ruination ➤ REWRITING

twenty one.

SHAKING FINGERS CLOSED CLASPS OF ARMOR AS A STRONG WARRIOR INHALED SHARPLY FROM THE PAIN. Nela buckled one more piece before resting her hands on the bedpost in front of her. Her stomach was splitting with pain as her armor pressed tightly against her wounds, making each breath she took as painful as the original wound felt. She blinked black spots out of her eyes as she stood up straight.

"Are you okay?" Thesda appeared by her side, reaching a hand out to steady her.

"I'm fine." Nela lied, pushing herself through the pain as she walked to her mirror to retrieve her red warpaint. "I have to get used to the pain, it'll be over quickly."

Her second raised an eyebrow curiously, giving Nela a look in the mirror that she could only describe as skeptical. Thesda picked up a pair of leather bracers and brought them over to Nela. "You forgot these."

Nela took the bracers and sat down on the old, uneven stool that sat in front of the mirror. As she shakily put them on, pushing down the almost unbearable pain screaming at her, Thesda grabbed the red paint. She tilted Nela's head up, holding up a finger that had been dipped in crimson, looking at her for permission. Nela nodded, allowing her second to make one single stripe down each eye.

The door to Nela's hut swung open, almost dramatically as a strong figure stood in the doorway. Nela tightened her left bracer as Anya stormed in, coat unbuttoned and her guards trying to decide who got to go into the doorway first. "You know I wouldn't march into battle without you. But Nela, you are not going to battle, not like this," she snapped at Nela. "You are not well enough to go fight a war, Nela, everyone knows."

"I'm more than okay, Anya." Nela protested. "I can walk, I can still fight — besides, this is my battle to fight. I have to fight for the people I lost because of our enemy. Nothing is going to stop me from going to war today."

She averted her grey eyes away from the leader to her own reflection in the mirror. She met eyes with Thesda, who looked at her with a mix of concern and respect.

"It is not up for discussion." Anya continued to argue with the warrior. "I understand that this is something you have been waiting for, but there is no point in going to war if you're just going to die from your own injuries. That's not a warrior's death."

"And waiting here to die is?" Nela stood up, snapping at her friend. She drew a knife from her belt and threw it at the doorway, where the two guards were still trying to figure out who was going to step into the hut first. It landed directly on the wooden threshold in-between their sets feet. "I am more than capable of going into battle. It won't be my first time being injured and fighting a war."

Anya's face turned to stone as she glared at the grey-eyed warrior in front of her. She shook her head at Nela, but muttered, "Fine. But you stay by my side no matter what."

"Fine."

The trikru leader turned and left without a word. Thesda shook her head as Nela turned back to the mirror, an amused smile on her face. "Only you're crazy enough to stand up to Anya."

"Stand up for what you want, Thesda. Demand respect, demand whatever you want and you will get it." Nela spoke to her second as she began braiding her hair back. "Get your war paint on."

Thesda did her own warpaint as Nela tied her braids back into an intricate updo she wore only to the most important battles. Once finished, she stood up from the stool, blinking back another round of spots littering her vision. She felt Thesda's hand grip her own, squeezing once for support before she let go.

"You can do this, Nela. This is your fight and you will win."

Nela gave her second a grateful smile, trying to blink back the tears forming in her eyes from either pain or thankfulness. She reached for a golden trinket on her mirror and grabbed Thesda's wrist.

"This is from Oden, who says it's from a commander," she explained while clasping the trinket onto her second's wrist. "I wore it my first time in battle, and I should've given it you earlier, but it holds the spirit and blessings of the commanders. Wear it with pride."

Thesda nodded, a wide smile appearing on her face. Nela grabbed a black cloth, wrapping it around her neck. She pulled it up to her nose, covering her face and together, the pair left her hut. They walked to the entrance of the village, where people were gathering to send off their warriors.

She might've imagined it, but it seemed like the crowd split for her as she made her way to Anya, who looked still upset about Nela joining the ranks. She spotted Salem among the leaders, identical black cloth matching hers as he gave her a nod. Nela turned to the crowd of villagers, seeing the faces of the hopeful men and women who wouldn't be joining them.

Oden towered over the crowd at the back and gave Nela a curt nod of his head, a sign of approval. He turned his back and left the waiting crowd to head home. The blonde turned back to face the forest, ready for war.

so should nela be going to war? no. but is she? yes. she's in so much pain but she's a stubborn bitch so there she goes... into war.... after being bombed shot and stabbed.... anyways — i can't believe part one is almost over?