"I can't believe they left without me." I complained, sitting beside Sayla as she skinned a goat. "Jerks." I added when she didn't respond.
"You cannot hunt with an injury. Can you carry a bow or club?" She asked and I sighed, shaking my head. "That is why they left you behind."
"Still leaves me feeling useless. Wonder if Karoosh wants to train me." I replied, climbing to my feet. I wandered towards the warrior's hut finding him sitting on the ground outside. I grinned as I called out to him and he looked up. My grin immediately vanished when he shook his head, a smile on his face. "Why won't you train me?" I asked and he casually pointed to my shoulder and I glanced at it, a green vine still wrapped around it.
"Takkar told me about Batari. You are not strong enough to train with." Karoosh answered and I growled, stomping past him as he let out a laugh. I made a quick stop at my hut to retrieve my bow before I set out.
"If he won't train with me I'll train on my own." I muttered, reaching the end of the village. Walking through the water of the river that ran through the village, I heard something moving and I turned to see Kion racing towards me. "Hey boy. Wanna go hunting?" I asked and he growled, nuzzling my legs. Grinning I headed into the forest with Kion at my heels, my bow over my left shoulder.
I spend a good deal of the day just wandering the forest and it felt good to stretch my legs while I walked further and further from the village. Before I knew it I began to shiver and when I looked up I could see snowflakes drifting towards the ground which had begun to frost over. "Never seen snow before. This is pretty cool." I whispered, giggling when a snowflake landed on my forehead. "Maybe we should stay here for a while."
Distracted by the snow I didn't notice someone watching me from behind, their eyes never leaving me as I lay in the snow in an attempt to make a snow angel. It wasn't until I sneezed that I decided it was time to head back but as I turned to head towards the Wenja village I heard voices. I froze, forgetting about my bow and Kion growled both of us watching as an Udam stepped into view.
I couldn't help swallowing as he grinned at me, blood covering the lower half of his face. He's huge, I thought taking a step back as he took one towards me.
"Strange softblood, not Wenja or Izila. Wonder what you taste like?" He growled, chuckling when I quickly grabbed my bow. "Fight and you die."
I yelped as he lunged at me, grabbing me around the throat. Now trapped I struggled to free myself as he lifted me towards his face. Snarling, Kion leapt at the Udam only to slam into the ground whimpering as an arrow appeared in one of his back legs. Moving quickly two more Udam appeared grinning as their leader tried to strangle me.
Unable to speak I kicked at the Udam who threw me into the ground, crushing my bow beneath his feet. Body hurting all over I shuffled backwards as he laughed taking a single step towards me before I heard a faint whistle. In a flash something struck the Udam, knocking him backwards but he stayed upright as a Sabertooth Tiger snarled in his face.
"Stay there." Takkar ordered, rushing the Udam as I sat on the ground. I watched on as Takkar swung his club at the Udam warrior who raised his own knocking the blow aside before they started to fight. When Kion whimpered I struggled to my feet, hurrying as fast as I could move before I knelt at his side. As gently as possible I pulled the arrow free and he whimpered, climbing to his feet before he looked towards the battle.
The other two Udam lay in pools of blood, unmoving as Takkar and the Udam fought. Before Takkar could land a blow the Udam threw something and Takkar jumped clear, holding his arm over his nose and mouth as green fumes filled the air.
I started to cough and he quickly moved to my side, hoisting me over his back. Coughing too badly to speak and with the fumes bringing tears to my eyes, I didn't fight back as Takkar hurried away while the Udam laughed at us. Kion, limping a little followed as did the Sabertooth.
A safe distance away Takkar stopped running and I glared as he set me down on the ground, frowning as I crossed my arms at him. "You almost killed by Ull. Get back to village." He ordered and I didn't move, still angry at being carried. "Go!" He roared and I flinched, heading in the general direction of the village with Kion in tow.
Didn't have to yell at me like that, I thought as I headed back and Kion growled. Hmph, stupid jerk thinks he's better than me.
I was still in a foul mood when I reached camp, barely even seeing Roshani as he walked over to me. "What happened to you?" He asked and I snorted, pushing past on my way back to my hut. "Valery?"
I didn't even see Kion turn around, heading into the forest though I did hope he was alright. I had just entered my hut when Roshani followed and I spun around, eyes narrowed at the intrusion. He raised his palms as I opened my mouth and I paused, waiting for him to speak first.
"You are mad at Takkar?" He asked and I nodded. "Why?"
"He...saved me from an Udam." I answered, knowing just how stupid that sounded. Apparently Roshani did too when he chuckled and I growled, stomping towards him. "Stop laughing at me! Everyone keeps doing that!" I shouted, shoving him backwards and he stumbled before he caught himself.
"You are too reckless. Do you wish for death?" Roshani asked once I calmed and I shook my head, my arms at my sides and my eyes staring at the floor. "Then be more careful." He told me, his hands grasping mine. He raised them towards his face and I blinked, cheeks burning as he brushed his lips against my fingertips.
"Um...okay I will." I mumbled, not sure how to react and he smiled. "I appreciate you being the only one who actually cares what happens to me." I added, not expecting him to pull me close. I stumbled but stayed upright, eyes wide as he leant in brushing his lips against mine. "You think I'm a pushover too?" I growled, making a weak attempt to free myself and Roshani just gave me a quick smile. Spinning me around, he wrapped his arms tightly around my waist.
With my back towards Roshani I couldn't see him smiling at me but I could feel his tongue as it brushed my left ear. He lightly nibbled on it and I shuddered, his grip tightening as he sucked on the very tip of my ear. "You are easy to please." Roshani muttered, releasing my ear and I turned my head slightly with an eyebrow raised.
"You're so funny, ex-commander." I shot back and he glared at me. "Not so funny when you're being made fun of is it?" I commented and he rolled his eyes. Giving him a smirk I drapped my left arm around his neck and he leant in, our mouths just touching when we both heard footsteps. "Oh just perfect." I grumbled as Takkar entered the hut, not even having the decency to call out first. To make matters worse Roshani removed his hands from me and I glared at Takkar for a moment, stomping past him before he had a chance to ask why.
Why does every bad thing happen to me, I thought as I kicked at the dirt. I've been shot twice, attacked multiple times and now when Roshani and I finally have a moment alone Takkar just walks in on us.
"Why are you mad at Takkar?" Roshani asked, emerging from my hut not long after Takkar left us alone again but I just ignored him. "Valery, what is wrong?" He pesisted.
"I'm angry because Takkar could have knocked." I replied and Roshani crossed his arms, head tilted to one side. "What I mean is he could have just left us alone. You were finally showing me some affection and then...this happens." I muttered, staring off into the distance.
"Is that why you are angry?" Roshani asked and I nodded, not trusting my voice right now. "Valery I do like you. I am...just worried."
"Worried? About what exactly?" I asked, slightly curious as he stood beside me. "Is it about Batari?" I wasn't expecting him to take a step back, eyes completely wide. "She is...or was your leader so of course I figured it out. She is pretty intimidating." I admitted and he gave me a weak smile.
"I worry she will come her and capture me. Make me build standing stones or..." He trailed off and I gave him a grin, giving his shoulder a pat. "Why do you do that?"
"Make you feel better? It's just me. Besides I'm not letting anyone take you without a fight." I answered, realizing too late what I'd just said. Roshani grinned as my cheeks burned, clearly enjoying my embarrassment. "Oh shut up, Izila." I grumbled as he started to laugh.