It was night and silence enveloped the streets of Polis. From time to time, Onya could hear the voices of onlookers, drunk people, the footsteps of horses. It was a diffuse hubbub that she had learned to ignore, and which she had strangely missed when she returned to her village.
Onya was lying peacefully in her bed, gazing pensively at the ceiling, when she heard a soft tapping on the door. She immediately grabbed her dagger, sitting ready to throw herself at her attacker's throat.
Only, when the door opened ajar, it was Natshanagada's head that slipped through the gap. Onya suppressed an annoyed sigh, especially when she noticed Natshana's nervous smile.
"What is it?"
"I—I—I'm sorry. I—Didn't mean to wake you up."
Natshana tangled with her words, stammered, avoiding her gaze and swaying from one foot to the other in embarrassment.
"I was not sleeping. What is it? What is going on?"
Natshana muttered something, too quiet for Onya to understand what she was saying, then she began to fiddle with the fabric of her shirt.
"The… The thoughts. They're coming back."
Onya didn't need to ask her what she was talking about. She knew all too well what was going on.
"I can't sleep. They're keeping me awake. I'm scared. I don't feel safe alone."
Onya sighed, running a hand over her face as she rested her dagger beside her. She lifted a flap of the blanket, nodded to her.
"Come on."
Natshana crossed the room and settled into the bed next to her, snuggling under the blanket, pulling the end up to her face, letting her curly hair hang out of the fur.
"Are you okay?" Onya asked.
"I don't know. It feels weird. You know, usually, they're just like a buzzing sound in the back of my head, but sometimes, they get louder, and I can't think of anything."
Onya did not know what to answer and preferred to remain silent.
"I'm scared."
"I know," Onya whispered. "I know."
"I don't want to die, Anya."
Onya managed to find her hand under the furs and squeezed it silently.
"It's good."
"What?"
"That you do not want to die. Not a long time ago, you wouldn't even have thought of that."
"It was easier then."
"Fighting is always harder than giving up."
Natshana scooted closer to Onya, leaning her head lightly against her shoulder. Onya didn't move away.
"Will you help me fight them off?" She whispered in a very small voice.
"Of course," Onya replied softly.
She was a warrior. She was born a warrior, she had the soul of a warrior. Of course she would help her fight, that was what she did best.
"Sleep, Natshana. I'll be there to fight the bad thoughts away."
Natshanagada closed her eyes, and a few minutes later, Onya heard her breathing become more regular and calm.
Onya looked up, staring out the window.
In the black sky, the moon was missing.
A clearing of the throat woke Onya.
She opened her eyes, and the first thing she noticed was the warm body surrounding her. Arms were wrapped around her waist, a face leaning against her shoulder and a leg thrown across hers. A warm breath blew against her skin.
The second thing she noticed was Leksa, standing at the foot of the bed, her hands tied behind her back. A small amused smile tugged at the corner of her lips, she watched them in silence, not embarrassed in the slightest.
Onya tried to move, but her arms were pinned by the weight of Natshanagada who remained asleep against her. She wanted to sit up, struggling to get out of her embrace, but Natshana just tightened her arms around her.
Onya cast a pleading look in Leksa's direction.
"Please, help me."
An amused glint in her eyes, Leksa pursed her lips and let out a long, shrill whistle.
Natshana woke with a start, screaming in fright, and wrapped herself in the blanket, as if to hide. Onya, freed, was finally able to move and sat up, massaging her numb wrists. She was sore all over.
Natshanagada's head popped out of the fur, her hair messy.
"Hello, Kassy," Leksa greeted her politely.
"Ooh, hey sweetie. How ya doin'?"
She frowned, looking around, and glanced at Onya.
"What am I doing in your bed?"
"I am asking myself the same question," added Leska.
"It's not what it looks like," Onya replied, glaring at her Heda.
"What does it look like?" Leksa asked, a mischievous gleam in her eyes.
"Did I sleep-walk?" Natshana asked. "Did I get here during my sleep?"
"You had a nightmare."
Natshana seemed to understand what she meant, and she relaxed.
"Oh."
"What are you doing here, Heda?"
"I am here as Leksa. And Tris couldn't find you anywhere, and got too scared to knock on the door. She tried to find Kassy, and came barging inside the throne room yelling she had been abducted."
"That child is too dramatic," Onya mumbled as she stood up, grabbing her daggers and cloak.
"Damn right, didn't raise her for nothing," Kassy replied, standing up too, trying in vain to straighten her hair.
"I would appreciate if you didn't influence her when I'm trying to make a warrior out of her," Onya said as they exited the room.
"You wish."