Battle Scars

Moonstone Lake

They had decided to go to a secluded lake that afternoon. All of them. Nesta and Bri had been invited to accompany Eve and the rest of Inner Circle but only the latter had agreed to come. Nesta had flat out refused before Feyre had even completed her sentence. Varian too was coming.

Trudging with the basket in her hand, Eve let out a breath. Gods, this was tiring. "How much longer?" she asked, feeling exhausted. "Just five minutes," Rhys replied, giving her an amused look, "we could hold the basket you know?" he just received a glare from her- no, this was herself proving to herself that she was still fit enough. "Why couldn't we just winnow or fly there?" Bri complained, gulping down water. "Because this is part of the fun," Feyre explained. Eve and Bri looked at each other before shaking their hands. "I am buying you a dictionary next Solstice," Eve muttered. Feyre started protesting as Cassian chuckled.

Azriel came and took the basket from her, much to her protest. "You had it long enough," he said and she humped. "Swooping in five minutes before like a vulture, are we?" He gave out a protest, "you were the one who wanted to hold it." Mor chuckled at Az' expression as Eve glared at him playfully before taking off once again with Bri. Elain stood back as her nose flared- she hated Eve.

"Stare any longer and people will start thinking you are a creep," Cassian muttered to Azriel and he scowled but took his gaze of Eve, his shadows tittering. Rhys joined them, "I am betting till the end of the second month from now." Azriel's scowl deepened even as a small blush crept up his neck. "I say six months, he is stubborn and she is not less," Cassian observed. "Bastards," Az hissed under his breath, making them chuckle. "You are on," Rhys said. Muttering something, Azriel went ahead, joining Mor and Feyre. Amren and Varian were far behind, hiking at their own pace.

Eve and Bri were the first ones to come to the Moonstone Lake. Its real ethereal beauty could be observed at night but nevertheless, it was magnificent. The lake was attached ahead to a river whose rifts made her want to go river rafting. A cliff was nearby, jutting out at one place. An idea came to Eve's mind and squealing, she took Bri' hand and started running upwards, towards the outcrop.

"Where are you both going?" Feyre shouted after them. "Be right back," Eve replied, giggling with excitement.

Eve started taking off her shirt as Bri' eyes widened. "I am not undressing," she said making Eve nod. Bri was wearing a dress while Eve had a tank top and shorts on. "I am going to jump, you in or you out?" she asked Bri who contemplated for a moment before grinning, "you jump, I jump." Smiling devilishly, the two took a running start and jumped, whooping as the water came closer and closer.

Azriel' eyes widened from where he watched them- it seemed Eve had a penchant for jumping from heights. He swore as he saw her laughing, a broad smile adorning her face. Feyre stared at the scene wide-eyed, not understanding why would someone willingly jump from a cliff for fun, that too, without any sort of harness or protection. Cassian wished he could swim without his wings getting in the way as he saw the two while Rhys observed in amusement. Mor watched the two while eating a pastry and Varian was faintly smiling- adventures like these were common in Summer. He had seen people even make games out of this- who could make the biggest splash. Amren shook her head as Eve and Bri hit the water, making a huge splash. The water rose up, sprinkling all of them with drops of water while they stood at the edge.

Elain watched with a scowl. Why did everyone like Eve would remain a mystery to her. In her perspective, Eve was a failure and a nomad. Eve was the one who took away Nesta from her, who was not able to protect them in the manor, who had let her best friend sacrifice himself for nothing, who had taken all the glory, who had received undeserved attention from everyone, who held a certain hazel eyed male's affection while she was stuck with a male she did not want, and lingering feelings for a male who did not want her. What did Eve had that she didn't?

Elain was envious of her.

They didn't come up instantly, making Az worried. The two rose, gasping like fishes just as he sent out a few shadows. "That- was- fun," Eve said, coughing out some water. "I am drenched," Bri complained even as her flushed cheeks and eyes said she enjoyed the fall. "You need a babysitter," Amren said, looking at Eve who scowled at the statement. "And why is that?" Eve humoured her. "For you have a liking to jump from almost everything, everywhere," Rhys said, putting his hands in his pocket. Eve stuck out her tongue at them before going underwater once again. Bri yelped as someone pulled her in and the Inner Circle, shaking their heads, went back to setting the picnic. "You bitch," Bri exclaimed as she came back up. Eve only giggled maniacally.

"Az," Eve screamed. Flying slowly and suspiciously, Az went and hovered over them. "Say, do you know how to swim?" Bri asked, trying to haul herself over Eve' shoulders. "Not well," he replied, keeping a safe distance from the two mischief makers. "Practice makes perfect then," Eve said and before he had time to react, his shadows betrayed him as they pushed him down a bit and Eve, with a giant tug, pulled him inside the water. From the dry land, you could hear Cassian bark even as Mor stood beside him in awe, seeing how the shadows had reacted. And it was then that Mor wished to the powers existing that no pain befell Azriel who had fallen hard for his mate.

Azriel only rose up and tried glaring at the two nuisances. He tried glaring but it was of no use and instead, a small smile broke out. Eve' breath hitched as she saw him like this- hair dripping from his face, wild hair all over the place, those hazel eyes looking at her; twinkling and that damned smile on his lips- that smile would be the death of her.

**********

They all stayed at the Moonstone lake till afternoon turned to evening and became dangerously close to night. The entire day was spent laughing, chatting and eating Bri's amazing baked goods which Eve complained would make her already lazy self, fat. Of course, this was followed by her taking another bite of the said goods.

"So," Mor said coming over and standing next to her. "What's going on between Azriel and you?" she asked in a teasing tone, though she was worried about him. She did not want him getting hurt- he had enough of that to last more than a lifetime.

"We are just friends," for now, Eve replied, shaking her head as she watched the sky. A few birds were flying around the area, one with a fish in its mouth. Eve was so entranced by the scene in front of her that she did not notice Azriel wincing a bit as he eavesdropped on the two females conversation. Mor, who had noticed this, decided to not question Eve further, should Az get more hurt.

Oblivious, Eve turned and went back to where Amren and Varian were sitting, squabbling over something. Amren had one of her rare smiles on her face as Varian patiently explained something to her. Eve went and laid down on the grass besides them for it was the only empty space left around the picnic hoard, not caring about the dirt and insects for once.

"Are you coming back to Summer?" Varian asked her. Eve who had her eyes closed, opened and squinted a bit before nodding. "I'll leave tomorrow or day after," she said, yawning. "I am leaving day after for Adriata," he offered. She nodded, accepting the offer before closing her eyes again. Azriel who had been listening in, excused himself and left.

Eve knew he had gone. She knew he would miss her just as much as she would miss him and the Night but, she was not ready. She was not ready for a real relationship with him and was certainly not ready to face the reality. No, she wanted to stay in her little bubble, pretending to be fine, for a little while longer. She wanted to act as if the weight of the world did not give her anxiety attacks every day, that she did not miss snuggling herself in the Shadowsinger' arms, that she did not miss the Night and most of all, that she did not wonder what would have happened if she had chosen differently that day. So she let him go.

She was just a girl wanting to play pretend for a while longer. 

Happy reading :)

XOXO,

the amazing author