guardian of the storm | ✓

Chapter Eleven ~ Apples and Names

~Chapter Eleven~

Winter was starving.

She hadn't eaten in nearly three days and her stomach was cramping up. She would've raced against the other to get food but she was too tired by the time the burlap sacks were thrown in. So instead she watched with hooded eyes as the other scrambled to get any amount of food they could, her eyes shining darkly.

She was aware of a few thing in the short amount of time she'd spent in this cage of a place.

Number One. She needed new clothes, her own were ripped to shreds from her single fight although she managed to hold onto the dagger given to her.

Number Two. The boy, Zero, was also called the Executioner in the Holding Cell. Supposedly when Judal grew bored of a fighter he put them up against Zero, who would in turn kill them. Apparently he hasn't fought an animal or hybrid in two years.

Number Three. She was starting to lose herself. There had been a point in time when she had lost herself to darkness and killed for money, but she was pulled out of it by her mentor. Now she didn't have anyone to anchor her to the ground, as she could feel the old resentment and anger consuming her body.

Her mind was so wrapped up in her thoughts she almost let the red apple hit her in the head. She catches it centimeters from her forehead and sends a glance in Zero's direction, the boy sending no sign of acknowledgement of what he'd done.

She examined the red fruit before biting into it slowly, breaking the skin. She savors the almost sweet flavor of the food and relishes in the feeling of having energy enter her. Even though she paces herself the food is gone too soon and she silently licks the juices off her fingers. Glancing around she brought her dagger out, thinking about what she was about to do.

Turning her back to the majority of the people in the room, she brings the sharp object up to her mouth. She carefully traces her incisor teeth before starting to shave away at the bone. The feeling was excruciating, a dull throbbing appearing in her mouth while sharp sparks of pure pain jolt through her.

Still she continues to shave and care at her tooth, small flakes of white drifting from her mouth as well as small drops of saliva. By the time she finishes sharpening on tooth black spots danced in front of her vision.

Yet she pushed on. Five hours later and four deadly sharpened teeth later Winter dropped the knife, her mouth throbbing.

"You're committed."

She glances at the green haired man who approached her. He wore an easy going expression and slouched, his purple eyes glinting with mischief. She gets to her feet and faces him, her eyes dull.

"Well if I'm going to survive I might as well do what I can."

He chuckles, "You know pretty much every person here was shocked when you came back from your first fight. They put you up against the Meridian Tigers right?" She shrugs her shoulders letting her eyes turn bored.

"If you're talking about large, white beasts that have acidic blood and travel in prides of four then yes."

He nods, "They're pretty deadly. Mainly because most people tire themselves out on the first animal they don't see the second or third one coming. And you're the first newbie to defeat all four, of course there are more seasoned fighters that have survived."

She raises a slim eyebrow, "You're awfully chatty." He shrugs his shoulders, grinning at her. "I figured I might as well be friendly while I'm still breathing. Anyways I wanted to extend an invitation to join the alliance I am in."

He gestures to a group of five people; two guys and three girls all looking roughed up yet happy. The green haired man before her seems to be the leader, the tall and pale girl with matte black hair appearing to be the second in charge. All appeared to be decently strong and were most likely one of the strongest groups in the holding cell. However Winter operated best alone; when she only had to rely on herself, to not have to worry about betrayal or taking care of others.

"Thank you for the offer but I don't really get along well with others. So for your sake, and mine, I'm going to decline."

He blinks in shock, his friendly demeanor wavering. "You see I have relied on only myself for such a long time I won't do well in a group. However I will be willing to do a long distance alliance. You need something desperately that I have, I'll trade you for something I need and vice versa."

He looks at her for a long moment before extending his arm. She grasps his forearm, and he grasps hers. "The deal is the deal." He says looking at her straight in the eyes. Her eyebrows furrowed slightly but she figured that it was a common phrase within the holding cell.

"The deal is the deal." She repeats his words and he grins, dropping his hand. She nods her head at him before inclining her head towards his group. "I'll see you around, I'm Shiro by the way."

She looks at him before answering, "Ina." His grin widens slightly and he walks back to his group, talking to them joyfully. She rolls her shoulders back, tucking her dagger away with a soft sigh and running her tongue over her now sharpened teeth.

"Idiot." Zero mutters, leaning in his usual spot. A decent sized katana that makes her hands twitch with want rests on the sand next to his feet, a burlap sack of food there as well. "I thought you'd be smarter, names have power here."

She lets a slow smirk curl her lips upwards. "And who said that was my real name?" He blinks as a light flash of shock goes through him. He lets out a small humph before closing his eyes to think and rest.

That girl was different; she could fight, she could adapt, she knew what to say or what not to say, and she turned down an alliance with the second strongest group in the holding cell. So she was either unbelievably stupid or had confidence.

She was going to survive though, he could tell that much. She was already a crowd pleaser, whether she was aiming to do that or not he wasn't sure. She was certainly strong, in a weird way. When he first started watching her fight he thought she'd be more hurt by the end, or killed. However she made it through with only minor injuries and burns.

And there was something else... it was the way she fought. The style of fighting was one he was familiar with and one no one else should know. It was taught only to a select few in a village eradicated many years ago, so in order for the girl to have learned the Shang style of fighting...

She'd have to be from the Storm Village, just like him.

Sorry for the late update, school is unbelievably hectic.

Hope you liked this chapter.

Gif of Zero to the side/up top.

QotC: Who's your favorite Akatsuki member? Mine would have to be Deidara despite the fact I adore Itachi.