SANKTA KONCHINA

The Stag

While I lived in Fjerda for a few years as a prisoner I had never been in the snow before. I found it very hard to not roll around in it as we walked. I could tell Alina noticed my excitement when she recommended we stopped for a bit.
I quickly layed in the snow rolling in it. It was like a cold fluffy bed, Alina and Mal soon joined me making something they called snow angels. My hair was now matted with snow and my clothes were cold and wet, but I didn't regret it.

"Okay come on snow angels we have to go," Mal said helping us up from the snow.

Me and Mal had become closer since we started traveling together. I found out he and Alina had grown up together in the orphanage and were in the same first army unit.

"Oh, can't we stay for a few more minutes Mal?" I begged.

I heard him and Alina laugh before he nodded at me. I wasted no time grabbing a ball of snow throwing it at Alina.

"Ohh you did not," she said smiling.

Before I knew it the three of us were having a snowball fight. Me and Mal had teamed up on Alina who had been using her sun beams to block the snow balls. We all soon collapsed on the ground laughing till our sides went sore.

"Okay traitors let's keep moving," Alina said starting to get up.
Mal helped me up and we began walking again.
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We came to a clearing in the forest following the sound of a distant animal. Mal got his rifle out not knowing if it was a wolf or the stag. Then we saw it. It emerged from behind the trees, snow decorating its antlers.

The stag.

It was beautiful, majestic, it was magic. Its fur was whiter than the snow. I then noticed Mal hand Alina the gun.

"Wait no-" I started looking at Alina aiming the gun.

Alina lowered the gun putting it down on the ground. She slowly walked toward the stag holding her hand out. When she touched it the woods lit up. There it was again that light but something was different it was stronger. It yearned to be let out, I swear I could feel my own ability's strengthen by its presence.

The sound of an arrow being shot cut the light short and sent Alina down. Mal went for his gun shooting one of the men down before a burst of wind threw him back. He quickly went for his bow, but another soldier shot him in the back. The arrow pierced his abdomen clean.

"Mal!" Alina and I cried out.

Grisha soldiers soon surrounded us. They were Kiragins soldiers. He had found us.
Soon I noticed Ivan emerging from behind the trees clenching Mal's heart.

"Ivan stop!" I yelled but he didnt hear me.

Alina threw everyone back with the light. She went to rip the arrow out and Mal let out a blood curdling scream.

Shadows started to creep on the ground. He was here.

Alina ran to the stag summoning a dome of light around us blocking Kirigans blade.

"You can't save them Alina, you may have the power of light but not the power to heal." He said not noticing me behind the stag.

"I know the tracker is import to you. Give me the stag and I'll have my healer save him."

I finally came out from behind the stag rushing towards Mal. I quickly took my gloves off but then noticed the people surrounding us.

Ivan
Zoya

Zoya the first person to show me human kindness and Ivan the man who was like my brother. They stood against me.

"Aurora," he spoke as the rest of them lowered their weapons.

"Aurora come here, whatever they have told you or promised you is not worth this."

I stared at him, he didn't believe I knew the truth.  He stared at my expression realizing I knew, his expression turned bitter.

"I need you to trust me again Aurora like you once did."

I ignored him starting to men Mals wounds but then I felt my heart slow.

I turned to the only one who had these abilities.
"Ivan don't." I said grabbing my chest

He looked to Kirigan and he nodded his head for him to stop.

I noticed Alina getting weaker from summoning. Mal was going to die if I didn't stop it but if I did I would go down. I realised there was no winning this fight without using my other abilities.

"Alina keep the barrier up."

"Your tracker will die if you keep that barrier up Alina. Aurora may be a healer but she cannot heal a dead man." He tried to persuade her.

I thought over his words, in a way he was right, I had no experience with these abilities but then again this was our best shot.

I gave Alina a look as if to say "trust me" and she listened, she took a deep breath and focused her strength on the barrier.

I closed my eyes focusing on the thrumming of blood and the pounding of Mal's heart, it was slow and his pulse was faint. But in a way it soothed me, he was still alive, I heard Ivan whisper something to Kirigan.

"You've grown stronger little healer, or should I say little corpse witch." Kirigan told me motioning for Ivan.

I assumed it was for Ivan to slow my heart but what I didn't expect was for Alina to clench her heart in pain.

"Lina!" I said torn between my two friends. I could save Mal who would die without my help or I could save Alina who without her protection we would all be captured. We could get out again but Mal's problem was permanent. So with a heavy heart I turned away from the sun summoner and continued mt effort on the bot in front of me.
I had finally finished Mals wound just when the sun summoner let out one final yell before the barrier collapsed.

The soldiers rushed forward grabbing us, Alina and Mal didn't put up a fight, Mal was half conscious and Alina was exhausted. Instead of using all my energy on fighting a dozen soldiers I let them take me and I let Ivan slow my heart. I saw Zoya watching me go down before I fell unconscious.