Wild and Out of Control

|chapter five|

"In addition to last year's changes, marked ones assembling in groups of three or more will now be considered an act of seditious conspiracy and is hereby a capital offense."

- ADDENDUM 5.3, BASGIATH WAR COLLEG CODE OF CONDUCT

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|Danica|

"We should head back by now. It's almost midnight," I warn Violet as we weed through the tall grass in the forest for Violet to look for herbs that could be crafted into poisons.

     She shrugs her uninjured shoulder. "Just a few more minutes. I still need to find a few more herbs then I'm good." She approaches one of the many trees in this forest, and I glance around the surrounding area. "There," she points to a branch with purple berries. "Those berries will disorientate the person who ingested it."

     "Great," I say as I resheath the dagger I had held in my hand. "I'll get some for you while you begin the trek back to the Quadrant. Antony said that being caught after curfew is very punishable." This book that Antony wrote for me that I found tucked into Antony's old bag that was given to me has been very helpful. 

     Violet wags her finger in front of her. "I don't think so, missy. I'm the one who needs this so I'll be the one to get it. And my shoulders almost healed anyway," she adds. She slipped her left arm out of the sling, moving it back and forth as if testing it out. She begins to climb up the tree, taking one branch at a time.

     "I don't know why you didn't just accept my offer to train you," I grumble from my spot at the base of the tree. "It would've been more effective than this."

     "You are training me," she threw over her shoulder as she climbed higher. "And challenges start in a few days. You can't train me fast enough for me to be ready by then."

     I didn't answer her, instead leaning against the trunk of the tree as I took in the surroundings. The midnight moon cast a twilight shadow onto the forest, the trees and grass glowing in the moonlight. The soft sounds of birds and the distant running of the Iakobos River filter into my ears, setting the ambiance to a peaceful environment. I close my eyes for a brief moment, reveling in this moment of peace as I know I won't have one like this in a long while. I heard something in the distance, the sound of a twig snapping. Violet was too high in the tree for me to safely warn her without alerting whoever was there about our presence, so I did the only thing that I could.

     I started to climb.

     Pulling myself up by the branches, I quickly met up with Violet and out of sight of anyone who was below. She gave me a questioning look, about to say something, but I covered her mouth with my hand. I point below us where two cloaked figures are standing beneath the tree coverage. We were far enough above that they didn't see us and the running water of the Iakobos River drowned out any sounds we made. 

     The two cloaked figures stop under our tree and seem to stay. I let out a quiet sigh. Out of all the trees, they had to pick this one? The smaller of the two leans against the trunk of the tree, as I had done not a few moments ago, and lowers her hood so we have a clear view of who it is. And I recognize that pink hair from anywhere.

     Imogen. The fucking cadet that had dislocated Violet's arm during the assessment day. Oh, and who it turns out, is also in our Squad, with the other Second-years. If it weren't for the other figure there, I would jump down and rip her throat out for hurting Violet. I feel Violet stiffen beside me, and reach for the shoulder that was injured absentmindedly. I lay a hand on her arm, reassuring her that I would protect her.