Brave Little Lioness

Chapter 2

Luria P.O.V.

      The next day when I awoke, Peter was still asleep. I quietly got up and tiptoed downstairs to see papa getting ready to leave. 

     "You're leaving already?" I whispered. Papa looked at me, "Yes, but I'll be grateful for another hug before I leave." he smiled. I smiled as well and gave him a big hug. "Be brave my little lioness." I chuckled. "What's so funny?" papa asked. "Peter called me the same thing last night." I answered. Papa chuckled, "Well, I'm sorry to say, but I must be going and you need to get ready for school." "Yes papa." I grumbled. School was not my favorite. Papa chuckled. "Bye, Luria." "Bye papa." and he walked out the front door, closing it softly behind him. I took a deep breath and got ready for school.

     The school bell rang and the class fell silent. The next and last class I had was history. My history teacher, Mrs. Ainran got up to the front of the classroom and asked her daily question. "Does anyone have any history questions?"

Usually no one raises their hand, but this time I raised my hand. 

"Yes Luria?"

 I lowered my hand and asked, "Why don't women and ladies fight in wars and battles? Why is fighting a 'men only' thing?"

      Mrs. Ainran looked at me in surprise. No one had asked that in class before. "Well, - she started, - fighting is a very unladylike thing to do." "Has any woman fought before in wars and battles?" I questioned with curiosity. "No, not that I can recall." answered Mrs. Ainran and with that she started class, but I wasn't paying attention to anything. The time flew by and the bell rang dismissing everyone from school to go home. 

     When I got home, I walked distractedly to my room and sat on my bed with a faraway look on my face. Peter was sitting at his little makeshift desk and noticed my unucual silence. "What's wrong Luria?" "Peter, if I were to tell you that I was going to sneak out and join the army under the disguise of a boy, and I told you not to tell anyone, what would you do?" I asked. Peter sat there, thoughtfully staring into space and finally answered, "I would do just what you asked me to do and not tell anyone. We are siblings and we keep each other's secrets. Why?" "Oh, just a thought" I answered still distracted. Peter slightly narrowed his eyes at me in suspicion, but didn't say anything.

After dinner, I raced to our room and started to go through Peter's clothes. I chose some shirts and pants and stuffed them under my bed. I grabbed my small dagger only Peter and papa knew about and stuck it under my pillow. Then, I told everyone I was going to bed early and layed down on my bed and closed my eyes. Soon, everyone was asleep. I then wrote a note to Peter, writing in a way only he would understand. I took the clothes from under my bed, got dressed, put the rest in a small sack, put my dagger in my belt and headed towards the bathroom. In there, was a small mirror. I took a deep breath, pulled my dagger out, and gathered my hair, "Goodbye, my precious hair." I whispered and cut it off. 

     I carefully put my hair in a small bag and put it on Peter's makeshift desk with the note. I grabbed some food from the small, but efficient kitchen and took a look at the house(which hopefully won't be my last) from the front door. 

"Goodbye" I whispered, threw my cloak on and stepped out of the house closing the door slowly and quietly behind me. I whispered to myself,

 "Let's go Luria. Adventure awaits."

 and stepped into the dark night.