When Iree had said they would head out at sunrise, she’d meant it. When all was still awash in the darkness before dawn’s blush, Dorothea and Shark were woken from their place snoring in an amalgamated lump in one of the Creed mansion’s many empty rooms.
Shark led the way to the fort entrance where Iree had told them to meet the night before. Familiar faces waited there as Cerid, Iree, and Rhys stood at the ready. There was a new face too, and it made Shark anxious. The one thing they had to their advantage was knowing who they were dealing with.
Noticing both Shark and Dorothea staring, Iree put her hand on the shoulder of the stranger. “This is Ariana Kingfisher. She’s the strongest woman in Sacer, and I’d bet money on that.”
“It’s nothing to boast about,” the girl clipped. She wore a blue-and-white sleeveless shirt with wide gold buttons, tall brown boots, and sand-colored pants. Long pink dreadlocks were tied into a ponytail with a yellow bow. Two hung to frame either side of her face, and these too were adorned with small yellow bows. This cool, faintly cute beauty was set off by a huge scowl.
Ariana’s green eyes met Shark’s, and they recoiled. Within that steely gaze was pure hatred that didn’t bother one bit to conceal itself. Not only that, but she looked at Dorothea in the exact same way. Okay, so she was one to keep away from.
Rhys cut into the tense silence. “Good morning, Dorothea. Shark, I don’t know if you remember me, but we were in the same training class.”
“Been a while, yeah. Good to see you again.” Maybe they could reminisce over drinks later. Wait, ideally they and Dorothea would be home before the chance came.
Rhys smiled. “As you both know, I’ll be leading you along with Cerid to the border. Though I know it’s conceited to say, you’ll be safe with me, so don’t worry too much.” He nodded to Iree, handing her back control now that order had been restored.
She grinned at Dorothea, who stood straighter under her attention. “It’s like he says. Nothing to worry about.” She turned to Rhys. “Just get in, get the bodies and get out. For Kingfisher and I it should just be easy recon, but everyone should be on your guard as always.”
The captain nodded. “Got it. Take care, okay?”
Iree laughed. “You don’t have to tell me.” She and Ariana departed into the woods towards Sirpo’s frigidity, towing heavy jackets that Iree had had the sense to bring with her.
“Ariana’s not usually like that,” Rhys sighed by way of apology.
“I hope she gets frostbite,” Shark muttered. “But whatever, we have better things to worry about.”
Rhys nodded agreement and gestured to Cerid. “Lead the way.”
Cerid nodded, and the heavy, nervous breath he let out was the last sound between them all for a while. Though Dorothea seemed confused and tense in the enveloping silence, it felt natural to Shark. It was a matter of habit and training to quietly focus on one’s surroundings. Carelessness led to death.
Pathways through the woods had been carved out and trampled down by the passage of many prior groups, and Shark could almost feel their footsteps walking in time with their own. Being back in Sacer was doing something to their head. A dreadful nostalgia misted every movement, every breath; it was like wading through a dream.
The pace slowed once they neared the border. A slight chill looped around them, and Shark felt their relief mixing with Dorothea’s. Ghuria’s climate was between Sirpo’s and Sacer’s, with harsh winters to rival the former’s permanent cold but otherwise cool autumnal temperatures through the year. Even now in summer, a crisp wind passed through to ruffle the leaves above them, and Shark saw Cerid cross his arms against it. He was on edge, and it was clear why. That same wind carried the maliferous odor of putrefaction.
Cerid turned to the group and motioned to where the corpses would be. Between trees Shark glimpsed innards scattered by animals and left halfway devoured. They crept closer, and Shark felt the attack coming before actually seeing the enemy. A slight rustle off to the side in the last moment between tension and battle let them know for sure. One eventually learned the difference between giving in to paranoid fear and trusting instinct.
Dorothea was the only one surprised when chaos erupted. She yelped as Shark put an arm around her shoulders and yanked her to the ground, holding her tight to their side as they crouched. Ice erupted, rushing towards them in ferocious spikes that shone black with white and pale-blue sheens. Shark put their palm to the ground, and solid, packed columns of earth rose to intercept the attack, crushing it from the sides and underneath. So much for a simple retrieval mission.
They looked down at Dorothea as she started to squirm in their grip. “Gods help us,” they heard her whisper before she bolted away.
“Thea!” She was fleeing towards the bloated bodies of Cerid’s friends.
Naturally, the enemy aimed for her. Shark saw a slender form slipping between trees. A boy with goggles hanging loose around his neck was tearing clumps of dirt and grass up with each step, the ice that emerged from his feet wrecking his surroundings at every turn. Knowing the outlet was helpful, though. If Shark could get rid of those, the enemy would be as good as dead.
Ice raced towards Dorothea as she ran, but Cerid jumped straight into its path. He stood firm, one fist tucked level with his ribs while the other was raised up near his shoulder. He punched upwards first, breaking the savage point of the ice off, then immediately followed with a punch to the dulled center. Cracks spread through the spire, and it shattered. Each spike was followed by more, and he had to keep in constant frenzied movement to avoid being ripped to shreds while slowly advancing against the tide.
Thea being safe, at least for a moment, gave Shark room to concentrate. They were about to trap the Ghurian’s feet in earth before crushing them when a slight pinprick of pain sprouted in their shoulder. Turning their head, they saw a thin needle sticking out. There were two more Ghurians lurking behind them, one a dark-haired girl holding a blowgun and the other a girl who somehow looked familiar. They’d seen eyes exactly like hers, a rich and foresty green, before.
No time to wonder. Something was wrong; they couldn’t use their magic. Their brain was sending out commands, but nothing was happening.
Rhys appeared at their side suddenly, dodging a needle that flew past his ear with less than an inch’s berth. “Your magic will be nullified for thirty seconds. I’ll keep you safe until then, and then you help Cerid. I’ll deal with these two.”
“No need.” Without their magic, what did Shark have? Really sharp teeth and a shit ton of determination, that’s what. “Cerid’s got it.”
“If you’re sure.”
Shark grinned and sprinted straight for the enemy. The attackers looked surprised; they’d clearly thought Shark having no magic would keep them at bay, not inspire them to rush in like a lunatic. In a flash they had tackled the needle-wielding woman to the ground, teeth bared. The other woman tried to pull them off but was quickly thrown off by Rhys as he seized her by the back of neck and tossed her as easily as skipping a stone.
Both Ghurians screamed and thrashed as Shark’s bared teeth slowly got closer to the woman’s neck; in just a few more moments, the ineffectual blows on their body would cease as they tore her throat.
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A great crashing came from behind them, and Shark turned just in time to realize an actual fucking bear was barrelling towards them. They leaped off the Ghurian only for the creature to veer towards them with a roar and air that somehow seemed protective. In their distraction, Shark forgot about the greatest risk; another needle sank into their arm.
The woman with familiar eyes was letting out sharp whistles. The bear was responding to her? So it was a magic that let her commune with animals. The sky above was darkening due to clusters of shrieking birds that were landing in the trees, talons extended. Their calls seemed to seek blood, and Shark shivered. Would they win? Was Cerid still okay, was Thea?
Rhys let out a quiet sigh next to them. “I suppose I have to.” He lifted a limp hand, and water appeared at the necks of both women, who stopped midstep. “Call them off,” he ordered calmly.
The needle woman spat out a few curses, so Rhys lifted his other hand and let an arc of water fly. The bear’s head flew from its body in one clean slice. The green-eyed woman let out a short but sharp shriek of despair, and her comrade got quiet quickly.
“Call them off,” Rhys repeated.
The green-eyed woman let out a few weak whistles, and while the birds actually seemed reluctant, fluttering their wings and crying out in agitation, they dispersed.
Just as Shark was sure the Ghurian’s heads were going to join the bear’s, Rhys slid both hands into his pockets, the water that had kept them at bay dropping. “Retreat, all three of you,” he said mildly. “Leave us to our work.”
The two looked at each other, having a silent exchange. Shark tried to communicate to Rhys in the same way with a questioning look, but he avoided their gaze.
“This isn’t over,” the needle woman hissed before pulling her comrade with her towards their googles-wearing companion, who stopped assaulting Cerid with ice once he noticed them coming.
“What the heck, man?” Shark complained. “You had ‘em.”
Rhys shot a look that kindly asked them to shut up. “We’ve got an untrained civilian with us, and we’re already in the midst of a diplomatic disaster. Ending this as peacefully and quickly as possible benefits us more.”
Point. In the moment, though, all Shark had wanted was blood. Really, they… They had been so willing, had jumped right back into it…
Suddenly, their hands were shaking. What had just happened, what had come over them? Hadn’t they left this life behind a long time ago?
“Mark my words, Sacerian pigs!” A defiant cry from the goggles boy jerked them from their thoughts. He stared them down with a ferocious, damn near bloodthirsty grin. “We’ve been beaten down, but we aren’t defeated, not now or ever!” Then, on a ferry of ice punctuated by the aching split of trees in its wake, the three Ghurians were gone.
“You did well. Thank you,” Rhys said quietly to Shark before striding towards Cerid and Dorothea.
Right. And that was what scared Shark most, the power their former life had over them. How badly that huge part of them wanted to return to everything they’d left behind.
*
Dorothea didn’t have proper words to describe what she had witnessed. At the moment though, she just needed to hurry and get her job done so they could all be safe.
“I’m almost done, sorry,” she said softly. It took more time and effort the more decomposed or destroyed a body was. That was why she had rushed out of Shark’s grip at the start; she’d wanted to hurry before the corpses got caught up in the carnage.
With their organs restored and flesh resealed, the fallen Sacerian soldiers woke with gasps and starts. Before they could get a single collective moment to process, Cerid spoke.
“I am sorry!” he declared, bloodied hands clenched into fists; he was having trouble uncurling them after all they'd endured even in such a short battle. “I am so sorry for my failure.” The words were pleas for forgiveness that held no hope of it being granted.
The soldiers looked winded, but one stood and put his hand on Cerid’s shoulder. “You survived and got help. That's plenty.”
“Don’t forget, you’re the reason they’re all alive. And you helped Sirpo too, coming to the rescue like a hero. You did good,” Shark offered with an encouraging smile, and Cerid’s cheeks reddened slightly.
“I can’t believe it,” another of the revived soldiers gasped. “Brought back from the dead. Extremis must have been watching over us.”
Yet another laughed. “Say your prayers when we’re back home. Gods, I can’t wait for a shower and a beer.”
Dorothea watched them in complete confusion. It was difficult to keep up with how easily they shifted from battle to casual chatting. Fear still coursed through her so intensely that she wondered how she was going to get to her feet.
Rhys took over next. “I’ll explain everything on the way back to Udara. We’ll also need an official incident report from all of you to corroborate with Cerid’s.”
Formality and duty snapped back in, and any semblance of celebration ended. “Captain Tamlin. Of course,” one soldier replied. “Thank you for your efforts on our behalf.”
Rhys explained Cerid’s actions, which he painted as nothing short of heroic much to the boy’s embarrassment, and Dorothea and Shark’s presence. Once all the attention was off her, Dorothea sidled surreptitiously to Cerid and took his hand. The bloody splits, welts and fractured bones mended. Cerid's cheeks flushed with appreciation, he gave her a shy nod.
After watching him over the past two days, she just couldn’t hate this boy. Shark didn't even look remotely upset at what she'd done though. They looked like they wanted to be the one by Cerid's side instead.
Rhys by contrast had frowned and was speaking almost to himself. “Bold of them… Attacks like these.”
“Is it that different from their tactics up to this point?” Dorothea asked.
“It’s more like a return to the tactics they commonly used at the start of the war,” he noted.
“It’s a sign of desperation, right?” Shark posited.
“Maybe…” Rhys shook his head. “For now everyone, spend the rest of the day with your loved ones. They’ll be happy to see you back.” He looked at Dorothea and Shark next. “And the two of you should be able to go home after we’ve created an incident report and formed a written contract between Sacer and Sirpo. Sorry for the delay.”
Dorothea held back a sigh of relief. “Not at all.” It was a small trade. Sacer got back a few lives that could easily be lost again and Sirpo got protection. Really, the Sacerians were getting the raw end of the deal.
“And thank you, too,” Rhys added. “For doing what you did.”
“It’s no problem.” And on that note, Rhys had been injured as well. In grappling with one of the Ghurians, he’d gotten a bloody scratch on his face at some point. “Hold still a moment please, Rhys.”
He looked at her questioningly as she approached but flinched away when she reached up to touch his cheek. Surprised, she tried once more and got the same reaction.
“I’m sorry. I should have asked permission. May I help you?” she tried, thinking invasiveness was the issue.
He shook his head, looking guarded. “Let’s keep moving.”
Dorothea looked at Shark, who mirrored her confused face and answered it with a shrug. The trip resumed with that awkward moment hanging in the air.
When they got back to Udara, a sweltering early afternoon awaited them. Dorothea and Shark were left to their own devices as Rhys left to do whatever military leaders did and Cerid left for home.
She didn’t know what to say to her friend. “So… How do you feel about today?”
They hesitated. “I don’t know. I just don’t know.”
“Me too. I just, I don’t get how they were all so calm about the whole thing, you know? They were trying to kill other people, they got killed, and they were all so cheerful somehow.”
“We can’t just wallow,” Shark said. “If we don’t pick ourselves back up and keep livin’ life, the weight’d kill us.”
“You’re right. I’m sorry. It’s just that what’s terrible to me is routine to the rest of you. And Shark, you’re just…falling right back into it. You talk as if you haven’t left it for a day.”
“Hey, this was a one-time deal. I’m looking forward to going back home just as much as you are.” Shark paused, reflecting. “It surprised me too at first, but I’d rather be able to fight when I need to. I like being able to protect you.” They drew her closer. “Before, I only fought to get by. But it’s different with you here.”
Newfound gratefulness and affection for Shark washed over her, erasing feelings of doubt and fear. She was selfish, she realized. Self-pity wasn’t helpful to anyone. “I just… It’s really nothing, isn’t it? The legacy of my family, my fate, my mother’s death… It’s just a droplet in a rainstorm. Every single person is suffering in some way.” She’d never recognized how uselessly sorry she felt for herself until now.
“That’s the way it is. They made their choice and we made ours.”
“Right.” No, not right at all. “My head’s spinning, Sharkie.”
“That’s okay. It’ll set itself right once we get home.”
But it wouldn’t. It wouldn’t set itself right, not for the people down here, and Dorothea couldn’t ignore that anymore.