickeningly familiar face entered.
My legs grew weak and slowly I slid down the wall, landing in an awkward sitting position, hand over my mouth to keep the terror inside of me from boiling over. "Leave us." He said to Halfdan, looking at the man behind him from the corner of his eye. Halfdan obliged without a word. When the door shut, he released a breath he seemed to be holding.
"Nimtherial." He sighed. Tears fell from my eyes, quickly rolling down each cheek, I could feel them land on my arm and knee. "What have you done?" Wolf, who was the leader of my previous tribe's greatest ally, knelt in front of me. We were good friends, but I knew who he was loyal to.
"Please," I gasped out, my body shook. He exhaled again, eyes dropping away from mine. "You can't tell him." I begged. A large hand reached out, grasping my elbow. His thumb softly stroking my skin.
"I'm sorry." He sighed. "What would you have me do?"
I wrenched my arm from his touch, recoiling. "He won't give this tribe what they want." I said quietly.
"No." Wolf agreed.
"Then you better tell him he'll have to come collect my cold, dead corpse." I snarled. Staring at the floor, Wolf nodded in response, and slowly rose to his feet, turning to walk out the door. Once he was gone, Torrad returned, silently shutting the heavy door, enclosing us both back in the small room once more.
The man stayed silent for some time, I watched as he thoughtfully chewed his lip. He exhaled noisily from time to time, shifting from foot to foot. I watched him wordlessly, our eyes never leaving each other, and after what felt like an eternity, he finally spoke.
"You defected from your tribe." It wasn't a question, obviously stating what he had overheard from my conversation with Wolf. I nodded slowly. His mouth opened again, beginning to start another thought, but I quickly interjected.
"Whatever your brother asked for in return for my whereabouts," I started, Torrad straightened up, listening intently now. "He won't get it." I said.
His eyes scrunched up in confusion. "What makes you say that?"
"You think I'm a monster?" I chortled darkly. Torrad stiffened, off put by the darkness dripping from my tongue. "You have no idea what that man is capable of."