Damnit! I forgot to upload the chapter. I'm sorry. Here it is!
(Also, my dad basically became a Lord so I'm now a Lady, I feel fancy)
Night was falling and Onya was sitting on a rock not far from the entrance to the tower. The sun was tinged with pink and dark gray, the moon would soon appear. The inhabitants of Polis returned home, locking themselves in buildings with gaunt figures and small concrete houses.
She didn't really know what she was expecting. She just didn't want to go into the tower and find herself in the midst of everyone who had witnessed the fiasco with the Skaigada. What an humiliation. Onya had better watch her image now, or she risked losing her authority over her warriors.
Suddenly, a pale flash of lightning pulled her from her torpor. Natshana came out of the tower, her shawl on her head, as if trying to go unnoticed. Onya sneered at the idea, the Moon's Daughter was too pale to be quiet. She walked peacefully, heading towards the streets of Polis.
Onya hesitated for a few seconds, then, deciding that it was best not to leave the Skaigada unattended, she stood up and followed her from a distance, using her skills as a tracker. Natshana would never notice her, she was far too busy hopping happily through the streets, heading with a logic that was unknown to Onya. She even wondered if she wasn't choosing the streets at random. Natshana took a small street, passed into a larger one, turned at a crossroads, then entered a house peacefully.
Onya stood in the shadow of the wall for a few seconds, observing the building that formed a small courtyard in its center. She made up her mind quickly: she sprang up, crossed the street and nimbly climbed the wall, landing silently on the roof. There, a small courtyard opened between the houses, and several women were gathered there.
Onya saw the figure of Natshana trotting in, uttering an exclamation of joy as she walked over to a young woman she recognized as the one who had run after her before. Onya guessed it was Oksana.
Natshana set her satchel to the side, pulled her curly hair back over her scalp, and adjusted her clothes. An older woman seemed to gently order them, Natshana gave her a smile before exchanging a knowing glance with Oksana.
And suddenly, they began to dance. Some of them whispered the melody of a song in a low voice, as though they were worried not to be heard. Natshana religiously imitated Oksana's movements, her brow furrowed with a focused look on her face. For the first time, she seemed calm, focused on where to step, on the curved arc of her arm.
Onya, perched in her hiding place, watched in silence, a little ashamed of staring at all of these women without asking if they allowed her to.
And then suddenly the pace picked up, Onya struggled to keep the Skaigada in sight as she circled around the courtyard. Her skirt floated around her and the young woman's eyes were half closed, as if carried by music that Onya could guess with her every move. She danced, hopped, twirled, waved her hips. She was alone in her little world, her eyes closed as if not to be disturbed by others. Onya, mesmerized, watched her prance across the courtyard, instinctively avoiding the movements of the other women.
For the brief second, Onya caught a glimpse of Kassy's true beauty, the one she hid deep in her heart. She seemed at peace.
Practice was drawing to a close and Natshana left the court, throwing 'Leida!' around. Onya, a little bit guilty, climbed down from her perch and melted into the shadow of the wall as the Moon's Daughter walked past. Night had fallen well and Natshana's pale skin reflected the light of the moon, almost resembling a skaifaya.
Onya followed her again as she walked through the empty streets, skirting the walls so as not to be spotted. Natshana didn't seem to realize the danger she was in. Sometimes Onya wondered if Titus was right, if Natshanagada hadn't been spat out of the sky, and never had a body before that. She seemed to be a newborn.
Onya watched her walk peacefully through the streets, following a path only she seemed to know. Natshana walked along humming the song the women had sung a few minutes earlier.
Onya turned a corner and found the street completely empty. Surprised, she remained still, looking around for where the Skaigada had disappeared. She had literally vanished without a trace and yet Onya was sure she had seen her walking down that street. Had she been kidnapped? Had she been pulled inside a house and-
"What are we doing?" Whispered a voice beside her.
Onya turned with a start and instinctively threw her fist in the direction of the voice. She met someone's face and heard an exclamation of pain that she recognized as Natshana's voice.
"Are you crazy ?!" Onya exclaimed, panicked. "Don't surprise me like that!"
"Ow ow ow!" Natshanagada moaned, massaging her jaw.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to- "
She stopped abruptly. She was Wormana, she made no apologies for hitting anyone. It was all the fault of the young woman, who was rubbing her jaw in surprise. Abruptly, she withdrew her hand, lifted her chin.
"Do you think I'm going to have a bruise?"
Onya leaned forward slightly. She hadn't hit hard enough to really hurt her.
"No."
"Oh. Too bad, I would have looked like a badass. "
"Do you want me to hit harder?"
Natshana seemed to be seriously considering her proposal.
"Nah, thanks. Anyways, what are we doing? "
Onya painfully restrained herself from blushing, embarrassed to be caught red-handed.
"It's none of your business."
"But it is! Were you… Were you following me? "
Onya didn't have the courage to lie. She just avoided her gaze, her brow furrowed angrily.
"Oww, you were! You really thought I didn't see you? "
Anya found it strange that she was able to see her, she who was unable to make any less noise than a bear in the forest. Maybe Leksa was right, maybe she had learned.
"So, what did you think? Hot, right? "
She raised her arms in the air and began to curl her hips and look at her mockingly. Onya painfully looked away.
"I'm going to hit you harder."
Natshana laughed, stopping her antics.
"Seriously, how much of it did you see?"
"Everything," Onya admitted, her cheeks burning.
"You good, dude? If you're not getting any, you can tell me, it's okay. "
Anya groaned in annoyance, rolling her eyes.
"Shut up."
"Oh, I know how much you've missed saying that."
Abruptly, her smile disappeared and Onya felt her heart twitch. An uncomfortable silence settled between them, Natshana gazing down at her shoes.
"I'm… I'm sorry."
Onya looked at her in silence.
"Not just about that. About… The other thing. I uh… I had a bit of a breakdown, I never meant to hurt you or to hurt anyone. "
Onya didn't answer, remaining silent for a few seconds.
"I know."
Natshana looked up at her and Onya turned to resume her journey.
"Come on, you'll end up getting kidnapped in the middle of the street."
Kassy hopped to catch up with her, a smile on her lips.
skaifaya: star