Chapter 28: Anger

The warrior's training facility was finally up and running. There was still some repairs left to be done, but daily training sessions were taking place. Riddick was still too busy to spend much time at the facility, although he came by whenever he could get a chance. Kyra, on the other hand, spent almost all her time there; watching the trainees practice and learn with incredible speed. The volunteer instructors were very knowledgeable and patient teachers who had dedicated themselves fully to their task. Children from the age of ten to adults in their early twenties worked from sun up to sun down, learning the Furyan art of battle.

The Ceremony of the Mark had taken place weeks before and since then Riddick and Kyra had seen each other only in passing; Riddick usually came to their room well after Kyra had fallen asleep and would leave before she awoke. Their conversations were getting shorter and shorter as they also became sharper, and there would be several days when Kyra didn't even get a chance to see Riddick. She resented that she wasn't his focus like she had been for the last several months, and she resented the fact that she wasn't welcome at his side at all times like before, even while she resented feeling like his little tag along. Familiar feelings –anger, rejection - were beginning to build inside of her once more as another day went by and she saw nothing of Riddick.

She spent her day, once again, watching the warriors' training. She often itched to join them but Shirah had advised both Kyra and Riddick that it would be unwise to jeopardize their position in such a way. It would not be fitting for a leader to train with soldiers, she had said; so Kyra always remained on the sidelines; alone.

This afternoon she was watching a sparring match between two young women who were slightly older than she was. One of the women was named Louna and the other Gelina and they seemed to be an even match as they fought together with their long sparring rods. They had been battling in the dusty arena for nearly fifteen minutes trying to get through the other's defenses to score a strike. Kyra had seen both Gelina and Louna fight before and though she was beginning to respect Gelina as a talented warrior, she had, in turn, come to despise Louna. Louna mocked her opponents relentlessly and, though she almost always had the upper hand in a battle, she would pull little tricks that were against the sparring rules; at one time sending a younger girl to the medical ward. She also continuously treated all her fellow trainees with the utmost distain and arrogance.

Now, as Louna and Gelina were locked in combat, Kyra watched as Louna mocked her opponent, touching upon everything from her family to her appearance. Gelina ignored her taunts and continued to fight well and, finally, it appeared that Gelina would win a strike as she suddenly shifted her weight forward against her sparring rod and shoved Louna to the ground. Louna looked shocked for a moment as her breath was shoved out of her body and then, in an instant, her expression changed into a look of utmost hate and contempt. With a yell she swung upward with her rod and caught Gelina square in the side of the neck. There was a swift response from those all around; the trainers rushed into the arena yelling as Gelina staggered and fell onto her knees, clutched the huge, raised welt that was appearing on the sensitive skin of her neck.

Louna rose to her feet with supreme indifference and shook out her long golden hair that was pulled back into a low ponytail at the nape of her neck as she walked away, ignoring the shouts and scoldings coming from the trainers regarding her illegal and dangerous hit. As she left the arena she walked by Kyra and for a moment their eyes met. Louna slowed her steps slightly as she stalked by; her hazel eyes traveling up and down Kyra's much smaller form from her own towering height. Her eyes rose once again to Kyra's face as her mouth quirked into a mocking smile and her eyebrows rose; a quiet, derisive chuckle reached Kyra's ears as Louna brushed past her and turned down a corridor. "Bitch!" Kyra thought disgustedly before she turned back towards the activity Louna had left in her wake; watching as the trainers helped Gelina out of the arena.

That night Kyra lay on the soft bed she shared with Riddick; listening to the animals hunting and rustling in the night. She was determined that Riddick would not come and go without her notice again this evening. Hours dragged by as she waited and her eyes were drawn continuously out the window as she watched the moons travel their paths across the sky. The first set… the second was halfway across the sky… It neared the horizon…Finally as it, too, was about to set the door opened and Riddick walked into the room. He pulled his goggles down over his eyes as the light hit him; and, without a word, he sat on a chair by the door and began to untie his boots.

"Hi." Kyra said after a moment, wanting to break the silence.

Riddick merely looked up at her; eyebrows raised, then returned to removing his boots.

"Asshole." She spat and stood; heading into the bathroom feeling waves of rejection washing over her. So he couldn't even carry on a conversation with her now, huh?

Riddick watched as she stormed out of the room. She was wearing Furyan style dark blue robes that flowed smoothly over her figure. Her hair was hanging loose over her shoulders and down her back in a soft riot of curls. Striking an off chord with her soft clothing and hair, her back was rigid and her shoulders looked tense as she stalked into the bathroom. She was pissed at him, and she looked beautiful. He heard the shower turn on after several seconds and, with a slight shrug to himself, and a small smirk, he stood and followed her into the bathroom.

A couple hours later they lay together; tangled up in their sheets and each other - sleeping soundly.

The sun was shining through the window sending long golden beams of light across the room; birds were singing outside and a soft breeze flitted across Kyra's face from the open balcony door. A smile tugged at her lips as she stretched and opened her eyes, turning toward Riddick.

He was gone. Again. "Shit." She thought as her eyes quickly, fruitlessly, scanned the room looking for him.

She lay back against the pillows, tears slowly filled her eyes. She thought this morning might be different after last night. He had been so attentive and loving…Now he was gone. AGAIN!

Anger rushed through her and she quickly brushed away all signs of tears. She wasn't going to cry for him. Not anymore. She had cried enough when he had left her with Imam all those years ago and she had cried too much for him since. She stood and pulled on her loose fitting dark pants and a snug wife beater, concealed her shivs, and stormed out of the room into the bright morning; heading, once more, to the training facilities to watch the fights.