(Revised Edition 1.1 of Chapter Three)
A/N:
So far the rest of the day had gone by quite finely. Daleria had managed to control herself for the rest of the drills, and not fight like a crazed madbeast trying to kill anybeast in her path. Though she was slightly tired after the many rather taxing drills, she still couldn't bring herself to eat more than three bites of food.
Every hare she had passed had patted her on the back and muttered words of sympathy. Major Clandestine had been greatly liked, by both the officers and the recruits. She was always cheerful and helpful, yet totally perilous in her own way. Nothing helped.
The major's patrol was trying desperately to get Daleria to talk, eat, or even better, be normal. True, everybeast was saddened by the major's death, but the young hare captain looked and acted like the world had come crashing down on her shoulders. Ever since that day a week or so ago, she grew paler and looked weaker by the day. She did not eat, would not talk, and did not heed their advice. She only took orders from all the higher ranking hares and Lady Consellariel herself. Daleria always seemed so distant, and a faraway look often glazed her eyes over. She was so drained, it was frightening.
Daleria herself on the other hand, did not care in the slightest. Every word spoken to her about her sister felt like somebeast had stabbing her in the back then twisting the hilt. It was driving her crazy. Everywhere in her head, her emotions swirled around and around, sending her life spinning around in a never-ending spiral of black and white that moved at a furious pace, and that revolved in her head, dizzying her.
Night had finally fallen, and it brought peace to both Salamandastron and Daleria's spinning mind. Creeping silently out of her dormitory, she paced towards a small balcony like ledge facing the sea, where she liked to sit and think. She knew that if she was found, she would be heavily punished, but to herself, she had nothing to lose, so who cares? She was so immersed in her own thoughts; she hardly noticed that she had bumped into somebeast. When she looked up, she got the shock of her life.
Colonel Rapieratce?
That thought flashed through her head.
The colonel was equally shocked. He knew that neither Daleria nor himself was supposed to be there.
'Daleria? What on Mossflower are you doing here? You are not the flippin sentry for tonight!'
The look Daleria shot him clearly meant 'neither are you'. Sighing, she gazed out, standing on the ledge and letting the night wind play with her fur. As she looked along the shore and sea, which was coated with a glinting silver finish of white moonlight, she let out a soft sigh and sat down on the moss strewn ledge. She gathered her legs up and placed her chin on her knees. She saw her entire life flash through the night scene, and silent tears started to flow down, dampening her fur, reflecting the white moonlight. The colonel sat down next to her in resignation, knowing that neither of them was going anywhere. He put a comforting paw across her shoulders and asked.
'What's wrong, old gel? I'm here to talk to, y'know.'
To his total and unexpected surprise, Daleria actually replied.
'I'm just so confused! Everything seems to be crashing down on my shoulders, and everything I hold dear is slipping through my paws! Why!?'
Though Rapieratce was stunned, he regained enough composure to reply.
'That's how the world works, me gel. Nobeast knows why flippin old fate does these bally things to us, but one blinkin way or another, we'll pull through.'
Daleria stopped the flow of tears from running down her face.
'Lady Consellariel will batter me into dust when she finds out I sneaked out tonight.'
The colonel smiled.
'If she finds out, m'gel.'
Daleria was stunned. Colonel Rapieratce had always been an uptight hare when it came to rules and regulations.
'You're not going to report me?'
'How could I old gel? You were a confused hare simply lookin' for a bally quiet place to think. No chap with a right mind would report ye.'
Smiling softly, Daleria got up slowly.
'Thank you greatly, sah. That really meant a lot to me.'
The colonel got up.
'Now off you go, me gel, get some sleep. A chap would think you bally well needed it.'
***********
Daleria got up, and for the first time in two weeks, felt refreshed and good to be alive. The black rings under her eyes had disappeared, and she felt surprisingly light hearted.
Stretching slightly, she put on her tunic and went down to the mess hall for breakfast. As she entered, everybeast looked up, gaping. None of them had seen Daleria look so refreshed for a long time, and the Major's patrol looked at her with relief. The old Daleria had finally returned!
'What are all of you looking at?'
There was a miniature explosion at the sound of Daleria talking. A stream of talk hit her like a tidal wave.
'Daleria! You're talking!'
'Captain Daleria! You! You!'
'Daleria! What got you talking again?'
At this time, Lady Consellariel entered. An immediate silence fell. She gave Daleria a wide smile.
'That's good, keep your mind off the Major.'
Daleria was quickly ushered over to her patrol's table, where she started eating, the warm and filling food felt good after the two weeks of near starvation. Eating slowly, she considered everything that had happened, and everything that might happen. Inside, she knew that Clandestine, both as her sister and as a higher ranking officer, would not want her moping around and crying her eyes out.
The real Daleria was back, and she was back for good. She would get rid of the vermin who had done this, put her oath to rest, whether or not it took her everything she had. Vaxial had been the first, and now which ever beast had done and commanded this would go down next. Daleria had nothing more to loose. She would give everything to pay for the things she had lost.
Even her life.
