We're Called Halfies

Whistling With Fangs

*Deliciously Edited*

Rounding a corner I press myself against the wall. The Protectors run straight pass me. Straight pass me and further and further down the street until they stop, look around carefully, and then take the street to their right.

Oh come on. Seriously?

It’s almost pathetic.

But honestly, it’s their stupidity that keeps me alive, so who am I to judge?

Turning my back on the street, I start to walk around the back streets of Grove. Grove is the Eastern City, one of The Four Cities situated around the country. Each of the Cities sits upon or is built against all of the water, allowing all citizens within to have complete access to the water. Those who don’t live within the Four Cities either die of dehydration or risk being shot at by defensive towers if they attempt to steal any of the Four’s water.       

But for those who are daring enough, a simple trip through the out of date (yet still smelling god awful) sewer system will suffice and get you through a towering wall. The only tricky part is the timing of exiting the pipe. Because of the strict nature of having to protect the entire population’s water, each City sets up an armed battalion. And way the army rotates means that every hour, on the hour, a small troupe will walk past the pipe, ensuring no one can sneak in and out. Other than that, the sewer pipes are an easy and effective way to come and go through each City. A way for me to get the water my tribe requires to survive.   

Making my way through the sewer pipe, I’m careful to avoid the still questionable looking puddles. I mean, I like these slacks. They’re practically new. The silence within the pipe is only broken by my whistling. I only learnt to whistle last year, when Leona decided that being we were stuck within the city during a particularly boring stakeout meant that I should learn as well. Heavens know how she even learnt to whistle in the first place, considering she has fangs. I mean, having lioness DNA coded within you will do that – you don’t have human canines – you get dainty feline-esque canines that are vicious to the touch. But stubbornness prevailed and Leona learnt. She then insisted teaching it to me even if killed her.

Which I seriously could’ve, she was being so bossy about it

But she’s my best friend, so I tried (and succeed) just for her.  

The thought brings a giant smile to my face, and with it, memories of a happier time. Like just after the stakeout, when Leona dragged me to Blaze to show him what I had learnt. He laughed and smiled whist I negotiated through my fangs to whistle.

My face freezes on the thought of Blaze. Pain slices through me. God, how am I meant to lead a revolution if I’m stupidly sentimental? Feeling pain over a memory which happened long ago. I thought I was finally free of that sentimentality when Blaze was taken from me.

Exiting the pipe, I get out a small whistle from my bag that I bought three seasons ago at the black market. It’s a whistle that only thehearing-sensitivein our group can hear, let alone understand. Two short and one long whistle is our little tribe’s code for I’m back. Reversing the code means danger.

It’s exactly three minutes of waiting until a rustling towards my left tells me I’m no longer alone.

“I know you’re there, Leona.”

Turning to my left, I watch my best friend walk out of the shrubbery with her rapier at her side. I haven’t a clue as to why she’s obsessed with that stupid wannabe sword, but in the years she’s had it, her talent at wielding the rapier has become unparalleled. I dare say she could be the best swordsperson in Grove or even in the surrounding Cities.

Well, she would be if I wasn’t around. I mean, I’ve studied every kind of bladed object I could find, taken lessons from every sort of swords master I could find. I’ve practically done everything in my power to learn about blades – I’ve learnt everything from Twin Dao Blades to the rather intimidating hunting knife at my side.

So I think I may have earned my right to be cocky and arrogant.

“Have fun in the Main City? Didn’t stir up any trouble now did we, Felixia? No guff given to the Protectors? Leona shakes her head “What is this world coming to?” She smirks like she knows something.

Actually, knowing her, she probably does.    

“Oh, you know me, Leona,” I say, walking towards and then past her on the way to our new base.  “I only caused enough havoc to notify the Highest Authority.” 

As Leona laughed vivaciously, she guided me towards the north-west, taking me in the opposite of the direction I came in when I walked to the city four days previously.  

Because of the frequency of the patrols of the Protectors, our base is constantly shifting, moved weekly so discovery is unlikely. So far it’s worked, but I’ve never really relaxed in our camps since Blaze was captured.                  

But now, walking towards my tribe’s new camps, listening to Leona talk aimlessly about whatever poor Halfie boy she was currently obsessed, it was nice just to enjoy relaxing and listening to my heart rate slow to an (almost) human rhythm.