Wolf Of Fire

*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 what really hurt her 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 right 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's eyes 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 heels touching her head.
Aira frowned at the timid girl.
With that attitude,she would not  last two minutes out there.
Coward!