Becoming a Warrior by Moose Tyler

Author:Moose Tyler
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: BookBaby
Published: 2018-08-22T16:31:25+00:00

Amaria took hidden paths to the southern shore. Timber followed and slinked towards a perch on the rocks. Amaria left the quiver on the beach to lighten the load but slid the spear through the back strap of her chest piece so that it was secure between her shoulders. It wasn’t wise to be in the sea without a weapon.

Though she was exhausted, famished, sore, upset with the severity of Wanje’s discipline tactics, and lonely for a friendly face and kind word, she finished her first punishment swim and returned to shore to find Timber waiting by the quiver.

Amaria approached. “Good girl,” she said. Timber darted to the rocks. “I’m not going to hurt you.” Silly cat.

She returned the spear to the quiver before slinging it over her shoulder and hurrying home, not checking to see if Timber followed. Due to exhaustion, she had not kept her usual pace for the swim, and now she risked being late to the council meeting. There were no heartbeats to bathe, though she desperately needed it. The sea’s salt had felt like a hot iron searing the cuts on her feet and body, but it had scrubbed off much of the blood and earth. Her smell would have to do. She put on a clean fighting kilt and hurried outside to hang the wet one on the line. She saw Timber crouched in the bushes near the bathing pool, eyeing the messenger birds in their pen.

“Oh, no you don’t,” said Amaria. “Don’t even think about it.”

She tested the pen’s gate and made sure the latch was secure before grabbing a pail, filling it at the water source, and returning to the barn. “There you go,” she said to Timber, still crouched in hunt mode underneath the bushes. Great Mother, protect my birds.

She dashed inside the house. There was a buffet of boiled eggs, meat strips, bread, and fruit in the dining area. Bless you, Gypsus. Bless you every day.

She stuffed the eggs in her mouth, barely chewing before swallowing, and ate the bread like a savage. She took the meat strips outside and waved them at Timber, trying to lead her into the barn. The cat kept position beneath the bushes.

“Fine.” Amaria went to the water pail, tossed the strips next to it, and looked at Timber. “Stay.”

Timber growled, and her ears flicked.

“Stay!”

The growl lingered for a few heartbeats, but then her ears relaxed, and she started licking her paw.

“And keep away from my birds,” Amaria shouted as she ran out of the yard.

Though crowded with citizens going both directions, Amaria took the main path to Queen’s Cliff because it was quickest and softest on her feet. Despite the congestion, she made it to the entrance just as the midday horns sounded. She hustled inside, moving as fast as the other witnesses in front of her would allow.

The temperature inside the chamber was overheated with the energy coursing through the room. As she made her way up the stairs and through the archway, she saw warriors pacing around their benches.

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