Kaedin Marsh

Quenin is lying face-down on a cot, three healers bandaging her minor cuts. Blue blood completely soaks the left side of her back, her shirt sodden with it. Her black jacket is nothing more than shreds hanging on her shoulders. She is covered in blood, both red and blue, and I wonder how many she killed.

One of the healers leaves the other two to attend to Quenin and takes me to one of the canopies that have tables stocked with healing supplies. She cleans and bandages the wounds on my chest and stomach before moving on to the small ones on my arms and legs. When she is finished, I walk to where Quenin is, limping slightly, but the two healers there wave me off. They are digging in the back of her left shoulder, trying to remove the bullet lodged there.

I leave and wander through the streets, pausing when I see a familiar face on a cot. Tahun. He is covered in bandages, by my eyes are drawn to his face. Only half of it is exposed. The left side is covered in bandages. He is sitting up. Next to him is Lysta, commander of three different squads.

"Kaedin!" Tahun waves at me, so I limp over. His eye is dull and tired, but he is acting like he normally does.

"Tahun." I greet him. "What happened." It is a demand, not a question.

"One of the Earthling commanders cut out my eye. Would have killed me, was about to, actually, but Lysta saved me and brought me here." he squeezes Lysta's hand.

"Will you be able to continue fighting?" I ask.

"With training, I'm sure. I need to learn how to defend my blind side. Wow, that feels weird to say." he says.

"I'll see you later, Tahun," I say.

++++++++++++++++++++++++

That night I go and find Quenin again. Earlier this evening, the healers had moved her to an empty room in an office building that had been made into a hospital. This time, to my gratitude, the healers let me see her. She is sitting up in bed. She is wearing a tank top, so I can see the bandages covering her left shoulder. I sit on the edge of the bed and empty my pockets, which are full of food.

"Thanks, Kaedin," she says. She seems tired, but that confident, swaggering light still burned in her eyes.

"How are you?" I ask.

"I'm ok. My shoulder is stiff and sore, but I'm ok."

"That doesn't sound like ok to me," I say. "But I'll take your word for it."

She eats slowly, as if unsure how to do it properly.

"The Earthlings want to talk. The Generals want everyone important there, as long as they can walk. And that includes you."

Quenin sets down the fruit bar she is eating and sighs. "What about you?"

"I'm not going," I say.

She flicks my arm to get my attention. "Did any of them see you fighting? Ever seen you fight? Lead the soldiers? You should come. You might have some useful insights. You can come with me. I'll make them listen if you want. Besides, you're not very injured, and in case the Earth humans break the temporary truce, we'll need someone who is well enough to fight."

I grin. "Thanks, Quenin. Very logical. Oh, and they want us now."

Quenin groans softly as she stands. Her dark grey cargo pants are ripped at the knees, and the loose threads sway as she moves.

"Do you want my jacket?" I offer it to her. "I have another."

"Thanks." she puts it on but leaves it unzipped. "Let's go meet some Earthlings."