*16 Leaving

A ruffled looking Cheta rushed to the clearing where they were seated.

"I have checked with Achi,my friend and a guard from the border patrol_the guards at the east river would be changing shifts at midnight. You...you can make it out if you are fast_"

...and lucky ..

He wanted to add but refrained from doing so.

He did not want to bring bad luck to Aira by jinxing it with his words. But he knew that deep inside,they all knew that her chances of survival were low. Especially now that she did not have Fire.

Aira was a force on her own but with Fire in her,she was formidable. They both were.

But now, Aira was alone and Cheta would be lying if he said that he was not scared.

"I would be coming with you."

Dinma said softly,her small frame shivering from the cold as she kicked the dirt around her feet.

They were waiting for Ola to return with some of the things Aira may need on her journey under the thick covering of the Oak tree where Cheta used to train Aira.

Aira eyed the small girl with disdain and irritation. Of course she pitied the girl from time to time,but the last thing she needed was dead weight slowing her down on her journey.

And Dinma was dead weight!

"No!"

Her voice was low,still showing how tired she was after all that had happened in the last few days.

"Aira... please!"

The weaker girl pleaded,tears threatening to spill out of her eyes.

"No Dinma! I am not going to pull any dead weight along with me on this journey!"

It really pained Dinma to hear that but was really hurt was the fact that it was true.

But she had thought that Aira may have even liked her. It turned out that she was getting ahead of herself.

Aira's eyes were hard and emotionless,and Cheta who was observing silently,sighed sadly.

The emotions were gone; the old Aira was back.

Dinma eyed Aira warily trying to understand the scarred girl.

It was true that every slave was scarred. But Aira's body was tainted. Her scars were more of a warriors than a slave's.

The strokes littering her skin like the bark of an old tree.

But most of all,Dinma noticed that Aira was afraid. She may be good at hiding emotions but in a blink of an eye,Dinma could tell that the girl was scared_not for herself,but for others.

She could tell that she did not want to lose someone_again!

"Are you worried that I would weigh you down,or are you worried that you would not be able to protect me like Mi..."

Aira's neck snapped towards Dinma's direction,anger written all over her face.

She must have a death wish.

Cheta thought but said nothing.

They were not children,it was not his job to interfere.

"Listen to me girl!"

Her voice was dark and deep. One could have called it a growl.

"You have no rights to speak to  me like we are close! You and I have no relationship! E nu go! Do. You. Hear. Me!?"

Her hollow eyes stared down at the tiny girl.

Dinma eyed were shut as she shook like a leaf, nodding her head like an agama lizard.

Aira did not like the fear that Dinma was emanating. But right now,she could care less.

All she could think about was the emptiness inside her,the one that Fire used to fill!

"Calm down Aira! Give the girl some respect!"

Cheta snapped at her.

Aira rolled her eyes and moved back in annoyance.

He was her teacher_she could never disobey him.

"Dinma,follow the secret pathway to the slave's quarters and tell Ola to hurry up. Aira leaves at midnight."

Dinma nodded frantically and shot out of the clearing with her heals touching her head.

Aira frowned at the timid girl.

With that attitude,she would not  last two minutes out there.

Coward!

She stood,eyes closed as she rested her head against the tree.

Cheta sighed and walked over to her quietly, sitting next to her standing form.

"Do you have friend Aira? An Enyi nwain or enyi nwoke?"

He asked calmly.

Aira was taken aback by the question. She expected him to scold her about the way she spoke to Dinma.

"I do not have the privilege of such pleasures."

Her voice was low,but he heard her clearly.

"Aira...there is always a time to make relationships!"

He knew the girl was hurting. The emotions were brewing up inside of her,but she could not share it.

"Cheta...I am a slave! I live my life everyday, praying to the goddess that my master does not get tired of me one day,and decides that he wants me raped,beaten or even killed! Now,there is a deranged Alpha seeking my head!"

Cheta's heart clenched a lone tear escaped his eye. Maybe he was too caught up training her to exceed her potentials,that he forgot for a moment that she was still a slave after all.

"Every body that I let get close to me becomes hurt or dead.

My parents,Chi,the girl from the dungeons,mama dies every day trying to protect me... and now...now Fire is gone! So forgive me if I do not have the time to make 'friends'!

She spat.

A lump formed in Cheta's throat.

"Those were not you fault,child!"

Cheta tried to argue but Aira shut her eyes, signalling that the conversation was exhausting her.

"Aira... you know that when the princess left fourteen red moons ago,she told me to take care of you_she called me her friend!"

Aira said nothing,but Cheta knew that she was listening.

"I had never been a friend to any body before_I...I was a servant,an Ijeoma! I was born to serve and be loyal_but she called me a friend!"

Tears glistened his eyes and he began sob.

It was something Aira found confusing about him.

He was a man! Men do not cry!

Maybe it was because he is an Ijeoma.

"What...what I am saying child, is that your journey should not be fueled by the need for vengeance but because you love.

Because hate fuels rage and rage does not bring answers,it brings chaos. I have always known that a time would come when you would have to leave and I have prepared myself for that for a long time."

He brought out a golden dagger from his sheath and handed it to her carefully.

She carefully observed the dagger,absorbing it's beauty.

It looked like it was carved out of ivory and coated with gold.

"How did you get something like this? It looks like something belonging to royalty!"

He smiled fondly.

"Of course_it is something that belonged to royalty. The princess gave it to me back then. She said to give you when you were ready."

Aira furrowed her brows.

"Why?"

"Because it can only be wielded by those who are worthy. It was created by a witch, specially for the princess. Now,she wants you to have it."

Aira put the dagger in her goat skin bag which was slung lazily across her shoulders.

"Thank you Cheta_for everything. All these time,you helped me find strength. You made me realize that whenever I fell,I should stand up and fight!"

Cheta's eyes were glistening again.

He had seen the girl as a daughter and even a friend. He knew that Aira saw him as a friend too,but he also knew that she would never admit.

"Do not forget that hate fuels rage,Aira. Do not let anger blind you. I can not promise that your journey would be smooth,but I am sure that you would meet people,good and bad. I hope you meet someone who out of all these people,gives you closure."

Aira raised her eyes to meet his.

'Be strong...jisi iké'

His eyes seemed to say.

*

*

*

"Aira! We are back_ you need to leave...fast! The warrior trackers are having a briefing! They would soon be leaving to track you!"

Ola practically screamed as she rushed back.

"But it is not yet midnight!"

"I have to leave now either ways! I can not afford to get caught,at least not here with you all."

Aira said, answering Dinma.

Aira walked to her mother and took the small leather back of necessities that she had packed from her.

Ola looked into her daughter's eyes, cupping her face with her rough palms.

"The elders used to say 'a child who runs around would one day stop for his mother to feed him.' You have to come back Aira!"

"I will mother_ I will definitely come back!"

I will always love you,Aira!"

Aira nodded her head frantically, fighting the emotions but still letting out a stray tear.

"I too, mama. Please do not die_"

Her voice was overwhelmed with pain.

Her mother smiled sadly, rubbing her face and trying to absorb as much of her daughter as she could.

"Even if you are gone for a thousand years,I would be here waiting for you."

Aira smiled a bit before Cheta and Ola pulled her into a bone crushing hug.

Home was not a place.

Home was people,and this was her home_even in this terrible place.

"Dinma_"

Aira called the small girl who stood awkwardly behind them.

Her head snapped,fear of Aira still in her eyes.

"Do you still want to come with me?"

Dinma's heart accelerated with this question.

"Oh yes!Yes I do_"

Aira smiled at the girl's determination.

"Then come along. But the moment you slow me down,I leave you! Understand?"

Cheta and Ola smiled at that.

She was giving some one else a chance.

"Head straight towards the east river. It is behind the lepers court yard and next to Great Gamma Ocha's vineyard.

If you can make it across the river successfully, you would be out of the pack and in Ozuzu,no man's land. After that,head west to a small village called Opiro.

Find Cha-cha, she would help you."

"Thank you Cheta, please take care of mama. The princess asked you to take care of me... now,I am pleading with you to take care of my mother."

"With my life_"

Aira smiled and nodded once at Cheta before turning back and heading out,Dinma right next to her.

Her mother,wrapped in Cheta's arm, watched her daughter's departing form with tears in her eyes.

She would always miss her.

She would never get used to the pain of seeing her go away,and neither would her teacher - Cheta.

*

*

*

Good bye Silver moon pack.

Till we meet again.

Till I come back to burn you to ashes.

Till I come back to free my people and kill the Alpha holding them in captivity.

You have touched the tail of the sleeping lion...be ready to run.

Because there would be a chase.

And there is only one outcome-blood!

But not mine!

***Author's Note***

Don't cry Olive,don't cry...your stronger than this...it's just a book 😔😭😭😭

I can't do this 😭😭😭😭

So many emotions right now guys...

So many!

Also Aira has a toxic relationship with others and does not know how to share emotions so please don't be mad at her for acting out on Dinma.

Don't forget the golden rule.

Vote, comment and follow.

Love you guys 💜💜💜💖💖💖😍😍💝