Forever Yours

Protecting Family

Clarke

I ducked under Lexa's swing, trying to deal a blow of my own.  However I underestimated what she'd be expecting and she whirled around in time to block.

This continued with similar moves, each time we would expect the other's move and block it.

However, as I spun around and ended up in a blade lock with her, I noticed Ontari slipping back into the tower.

It wasn't that part that seemed odd to me, it was how low she was holding her head and how her shoulders were hunched.

"I think that's enough for now." I said distractedly, pulling away.

Lexa's brows furrowed with a worried look, "Are you okay Clarke?" She asked worriedly.

I nodded, "Yeah.  I just saw Ontari and she looked upset." I said, forcing my gaze to meet her's rather than staring at the place Ontari had disappeared.

Lexa nodded, a smile playing on her lips, "Go Clarke, we both know that you want to make sure she's alright." She said, warmth in her eyes.  "I'll either be here or at lunch, depending on how long you take." She said.

I nodded and dashed off.  It didn't take me long to track Ontari to where she had gone, which was her room.

I knocked softly on the wooden door, "Ontari?  Can I come in?" I asked softly.

There was a pause and I briefly wondered if she'd even heard me, leaning my forehead against the wooden door, when a quiet reply came.  "Come in."

I opened the door and slipped in, closing it behind me, and almost tripped over my feet at what I was greeted with.

Ontari was sitting on one of the couches in the room, her legs tucked up to her chest and arms wrapped around her legs.  Tears were falling freely from her eyes as she gazed at me.

Instantly I tried to decide what could have made her upset like this but couldn't come up with anything.

Forcing my legs to move, I crossed the room and sat down beside her.  Still moving on some sort of autopilot, I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her close.

I was pleasantly surprised when she just leaned on me and didn't protest but worry still buzzed dominantly in my mind.

"What happened Ontari?" I asked softly, worry in my voice.

She shook her head weakly, "It doesn't matter." She said quietly, her voice rough.

I shook my head, "It does matter.  What happened?"

She let out a shaky breath, "A group of kids were insulting me, nothing to get upset over." She said, insisting it was nothing still.

My jaw clenched and I forced my words to come out in the same soft and gentle voice I'd been using.  "What kind of insults?" I asked.

"Mostly it was just taunts.  But they said I didn't belong here and that..." She shook her head, a shiver running down her body.

I held her tightly, "It's okay Ontari.  What else?"

"They said I was Nia's pichu."

I had only heard the word once, when Lexa and I had been wandering the streets and a little girl kept excitedly exclaiming that she was getting a pichu.  After I had asked Lexa had told me the meaning.  Pet.

All I could feel was rage at this point.  "You belong here Ontari and you are not Nia's pet.  What did this kid look like?" I asked, though I was pretty sure I knew.

Every once in a while this kid, Vilas, would assemble his little gang of friends and make life harder than necessary for anyone he chose.  I'm guessing it was him.

"Um...  Broad shoulders, scruffy brown hair, he had a scar on his left jaw."

That was Vilas alright.  "Stay here." I said, standing and heading for the door.

"What are you going to do?" I heard Ontari ask worriedly.

"Show everyone that you can't go around insulting Wanheda's family!" I called over my shoulder, allowing myself to bathe in the rage that was pulsing through my veins like wildfire.

It didn't take long for me to get down to the streets and start looking for Vilas and his gang and it didn't really take long to locate them either.

"Vilas!" I snapped, the small crowd parting to let me stand directly in front of Vilas and his friends.

He flashed me a cocky grin, "What an honor to have you present here Wanheda." He said with a mock bow.

Everyone else seemed to realize that, as the Old Earth phrase went, he was digging his grave, but not the actual kid.

I was sure I looked every bit of Wanheda right now, with my shoulders squared, chin up, and eyes blazing with fury.  And everyone seemed at least slightly intimidated except Vilas.

"That's enough Vilas, I think you've spread enough lies about everyone to last you your whole life." I said, surprising myself with how deathly calm me voice was.

"Should I bow and worship you Maun Sleya (Mountain Slayer)?" I knew he was trying to rile me up, to get me to express my fury openly by calling me a title that he knew I wasn't the most forefront about most of the time but I wasn't about to let him rile me.

"You might want to run from Wanheda, having called one of her family Nia's pichu." I said, a dark tone in my voice.

A ripple went through the crowd at that.  Nia, the horrible Queen of Azgeda who had been killed by Lexa's hand after she had done many awful deeds.  And to say someone was her pet?  No one would stand for that.

Vilas seemed to come to the same realization that I had known beforehand and paled, "But she is!" He snapped.

I stalked forward, circling him almost like a predator would prey, as his gang moved away and left him exposed.

He kept wary eyes on me as the crowd watched for what justice I would bring for insulting someone who I claimed as my family.

Slowly, I got closer to him, making it harder and harder for him to keep me  in his sights.  Finally I got right where I wanted, almost directly behind him and out of his sight.

"Let me make this clear." I almost whispered the words, a shiver going visibly down his back and I could hear him swallow.  "No one threatens, insults, or bullies my family without consequences.  I won't be this nice next time." I promised in a practical hiss.  He was shaking now and I let myself enjoy the sight of the usually unshakable boy being scared before stepping back and striding away, back towards the tower and leaving everyone to wonder what I'd told the boy.