Chapter Nineteen: Suluk P.O.V.

The day has been slow and muggy. The recruits for the winter have shown up just last week and need lots of attention. While they may have passed the initiation that doesn't always mean they'll pass the training and test they go through here. Kieren and I used to be gentle in our teachings, but we have learned over the years that it was us being too soft, that many of them had gotten injured. We have to be tough, because if we're not then people will stay. People who will not survive real battle or certain situations a soldier is to face regularly. It may seem cruel, and trust us we've gotten choice words thrown our way these past two weeks, but there's no shame in not being able to be a soldier. There are plenty of wonderful people we know who can not do the things we do, and we can not do most of the things they do. That's what makes us all different and amazing. But these newbies just haven't grasped that concept yet, and that makes me fearful for what the spring will bring. 

Luckily, a welcomed break arrived when the women showed up. Thoughts of Ava fill my mind as I finish up a few duties early and go to find Kieren again. My luck just keeps getting better when I find he's with them this time. While Clover may be getting under my skin with how he talks to Ava, Kieren is right there to remind me to keep my temper in check. While I know he's right, I can't help but want to throw the newly formed soldier over the wall to get him away from Ava. She's not mine yet, and I know that logically. Yet, these feelings and instincts are hard to ignore. 

'Stop thinking about it!' Kieren practically screams down the link. I just give him a side eye while we're standing in front of the new kids. 

'I can't! I want to know what they're doing! And what they needed Clover for! Why did he have to go with them?! Why couldn't it have been me?!' I'm sure if he could, Kieren would be sighing and rolling his eyes. He's had enough of me for the day now. 

'Just a few more minutes then it's dinner time, and we won't have to babysit anymore. Two gold says we get shit talked by at least four tonight while they think we're gone.' He tries his best to distract me, and it helps… if only a little. 

'Make it three gold and at least seven will say something.' I chuckle back. These recruits look like they've hardly slept since they got here, but really it's just the training. So far two have quit and went back to town. 

'You're on.' Kieren chuckle echoes in the link, bringing a smirk to my lips as well. 

🜹🜹🜹

As soon as the children are all in the dining hall and it's Borj's turn to take over for the night, Kieren and I practically run out to go see what the others are up to. 

When we land I'm stunned by what I see. Ginger and Zipporah sit on a large boulder off to the side of the training center, keeping a watchful eye on the fight happening just below them in the open part of the ground. Clover and Ava are in the midst of a sword fight. SWORDS?! LIKE REAL STEAL AND SHARP EDGES!! As I land on top of a large piece of wood used for practicing with such swords, I can't believe my eyes. Ava has twirled away and dodged a swing from Clover. He's in his armor, prepared for anything she might throw at him. Luckily he came already with the understanding that women are equals. We thanked his mother for that; it made it easier to train him and not hold back during training, no matter who he was partnered with. Ava however…. Looks like something that should have come straight out of the Elven or Fairy Kingdoms. Her small, frail, thin figure has filled out a bit. Her armor allows for her to continue to grow a little more. She looks like she knows what she's doing. 

Her eyes focused on not only Clover and his sword, but her surroundings as well. She makes him believe she's cornered up against the rock, right as he swings however she ducks and slides between his opened legs. Standing behind him with her sword to the nape of his neck. Covered in a mix of sweat, water and mud, she's the most deadly and beautiful thing I've ever seen. It makes my heart ache and my chest swell with pride. Zipporah has braided her long, strawberry blonde hair into strands that rope together and lay against her back. A warrior's braid from Zip's birth land. Avas chest heaves in breaths as her focus remains on Clover and where her blade is gently pressed to his exposed skin. Her blue and green eyes remind me of beasts I've seen in the wild as they focus on a prey. Her cheeks and nose are rosy and the scar around her eye seems deadly even from this distance. 

'Told you. You've missed a lot.' Kierens voice fills my head as he jumps down to land in the mud. "That was good Ava. We still need to work on your form just a little more, but I see Zip and Gin are both making even more progress than I could have hoped for. Soon you'll be a deadly creature all your own." He chuckles out as he places a finger on her sword. Slowly lowering it away from Clovers neck. 

"How the hell did you do that?! A newbie my ass!! I've worked with experienced soldiers who couldn't pull that move off!" Clover practically screams at Ginger and Zipporah, who are both just smirking from above him on the rock. 

"What can I say…. She listens well to directions." Zip shrugs and smiles down to him. He turns on his heels, flinging some mud around in his quick actions, to face Ava. The moment he points his sword in her direction my instincts take over and I'm on the ground between them in a blink of an eye. 

"Think about your next move carefully, soldier." I can't stop the words from sounding ice cold and the deep, territorial growl that happens to follow right after. I can feel my eyes warm up to show how they look in my dragon form. My throat burns with the unused fire that had built up, while I flex my fingers to try and keep the claws from extending. 

"But, Cap.! You didn't see what she just did! I've never seen anything like it! What was that?" He continues to take a step closer, and the only thing I can describe as ice cold death rumbles in my chest to snarl out of my mouth. It makes him pause and cringe back slightly, pulling his sword closer to him as if he's starting to prepare for a fight. I can hear Kieren trying to call to me, to calm me down, but he sounds far off and muffled. Like the rage is all consuming me to protect Ava, even if it's a good friend at this moment. 

"Suluk! Stop! Take a breath!" Ava's small, cool hand on my arm brings my focus to her. Her warm, soft eyes and that worried crease in her brow consume my focus. She repeats herself softer this time and I follow her simple instructions. "I did what Ginger taught me. I used my small stature against you. I'm obviously a lot smaller than you, and there's no way I could match your strength. So instead I used my size to maneuver around you and made you use your own strength and balance to throw you off. It gives me an opening." She calmly explains to Clover, never taking her hand off my arm. The way her thumb gently rubs just above the cuff of my armor is soothing me in a way I couldn't even begin to explain. It's like my soul is at peace. The way she's touching me and just being around me is calming me down, in a way that I've only ever seen a few times in my life. 

I focus on the way she catches her breath, how she speaks with Clover, all the way down to how the breeze blows a few loose strands that have frayed away from her braids. How her eyes focus on everything around her, from Clover's position to how I'm doing, and where everyone is standing around her. The way her new armor fits her, and how it flatters her well. From the painted plate that fits her form on the front and back, to being held together with thick leather straps, beautiful craftsmanship is prominent in the piece. Vines, flowers, and leaves flow down the sides and arms to her wrists in different colors and shapes to curve around her chest piece slightly. The back piece is painted with a thick tree where the branches, and vines come from, to also wrap around her neck for extra protection. If you look closely between the carefully crafted artwork, you can see the chainmail lying just beneath to give her extra protection there as well. The plating around her legs matches the top half, looking as if the vines and flowers are coming from inside her boots, to be growing right off of her. If you look in the center of the tree trunk you can see the Elvin crest to look like a notch in a tree. Blending in seamlessly is two swords placed in the ground to cross each other, each with opposing crowns to hang from the handles. I can feel the magic Zipporah has placed on it for future use, and it's the first time since she's touched me that I remember there are other people around us at this moment. 

"Suluk?" Her voice brings my eyes back to hers for a moment before looking around to the others. Kieren has a hand on his weapon just in case he needs to stop me or save Clover from my wrath. Zipporah has summoned water to her while sitting on top of that rock still, and Ginger's eyes burn brightly as she stands next to her mother, ready to jump into action. Clover looks like he's ready to fight if needed, but his eyes tell me how much he'd rather not. While Ava is the only one brave enough to stand right beside me, hand still on my arm with gentle eyes assessing my demeanor, it does something to help me calm down tremendously. Taking a deep breath with my eyes closed, inhaling her calming scent and placing my hand on top of hers. 

"I'm alright." I whisper to her before turning towards Clover with apologetic eyes. "You good?" He just smirks and nods. "Well, that was weird…. Where were we in training?" I ask, trying my best to change the mood. 

'You nearly killed Clover for pointing a blade at Ava. I'm starting to think you can't be a part of training anymore if you're going to act like that.' Concern in Kierens voice fills my mind, even as he slowly moves his hand away from his weapons and takes a cautious step towards us. 

'I'm not sure what just came over me. It's like instincts took over and I couldn't stop them.' I look back at him as he continues slowly walking over here. 

'I couldn't even link with you when you were like that. I thought you were really going to attack him and I'd have to stop you.' Kieren may look like he's fine, but his voice and eyes give him away. 

"We were teaching her how to use her small frame to her advantage against larger opponents. Are you sure you want to stay for that? She'll have to fight others and you can't stop it, if she's to learn how to use her body properly…" Zips' worried tone also catches my attention. She may have let the water down around her, but her posture lets me know she's ready for a fight if one is needed. 

"Maybe we should call it a night for now. She's still human after all, she's not as protected from the elements like the rest of us. I can even see she's starting to shake from the cold. Can't hold a sword if you can't feel your fingers." Clover's voice catches all our attention, drawing our gaze on to a shivering Ava. 

"I'm fine. I can keep going." Even her voice cracks. Her nose and cheeks are rosy red as she tries to fight sniffling in front of us. Her lips are just starting to turn blue along with her fingernails. 

"No need to push yourself like that. We'll have plenty of time to train and get you used to different conditions you'll be fighting in. Plus, you need time to get used to your new armor." Kieren reassures her. I send my warmth out towards her, warming my body isn't something I have to even think about now luckily. She slowly leans over towards me in reflex trying to soak in the warmth radiating from me. She doesn't even realize she's doing it until she rests her cheek on my arm. The contact seemed to startle her out of her daze and pull back slightly with an apologetic look. If I could I would pull her closer, wrap my arms around her and warm her up like she needs, I certainly would! But I'm still not sure where our boundaries lie, so I manage to refrain myself. Instead I just nod and look up to Zip. 

"Yeah, we'll call it a night. Go get changed and I'll take us out to eat somewhere good for dinner." I smile down at her as she nods and looks up to Zip. 

🜹🜹🜹

A sense of pride and contemptment fill me as Ava hugs the jacket a little closer to her. Ginger was kind enough to sneak it out to me, while they helped Ava change, so I could warm it up for her. Seeing her revel in that warmth now is bringing me happiness as we walk down the street to the tavern. 

"We going to the good place?" Gingers excitement is contagious as she realizes where we're headed. 

"Yes, and don't ruin it for the ones who haven't been there yet." Zip gently elbows her side, making the rest of us giggle. 

When we arrive not only Ava, but Clover seem surprised by the sight before them. "Have you not been here either?" Ginger looks at Clover with curiosity and excitement. He just shakes his head as she grabs his hand, making the poor boy blush, leading him in rambling about how good the food is. I try my best to see it from their point of view, to recall that feeling at seeing this place for the first time when I moved to the city, but it's been so long the feeling is too distant. 

The tables outside are vacant with the rains still happening on and off. The vines and flowers that climb up the bricks of the building are still beautifully green, colorful and vibrant; held up by magic still, even with the winter slowly sinking its claws in the city. The dull, red door could use a fresh coat of paint, while the large windows barely give anything away from the outside without the sun shining. Looking at the large wooden sign hanging above the door, from the balcony where more tables and chairs are sat, it could also use an update. 'The Winged Bats Tavern' with its iron bat wings splayed out on either side, sways lazily in the passing breeze and drips a few drops onto the cracking stone steps. I offer Ava my arm to escort her in, the two of us being the only ones still left outside. She places her hand in the crook of my elbow, and it takes everything I have not to puff my chest out in pride and smile brightly as she does so. Even through the thin gloves and jacket I wear I can still feel the chill in her hands. 

Walking in offers a welcomed warmth for her. She gasps at the sight before us. "It's beautiful." She whispers and stares at the scenery. From the outside it's a tall, slim building. From the inside it's large and has a second story to it. The wooden floor is slightly wet from the people walking in, while the nicely lit lanterns float in the air just between the first and second stories, where a roof should be. It's all open, making the space seem even bigger than it is. Plants, vines and a few small trees are our scenery, in place of actual decorations. The wall of vines hang from the edge of the second story to loosely wrap around the iron bars that keep people from falling off the second story, and wrap around the stairs that lead up. They cascade to the floor around the bar area off to the back just beneath the second floor. Tables and chairs can be seen, while a slim walkway leads to the front balcony on either side. A few plants hang in decorative pots from the walkways to give the forest feel all around the tavern. I can't contain my smile to know I have brought her somewhere she enjoys now. 

We make our way over to the table where everyone is sitting and Ava's face is mirrored in Clovers, making all of us chuckle softly at their reactions. 

"Welcome to The Winged Bats Tavern! What can I get you started with tonight?" A tall, feline woman comes up to our table with a few pitchers of ale.