Battle for the Valley

by C. R. Pugh

  “Camellia, I asked you a question.”

  “They’re gone!” Camellia snapped, her turquoise eyes flashing. “They left. I wouldn’t have come down if …” She couldn’t keep from breaking down into sobs.

  “Gone?” I asked. “You mean dead?”

  “No, they’re gone, Thorne,” Camellia explained. “Just before you … he …” She pointed at Kieron. “… killed this …”

  “The Saber?” Kieron said.

  Camellia nodded, tears still streaking down her face. “I saw everything. After you killed it, the other two Sabers ran off into the forest.”

  Still clutching Ravyn’s hand to my chest, I turned to survey the area. Four dead beasts lay scattered around the forest floor. The Valley was silent. The moon was hidden by clouds, shrouding the forest in eerie darkness. I searched the trees for threats, but nothing was there. The remaining two Sabers had fled, confirming Camellia’s explanation.

  The last time Sabers had attacked us out on the meadow I had not been given a chance to see them up close. They were remarkable. And lethal. Their fur was perfectly camouflaged for the Valley – impossible to spot through the shadows with their gray and black striped fur. Of course, I was well-acquainted with how their claws could rip through flesh.

  Fifty feet to my left, Brock and Archer were attempting to wrap gauze around Pierce’s wounds. My brother marched my way, swatting their intruding hands away. “Leave it be,” he protested with an indignant growl. “I’m fine.”

  “Hold still,” Archer scolded him.

  With a dramatic sigh, Pierce halted, held out his wounded arm, and allowed Archer to tend to him.

  “Bring us that gauze when you’re finished,” I called out to Archer.

  “I have some,” Tallon said, jogging toward us. I hadn’t heard her leave my side. She must have gone to retrieve her supplies from the tree that they had climbed.

  “Where did you get gauze?” I asked her as she strode over and knelt beside me.

  “I stole it from the hospital in Peton.”

  “You could have asked Kemena for some,” I remarked.

  Tallon snorted. “And risk having her lock me in a room to keep me in Peton? Then I wouldn’t have been here to help.”

  “I’ll lecture you about this later,” I grumbled.

  Tallon’s eyes flashed. “Lecture me about what?”

  “About disobeying Pierce’s order.”

  “What order?”

  “For you to keep yourselves safe up in that tree.”

  Tallon narrowed her eyes at me. “He didn’t order us to do anything. We came down to help soon after the Sabers had you surrounded.”

  My mouth dropped open and I closed my eyes, thinking through everything that had happened. “I assumed that was why you waited so long …”

  “Wait? We didn’t wait, Thorne,” Tallon insisted. “Pierce was barely in the tree when he realized you and Ravyn needed help. Archer, Brock, and I jumped down right after.”

  “The fight only lasted a minute or so,” Camellia confirmed in a soft voice. She continued to stroke her sister’s hair. “Maybe less.”

  I rubbed my brow. “A minute?” I asked in a whisper. “It felt like much longer.”

  Tallon placed a hand on my shoulder. “We would never leave you to die, Brother. None of us could do that.”

  I nodded and placed my hand on hers, feeling a bit foolish.

  “Now, go check on Pierce and the others,” Tallon ordered. “We’ll take care of Ravyn and bandage her up as best we can.”

  “Won’t she heal on her own?” Camellia asked, her eyes wide and glistening with moisture.

  Kieron spoke up, revealing to Camellia what I’d said to myself earlier. “It may help speed up the process if we stop all the bleeding.”

  “Go on, both of you,” Tallon said, taking charge. “Here, Camellia. Take this gauze. Start with her arm.” Tallon gave me an authoritative look. “Go. She’s going to be fine. And get that shoulder taken care of.”

  I frowned. “My shoulder?”

  “You’re bleeding too, Brother. There’s blood all down the back of your shirt.”

  Now that she’d mentioned it, I was beginning to feel a burning sensation on my left shoulder blade, as if I’d been slashed by razors. Turning my head to peer down at my own shoulder, I saw that Tallon was right. My shirt was wet with fresh blood. The adrenaline from the battle had kept me from feeling it, but now that things had settled down, the pain was growing worse.

  I rotated my arm around, testing my shoulder and its movements. “It hurts, but it seems alright. Just a flesh wound.”

  “It could have been worse,” Tallon agreed. “But you still don’t want an infection out here so far from Kemena. My knowledge of healing is not as extensive as our sister’s.”

  Giving her a grim smile, I nodded. “I’ll go see Archer while you two take care of Ravyn.”

  I kissed the back of Ravyn’s hand and set it down. Confident of Tallon’s abilities, I pushed to my feet and left the two females to tend to her.

  My Warriors met me about ten feet away from the three females so they weren’t left exposed to other dangers. Soldiers might be following us, and without Ravyn’s gift of sensing danger, there was no way of knowing if the Sabers might be returning in greater numbers.

  Archer circled around behind me and lifted my shirt up over my shoulder to inspect the damage to my shoulder blade. He’d seen it happen when he and Brock were running to our rescue.

  Pierce and Brock began to gather the weapons we had tossed aside and reloaded each of them at once.

  “How is she?” Pierce asked me as he crouched down to search his bag for ammunition. He glanced over at Ravyn. “That Saber tore her up.”

  “Nothing she can’t heal from?” Archer asked, concern etched in his green eyes.

  I ran my fingers through my hair. “She should be fine. She’ll need to eat when she wakes up to speed up the healing.”

  “We have food in our packs she can have,” Brock offered. “We can hunt for more.”

  Eyeing Pierce, I asked, “Are the Sabers gone?”

  He marched toward us, my weapons in his hands. “I can’t hear them anymore, if that’s what you’re asking.”

  I accepted the pistols from my brother, holstering them at my waist, and slung the rifle over my shoulder, careful of my wound. “What happened? Camellia said they fled.”

  “They did,” Archer agreed. “As soon as Brock and I were within range, they froze for a second and bolted.”

  Brock folded his arms over his chest and muttered, “They sure took a long time to die this time, didn’t they?”

  A chill ran up my spine when he said those words. I had thought the same thing while we’d been fighting them but hadn’t given it another thought. I glanced over my shoulder at Ravyn and then back at Pierce.

  “What is it, Thorne?” Brock asked me. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

  Pierce’s face seemed to fall in realization. “You don’t think …?” He swore under his breath.

  “What else could it have been?” I asked him in return.

  “What?” Brock asked, glancing back and forth at Pierce and me.

  Archer answered him. “They think Wolfe injected them with serum.”

  I ran my hand down over my face in disbelief. “There’s no other explanation.”

  “But that’s … that’s crazy,” said Brock.

  “Wolfe hasn’t been known for his rational behavior,” Pierce added.

  “Maybe we’re wrong,” I mumbled. “Sabers are difficult to kill. But you’re right, Brock. They took a long time to die.”

  I frowned and looked around at the four dead Sabers. I recalled the first time I had encountered Ravyn in the Valley. We had fought a couple of soldiers together, and, afterward, she had cut their throats. I just make sure they are so dead that they can’t come back, she had said to me.

  “We’ll cut their throats to be safe.”

  “You don’t
want to burn the bodies like the soldiers?” Pierce asked me.

  “No,” I answered. “We’ll keep their hides. They may come in handy if the weather turns bad.”

  “Does anyone know how to tan hides?” Archer asked, looking round at each of us.

  “I can help with that.”

  The Warriors and I all jumped at the sound of Kieron’s voice. He was leaning back against a tree, watching us. I’d forgotten he was there.

  I nodded to him. “That would be helpful.”

  Once all four Sabers had been confirmed dead, Archer, Brock, and Kieron began skinning the beasts. Their furs would keep us warm during the winter months if we failed to find a new home or some type of shelter.

  I started pacing back and forth about twenty feet away from where Tallon and Camellia were continuing to bandage Ravyn. I was growing more and more anxious as time dragged on, wondering when she would wake up. Lost in my anxious thoughts, I didn’t see Pierce until he was standing in my path.

  “You’re going to make yourself crazy,” Pierce said, stopping me in my tracks.

  “Why hasn’t she woken up yet?” I asked him, staring down at the ground with my hands on my hips.

  “How long did it take her to wake up after she was stabbed?”

  I rubbed my chin. “Two hours.”

  “There’s more damage,” Pierce said gently. “Tallon and Camellia are doing what they can. Ravyn’s body will have to do the rest.”

  I nodded, knowing he was right, but I ached inside, unable to help her.

  “You need to find something to do so you don’t go mad while waiting,” Pierce suggested.

  Shaking my head, I told him, “I’m not leaving her. Not this time.” I started pacing again, keeping my eyes fixed on the forest floor so I wouldn’t be tempted to gape at Ravyn’s lifeless form.

  “What can I do then?” Pierce asked.

  “Can you go see if you can find the crossbow brothers?”

  Pierce’s brows shot up. “Really?”

  “I know they’re not our responsibility. Neither Ravyn or I trust them, but Laelynn is Ravyn’s friend. I could never walk away without knowing …” Pierce couldn’t meet my eyes. “You heard her scream while we were running … didn’t you?”

  Pierce’s lips tightened and he nodded.

  “I’ll take Archer with me and see if we can’t track them down,” said Pierce.

  “Don’t take any needless risks, Pierce. I don’t want to lose my brother tonight.”

  Pierce peered at me through the dark hair hanging down over his eyes. For a moment I imagined he might return the sentiment, but he snorted and smirked at me instead. “Don’t get mushy on me, Thorne. That’s twice I’ve saved your life.”

  I gave him a lopsided grin as he turned away to track down Archer and head east. Pierce was not as unaffected as he would like me to think. Perhaps I was getting mushy, but I had come too close to losing both Ravyn and Pierce tonight. The thought made my blood run cold.

  “Thorne!” Tallon called out behind me.

  I wheeled around and marched toward her, my heart dropping to my stomach again. “What’s wrong?” Once I reached Tallon’s side, I crouched down beside her to check on Ravyn.

  “Nothing is wrong,” she replied. “In fact, I think we can take most of these bandages off now.”

  “The bleeding has already stopped?”

  “It’s remarkable,” Camellia whispered, her eyes roaming over her sister’s body.

  The women had cleaned the blood off Ravyn’s skin. Ravyn’s eyes were still closed in sleep, but color was returning to her cheeks. Bright pink lines trailed down the side of Ravyn’s face to her neck – lingering evidence that she’d been clawed. If her altered body hadn’t been able to heal itself, our faces would have matching scars.

  I ran a finger over her tender cheek, and the corners of my mouth lifted in a small smile. Having a few scars wouldn’t bother her in the least.

  “Any broken bones?” I asked Tallon.

  She shrugged. “Camellia and I couldn’t find any if there were. I – I’m not as talented as Kemena.”

  I placed a hand on Tallon’s shoulder. “If there are any breaks, we’ll have to trust that her body will do what it has always done.” I gave her an approving look. “You did well, Sister. I’m grateful.”

  ***

  Over an hour later, Ravyn was still sleeping. The pink marks had disappeared. I hoped it would not be too much longer before she opened her blue-green eyes. I needed to see for myself that she was good as new.

  In the meantime, as Pierce had suggested, I busied myself helping Brock and Kieron, who had managed to skin all four Sabers. Once that was done, Kieron began instructing us on how to tan and soften the hides.

  “Brains?” Brock asked, gaping at Kieron with wide eyes.

  “Yes,” Kieron answered with a shrug. “The brains of an animal make the best solution to soften the hide. I’m sure there are other methods to tanning hides, but we don’t have a lot of supplies, do we? We have to utilize what we have.”

  “Brains,” Brock muttered, scrunching up his nose in disgust.

  Kieron rolled his eyes. “Yes, brains, but first we have to scrape off all the blood and fat from the skin. I learned to do this when I was younger, living near Murray.” Kieron stomped off toward one of the dead Sabers and gestured for us to follow, leaving both Brock and me staring after him in shock. “Bring your blades,” Kieron called over his shoulder.

  Brock turned back to me, his face a bit green. “Brains? We have to take out their brains,” he croaked.

  I quirked an eyebrow at him. “Repeating it does not make it less repulsive. You know there are Peton citizens that do this whenever Warriors hunt for our food, don’t you? Where do you think we get all the animal skins we sleep on during the hunt?”

  Brock gulped. “Well, I didn’t sign up for that job when I turned ten years old, did I?”

  I laughed. We had been trained to defend and kill, but never during my time under Hawke’s tutelage had I ever been forced to cut into an animal’s skull.

  “It would be foolish to not utilize all we can from these Sabers,” I told him. “Have you ever eaten roasted Saber meat?”

  “Of course not.”

  I chuckled again. “We’re about to find out how it tastes.”

  Kieron knelt down by the first beast and pulled out the blade he had used to kill it. I did not want to think about how Kieron was going to get the Saber’s brain out of its skull. From this distance, I didn’t believe Kieron was enjoying the task, either. His eyes hardened and he clenched his jaw before getting to work.

  “Well, we can’t let him do everything,” I said with a sigh. “This was my idea, after all.” I grabbed my blade and joined Kieron by the Saber. Brock trudged along behind me.

  After watching Kieron for a few minutes, Brock and I moved to another Saber and began.

  Every now and then, while Kieron was working, he would raise his head and gaze across the clearing at Ravyn. Jealousy ate at me. Now that her old friend was back, would things change between Ravyn and me? He was a hard worker and a fierce fighter, and he was not scarred from head to toe like me. It was no wonder Ravyn had admired him.

  When those barbarians attacked him, Ravyn had hesitated to help him. Her feelings for Kieron were still at war with her fear of the soldier, Two. He had not been Kieron when he had hurt Ravyn. This man had saved Ravyn, and I was beyond grateful. I understood her fears. My own anger over the things he had done to her still festered inside me. If he transformed back into the vicious soldier that Wolfe had created, I would not hesitate to kill him. Ravyn would never suffer at Kieron’s hands again.

  “Do you think something happened to Pierce and Archer?” Brock asked, breaking me out of my thoughts.

  “It could take time to locate the brothers.” I scanned the trees to the east, but there was no sign of the two Warriors. “Pierce would hear a threat coming from a distance.”

  A moment later, Tallon sh
outed my name. My heart began to pound from anticipation and dread. I cleaned my hands on the grass, jumped up, and sprinted the short distance to Ravyn’s side. Brock and Kieron both trotted up behind me, anxious to see what had happened.

  Camellia and Tallon both hovered over Ravyn’s still form. Tears were streaming down Camellia’s cheeks.

  My feet skidded to a halt twenty feet away and I covered my mouth with my fist.

  It can’t be, I thought, my stomach roiling with sickness. She can’t be dead.

  Tallon looked up and her brows pinched together. “What are you doing?” she shouted. “Get over here! She’s waking up.”

  I doubled over and let out the breath I’d been holding. Brock stepped up beside me and placed a hand on my back.

  “It’s alright, Commander,” he said. “She’s holding Camellia’s hand now.”

  Taking another deep breath and blowing out, I raised up to see for myself.

  Tallon waved me over. “She’s asking for you.”

  Brock held out a wet cloth to me. “Here, wipe your hands off. You don’t want to get any brains on her,” he remarked with a grin.

  A laugh mixed with a sob burst out of me alongside the wave of relief coursing through me. I cleaned my hands as I moved closer to Ravyn’s side. Camellia was crying, but I could see now that she was smiling. Ravyn gazed up at me, searching my face. Her hair was damp in some places where Camellia and Tallon must have washed some of the blood away. They had also managed to change Ravyn into a fresh shirt.

  When she reached up for me, I sank to my knees and fell into her waiting arms. I held her as close as I could without moving her and buried my face into the crook of her shoulder.

  “It’s alright,” Ravyn whispered into my ear.

  “I thought I’d lost you, little warrior.”

  Ravyn wrapped her arms around my neck and shoulders. “I thought I was going to lose you, too.”

  I brushed my lips over her neck and ear, her cheek, and then her nose. Ravyn placed her hands on my cheeks, letting her eyes wander over my face for a moment. She brushed her fingers down my scars and then drew me down until my mouth settled on hers in a lingering kiss.

  My heart belonged to Ravyn. In this moment, I knew without a doubt that I could not live without her by my side. If something were to happen to her, I would be lost. Groaning from the unimaginable thought, I cradled the back of her head with my fingers and kissed her harder. Our mouths opened and Ravyn’s tongue sought mine.