Finaly another chapter! Things are gettin intense! Anyway, read and review! Comments are much appreciated!
It was mid afternoon when Larka came staggering out of the training area. Krillan's body had been embalmed and was in the center of the tribe where every member would go to mourn and pay their respects to their fallen leader and to leave gifts for him to take to the afterlife. Taka and the rest had been there originally and Taka had given a small and sorrowful speech and Liam and WhisperWing had said the necessary prayers. Larka had deliberately missed all these happenings and now the center was deserted except for Krillan and not far behind where his body lay were the posts where three outsiders had once been held captive. It felt like a lifetime had passed since then as Larka walked slowly toward her friend's body. It seemed to her that her body was operating on its most basic functions, breathing and walking. Even her thoughts seemed distant to her. All she felt was that same sadness that she had blocked out by her hours of constant training with his axe, which she carried in one hand. All Larka knew was that she was tired of being like a zombie, she hated the feeling of unchecked hatred and passion, and it reminded her of her past before Krillan. She knew that when he had died she had reverted back to the way she had been, and it was slowly consuming her.
Larka took slow halting steps towards Krillan, both her mind and body were reluctant to face the raw pain that she was beginning to feel again. But her forceful will power drove her on and soon she stood beside his body looking down at him. "Well Krill, I guess this is really goodbye…" she said, her words choking up on 'goodbye'. Her throat and eyes were burning and every impulse she possessed told her to run away from the pain, but she pressed on. "I-I know that, I'll never be able to see you again…and I-It almost kills me to think of my life without you fighting by my side…" she said, unshed tears building up behind her closed eyes as she stood there. "But I know that wherever you are you're probably in a much better place than where I am. Maybe you've even met Tyrade…say hi to him for me will you…I think if he had lived longer you two would have been friends…" Larka was sobbing now. "But then again maybe if he had lived I would never have met you…and I-I can't imagine my life without meeting you…b-but it would probably be a lot worse that it is. Maybe I would be a lot worse than I am…You always saw me as a better person than I really was and I l-love you for Th-that." Larka knelt beside his body and her tears dropped onto his embalmed chest. "When I realized you'd gone I became like I was before I'd met you. I was a horrible and wicked person then Krill. I wish I'd had more time with you to make you understand that. But I never wanted to feel that way again and when you left me it made me feel like that. But I know that that isn't how you want me to be and I know you would think I'm better than that, S-so I'm going to prove that to you Krill. I want to have a chance to be the good person you thought I was. And I'll really miss you…" she said softly. "I hope we meet again Krillan, and I'll miss you till that day comes. Goodbye my dear friend…" she said, opening her eyes and lifting her head to see Liam, Taka and WhisperWing standing beside her. Larka blinked once, stood up and collapsed into their arms and sobbed. The three friends held her as she sobbed and they cried as well.
After what seemed like ages Larka composed herself enough to talk. "I'm so sorry for treating you the way I did." She told them.
"It's alright," Taka said. "We deal with our grief in different ways."
"I'm glad you're back with us Larka." WhisperWing said gently.
"I love you." Liam said, kissing her softly and cradling her in his arms. Larka smiled feebly and then cleared her throat, turning to face Krillan's body.
"Fare well my friend!" she said to him smiling.
Later, after Krillan was placed in the Ancestral Tomb of the Anazimabrah Larka returned to the hut and after cuddling with Tyrade fell into a deep sleep. It was early morning when she awoke wide eyed and alert. She gently shook Liam awake and kissed his forehead. "Morning my love." She said.
"Larka…its barely passed sunrise." He grumbled.
"I know, but we need to wake Taka and WhisperWing. Incase you've forgotten we are at war." She said. At the mention of war Liam arouse and the two of them dressed and freshened up before assembling with WhisperWing and Taka in WhisperWing's hut.
"Here is my view on the situation." Larka began once they had settled down and everyone looked sufficiently awake. "We have lost one of our best commanders." She said sadly and somberly. "But we still have Liam, Taka and myself. The way I figure it is that the survivors of our battle will have reported back to the fort by now and a large force of soldiers will be upon us the latest by tomorrow night." She said matter-of-factly. "Blood has been shed on both sides and the Empire will know that we are not fooling around. Their force will be larger and stronger than last time…and we cannot hope to defeat it." She said, the magnitude of her words weighed heavily on the companions. They sat in silence before Larka spoke again. "Although we will be against a foe that is undefeatable we must not give up and not surrender! We must make an example for all other Ashlander tribes saying, We Will Not Bow!" she stated with vigor, a passionate glint entering her eyes. "We will strike a blow to the Empire's moral; we will make it clear that the Anazimabrah are a noble and courageous tribe and that even in death we live on in our sacrifice! I say we take all our fighters and meet them in one last battle, the battle to end it all! We must stand up for our tribe! It will not be the end of the Legion nor the Empire like it shall be the end of us. After this battle the Anazimabrah tribe shall be no more and yet the very reason we are resisting will insure that we are immortalized in legend! We must fight!" she said loudly and passionately. Larka looked to her companion's for their response. Taka stood and unsheathed her sword and held it out to Larka.
"I am with you till death Larka WinterStar." She said seriously. Larka grasped the hand that held the sword and then let go, Taka sheathed it and sat once more. WhisperWing was next. She stood gracefully and placed a willowy hand upon Larka's.
"I am no warrior, but I shall stand by you till the very end." She wise woman said, unclasping Larka's hand, which was laced with fading pure white spell fire.
Larka looked to Liam next and met his gaze unflinchingly. "Larka, I love you and I will stand by you till the world ends, but you are asking that I sacrifice my tribe forever." He said softly.
"It is my tribe as well Liam." Larka replied gently but firmly. "Are you with me?" she asked. He stood and unsheathed his sword.
"I am with you till the end my love." He said, his eyes filled with love, which Larka returned.
Larka turned to each of them and smiled. "Till the end." She murmured and they nodded solemnly. "Now, let us discuss our strategy, we have only one day before the enemy will be upon us and we shall have to make our last stand count."
