Unspoken

~Chapter 8~

"Did you sleep well?" Aegus asked as Addy walked down the stairs. The Voltaris's new encampment was beautiful... absolutely astonishing. They had picked a good place that she planned to protect. She had the map in her satchel and gripped the strap like a lifeline.

"Yes, I slept wonderfully and I'm feeling much better now." She said and smiled softly. Aegus returned the smile then gave her a small cake in a box. She took the cake and smiled at him as he smiled back. She wrapped her arms around him and looked away for a minute, sorrow filling her expression. She knew that what she was doing was betraying her clan and her people. But at the same time it felt wrong to take the lives of children and families. After all, the champions were the reason her boyfriend lost his entire family. But she hoped to give him a new family. She let go of her father and smiled as he placed a hand on her shoulder a soft smile on his lips.

"Good luck, and remember who you are." He said softly then let his hand drop from her shoulder. She smiled again then walked towards the door where Achillean was waiting. She walked towards the rest of the champions before he pulled her back, his forehead creased with worry.

"Be safe out there, I fear for your safety." He whispered softly and looked around nervously.

"I'll be fine, I know how to fight and you have nothing to worry about. What could possibly hurt me?" She asked and saw him look at her even more sorrowfully.

"A lot of things actually." He said and she breathed softly then smiled and hugged him.

"Well I have to go, bye you worry worm." She said and saw his entire expression brighten as he playfully glared at her. She walked towards her horse and swung her leg up, pulling herself onto the horse and running her hand down it's neck. Vegter rode up beside her and brandished his spear dramatically. She laughed a bit but her heart ached, she didn't want to do this, ever since she decided she wanted to help them she constantly felt a tightening pain in her chest whenever the idea of being a champion was mentioned. Vegter smiled then rode ahead of her as she breathed in then rode after him.

~~*~~

"They're not here!" Kos cried and Addy covered her mouth, pretending to be shocked instead of wanting to burst out laughing. His reaction was well worth everything that had happened. He was furious.

"I see you laughing girl." Kos snarled and stormed towards her, grabbing her chin and forcing her head up towards him. She froze as he flicked his tail, a low hiss escaping his lips. He stalked closer to her slowly but each step he took felt like an impending tsunami slowly reaching land to wipe everything out. Once he stopped in front of her she was backed into a rock and he was so close to her that she could feel his breath on her face. "Is this amusing to you?"

"N-no..." She stammered then felt her heart speed up as no one came to her defense. Not a single whisper of comfort, they all just waited.

"Something's off, you've been more... quiet lately, I know you're hiding something, and I'm going to find out what it is." Kos whispered, his voice was so soft that she felt like she was suffocating under the false impression of comfort while he uttered a threat in that tone.

"Alright, Kos, that's enough." Thalleous said as he finally came to her aid and grabbed the Mendoris's arm, pulling him away from her. She felt the pressure in her chest lift slightly enough that she could wrestle in a few steady breaths.

"It's always her he assumes to be the traitor." A Kaltaris sighed and shook his head, disapproval in his expression. Kos snarled and stormed off as Thalleous glared. Addy touched his arm softly and he looked towards her as she smiled.

"Thanks for defending me." She said and he smiled back. She let her hand fall back at her side and watched him go with another male to go hunt as everyone else started setting up camp. Vegter approached her and she looked away, scoffing slightly, he didn't help her...