Never

Chapter 9: Comfort

Clover looked at her attackers defiantly, while holding her injured claw. The bugs had her cornered in a hidden place of the garden from which she had no escape, at least not in the conditions she was in.

"Caught up," one of the critters in armor scoffed at her. "How does it feel to be in those conditions? How about being the weak element? Show your superior strength now mantis, see if you can against us"

Clover growled helplessly, obviously she had no way of beating them and they knew it. She was hurt, she had no armor and they were six talented warriors, from the beginning she never had a chance. She did not want problems, she knew that her stay in the castle was conditional, if she caused only one problem she would be expelled. Even if she was attacked she could not defend herself, because she was an enemy admitted only by Ze'mer's benevolence.

"Please go and leave me alone, I don't want trouble" said the mantis.

"Do you think you are in a position to demand something, damn mantis? Forget it!" Shouted the knight. "You are an enemy of the king and you don't deserve consideration, now we will make sure to put yourself in your place, scum."

"What's happening here!" Shouted an authoritative voice.

Both the knights and the mantis directed their eyes towards the origin of the voice and met Dryya and Ogrim who watched them severely.

"Dryya!" Exclaimed the knight who appeared to be the leader, who immediately made a polite bow. "We found this mantis in a suspicious attitude hanging around the place"

"And that's why you beat her to this extreme?"

Clover looked very hurt, with numerous blows to her body and one of her claws was hurt. It did not look like the wounds of a fair fight, rather they were the sign of a brutal act of abuse of power.

"But she..."

"There is no honor in the defeat of a weakened enemy, this girl has not even had the opportunity to defend herself, and yet you have raised your weapons against her. You should be ashamed! you call yourselves Knights of Hallownest? Get out of here! Get out of my sight!"

The warriors lowered their faces in shame and withdrew from the room without saying anything. Dryya only watched them move away before directing her gaze to the mantis who seemed extremely grateful for her intervention, even she began to approach her, perhaps to dedicate a few words.

"Keep out of my way, mantis," the knight said dryly, walking away without even deigning to look at her.

Clover looked down, she felt frustrated and with a growing anger inside her. She hadn't done anything wrong, she had just gone for a walk, it wasn't fair to be treated that way, her attackers hadn't even received punishment. The worst they also treated her with contempt, as if it was all her fault.

Ogrim seeing the insect so affected, wanted to go to her to try to cheer her up with some words, but as soon as the girl saw him she turned her back indignantly.

"Stay away from me beetle." And she staggered toward her chambers ...

...................................

"Perhaps Ze'mer supported and took care of Clover, but for the others, she was only an enemy of the king, nobody liked her, because of that she became aggressive and distrustful. Any bug would act that way in a situation like that Hollow" said Ogrim calmly. "Don't take it personally, you didn't do anything to she hates you. Just leave her alone until she recovers and then let her go"