The Tragedy of Being

And So It Begins

Lucy started darting along behind Aslan, treating all the wounded soldiers. She looked so in her element, hopping around from person to person, bringing joy and easing pain wherever she went.

Cass sat on her knees, training her eyes on the sky. It was a cloudless day, a brilliant pearly shade of blue. It looked like a winter sky, but the sun was warm.

She was alive. Despite the odds, she was alive. Everything was hurting, but she was alive.

Cass used her good arm to start untying the buckles of her armour, dropping the heavy metal pieces onto the ground. It made each breath and motion easier, the moment the armour was being removed from her body.

Peter pulled Edmund up to his feet, who was now looking alive and well with some rose back in his cheeks and Susan's eyes snapped over to Cass.

"Cass, are you all right?" Susan asked, her tone laced with worry as her blue eyes scanned the girl in front of her.

Cass raised her eyebrows, looking delirious. "Yeah, I'm good. My armour is just...killing me." She felt like hell, but she didn't want her friends to know that. They'd start fussing and trying to find out what was wrong and Cass didn't feel like answering any questions.

Cass wasn't aware of how dire she truly looked, which is what had sparked Susan to ask.

Her faithful horse, Gypsy, came trotting over. Cass couldn't fight the smile that bloomed on her face at the sight of her horse, alive and well, and entirely uninjured.

"Hey, girl." Cass greeted, happy to see her horse again. Gypsy nuzzled into Cass' bloodied face, and snorted on her in greeting. "Yeah, I know. I know. I need a bath."

Cass gripped Gypsy's saddle, using it to pull her to her feet. She wobbled for a second, her head feeling fuzzy. But her strength returned to her legs, so she could stand. She adjusted the buckle of the saddle, so grateful to be breathing without the added weight of the armour.

"Where are you going?" Peter asked, noticing that she was adjusting her saddle. He didn't think it was wise for Cass to go anywhere, but he knew she wouldn't listen to him.

"I don't know. I want fresh air." Cass said, using all her strength to pull herself into Gypsy's saddle.

"There's plenty of fresh air. We're outside." Edmund commented, his voice coming out like a croak. Cass would have snorted at the comment in any other situation, but she was too tired to laugh.

Peter reached out a hand to stabilise Cass when she wobbled in her saddle, but she used her good hand to wave him off. Peter's concerned blue eyes unnerved her. She wasn't sure why, and she sure as hell didn't want to investigate why.

"I'll see you all back at camp." Cass commented, gently kicking Gypsy into a canter. She wanted to get out of there, away from the memories of bloodshed and violence.

Class's hair had come loose from her braid in the slight breeze. She was already starting to feel better as she crossed over the hill. The sunlight was warm, and the breeze was fresh. She knew all she needed was fresh air.

Gypsy took off through the forest, and Cass could somehow feel her body stitching itself back together with each passing moment. It was an exhilarating feeling.

Gypsy carried Cass to the beach, the fresh air filling her lungs and making her feel like she was flying. She felt alive, vivacious.

Cass spread her arms wide, letting the icy wind rustle through her clothes and her hair. It was like the wind was blowing away everything that has happened.

She felt free, completely weightless. It was like nothing could catch her. She wanted to have that feeling forever.

Gypsy's gallop slowed into a trot, and Cass could feel her face beaming. Her cheeks were a little cold from the wind, but she was feeling better. The ocean air seemed to be curing all of her injuries. She loved Narnia's magic everything.