Twisted Justice

Chapter 4…Vulnerable Instincts

Robin sat by the fire, alone. It was a cold night, the moon high in the sky. The camp was silent, giving her the illusion of solitude.

But then, was she ever, really not alone? She felt alone surrounded by her men. She sometimes was glad it was so. It saved her getting emotionally linked to the others, to some extent.

The last coals glowed steadily. She felt oddly vulnerable in the darkness. The silence of the night seemed to embrace her, the blackness seductive. She longed to leave. To live. Something was dying inside of her, the lie that she was seemed so pointless, so petty.

Robin had the instincts of a natural born hunter, honed finely after months of being hunted. Knowing in her gut something was wrong, she looked around. A tall, silent shape seemed to be gliding towards her. She knew the shape well. Kale dogged her footsteps the past week. He was at her side every waking hour, and more, it seemed.

But he wasn't the source of her unease. Looking deeper into the shadows, her eyes fell on something that she knew didn't belong their. "Awake!" She called, her voice pitched so even those sleeping the sleep of death would hear, and obey. "Enemy!" Moving swiftly, she picked up a staff that lent next to the near by tent in time to block the blow aimed for her head. She felt it rolling down her arms, the force spreading through her body like waves, sharp pain lacing almost delicately in its path.

Kicking out, she caught the man in the groin, and he fell. Men were stumbling from tents, wide-eyed and armed. She felt a rush of pride as they fought with the men who fell upon them.

She pushed back the man who had engaged her. The light was almost non-existent, the footing unsure. Not having time to even consider thanking the gods for her sharp eyes and excellent balance, she swung the staff with very little technique.

Her opponent fell. Fanciness hardly mattered when you were hitting heads, did it?

It was quick. Within moments, the whole camp was up, fighting, defending what they had left. And soon the attackers, seeing they were beaten, were once more blending into the shadows.

"Anyone injured?" Robin called. Exhaustion rolled over her. It was odd...she could walk all day, shoot for hours, yet something about killing up close made her feel so weak.

"Two dead sentries." Someone reported. Robin didn't have the time or the energy to wonder how they had gotten past the mage's circles.

"Pack." She said. "We're leaving first light."

Kale found her watching the embers once more. "Robin."

It was her name, nothing more, nothing less. His voice held no promises, no warnings. He was tired, as she was. No, he was physically tired. She was drained. It felt like for the last eleven months she had been fighting, running, hiding. And she was so tired, tired of being strong and holding everything in, holding everyone together. The camp was almost silent again now, the men back in their tents, the sentries high in the trees, out of sight of the camp, their senses humming. When Kale sat next to her, touching her, just barely, it was the most natural thing in the world to lean into him, let her head fall onto his shoulder. If she felt any reluctance when he wrapped a more than friendly arm around her shoulders to draw her closer, she ignored it.

They sat in silence, a semi-dream like state. The smell of death was heavy upon them, overlying the usual smell of wood smoke and men. "Why were you up?" He asked, breaking the heavy, sleepy sound of nothing.

"Couldn't sleep." She said briefly. "You?"

He wondered fleetingly why she couldn't sleep. Did the deaths play on her mind? Did he? "Same."

She nodded. Knowing she had to get up, to prepare for the next day, she left the circle of his arms. Now she couldn't afford to be vulnerable. Not because of the men killed, not because of those who needed her, but because she felt something in Kale calling to her, pulling at the barriers so carefully erected.

The sun would soon be rising. With no idea where the time had gone, Robin began to pull down her tent and pack her belongings.

It was going to be a long, long day.       

Robin stood wordlessly and took in the news. Her tired brain seemed numb. The two squads promised were two days ride away. The enemy had set up camp on the path they would be using to enter the valley, and they didn't seem to be wanting to move any time soon.

"Best we gather our bows, then." She knew she wasn't the only one bone-tired. Everyone had gotten little, if any, sleep after the attack three nights ago. They were in no condition to fight. Yet still, they would. They had to.

"We can't, Robin." Someone told her, dispiritedly. "We've been moving for days. Its suicide."

"I will not have another bloodbath." She told them, dragging the dregs of her strength about her. "We have fought in worse condition. We can do it now." When no one moved, she picked up a bow, threw it at someone. "Don't make me hound you." Her voice was quiet, clear, and hard as diamonds. She hadn't spoken to them like this since they first formed their group…she hadn't had to.

Something in her tone…or maybe her eerie golden eyes, got them moving. Men strung bows and shouldered quivers in silence. Today wasn't about bringing down the enemies number. It wasn't to aid the small rebellion, or to punish 'lord' Finn. It was survival. Animal survival that pushed them to move. And later, it was habit that forced them to fire, to rain arrows onto the sloppy, poorly organized camp.

When Robin fell into the bedroll beside the fire late that night, she found her fingers were bleeding. She had fired almost constantly, defending not only herself but men who were just too bone tired to fight any longer. And then, she had done everything in her power to force them to move, to eat, to set up the tiny, pitiful excuse for a camp.

Her eyes fell shut. She didn't care any more.

AN: This isnt going to be a long story…maximum of fifteen chapters, and the chapters aren't even decent lengths. Oh, so very, very tired…excuse any spelling/grammar mistakes. I'm dead at the computer. Just be grateful I updated at all.

Anastasia Silverwind: thank you for your help with that. I'm glad SOMEONE decided to help. *scowls at unhelpful readers*

And thanks to Reaya as well, one of my best reviewers. ^_^