~ Agony Of The Life Before ~

SAPHIRA

The rest of the day had gone on with little drama. Chloe had cleaned all of Saphira's minor injuries within the privacy of their tent. Her muscles are still sore, but it's only a small discomfort. In her many years of life, as a hunter, a warrior, a fighter, she had been subject to many injuries. Her most severe trauma to date had been when she was nearly mauled by a pair of large hellhounds, during a hunt that had taken her to the Rocky Mountains. The ordeal had left her side and thigh ripped open. She would have bled to death, if it wasn't for the actions of the former lieutenant, saving her life with nectar and ambrosia.

Just another memory to cause her pain.

With a heavy sigh, Saphira begins to prepare her spot in her tent for sleep, thinking that she may as well turn in early for the night. The sun is already setting, and with no further duties to carry out, she sees no point in staying up. Chloe is at the fires with the other girls, having a bit of socialization before she returns later.

Settling into her sleeping bag, Saphira becomes acutely aware of tense she's been. Ever since her spar with Xenia, her muscles have been tightened, as if ready to spring into action at any movement. Now, in the familiar comfort of her sleeping bag, she finally relaxes her body... but her mind is still tense. With a sigh, she closes her eyes and tries her best to let herself drift away.

"Why must I go? What have I done wrong?"

"I have no desire to keep a pest around. I have other duties and you are merely a distraction. Now get out of my sight."

"Mother, please! I don't want to go!"

A younger Saphira trembles before her mother, tears streaming down her cheeks while her mother looks on with contempt. She's standing at the edge of the Garden of Hesperides, the way to reenter blocked by her mother. The only other way to go, is away, out into the harsh, unfriendly, dangerous world of the west, filled with monsters, wrathful deities, and mortals. It's terrifying to her. The last thing she wants to do is venture out by herself, but she's not being given any choice, being forced to leave the only safe haven she's ever known, the only home she has.

"Please don't make me go away!" she cries, trying to approach her mother, but her mother suddenly draws herself to her full height and fixes her with a spiteful stare.

"Do not make me get rid of you another way, daughter!" She spits the word 'daughter' like it's bile in her mouth.

As if to emphasize her point, the other guardians of the garden appear to stand at her side. Her mother places a hand on the hilt of the elegant dagger at her waist. Saphira's eyes widen in horror that her own mother would threaten her in such a way. Surely, she wouldn't...

She would.

She can see it in the way her mother glares at her. She would kill Saphira, her daughter, without hesitation or remorse. With a pounding heart and streaming tears, Saphira takes a shaky step backward, away from the garden, away from the woman who gave birth to her. With a choked sob, Saphira turns away, and she runs. She runs as fast as she can down the beaten path, as fast as she can away from her home.

Into the unforgiving world ahead.

Saphira snaps awake with a gasp, her pulse quickened and her breath escaping in soft rasps. With a quick glance around herself, she sees her familiar, comfortable tent around her. She's in her own sleeping bag, with her bow, quiver, and knives beside her. With a sigh, she slumps back down, raising her hands to cover her face and groan into her palms.

What has she done to deserve such a curse of misery?

Her mind continues to remain a mess of unwanted memories. Running from monsters and struggling to keep herself sustained. Hiding from the cruelty of humankind. With a sigh, she attempts to clear her mind of past troubles, but after a few minutes, still finds herself to be plagued with them. What to do, what to do?

Her mind drifts to the wolf. She wonders... no. She can't go wandering out in the middle of the night, into the forest. Not only could that be dangerous, but that's not a usual thing she does. One of the night watchers would surely take notice. Not only that, but there's no way of telling if her... acquaintance, would even still be in the ravine. The risk is too great to venture out into the night for what could possibly amount to nothing. She'll just have to wait until morning.

What can she do in the meantime?

Saphira wonders if perhaps she should wake up Chloe. The Apollo girl is dozing beside her, seeming to be having a pleasant dream. At least one of them is. She doesn't want to disturb her friend's rest. It's not fair that Chloe shouldn't be able to sleep peacefully just because Saphira isn't able to. She has said many times that she doesn't mind it, but Saphira still just doesn't feel okay with waking her.

Perhaps merely sitting outside the tent will serve her some peace.

She slips out of her sleeping bag and crawls over to unzip the tent flap. She steps outside onto the fabric laid out in front of the tent and sits down, criss-crossed. The night is frigid, but after spending over a thousand years with the Hunt, living in the harshest of environments, she has grown used to such climates. The cold air is welcomed, helping to cool and clear her thoughts.

Saphira takes a deep breath, letting her posture slump a bit. She listens to the sounds of the forest, to the owls softly hooting in the trees, and the timber wolves singing their eerie cries somewhere in the darkness. A soft, chilly breeze sweeps over her, fluttering her dark hair and sending a slight shiver up her spine. She closes her eyes, enjoying this small moment of peace.

"Saph?"

A hushed voice from behind has her reopening her eyes and turning her head to see Chloe emerging from the tent, wrapped up in a soft cloak.

"What are you doing out here? It's freezing," she says, sitting on her knees beside her.

"I had a bad dream and need to cool my head," Saphira replies.

"Oh. Why didn't you wake me?"

"I didn't want to disturb you."

Chloe rolls her eyes. "Saph, you know I don't mind."

"But I do, Chloe." Saphira sighs and leans back on her palms to gaze up at the stars. The Apollo girl frowns at her, studying her face. She expects her to say something else, try to convince her to come back inside or talk about her emotions. Chloe, instead, does something else that surprises her. She simply settles in beside her, without a word, and lays her head on Saphira's shoulder.

Saphira doesn't try to protest or move her away. She's comforted by the silent support and comfort of her friend. Together, they sit, gazing up at the stars above.

A/N: Hello, readers!

I know this was a shorter chapter than usual, but I was feeling quite tired and I couldn't figure out how to make this one a little longer.

I would also like to thank the few followers that the story has been gathering, for giving it (and me) a chance. It means a lot.

That's all for now. Have a blessed and wonderful day!

~ Shadow