Past: Run

After she was free of whatever held her down, Coolyala ate food, slept for hours, and talked her mind for days. It was her trying hard not to feel so vulnerable again.

Another month passed, one filled with her telling Lofgun about the pin, about her parents, about her world. A month spent with Rinnowra learning how to wield weapons of all kinds. A month honing her hand-to-hand combat skills with Wong. It was full of thoughts: about the stones, her parents, and the friends she made.

Once the month passed, Coomarrah came by with a parcel for her. Coolyala was shocked and confused. She had done nothing for any of them, not even gifted them with the knowledge of who she truly is. But he came up to her, Lofgun not far off and listening, and said, "This was made with the strongest fabric and the most clever of magics. You will find innumerable pockets, plenty of access for weapons around your hips, legs, and back. It will deflect most blades and every bullet imaginable. And Butterfly," he said softly, "it will move with you better than any clothing you have ever worn."

She took the parcel, opening it to find a full body suit, slightly shimmering from the delicate silver thread. In the top left was a multicolored rose surrounded by pearl white, then by a ring of gold. She touched it, tears forming in her eyes as she thought about her parents.

The main body of the suit was black with silver edging at the arms, legs, and four visible pockets. The only splash of color was the rose. It was soft and flexible, like mesh. She tried to rip it – testing to see if what Coomarrah said was true – and it held firm, stretching a bit for room, but holding fast. "It's beautiful," she said.

Coomarrah bowed his head. "Unfortunately, it does not deflect magic. And while it will protect you from blades and bullets, you will likely get a bruise in the place one strikes you."

She smiled. "A bruise is nothing. This is wonderful, Coom. Thank you."

He smiled at her, gave her a hug, then left the house.

Lofgun entered the room and watched her. "Try it on, Butterfly."

"I am hesitant, afraid to ruin such beautiful work."

He chuckled. "Trust me, you won't ruin it. Go try it on."

Coolyala did as he asked and went to her room, changing into the suit. Coomarrah was right. It was soft and flexible, easy to breathe in. She did a few moves and found no resistance. She squealed when something grazed her side and heard a clatter. Spinning, she saw a butter knife and Lofgun standing in the doorway of her room. He grinned. She scowled. "That was rude."

"I didn't use a sharp knife, if it makes you feel better."

His voice was teasing, and she couldn't help but smile. Looking down, she felt for any ripped seams, but found only strong fabric. "It worked," she breathed.

"Like I said, Butterfly. I only threw a butter knife, not anything too sharp."

She looked up at him. "Can we try a sharper knife?"

His orange eyes flashed. "I was hoping you'd ask."

They went to the field, his people watching from a small distance away as they faced off. Lofgun took out two long blades, both curved and sharp. Coolyala took out Rinnowra's knife and flexed her hand around the hilt.

Lofgun charged. Her eyes widened at how fast he was, but spun out of the way as one blade swiped for her neck and the other went for her stomach. She squealed when he came at her again, and she felt a breathtaking pain on her back. She looked but couldn't see anything.

"Fight, Butterfly!" Rinnowra shouted.

Blinking, Coolyala turned to look at Lofgun, assessed him. She glanced at her own blade and bit her lip, probably insane for what she was thinking. She sheathed her blade and ran at Lofgun. His eyes widened at her empty hands but he brought his own up with the blades as she began to punch and kick at him. Each hit, she found flesh. Each block or scrape of his blades, she winced, but felt no blood, saw no blood. So she kept fighting until Lofgun had her backed against a tree, a blade to her throat and one hand holding both of hers.

She panted, squirmed to get free. His eyes watched, glinting with humor and pride. However, she knees him between the legs and he let her go, groaning and holding himself. Falling to his knees, Lofgun didn't have time before Coolyala had her own knife at his throat, grinning at him.

For a moment, he was stunned. But he smiled at her. "Well done."

"Does this mean I'm better than you?"

He smirked. With a swift move, he swatted the knife away and pulled her to the ground beneath him. "Almost," he breathed.

She pouted. "That's not fair!"

Lofgun laughed and moved away, letting her up as he went to grab her knife. The others were cheering for her, and inside, he was doing the same.

"Lofgun?"

He turned to her. "What is it, Butterfly?" He saw no signs of bleeding anywhere so looked into her eyes. They were bright, alive with whatever leftover adrenaline she still had. He cocked a brow.

She grinned and held up a knife. It wasn't hers, as hers was in his hand. He snapped his eyes to his belt, saw an empty sheath and cursed. Coolyala giggled. "I can't believe it worked!"

He looked back to her, then to the person responsible. Yangdangerra grinned at her triumph, giving Lofgun an "She got that from me!" look. While Lofgun originally hadn't asked for Coolyala to be trained in pickpocketing, he couldn't deny how useful it would be to her. Plus, he wondered when the two had begun hanging out. He was always at the field when she was. He had never seen them talking.

Coolyala stepped up to him and held out his blade. "I would have thought you'd notice," she said softly.

He shrugged, sheathing his blade. "I was distracted."

She grinned. "Does this mean I pass?"

"Not yet," he breathed. She frowned. "We need to see how you look first."

Coolyala frowned, but nodded. He assumed she was worried he wouldn't approve everything, but he didn't know why.

Taking her hand, Lofgun led her back to the house and to her room. She closed the door, saying she'd be fast in changing her clothes. However, five minutes, she still had not opened the door. "Butterfly?"

No answer.

"Butterfly?"

Again, no answer. Lofgun began to get worried and grasped the door handle, turning it. When he opened the door, he saw two things: the suit on the ground, left in a heap and Coolyala, passed out on the bed. He chuckled. Going over, he tucked her under the blankets.

The next day, Coolyala received another gift, this time from Watchingi. She sighed. "I don't want anymore gifts!"

"Too bad," he said, pulling out a cloth bundle.

"Watchingi, I already owe Coomarrah and Lofgun. I can't owe anyone else anything."

There was a chuckle from behind her. Lofgun walked up and stood beside her, arms crossed. "You owe us nothing, Butterfly. What we give you are things we do from our hearts, not to gain anything for ourselves."

"Everyone wants something in return after something like this," she protested. "I have nothing. I can't give anything back to you or your men, Lofgun."

He just stared at her. "I don't want anything, Butterfly. Just take what he has, and use it to protect yourself as it is meant."

Coolyala scowled, but took the bundle and opened it. A blade gleamed in her hands, made of nori, with a hilt of simple rehtael. However, there was an inscription down the middle of the nori and she squinted to see what it said.

'Uxl Astenebr Stpo'

"What does it say?" she asked, furrowing her brows. It was not a language she was familiar with.

Lofgun took the blade, running a finger below the inscription. "Uxl Astenebr Stpo. Light after darkness." He looked at her meaningfully. "Because there is always day after night, always sun after rain, and always hope in fear."

"I haven't lost hope," she told him.

"No, but maybe when you believe there is no hope, this might remind you otherwise."