The Nightscape

The Purple Clan

"I just don't think there's much point in tracking your mother down." Anya said after a couple of hours of walking. Lyra rolled her eyes and stayed quiet, having argued with her on and off for as long as they had been walking. Different arguments, all leading to the same purpose- 'what are the chances that your mother is even with the purple clan?'. 'Zidros could be monitoring us, we really shouldn't meet her in case she says something that tips him off'. 'If we're away for too long, Zidros will get suspicious'. This was just the latest way to get Lyra to give up, and the woman was getting thoroughly sick of it. So, she just ignored it, for a few minutes until Anya continued. "Well, can you answer me or not?" She snapped. Lyra sighed and looked at her. 

"I know how you feel about this, Anya, and the reason I wasn't answering you is that we both know you won't be happy unless I give up on finding my mother altogether. I've made my arguments, you've made yours, so let's just leave it there-" She snapped, turning to glare at her friend even as she kept walking. She turned around just in time to see an arrow fly into Anya's neck. For a split second, Lyra froze, watching as the tip of the arrow pierced her tan skin, time seeming to slow down as her throat bulged until the metal tip burst out of the other side of her. Blood spattered across her friend's face as Anya cried out, a wet, pained sound. 

Lyra caught Anya as she crumpled, taking her weight as the two of them fell to the floor. She looked around, but it was twilight now and they were passing through a hilly area, perfect for people to hide. She turned her attention to Anya, shocked at the amount of blood spilling over them. Lyra went to grab the fletching of the arrow, getting ready to pull it out even as her friend's eyes went wide with warning. After all, they were immortal, but they could still feel pain. 

Which was why Lyra howled in pain when an arrow thudded into her own shoulder, making the entire arm seize up. She glanced around again, but she couldn't see anyone, not even a glimpse. Glancing back down at Anya, she could see the skin trying to close around the arrow, and she could feel the same happening to her. She didn't know what else to do, so she settled on doing the first thing that popped into her head. She wrapped her hand around the shaft of the arrow and with all her strength, she yanked it out. 

Anya bucked in her arms, hands clawing desperately at Lyra's, flitting between that and cupping the now gaping wound it had made in her throat. The barrage of attacks appeared to have paused, and while she didn't understand it, Lyra was quick to use it to rid herself of her own arrow and yell out. 

"Who's there? We come in peace!" She roared, looking around again for any glimpse of movement as Anya recovered in her arms and her shoulder stitched itself back together. Even as she said it, she knew there was no point. They clearly hadn't come in peace, after all, and she doubted anything would change that. 

"We are the council of Zidros, we are immortal! This is a fight you cannot win, so come out and talk about this!" Anya yelled out, her voice weak and raspy as she struggled to get to her feet. Lyra reluctantly rose as well, aware she was making herself a bigger target but still standing back to back with her friend as they surveyed the area. There was a long moment of silence, but no more arrows flew. And then, in the corner of both their eyes, they saw someone stand up. As one, they both spun around to stare at her. 

She had been hidden behind the swell of a hill, wearing a gilly suit of the local flora, even her bow painted to blend in. When she stood up, it took them both a moment to land on her face, lost in the mass of the fabric. The woman looked to be around their age, a few years older maybe, with bronze skin and dark purple eyes. Full lips were pressed into a harsh line, but her eyes were empty of emotion. The two girls faced her down, both aware that she couldn't be their only attackers, not when the angle of the arrows was taken into account.