Vasilisa's POV
I found Mary and Julie at the bath house. I entered and saw them bathing together, talking.
Just like the old days. They were alone, thank goodness.
Mary exclaimed when she saw us "Mable!"
She hopped out of the steaming pond and ran towards us, flinging water and all. Then she embraced the two of us tightly, kissing us both on the cheek.
"You're wet." I laughed "And naked!"
Mary laughed maniacally "And you're dressed as a boy, carting my sister around!"
I slapped her arm playfully and told her to get back in the water before she caught a cold.
She did and Mable seemed much more at ease. We took our shoes and such off and rolled up pants and skirts before sticking our feet into the very warm water. Steam floated about the room.
"You think you'll get in trouble if you're caught in here?" Julie asked with wide, scared eyes.
I gave a wry grin "I'll probably get in trouble for not being in the hall where he told me to wait, but that obviously didn't stop me. Mable needed to see her sister."
Julie sighed and rubbed her face "Sometimes I think I'm the older sister."
Mary giggled "You are taller."
I splashed water at her "You chit! I can't help it!"
She splashed me back and I yelled out in surprise.
We were in a heap of giggles once again, and suddenly, everything didn't seem so bad.
Scar's POV
Duran and I were to fight at dusk.
It was the tradition.
When one of our kind disobeyed their leaders, they could face exile for months or fight and possibly face death.
Duran chose to fight.
Only pack members and men were allowed to watch. The women not of our kind, or not mated to our kind were required to stay indoors.
When I found the boy who was supposed to be my shadow, he was where I told him to wait, but only after I'd returned there with the intention of sending out a manhunt for him.
I was angry until I saw him sitting with his sister, Mable, and who I assumed to be Mable's sister. His sister was trying her hardest with Mable's sister to make Duran's young mate laugh.
V was the only one succeeding "I mean, imagine it! I was up this tree, ready to loose the arrow that would surely pierce a stag's heart and all of a sudden; splat! Bird shit! Right on my face! And then it seemed his buddies wanted to get in on it too! Little buggers! I didn't even get to bring them back on their string because I was too busy trying to figure out where the hell the fire was coming from. I should eat eggs out in the forest; let them know what I'm capable of."
I bit my lip trying not to laugh at his claim. If I'd been shit on my birds I certainly wouldn't admit it.
Mable's sister sipped a steaming cup and smiled over the rim "I knew you were the unlucky sort, but I never imagined the universe would so aggressively sick its vengeance on you. I think it's because you don't wear dresses."
I asked, raising a brow "And why would young V here need to be wearing dresses?"
Mable's sister glanced at me and her smile wavered before returning "Oh, because we put him in them. He set himself on fire once after we played dress up."
V groaned "I still have scars from that, twerp. Just because you call me hot buns now doesn't make it any more acceptable."
I laughed "Don't let the men here that story. You'll never live it down."
V glanced back at me and I saw that his neck was burning red, as were his ears "Oh yes, that's all I need. To follow you everywhere you go and undoubtedly be called hot buns by your pack mates! That'll do wonders for my self-confidence."
The girls and V settled down, but Mable broke the silence "What...what happened to him?"
She wouldn't meet my gaze. I sat down beside V and stared at her "Mable...look at me."
She did, slowly, her eyes, blue as the ocean, brimming with tears "I can't not punish him. It was exile or traditional battle. Chances are he'll make it out alive, but he will probably be injured, and he'll need his mate to help him with his recovery."
She bit her lip, and I saw the shadow descend on her features "And if the mate isn't sure she wants to?"
I expected that. I sighed "Then Duran will have to earn your trust the hard way. He's had it hard, and though that's not an excuse, maybe a little slack on his part would be acceptable?"
Her sister looked at her with a pained expression. She knew what she was feeling and was empathetic.
V and his sister glanced at each other, feeling for their friend, but unsure how to react. They had their reservations.
"We'll fight at dusk and I'd like you, Mable, to stay here. I'd like your sister perhaps to stay with you? And V's as well?" I suggested.
V glanced at me, frowning "You wish me to accompany you?"
I nodded "Yes. Chances are I won't make it out totally unscathed. If that happens, be ready to fetch our healer. She resides in the building that used to be that drinking establishment."
V snorted "You mean Winky's Drinks?" I scowled "I guess so."
He scratched the back of his head "Sure, as long as you're telling me their previous service isn't still going on."
I was confused "What on earth are you talking about?"
He flashed me a mischievous grin "It's a brothel."
Several Hours Later = Dusk
Vasilisa's POV
I was nervous with anticipation for the fight.
Scar would undoubtedly win. Duran would undoubtedly just be injured. Everything would undoubtedly be okay.
Without a doubt, I knew this.
Or did I?
What if Scar lost?
What if Duran was killed?
What if they both killed each other?
What if...
God, I have issues.
I rubbed my face and groaned, leaning into the wall of the building I'd taken a break behind.
I'd been scurrying about after Scar all day, serving more as an escort than anything.
He spoke with the patrol people that were to be on high alert in case anything happened during the battle.
He visited the women in the kitchen, my mother included, and made sure they were ready to prepare a feast.
He then went to speak with the hunters who were to provide the women with the materials/animals to make this feast.
Mainly, he made me follow him around and be silent. This was hard on my feet and my sanity. Everything was so tedious.
I knew I'd regret not savoring my boredom because tonight would surely be more excitement than I was comfortable with.
"V! The battle will begin in ten minutes! Time to return to your post." called Rhyn. He...he almost began to treat me as an equal. If not an equal than a friend. It unsettled me, though I was grateful.
I didn't expect these beasts to be so reasonable and human-like.
That might sound faintly discriminatory, but what was I expected to think when I saw them tear men limb from limb not even a week ago? It's not as if my assumption was unreasonable, just perhaps, slightly untrue as of now.
I would probably regret that statement after I saw this fight.
I shuffled back to the "arena".
It was a pig pen that had been deprived of its livestock. New animals were being put into it.
I sighed as the men and few women of the pack gathered. The women of the pack were tall, strong looking creatures. They were striking in their own way, but by today's definition they would not be defined as particularly beautiful. If they belonged in a different time, maybe they would be.
I was one of the smallest people around, even next to the few human females that had decided they could stomach accompanying their mates to this surely gruesome battle.
Scar entered at one end as Duran entered at the other.
They were both shirtless.
I was appreciative of the flickering torch light, so that my pink face could not be distinguished. I was embarrassed to look at such...rigidity. Their torsos were sculpted like pieces of artwork. I could barely rip my gaze from Scar's toned back. It ignited a fire in my stomach that I was unaccustomed to.
The serpent marking that wrapped around the Alpha's midsection seemed to slither with every subtle movement he made and didn't help my lustful staring.
A horn was blowing and that was when Duran launched himself at Scar.
Scar took him and they were on the ground. I did not see much in their blurring moments.
All I know is that blood was flying amidst the dirt and dust rising around them. Someone was being injured and a deep feeling of helplessness sent ice through my veins. I felt just like I did when my father was killed. I couldn't help my father then, and I can't help Scar now, though I didn't know why I wanted to.
It scared me when I started hearing the ferocious grunts and growls.
The crowd shouted jeers and pulsed with the angst of seeing a raw, bloody fight.
The initial dust began to settle and I saw that they were both bleeding from the bite marks, but Duran was falling limp beneath Scar.
Scar stumbled to his feet and Duran stayed down, his eyes rolling back. He stuck his fist in the air and the crowd cheered.
I saw him wavering before he knew he was, in fact, badly injured.
I hopped the fence and caught him under the arm before he staggered back to the ground.
He was sweating and panting and bleeding "Ah, V! I won." he slurred deliriously.
I gave him a sidelong glance "Yes, I can see that. Let's go visit the healer, why don't we?"
He sputtered "I don't need a healer! I'm perfectly fine! Duran! Do you need a healer?"
Rhyn had already entered the pen and was lifting Duran with the help of another man. He looked at me with...was that respect?
"Come on, Mr. Alpha." I muttered as I helped him out. He walked while supported on me and we moved at an intermediate pace.
He smiled sleepily at me when we were halfway there "You're pretty for a boy, V."
Good God, why now? "Don't you dare fall asleep on me, you giant! You're twice my size and if you don't make it there awake I'm leaving you in the street to bind your own wounds."
He snorted "You wouldn't really do that. I could see you were worried. You shouldn't be. I'm the Alpha for a reason."
I glared at him, but remained silent. I was angry that he wouldn't see how injured he was. He may heal extra fast, but that was a lot of blood leaving the body for anyone, including creatures like himself.
We made it to the establishment, where the Healer took him to a room and came out only when he'd been tended to, to help Duran. She told me that he needed someone to watch after him as he healed, make sure he stayed still and all that.
Rhyn offered but I told him to go to bed. He gave me a little smile before doing so. He'd been awake for a long time, or it appeared that way. I knew he needed his rest.
I entered the room that Scar had been laid out in and sat tiredly in the corner, watching the slow rise and fall of his bandaged chest. I would watch over him for now.