Winwolfa (A Roan x Female OC Fanfic)

Chapter 10

"There! There she is!" An echo called out around her.

Strong arms held Astrid into their chest. Their warmth fighting the cold in her veins. The familiar smell comforted her, even if she had no recollection of the owner.

"Healer!" The echo bellowed into the hall. Footsteps raced around on cobblestone.

Pain rippled through her torso as her flesh took in fresh air.

Firm hands laid Astrid into her bed. They whispered something in their language as they pulled blankets over her frozen body.

Astrid's eyes blinked open. Blurry at first, then finally adjusting to the dim light. Heavy blankets, fur and wool, caressed her body as she shifted her sore muscles. Her abdomen was tense as she crunched it to look around the room. Her room.

It was completely empty besides the dancing candlelight by her side. She rolled to the edge of the bed, grunting against the needle like pain in her torso. Peeling her shirt up, wincing at the movement, she saw the mesh of herbs and plants pressed into the wound.

"You're awake." Tilda's sweet voice was surprised. She clicked the door behind her and took slow, smoothe strides towards Astrid with a bowl in her hand. She graciously took it as Tilda shifted to sit next to her along the edge of bed.

"When Roan told the Queen you were missing, she was pissed." Tilda said nonchalantly, letting that academic demeanor fade. "But I agree with her, he left you in a blizzard. Defenseless, no less. Azgeda are brutal but we do not leave our people behind unless they are dead."

"What happened?" Astrid asked as she slurped the soup. Her lip quivered slightly against the ceramic bowl.

"The Queen forced Roan and a band of warriors to search for you. They had to kill a few Reapers to get to you, but Roan saw you bleeding in the snow. He carried you to the healing chambers and kicked everybody out before I showed up."

Astrid choked on soup. She hadn't mustered up the courage to tell her everything that happened on the Ark. Roan only knew about her blood by sheer chance. "So you know."

A small nod, followed by a heavy silence. Crackles from the fire were the only sounds occupying the large space, which still managed to suffocate Astrid, "Why didn't you tell me?"

Really, Astrid didn't know. Tilda was the person she trusted most, besides Octavia, on this whole damned planet. She felt as if telling Tilda would shift their relationship from unwavering companionship to constant suspicion. Even after Astrid told Octavia, she felt that subtle change. Dodgy glances, skittish movements, and subtle comments in their own privacy that made Astrid think twice about her decision to tell her.. The same actions the very few people who knew who she truly was mimicked. Astrid was a freak. How could she blame her?

"I...I was scared." Astrid fumbled over her words, "I thought you would treat at me different. Like everybody does when they find out."

"Why would you think that?" Tilda said, seeming a bit offended.

"Because that's how it's always been my whole life. One minute, I'm just a normal person, and the next, I'm a freak. I just wanted one friend, one person who wouldn't look at me like a fucking science experiment."

"Astrid..." She could feel Tilda's hand reach for her, "You are my friend. I don't care that you came from the sky, or that you're the supposed Messiah, or the color of your blood. None of that matters to me. I just wished you would have told me before Roan."

Astrid huffed with a small smile on her face, "To be fair, that was a complete accident. It was one of our first days of training." She explained as she pointed towards the subtle scar on her cheekbone, "The leathers and furs are usually dark enough to hide what's on my body."