A Moment of Trust

Shena tried to let out another weak bloody smile through her mangled teeth. Hoping to reassure her corporal with a desperate cheery façade that she was alright. Her battered head instead fell back hard against the dirt, with her expression shifting back to its one true emotion she had tried and failed to hide from him. One of absolute agony.

Fereen wanted to smile back in relief at her being alive, but could not dare bring himself to do so while staring directly at her broken bandaged face covered in blood. Instead he clutched her hand tighter and breathed a heavy anxious sigh in solace at her still being with him. He quickly glanced over towards Vesa laying face down on the ground beside them both and shifted her motionless shoulder to directly face him. He slowly lowered his helmet and turned away from the grisly sight deeply saddened. For he could now see what had become of the platoon's young medic.

"I'm sorry Fereen." Shena gulped her own blood trying to clear her throat. "I.., I tried."

Shena tried to continue speaking as tears began to pour from her eyes. With each word feeling absolutely excruciating just to let out. Both from the intense surging pain, and her own personal shame and hatred towards herself at failing her friends.

"Are..., Are there any others still alive?" She asked hopefully. Coughing spits of blood. Fereen sighed anxiously as he clutched her hand tighter in dreaded silence.

"Neso and the others are gone ma'am."

"Its just us now."

The raiders outside the dome continued thrashing against the shield. Desperately trying to bring it down and finish off the last two surviving aquatics. Fereen didn't even notice the savage insects pounding furiously against the dome barely protecting the both of them. His entire attention was on her. Fereen glanced downward to the right of Shena and noticed that one of her own harpoon's was now stuck deep in her shoulder. She was losing blood fast. Now he was furious. Those bug's sure have a cruel sense of twisted irony.

With Vesa gone. It was up to him now.

"Hold on ma'am." Fereen gently rested Shena back against the dirt and reached over to rummage through Vesa's satchel. Having to keep all his focus from looking back down in dread toward the young medic's lifeless body staring right up at him.

"What.., what are you doing? Shena asked decrepitly. Her breathing becoming strenuous and feeble.

"Trying to stop the bleeding. I'll use whatever I can find." He continued his search, tossing out anything not of value like a scavenger digging through trash. Coming across empty battle stimulants and vials of blood not compatible with either of their species for transfusion. He tossed it as well.

"Crap!" Fereen shouted enraged. "I can't find the Bliss anesthetic. How do you find anything in this stupid bag!!! "Fereen turned the satchel upside down and dumped the contents within carelessly onto the ground.

Shena rolled her eyes. "Try,.." She wheezed. "Try the side pocket."

Fereen quickly took notice of her much appreciated hint and unfastened the flap of the side pocket. "Got it !" He hastily reached in and grabbed both the stitch kit, and last few bandage roll's in his hand before stopping in place as he leaned over to grab the anesthetic bottle. Both of their eyes widened simultaneously.

There was none left. Nothing but three red colored Rage vials at the very bottom. ( Reactive aggressive gene enhancer). Combat stimulant studied and copied from ancient alchemical formula used on swampland berserker warriors who charged into battle like madmen. Used to dull senses and increase adrenaline flow. Only used as a last resort due to physical and mental side effects from constant overuse. Particularly on predators such as Shena herself.

"Shit" they both said in perfect unison. Shena grunted as she turned her concussed head over. Searched for anything that she could use. Finally she spotted one. Certainly not her preferred choice, but it would have to do.

"Hand me that stick." She gestured shakily.

Fereen obeyed. He nervously sat the supplies aside and reached over. Holding the rotting stick in his hand as he brought it closer to up to his glowing visor to inspect it. "You sure ma'am? I could just knock you out if you want."

"No way corporal." She coughed. "I've had enough head injures for a lifetime. And besides; I want be awake when the fighting starts.

Fereen sighed aloud understandingly. Clutching the twig tighter in dread and nervous fear.

".,...yes ma'am." He nodded sternly. He then carefully placed the large stick horizontally to the far back of her mangled mouth before raising her torso and bruised head to rest on his shoulders. He placed both of his palm's against the blunt end of the Harpoon impaled deep in her shoulder. The bolt was barbed, It would cause more damage if he pulled it out the front. So he would have to push straight out the other side quickly.

"Alright ma'am, you'll have to bear with me here. This isn't exactly my preferred area of expertise we're both having to deal with now." Fereen joked. His hand's shaking nervously.

Shena nodded as she shifted her bruised snout slightly to better rest in place atop his shoulder. "Do it quick." She whispered terrified but fully focused. He nodded back assuredly regardless of his own hesitation.

He injected the Rage stimulate slowly into her arm. Shena immediately felt her heart begin to race inside her chest. Her fist clenched and shook uncontrollably as her breath became heavy and aggressive. Her eyes turning from their normal calm blue to a vibrant restless blood red darting in every direction. It was incredible. It feIt nothing like bliss did in wanting to lull her to sleep; oblivious to the danger abounded her. This made damn sure she was all the more awake. Reminding her what instinct needed her to be in order to survive. It was a good feeling. Except for the other side sensation that came with it. Shena was suddenly feeling very hungry in a way she hadn't in a long while. Her mouth felt dry and parched. She missed the sensation of the raider crunched in between her teeth and was suddenly feeling much more accepting of finishing the job she had started with the rest of him. But that could wait.

"On 3 ma'am.."

Shena grabbed onto his hand and squeezed tighter and tighter to better prepare for what she was about to face with him. She was stronger than before he could tell. Fereen's hand was secretly starting to hurt from her compressed vice like grip that wouldn't let him go. He didn't say anything however and just held her.

"1.."

"2.."

Shena shut her eyes and bit down hard. Sinking her broken teeth so far deep into the wood, she actually could taste the moss.

"3!!!"

Fereen pushed the bolt cleanly through and out the back of her shoulder. The harpoon punctured and ripped right through her uniform instantly. With trails of blood now pouring down the sides of her dorsal fin on her back like a red waterfall.

"MGFFFFF!!!!!!!!!!!" Shena Screamed with her agonizing cries of pain becoming muffled as she snapped the twig stuck in her mouth easily in half. She nearly passed out, but managed to keep herself awake with all her remaining will and strength wanting to live and keep fighting.

You alright? Fereen spoke tensely. Quickly starting to awkwardly put as much pressure on the wound with a clump of rolled up bandages. Shena weakly raised her hand and gave a thumbs up again. But this time with no verbal response.

Fereen wiped away as much of the blood as he could manage to clean, and leaned her back to rest against atop his knees. His bloodied glove adjusted his visor on his helmet to zoom in and better see the severe injury. His skill with a needle was not nearly as proficient as was with his sword. But he would have to make do.

He started stitching.

For the next few minutes the two sat in silence as the narrow needle rose up and out of her skin trailng bits of thread behind. Feeling uneasy about the intense quiet and sound of unnerving thunder. The nervous corporal then decided to start blabbering with his big mouth yet again to keep her awake and annoyed. Continuing to roll her eyes at him like always.

"I wish you could have seen it ma'am. My bugs in the clouds were crying out like little Pupae as I flew circles around them. But I bet yours's were probably shitting themselves having to dive right towards you. No wonder they're all so pissed." Shena nodded her head slowly. Her hands and tail shaking violently. Fereen continued stitching carefully and quickly. His hand as steady as it had ever been.

"After we finish off these last few crawlies, you and me are going to have a nice long nap until command finally gets off their ass and sends us our ride home. They better have a freaking parade and fireworks for us both when we step of the train. That would be something wouldn't it?" He smiled nervously.

No response.

He let out a single gulp in his throat. He finished stitching the more serious wound on her back and lifted her limb body upward. Her elaborate uniform was now in tatters. Ruined and stained beyond repair. Her breathing was becoming slowed.

"Come on... Just hang in there! Fereen reached down and grabbed a fresh cloth. Ready to wipe away more fresh blood off the front of her shoulder; Only to be surprised by there being just a small amount instead. She had lost so much of it already. Sweat was now pouring along the dark insides of his helmet.

Fereen hastily began stitching the original puncture in front on her shoulder. His heart racing as he pulled the needle in and out of her flesh like a sea creature diving up and down through the waves of the sea. If Vesa was still alive she would certainly have had a few noteworthy complaints about the poor quality of his handwork. But it would suffice for the time being. It had to. Just so long as it stopped the bleeding.

Just as Fereen tied and cut the thread with a pair of scissors...

Shena's breathing stopped. Her tight grip on his arm went limp. His eyes widened in absolute and utter terror.

"Oh no you don't ma'am!, you're too stubborn to die like this remember?!!" His wings flexed anxiously apart as he raised her closer upward. He shook her whole body violently before doing chest compressions desperate to give her air and restart her lungs. Begging for any kind of response. But there was nothing in return.

She lay silent.

Fereen let the needle and thread slip carelessly from his hands. kneeling aimless in the dirt holding his best friend for what seemed like ages. Not wanting to lose her too like all the others. He had failed her. He had failed them all.

The sound of the elite's weapons outside the dome began to grow louder as their sisters finally started to arrive from the edge of the battlefield to join in on the furious assault against the weakening dome. Eagerly waiting to finish him off. "You're next!!!" One of the raiders screamed to him through the shield laughing.

Fereen didn't even notice.

"I'm..., I'm so sorry Shena. He muttered in anguish. Tears began encompassing and filling the inside of his helmet as he held her close. The sound of thunder and the vicious assault of the raiders outside in the rain was now all he could hear.

"Don't worry corporal...."

Or so he thought.

Fereen's eyes opened instantly. He gently pushed her back away from his shoulder to make sure he wasn't imagining a hopeful delusion. Shena took a long sickly breath and tilted her head up slightly toward him. Caressing the scorched side of his helmet calmly.

"I'm not dead yet..., Just"

"Tired..."

Fereen's smiled for just a moment before returning to his work. Allowing for a brief sigh of relief and reassurance as he started tightening the shoulder brace for his exhausted lieutenant. Much to the infuriation of the raiders standing outside.

"Don't scare me like that ma'am!" He chuckled and sniffed. "I don't handle tough situations well." Shena continued stroking her hand against the side's of his blackened helmet before stopping as she felt bits of ash rub between her thin fingers. Her eyes narrowed curiously. She sniffed the air smelling burnt paint and smoke.

"Let me guess. Lighting?" She smirked up at her corporal with his helmet still smoldering slightly. Fereen chuckled aloud in bitter acknowledgment.

"Yea, yea, you were right about the storm ma'am. "It really did a number on me. My ear's still ringing a bit after that last bolt kissed me." Fereen then patted atop his blackened helmet jokingly. Trailing bit's of dark soot onto his shoulder as he patted his glove against it embarrassed. Once again she had been right.

"I...warned you..., but you never listen.. idiot." Shena muttered amused while staring above at the now permanent scorch mark. Her voice and breathing were becoming more relaxed and frequent. "You're one lucky son of a bitch, you know that right?"

You're just realizing that now ma'am? And here I thought we knew each other." Said Fereen as finished he tightening the shoulder brace for her. "I had to be lucky to be able to meet you."

Shena scoffed and rolled her eyes. Fereen then placed her exhausted head back to rest gently against the dirt as he finished with treating her last few injuries. He then removed and set aside his scorched helmet and laid down beside his friend to be more comfortable and wait for the inevitable conflict they would both face together.

Both sat on their backs under the glowing dome for a few more minutes unfazed and calm as the infuriated ants outside continued striking against the shield wanting to rip these overconfident aquatic's limb from limb. Fereen and Shena heeded no mind to the looming danger that now surrounded them. They would deal with it when it was time. Right now they would enjoy each other's company for as long as they could.

"Buy the way. Thanks for not slapping me across the face to keep me awake..., I appreciated it." She smiled as she turned weakly to face him. Trying to take in every last detail of his warm reflective face for just a little longer.

"What me? Noooooooo! Fereen said humorously. "Never in a million year's ma'am." He scratched his chin and shifted in place trying to get more comfortable laying atop his wings.

"I knew what you were thinking Corporal." She whispered softly into the side of his helmet. He smiled. Suddenly his eyes narrowed as he looked at her bloodied shoulder once last time.

"Hey, Mind if ask you something now ma'am?" Fereen said cautiously and seriously. Almost enraged.

"Sure, go ahead. Not as if we've got anything else to do until the fight." Shena relaxed her head back against the dirt. Trying to look above into the night but unable to see a single star in sight through the dark cloud's. She breathed a heavy disappointed sigh. She was sick of rain.

"Which one did that? he gestured to her shoulder. "Just give the order and I'll take that bug out first before the other's.

I'd say you already started. That's his hand over there." She joked. Fereen reached over and picked up the severed hand. Observing it intently as he held and turned it in place like a trinket. Not nearly as much as Shena though. "Yea, well that creep's in for a world of pain once the shield goes down regardless. He then tossed the appendage far behind his back out of sight and out of mind of them both. Shena then grew dead serious.

"No Fereen." She said with a stern commanding voice. Almost snarling from the Rage and smell of the ants yellow blood stains her friend.

"He's mine."

Fereen smirked eagerly. "Whatever you say ma'am."

The corporal then stretched his arm's wide apart and yawned calmly.

"How'd he taste?" He asked a bit more curious. "Crunchy?"

Shena rolled her eye's and replied truthfully.

"It...Tasted good." Good? That was a lie it was bloody delicious. "But I'm not interested in doing it again."

The lieutenants stomach suddenly growled abruptly in between the both them just as she finished her proud confident statement. Causing an arrogant eyebrow from Fereen to be raised just slightly.

"Look's like you're stomach say's different."

Noticing her exhaustion and hunger, Fereen then reached behind his belt and pulled out his last ration pack, breaking it in half for himself and his famished leader to snack on while they waited together in the shield. He gave her the bigger half as always. He couldn't stand seeing anyone fighting on an empty stomach. And she loved food more than anyone he knew.

"Here..., It's not much. But it should keep you and your little friend there quiet till the fight. But if you want, you can try snacking on me. To be honest, I'd rather you eat me than those guys. I'd be happy to be your last entrée ma'am. He chuckled.

Shena punched his shoulder and grabbed the ration pack swiftly. 'Moron.' She said sternly while not trying to laugh. Bringing her half of food up to her nose and sniffing the stale block he had offered. "As if id ever eat you...and I'd bet you taste terrible." You hardly ever bathe, and the only part you wash is you're wing's, and I'm not touching those. Who knows where they've been."

Fereen laughed as he began munching on his own half right by his leader. He loved her making flying fish joke's.

"Picky, Picky. How do you know if you don't like something if you've never tried it?"

Shena chewed the stale food gratefully beside him for the next few minutes in blissful silence. It was decent enough, but it hurt immensely to chew. Most of her teeth were missing. But she wouldn't let him notice the discomfort. He wouldn't see her as she was. Only what she could be.

"Thank you..."She swallowed. Releasing a slow painful smile right toward him and wiping her bloodied mouth. "That....was nice."

"Any time ma'am." Fereen replied calmly. Staring directly into her piercing gleaming eye's.

Shena weakly reached across and grabbed onto his hand gently. He didn't respond. Instead just shifting in place closer beside her to follow her gaze up toward the top of the glowing dome, trying to imagine some semblance of stars and enjoy the peace like her before the unavoidable battle was upon them both. She did not want it to end, but she knew it could not last forever.

As a stern second in command, she couldn't have picked a worse one. But the courageous corporal was clever, funny. And just....nice. A type of good that she couldn't explain or possibly understand in light of all they had gone through together. He made her laugh. She couldn't even remember laughing before she had met him outside the courtyard of her family home in the rain all those years ago after her brother's funerals. It was a large gathering, dozens of other esteemed houeses had come to pay their respects yet none of them knew her half brothers like she did. Not really. None of other children would talk to her. Some mocked and sniggered at her new height, towering over them. She couldn't take it any longer. She felt so alone without her brothers to protect and help her. She fled. She had to get away from it all. But she knew she wouldn't flee far, where would she go? She instead settled for, kneeling and crying alone in the dark against the moss covered wall to hide from everyone having to see her cry again,

It was then she met him.

You alright? A calm voice asked from seemingly out of nowhere in the dark.

Shena sniffed and wiped away the tears, looking in every direction.

Who's there? She sniffed.

Up here.

Shena distinctly remembered the first time she saw him. Just standing above, kneeling atop the moss covered wall, a leg dangling and eating an apple from the grove behind her house.

What are you doing out here? She asked.

Stargazing. Hard to do under a roof. You?

I...I don't know. Shena replied. Bundling herself in her knees.

Wanna talk about it? He asked.

....Not really. Shena mumbled.

"Alrgiht then." Said Fereen. Standing up and tossing his half eaten apple core behind the wall carelessly onto a passerby's head who quickly began to berate whoever threw it. Shena couldn't help but chuckle. To her great astoundment, he then jumped off the twenty foot wall. Her heart stopped inside her chest for a moment at the fear of him hitting the ground. That was before she first saw him spread his wings.

Fereen fluttered past her and grabbed two more juicy red apples from tree beside the house and carefully glided in a spiral down in front of her. Eating one while holding out the other.

Apple? He asked chewing.

Shena sniffed, and nodded. Accepting the fruit. She didn't really enjoy vegetables, she could eat them. But they didn't usually do anything for her. But on that night, she was rather eager to try one. And it was the tastiest apple she had ever tried.

Mind if I sit here then? Ferren asked chewing.

Shena nodded and shrugged.

Fereen bowed sloppily and took his seat beside her, chewing and crowwing his arms and legs.

Name's Fereen. he said spitting an apple see out. You?

.....Shena.

Shena..he said. Pleasure to meet you. Hope you like the apple.

There the two sat in silence eating their apples, not saying a word. For a bit at least. Fereen laid back on his back and stared at the stars while Shena sat beside him in silence.

I'm sorry about your brothers. Said fereen. He had a look of sorrow across his face.

...Thank you.. Shena was the first to mutter.

Fereen let out a heavy sigh and wiped his nose. Not looking at her. Just looking at the sky.

I'm not gonna lie. It hurts. But it gets easier. With time.

You've lost someone too?

I have. He said. I had Four brothers. Lost all of them in the same Aerial skirmish a year ago. I'm the youngest and am not old enough to enlist yet, and have already been to each of their funerals. Each just as painful as the last. But I know they died for a good cause. Helping others. And it's because of that fact that I know they didn't die for nothing. Their sacrifice. wasn't for nothing. And neither was your brothers too.

Do you plan on going? Shena asked worried. To war I mean.

I do.

But how? Shena asked terrified. How can you after seeing what it does to those you care about. Why not stay here where it's safer?

Because I won't stop and give into despair and fear. What good will that do? Would my brothers have wanted that for me? To run and slink away. Not a chance. That's not a way to live a life. I'll smile. I'll fight. And I'll never give up like they did and honor their memory every day by going out there and living and refusing to throw in the towel. And neither should you.

But. I'm not like them.

You aren't. You're you. Why do you feel the need to be anyone else?

Shena hesitated before responding.

Because I'm weak.

You're only weak if you let yourself be. Don't. Be strong. It's as simple as that.

I don't know how. I'm not like you.

Sure you are.

Fereen stood up grabbed two sticks and tossed her one at her feet.

You just don't know it yet. He smiled. Preparing to fence. But you will. All it takes is something else to take off your mind. And what's a better distraction than swinging a stick.

Shena admitadley was quite terrible her first time play fighting against Fereen. he was far better than her and he didn't hold back in the slightest. Yet for the first time. Niether did she. And from that point on. She always did. As their parents talked and talked and talked throughout the night. The two of them sparred out back. Alone and together. Shena laughing and covered in dirt and bruises, and Fereen, not at all minding or hesitating to just drop down and ask the abnormally tall shark pup if she needed a friend to talk to that moment when no one else in the entire world would. After the party they spent the whole night together by the base of hte wall under the protection of his wings spread out like an umbrella to shield them both from the heavy storm, laughing and joking huddled close together for warmth and comfort, not wanting to leave each other and soon enough Shena forgot all about her troubles for one blessed night. Since then. They had never parted. They had spent countless hours together the following years. Taking walks on the stormy shores and swimming till dusk despite her unease about making a real friend for the first time. She had even persuaded father to let him come to one of the last happy galla's her family attended after both of their military graduations from the academy in the same class. And after they danced together donned in crimson red and nightshade blue on the brightly lit golden ballroom floor of her family home for hours having a wonderful night cradled in each other's arms not wanting the moment to end. But despite darkening times that would soon follow her, he would not abandon her still, always the gentlemen that he was. He had even offered to join her once she enlisted so they could be together in the same marine core through thick and thin. He could have stayed behind comfortable and safe in his old life as a count if he so chose. But he had a family responsibility to follow the path of his brothers. And he gave it all up. The safety, the security, choosing to fight for, his family's legacy and their nation with her right by his side. For that. She could never repay him. A friend was enough then. And a friend was more than enough now in their last moments together.

Here. Fereen said. Grabbing onto the last two vials of Rage. "One for you. And one for me. We'll go down fighting like no one's business."

Shena nodded.

Fereen hesitated this time a bit longer before giving her a second dose, having heard what it could do so shortly after taking on prior. Shena snarled more intensely this time as she accepted it all to eagerly. A strange toothy smile of pleasure and hatred forming across her face as it dulled more of her pain and restraint. Her eyes turning an even brighter red beneath him as her senses began to be overtaken by one above all else. One dose meant enhancement. Two meant restless but still barely controlled berzerker. Three. Well. She might actually have done the raiders work for them by eating him right now uncontrollably in a blind frenzy if she had taken three. Fereen decided that he would save this last one for himself. Not really wanting to be her final entree despite what his humor would suggest.

He injected the last red colored vial into his own arm. Immediately feeling a rush spread throughout his body and into the very tip of his wings as the empty vial slipped from his shaking grip and shattered to the ground in a crash. His eyes bulged as they turned a vibrant blood red just like hers. Ready to start clouding his judgement and sense of self preservation for feeling like an unstoppable warrior. He felt like he could race around the entire world in an instant. But he knew it was just the Rage talking as it coursed through his veins like a virus. He wasn't invincible. It just made him feel that way. And he knew he couldn't afford to be hasty or charge blindly into battle like the army ants did. he was fighting for both of them now. Being afraid reminded him what was at stake. And made him all the more determined to get the both of them out of here alive. To think of any different was foolhardy. Or so he hoped.

The banging of weapons and gunshots against the watery dome suddenly stopped. Fereen immediately reached behind and drew his saber hilt from his belt as a reflex. Both royalist soldiers turned their heads slowly towards the direction of the only sound other than the storm. That being heavy footsteps creeping closer in the rain.

The general's children began stepping aside to make way for his grand entrance. As he approached he turned towards the injured flyer who had lost his hand. Still tossing and turning on the ground in pain.

"Stand, You still have three other arms." He grabbed the youngest flyer and pulled him onto his feet before pushing it's weapon back in his son's grip. The victorious general then came closer and placed one of his hands on the glowing transparent shield slowly. The only thing keeping his two trapped prey, cowering in their small bubble alive from him.

He grinned.

Its battery was draining quickly.

Now, all he had to do was wait....