Bellamy and I spent a somewhat brief period of time together for lunch before he was summoned for duties, leaving us equally frustrated that our plans to spend my last day at home savouring every moment of each other's company had been interrupted. Sitting in the sunshine on the bench, I gazed around camp and allowed my mind to wander. It was calming to have the opportunity to relax, without feeling that I should be learning at every waking moment and I revelled in this luxury as I knew that it was soon to end.
My attention was caught by a set of raucous giggles nearby and I turned to find Raven and Gina laughing uncontrollably. Raven appeared genuinely happy and relaxed for a few moments in a way that I hadn't seen for a long time and I noticed that Gina leaned in particularly close to her. Now that I considered it, they both clung closely to the other, with Gina's gaze hovering slightly too long on Raven's lips and I found myself re-assessing the way that Raven had spoken about her during our heart to heart.
Analysing my target, I waited for them to separate and for Raven to be out of sight before seizing the opportunity to gesture Gina to join me. She strolled over to take a seat on the other side of the bench without question and I quickly decided that I needed to know more about her. Though I had no objections to Raven's newfound friendship, if this were developing into more, then I needed to confirm that she understood the expectation of how she would treat her.
"Thought I'd take you up on your offer to hang out, if you have some time free?" I suggested with an overly friendly smile and Gina nodded keenly in response, blissfully unaware of my intentions. "You and Raven seem to be getting on well?" I enquired, navigating straight to my area of interest whilst attempting to disguise my investigations as merely making a casual observation. She pushed her hair behind her ear and avoided my eyes as she considered her answer, only further accentuating my curiosity.
"Oh. Yeah, she's great. I'm really glad that I met her. It's comforting to have such a good friend with all this change around, you know?" She stated carefully and I crooked a brow at her suggestively. As a result of the abundance of questions around Bellamy and I in our dropship camp, there was no one more experienced in avoiding the admittance of feelings than me and her bashful response unintentionally fuelled my intuition.
"Yeah, she's a firecracker, that's for sure. I've always been able to rely on her though, no matter what was thrown at us." I revealed fondly, honestly reflecting how the appreciation that I had for Raven's unusual friendship and Gina nodded in agreement. "From what I've heard, it sounds like she thinks well of you too." I remarked, trailing my words off in a teasing manner and was thrilled when her eyes snapped up to meet mine in surprise. From my own experiences, I knew immediately that I had her mind racing over possibilities and planned to utilise this nervousness to encourage a confession.
"That's sweet of her." She replied, making a poor attempt to cover her interest and desire to know exactly what was said. My stomach flipped with excitement at the hint of something between them and I was determined to gain a more definite confirmation of what I already had begun to piece together. I decided to change tact, attempting to replicate Raven's gossiping skills that felt closer to an interrogation when on the receiving side.
"You seem to have grown close fast. I'm really pleased for you both that you've found such good friends in each other." I pried, leaning across the table to examine her with intensity and she squirmed in her seat as her cheeks filled with a rose blush. I couldn't prevent the blatant fascination that was plastered over my face now and made a mental note to investigate the other half of this new pairing as soon as possible.
"So, you and Bellamy. Have you been together long?" She cleared her throat before posing the question that was well calculated to switch the power dynamic between us and I couldn't help immediately feeling that her and Raven were well matched from this manoeuvre. It was clear that she'd spent a great deal of time with her to have already inherited her tactics and I was glad that I was well practiced enough at receiving grillings to be unflustered by this question.
"Umm, that's kinda tough to answer." I explained, as I struggled to think how I could even relay it without divulging in painstaking details and Gina waited with interest. "When we were still in our own camp it was more of an unspoken thing. Plenty of people commented on it and I think almost everyone knew that we were both too invested in each other to be available for anyone else, even if we weren't willing to admit it. Everything that happened with Mount Weather, it kind of forced us to acknowledge what was already there." I elaborated, an indulgent tone coating my words as I reflected on the longing that I felt during those times and she smiled warmly at my description.
"Monty said that you guys were mostly at each other's throats at first." She commented slyly, curiosity sparkling in her eyes and I chuckled lightly to myself as I nodded in confirmation. "You'd never know it now. You seem like you're in perfect harmony." She detailed in an innocent, dreamy manner and I snorted in disbelief at her words. I couldn't believe this was the impression anyone would receive from us and was amused by how little others truly knew of our relationship.
"Oh, we still butt heads for sure!" I breathed in a light hearted manner and she giggled quietly. She opened her mouth to speak again, but before she could get the words out, Bellamy appeared behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist.
"Hey, Trouble. Managed to get the rest of the day off, so why don't you and I go back to bed-" His voice was deep and raspy as he pressed his lips to my ear, until he paused and grew tense as he seemed to suddenly notice Gina smiling smugly at him. "Oh. Hey, Gina." He remarked awkwardly, clearing his throat and fidgeting. Gina waved back, clearly not at all uncomfortable with the situation and Bellamy glanced between us impatiently. "Indie's heading back out of camp tomorrow, so I'll be taking her." He confirmed in a manner that was clearly not a request and she shrugged in disinterest, allowing Bellamy to sweep me away without another word.
- O - O - O - O - O -
Back in the privacy of our quarters, we were tangled in a mess of limbs as our bare skin warmed each other. His arms around me provided a familiar haven that I cherished to my core and whilst safe in his embrace, I almost started to believe that all of the threats outside had ceased to exist. A sense of peace washed over me, calming the storm in my heart and I stared into his handsome face with contentment.
"What are you thinking about?" He asked, analysing my face with a playful curiosity filling his features. His fingers traced circular patterns on my skin with the most delicate touch and as I stared into his eyes, I felt that I could easily get lost there. My earlier conversation with Gina had made me realise that we hadn't been together all that long, relative to how much I trusted him and yet I already felt as if there wasn't anything that I couldn't say to him.
"I was just thinking how nothing ever feels so much like home as being in your arms." I breathed, secure in the knowledge that he would not be intimidated by my adoration and watched with satisfaction as a genuine smile spread across his lips. He reached out to brush my hair out of my face, before placing a tender kiss on the tip of my nose, causing my face to scrunch up.
"Home is where your heart is, right." He confirmed in a soft voice and I nodded thoughtfully back. "You know, when you're away all I dream about is you. Every time I close my eyes, you're there with that troublesome smile of yours. It makes missing you so much worse." He admitted, examining me as if he were committing every aspect of how I looked in this moment to memory to reflect on later and I felt my brows furrow as a wave of guilt washed over me.
I hated the concept of causing him any level of sadness or stress, and although I knew that I was making the best choice for myself, the awareness that I would soon be leaving him again continued to ache from the back of my mind. In the dim light of our room, his handsome features were almost flawless and I was thoroughly mesmerised by him. With a delicate movement, I brushed my fingertip along his cheek, mapping between the sporadic freckles that decorated his face. His eyes fluttered closed at the contact and for the first time, I realised how long and thick his eyelashes were. I could feel our heartbeats gradually falling into sync as we snuggled against each other and the strength of our connection remained as powerful as ever, despite our time apart.
In the quiet moments alone like this, I could easily identify the vulnerability in Bellamy's face, beneath the controlled mask that we both wore around others. There was an obvious exhaustion buried in his features and I wondered if he was perhaps overworking himself in an effort to assist Kane. Though he'd never been much interested in self care back in our old camp, I had hoped that he might allow himself some time to recover now that he wasn't one of the only two leaders responsible for 100 young lives.
For the first time, I found myself wishing that Clarke were around to take some of the strain from his shoulders, but quickly reminded myself that although she had been helpful at times, she mostly caused unnecessary disagreements and decided it might be for the best that Bellamy was left to grow without her constantly vying for control of the camp.
Bellamy seemed to be dozing off, so I placed a tender kiss on his forehead and began to roll out of his space, careful not to disturb him. Before I could even begin to get comfortable in the cooler air of my side of the bed, he stirred aware and peered over at me suspiciously.
"Where are you going?" He questioned, seeming thoroughly offended by the minimal distance between us and I crooked a brow at him in amusement. Without awaiting an answer, he reached out to pull me back to him until my back met his chest and wrapped an arm around my waist. Seeming satisfied with this improved positioning, his breathing became deep and slow, and we fell into a relaxed sleep wrapped up together.
- O - O - O - O - O -
Conflicting emotions battled for dominance in my scattered mind as I prepared to leave the camp. There was a certain heaviness in my steps, a reluctance that was gut-wrenching that I strained to ignore, whilst in the same moment I felt a subconscious pull from the trees that urged me to return to the wild. Though leaving all of my family was challenging, removing myself from Bellamy's bed had been my biggest obstacle. We kept our farewells light and controlled, avoiding any emotional statements or topics that could trigger an argument. Instead, I simply promised to return as soon as I could and agreed to stay in touch by radio, and we parted with little knowledge of when we would see each other again.
I couldn't deny the overwhelming feeling of unfinished business, with almost all of my loved ones descending into some form of chaos or another, but I reminded myself that my growth was important to all of them. My goal to protect them could only be achieved with Arlo and I forced myself to hold my head high as I rode through the gates, fighting every instinct in my body to glance back over my shoulder.
As I navigated the dirt tracks that led toward the ruins, I realised that I had not arranged a time to meet Arlo, but as dawn struggled it's way over the horizon, I knew that leaving early was the best decision. It allowed me to avoid any scrutiny or painful partings from the others who were still sleeping at such an early hour and I reminded myself that it was unwise to keep Arlo waiting. Spending the day camped at the ruins awaiting her arrival was preferable to being greeted by her impatient expression. I'd planned to leave with enough time to change back into my grounder disguise that remained neatly packed into a bag on my back, after deciding that wearing such an attire in Arkadia would cause an unnecessary tension.
The ride was lengthy and I took the opportunity to reflect. The aftermath of Mount Weather only seemed to grow larger as time passed and I wondered if we would ever fully move past the experience. Jasper appeared to be broken to his core which, though completely understandable, I was unsure how to even begin to repair and Monty seemed equally lost, assigning himself as the emotional punching bag in a desperate attempt to shield everyone else from his adopted brother's venom. Raven buried her pain beneath dry humour and countless hours of work, simultaneously pushing away anyone who cared for her enough to glimpse through her illusion and clinging to Gina for the slightest shred of joy.
Harper had lost her playful sparkle and seemed to have settled to simply blend into the background as little more than a guard and a shoulder to cry on for Monty. Miller removed himself from the group altogether, focusing all of his attention on his boyfriend Bryan and their little peaceful bubble, a choice that I could relate to all too well. Knox was battling his own self doubt, eager to prove himself as a valuable member of the camp and allowing his fear to lead him to perilous choices.
Octavia was floundering, equally disconnected from Trikru and those of Arkadia, labelling herself as someone who did not belong anywhere. Although both Lincoln and I strained to assist her to discover a new sense of purpose, she brushed us off. Even Lincoln seemed on edge, caught in a sense of limbo as he remained trapped in Arkadia by his kill order. The only person who was a constant of any sort was Bellamy, who insisted that he was happy by my side. He worked constantly, assisting in the guard, the council and wherever else would take him and I worried that he was remaining busy in an effort to hide something.
And lastly, there was me. The anger that I'd battled seemed more manageable than it had before, but I knew that there was still a long road ahead for me. A wave of nausea flowed over me whenever I thought of Mount Weather and I continued to experience the occasional nightmare. Glimpsing at the full picture of our camp in this manner made me fearful that everything was slipping out of our control, each piece of the puzzle jagged and harmful.
The ruins finally came into view and I reminded myself that I could not give up yet. I still had hope that I would find the strength needed to fix it all and asserted that if I continued to work hard, a solution would present itself. I tied my horse up and made my way inside to get changed. The space was eerie when empty and I tried not to recall my activities from when I was last here, instead focused on replaiting my hair. Despite several increasingly frantic attempts, it proved impossible to do this on myself and I flopped down onto a seat in frustration.
"For one who claimed to seek to become a warrior, you do not hesitate to abandon your new life to conform to your home." Arlo's sharp voice echoed around the large chamber and I jumped to my feet in shock. I whipped around to find her lurking in the shadows, leaning casually against a pillar and examining me in a thoroughly unimpressed manner. Glancing down at myself, half dressed and trembling in the cool air, I could understand her displeasure and sighed regretfully. I had hoped that she would not discover that I had changed, but now that she had witnessed it for herself, I knew that it would be best to explain my reasoning.
"It's not like that." I muttered as I continued to dress and she raised a single brow at me in suspicion. "When Octavia became Indra's second, she went through a rapid change. There were many in our camp who were intimidated by it. They felt that you were attempting to convert us all. My change must appear more gradual to them." I explained as I struggled to coordinate my limbs into the overly complicated top that I was given, demonstrating that I had not grown any more accustomed to this clothing since I was first given it. After a lengthy battle, I finally navigated it onto my body and she thinned her eyes at me in suspicion.
"You fear the judgement of your people?" She interrogated, her eyes filled with disgust at even the thought of this and I sighed thoughtfully as I shook my head at her.
"No. Never." I confirmed firmly and I noticed the slightest softening in her face, as if pleased by my answer. "I fear causing another war. I'm told that the ceasefire was hard won. I don't want my selfish actions to compromise that." I elaborated in an even tone and I was unsure if it was my imagination or if there was a pride in her eyes at this sensible evaluation.
"That is a wise fear." She conceded as she strolled into the light and appraised me with a gentler face. I finished lacing my corset and stepped into my boots, fastening them far quicker than any other item of clothing. Once back into my grounder attire, I straightened up to face her. "The Commander and the clans of the coalition would annihilate your soft people." She threatened in a menacing manner and I was equally taken aback and amused by her words. I opened my mouth to speak and closed it several times before I could decide how to respond.
"I wouldn't be so certain, Seda. We have technology and weaponry that would give us a significant advantage, but you have far greater numbers and experience." I analysed nervously, unsure whether my honesty might be misinterpreted as hostility and Arlo's expression remained still and unreadable. "It would result in unnecessary loss of lives on both sides. I'd rather be careful in my choices. Unfortunately, that translates into a gradual change if I wish to protect those that I love." I added in a cautious explanation and she scanned my face with an unexpected interest. It occured to me that Arlo was unlikely to have come into contact with the guns that our people wielded and expected she'd only ever seen them if she'd been unfortunately enough to cross paths with the mountain men.
"It is foolish and worthless to protect those who lack the wisdom to protect themselves." She stated coldly and I felt my brows knit together as I attempted to absorb her advice. "Your people must adapt and evolve as we did, or they will perish and become extinct. This is the only course for them." She stated with a sense of finality and I nodded slowly in genuine agreement. She was visibly pleased to discover that I shared her viewpoint and settled into a seat with her legs wide open, gesturing to the ground between her knees expectantly. "Only Splita [outsiders] have loose hair. Sit."
- O - O - O - O - O -
My boots crunched through the dirt in determination as I followed the well worn route, the heavy supplies on my back causing a deep sense of appreciation for my improved strength. The light breeze swept through the trees and cooled my face, fluttering the fabric that was draped over my head. A small home emerged from the dense natural surroundings and I was relieved to have reached my destination at last. I felt a sense of pride in myself that Arlo trusted me to complete these trades alone and I let myself inside with familiarity.
"Monin lukot." [Welcome friend] The warm voice of the trader immediately greeted me as I crossed the threshold and I approached the counter with a smile.
"Hei Naila." I breathed with a relaxed attitude and placed my items on the counter with ease. Niylah served me a drink and I perused her stock for any supplies that we might be lacking in camp, allowing her the chance to sort through the items that I'd provided. The atmosphere in her hut was relaxed now that we'd had the chance to get to know each other and I enjoyed the opportunity to fully immerse myself in grounder life whilst here.
Arlo was adamant about wearing a hood when in well travelled areas like this, stressing that I must be cautious not to draw too much attention to myself. I was uncertain what she was afraid of, as I tended to be able to blend in quite well now and had not experienced any issues with my interactions. Niylah approached me to hand over my trades and an additional small pouch which I knew was not usually included. I glanced at her questioningly, but she simply smiled back in her usual serene manner.
"For your seda." She remarked fondly and I nodded back gratefully. I'd always had the impression that Niylah was more perceptive than most and I suspected that she was highly knowledgeable from her observation of a huge selection of people that passed through her tradepost. Once I'd thanked her for her generosity, I made my way outside and found a young boy approaching the hut.
"Sochu Nica." [What's up Nica] I chimed with a fond smile and he seemed to brighten up when he noticed me.
"Hei Indigo." He smiled as he paused in place to greet me and I was pleased to have the opportunity to check on him. Although I was becoming absorbed in the grounder way of life, the only challenge yet to overcome was the independence of their children. Nica was approximately 12 or 13 from my impression and already an accomplished trader. Alro often led us to his village for items, recommending him as a skilled crafter. In my time with her, I'd come to realise that beneath her excuses, she was equally fond of the charismatic boy and strained to support him over his older competitors. I'd never noticed him accompanied by parents nor had he mentioned any kind of family in all of our conversations and I worried whether there was anyone who cared for him.
"You have been absent from the village. I have saved some special deals for you and Arlo." He commented with a proud tone to his voice and I couldn't help smiling in response to his confidence. Despite my concerns on the safety of their young, I could not deny that they encouraged a strength and resourcefulness that was far superior to that of our children. All of the young grounders that I'd met were fiercely independent and capable, and it offered a large reasoning for the resilience of the grounders as a whole.
"Is that so? Sounds like you've been busy." I responded as I took the opportunity to pack away my newly acquired items and Nica's chest puffed with pride. He was emboldened by my interest and there was an eagerness to his tone. I wondered if he was unfamiliar with others encouraging him and quickly had to remind myself that I could not dote on him as I would children at home.
"A quality trader must always strive to extend their skills." He quoted in a well practiced manner and I nodded at him in agreement. "There has been tension in the village, so it's a welcome relief to spend time hunting." He added absentmindedly and I raised a brow at him inquiringly. I noticed that he shifted on the spot, gripping his bag tighter and his confidence faded away in an alarming manner. "There have been strange men around. Some of the elders are troubled, but that is not uncommon for them." He elaborated in an uncertain tone, before quickly forcing a smile back into his face. "I hope you and Arlo will come to trade soon. Leida." [Bye] He breezed past in an effort to seem casual and I watched him enter the hut with a feeling of unease.
- O - O - O - O - O -
The fire burned in the centre of the camp, indicating that Arlo had indeed returned from her own tasks and I busied myself with packing away the items that I'd traded for. Though Arlo insisted that we did this out of necessity, I'd lived off these supplies for long enough now to identify that we seemed to decide what to sell based on supporting the local community. She regularly changed the contents of what we would provide to Niylah and I could tell that she was maintaining an awareness of what was needed. It was one of many parts of her personality that she attempted to shield with her distanced façade, but I'd come to recognise that there was far more to her than she wanted others to see. Once lighter, I wandered closer to the warmth of the fire to find her sitting beside it and placed myself down next to her.
"Niylah asked me to bring this to you." I relayed as I passed her the small pouch and she took it from me with a fond smile that was irregular on her. Ignoring my curiosity, she declined to open it and instead stowed it away in her pocket, returning her attention to the flames. We sat in comfortable silence for a while and I reflected on my earlier conversation with Nica, a nervous pit forming in my stomach. Hoping that Arlo would agree with my feeling of unease, I decided to present this information for her opinion.
"I saw Nica outside of the trade post." I commented idly and she hummed back as if disinterested. "He mentioned that there's been some strange men around the village." I added carefully and held my breath as I awaited her reaction hopefully. She barely even moved, seeming completely unconcerned by my revelation and I allowed silence to fill the space between us to indicate that I expected an answer.
"Strangers are to be expected in a trading village. Such is the nature of Nica's vocation." She stated matter of factly and I sighed in a subtle frustration. I couldn't help feeling unnerved by the conversation and though I understood that he would not be considered as requiring protection to them, I felt the need to investigate pulling at me from the back of my mind.
"The elders of the village are unsettled by them, too. That's an unusual response to new custom, especially in a village that relies on trade, right?" I enquired, attempting to keep my voice even and clear of emotion. She finally turned to view me over her shoulder and her eyes thinned as she studied me with deep suspicion.
"If I were not available to advise, what action would you take?" She investigated, presenting the situation for me as a test and I gulped nervously. It was difficult to align my grounder lessons and natural protective instincts into a single coherent opinion and I felt conflicted between two clashing versions of myself. I chewed on my lip nervously as I considered how to approach the situation and eventually settled on simply being true to myself.
"I would visit the village, confirm that the atmosphere felt non-threatening. For my own peace of mind, if nothing else." I confessed, shifting awkwardly in my seat as I felt her examining me with disappointment. Even before I'd said it, I knew this was not the answer that she desired from me, but I still felt compelled to be honest in the hope that I might be able to convince her to allow me to go, even if only to prove me wrong. Despite my optimism, it was immediately clear in her expression that this was not a likely outcome.
"Being a warrior means knowing which battles to fight and which are not truly battles at all. It is ineffective to rush to the aid of every trifle that concerns village elders." She scolded, shaking her head at me as she spoke and I couldn't help feeling frustrated by her condescending attitude. Though I'd grown much better at letting go in our time together, I knew that I still struggled to allow things to play out without my intervention, or the need to protect others overwhelming me. It was difficult to remind myself that in her mind, my fear for a child was unjustified instead of simply feeling insulted by her.
My circular thoughts over Nica's village continued all through our meal and despite Arlo's cold silence indicating that she did not wish to discuss the matter further, I remained determined to find a way to convince her to follow this lead. The more that I considered the issue, the harder it became to recognise whether I was simply being overprotective and stubborn, or if I had a genuine instinct that there was a threat. Eventually, I could withstand the stress no longer and I took the risk of voicing my doubts.
"We could just stop by for some supplies. Nica mentioned that he has reserved some stock for us." I commented idly and Arlo rolled her eyes at me in frustration. She was evidently disappointed that I had continued to obsess over something that she had already assessed to be little more than gossiping amongst locals and I struggled under the power of her scrutiny.
"Let it lie, child." She ordered, fixing me with a firm stare and I crossed my arms tightly in annoyance, releasing a huff. Whenever issues like this were raised, I always felt like a child who was scolded by a parent and didn't appreciate being treated as such after everything I had already survived.
"You told me that the Commander ordered you to continue monitoring for any irregularities." I argued, my voice sounding petty rather than as if I were raising a valid point and her expression grew dark as she addressed me with increasing impatience.
"You forget your place." She warned with a genuine anger growing underneath her usual controlled attitude and I dropped my gaze to the ground nervously. "Strangers in a trade town are not unexpected, neither is gossiping elders. I am the experienced warrior. I decide whom we pursue. Nica's village does not require our investigation." She elaborated in a cool voice and I felt my frustration taking root in my chest. I'd come to know Arlo well enough to glimpse through her behaviours and my suspicions were raised by her refusal to acknowledge my concerns. Usually, she would at minimum entertain my suggestions, but she was adamant in her avoidance of this information, leaving me suffocatingly unsatisfied. "A month has passed since we discovered Azgeda in the market. Since then, I have seen no further evidence of any plots. Perhaps the queen has remembered her lack of importance." Arlo explained with a sneer and I shook my head, feeling my annoyance bubbling to the surface.
"Or perhaps we have not investigated thoroughly enough." I muttered, causing her attention to snap to me with a visible distaste. Before I could stop myself, my honest impression of her that I had been building as I observed her over the past weeks slipped from my lips. "All I'm saying is that we have a lead right now and you are not interested in ruling it out. I have to wonder if it is because you are too afraid to show that you care for others, especially Nica-"
Before I could finish my sentence, Arlo leapt to her feet and dragged me in her iron grip. She held me barely inches from her furious face and I stared back at her with wide, alarmed eyes.
"Are you doubting my loyalty and commitment to my duty, skai ga? [sky girl]" She hissed in a tone that was so deadly threatening that it caused my hairs to stand on end and I quickly shook my head in response.
"I would not dare, Seda." I muttered nervously. At this moment, I realised that it had been a lapse in judgement to allow myself to become relaxed around her and I was harshly reminded that she was my superior, rather than my friend. Though she might listen to my opinion, she was under no obligation to consider it and as I dropped back to the ground, I thanked all my lucky stars that she'd chosen not to physically harm me for my disrespect. "I have no fears. You would do well to remember that." She spat before she stormed from the camp, leaving me alone to regain my composure.
I sat by the fire, allowing myself a chance to calm my frazzled nerves and reflected on how my relationship with Arlo had grown over the past four weeks. Though I now felt that I could depend on her and my skills had developed substantially through her severe methods, there was still a closed, distant feeling to her demeanour. I'd only been given the chance to return to Arkadia for a visit once in that time and I missed Bellamy and the others. Arlo was hardly a source of comfort and I knew that although strength was important, I needed contact with them to retain the kind parts of my personality.
It began to get dark in the camp as I edged closer to the fire for warmth, but Arlo had not returned. Communication in the wild had been far more challenging without the simple use of technologies such as walkie talkies and I knew that I would have to wait patiently for her, however long it took. I was uncertain how much time had passed when she finally crept back into camp and stood in the shadows to stare at me in silent expectation. I cleared my throat and stood to address her.
"I apologise for earlier. You are the teacher and I am your student. You were right to remind me of that." I conceded in a calm tone and she continued to observe me with her still, inscrutable expression. After a gut wrenching few moments of silence, she began to appear impressed and I slowly released a breath that I did not realise I had been holding.
"I vowed to teach you and an important lesson is to honour your instincts." She remarked cryptically, before tossing my daggers over. I caught them without having to consider the action, having practiced this at length and glanced up at her with confusion. "We will ride the dirt road near Nica's village. Prepare the horses." She ordered and I immediately nodded as I moved to follow her command.