Missing Pieces ~ Book Two of; Soldier's Heart

Chapter 3 Shift

The dust dances in the air, visible from the rays of the sun beaming through the windows, some half shattered. Though the outside of the building looks like it would be abandoned, the inside is well kept, for a building like this. The tiled floor is polished but has cracks all through it, some spots even have grass and flowers growing, mounds of rubble is pushed into the corners of the room and vines grow in through the cracks in the walls or the windows. In the middle of the room stands the giant tree, going up through the second floor, the third, and through the ceiling, reaching toward the sky. Its roots spread along the floor and where they dig into the ground the tiles are broken. There's a hole along the bottom of one wall where clear water runs. The small flowing stream circles the tree, moss and grass grows along it.

We sit at a long table at the back of the room. I've learnt everyone's names and have gotten to know them some more. The first girl I saw was Astra, she's an Astrin- wolf people, as is her cousin, Loki. Theres two Fae men that go by the names of Aeregon and Galus. Galus is a bit older than the rest of us and he doesn't seem more open to me than the others are. The female Fae's name is Alith. Then there's two Asari- fox people, the boy's name is Ruse and the girl's name is Lithi. Lastly, there's Serena, an Elae- deer people. They're all full-blooded, none of them are half Fae like Aaron and I, meaning they're all immortal.

"So" Astra breaks the silence and all eyes shift to her at the head of the table, sitting so her legs dangle over the armrest of the chair. She twirls one of the three dreadlocks in her dark brown wavy hair "You want us to teach Amora how to use her Fae abilities" She blandly bites her nail as she cocks an eyebrow at Aaron, though he doesn't reply so she continues to talk "I mean" Astra moves herself so she's properly seated in the chair but still slumping "I can, if she can keep up with me. You know we're brutal, Brother" She smirks at Aaron. Brother. Their little group they have here are like the Jury, except they're rebels so I guess that makes us opposites.

Before Aaron was apart of the Jury he worked with these guys. Despite how shady they seem, they are kind and have the right intentions but, they're considered rebels because what is right for this world and how we achieve it is a rebellious act. They all consider each other as family, which is why they will sometimes refer to each other as 'brother' or 'sister'.

"Amora can keep up just fine" Aaron leans forward
"Aaron, I wasn't asking you" Astra says though he persists
"I trained her, Astra and I know that she's a good enough fighter to be fighting along with us"
"Amora, how good of a fighter are you?" Astra says, ignoring Aaron and moving her sharp green eyes to meet my golden and blue ones
"I'm decent, I guess" I shrug. Astra looks back to Aaron.

Astra's arm suddenly jolts
Amora, on your toes I hear Aaron's voice though I'm already up and acting. I grab my sword and barrel out of my chair, knocking it down backwards. I roll on the ground and land in a crouching position. The throwing knife Astra threw clatters onto the ground. Her eyes meet mine again "A test. You don't credit yourself enough" Astra frowns and then smiles "I'd be happy to teach you how to shift" Astra looks to Aaron, who is out of his chair and on his feet "But" She walks over to me and extends a hand. I sheath my sword and take her warm grip "There is something you'll have to do for us" She glances between Aaron and I

"Fight with us. For the time you're in Apulia you will fight with us. Not for us, with us" Astra speaks like a true leader and it feels assuring, comforting even
"I would be happy to fight with you" I offer a smile
"Well" Aaron drawls "I guess it would be fun to cause a little trouble again"
"Trouble for the right reasons" Astra grins mischievously.
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The afternoon is filled with chatting and laughter but I don't say much, only getting small talk every now and then, which I'll admit, isn't very pleasant and I don't think I'm any good at.