Alfinians Rise

I Will Fight

    Sweat glistens off my body, heart pounding and breathing heavy, I look up at the cement ceiling overhead. My body is exhausted. After we left the meeting we were thrown immediately into the first trial. I cringe as I recall the earlier events. I screwed up. I drew attention to myself. I should've held back.

   I beat myself up mentally, scolding myself for not remembering the extent of this power inside me. During the Trial today I surpassed almost everyone in speed and agility during the obstacle course. I'm not here to make friends...but still the dirty looks I earned from many of the others pains me. As the sun began to disappear on the horizon, I stood to watch as a handful of men and a frail looking girl left the camp, cursing, and grumbling as I recall the events of the past few hours.

My heart pounded in my chest as all the muscles in my body cried their painful protests. Pain is nothing. Pain is temporary, I tell myself as I hoist my body up the wooden wall using the rope, reaching my hand to the top edge I use all the strength I had to pull myself up and sit on the ledge. Taking a moment to look back I realize that only one or two people have made it ahead of me, while everyone else is still fumbling through the first two obstacles on the course. I harumph, a swell of pride filling my chest as I swing my legs over the side and jump, not taking the time to stop as I simply roll out of the fall by tucking my shoulder in. Hurts like a bitch but saves time. 

I push to my feet and take off after the others ahead of me. The sun bears down on my back as I head towards the mud pits and practically throw myself into them. I hear voices shouting as I turn back, my entire front side sticky with mud, and see that several people have descended onto the wooden wall. I have to hurry, I wade my way through the mud, not really thinking about what is down there until I feel my foot gets caught. My heart stops. I pull. Nothing. I pull harder, still nothing. 

The others are now making their way into the mud as I begin to panic. I can't get my foot off. What is this? A tree root or some shit? 

"Here!" a soft voice calls out. I look up to see a dainty hand extended out to me. Desperate, I grab it without question and she pulls hard. Pain shoots through my foot and runs up my leg. I yelp in pain as whatever holds me finally relinquishes its grasp, sending me flying into the woman just as mud covered as I. 

Shit. We are behind now. "Come on, let's go," I say, grabbing her hand and half dragging her through the mud and back onto the dry land. The next portion is a long run, I know I can catch up but I don't know about her. Then again, I don't have time to worry about others, I just need to make it to the finish. 

Against my better judgment, I whip around and face the woman who helped me, her features indistinguishable thanks to the mud. "Don't rush the run. As long as you finish you get to continue. I have good endurance so I'm going to go ahead but take it easy. You got this." I tell her before spinning on my heel and taking off in the direction of the others, not even giving her a chance to reply. 

It's not long before I've caught up with the men and I take a moment to regain my breath. This is excruciating. My foot hurts, my arms hurt, everything hurts, but all I can focus on is moving forward. So I focus, channel all of my energy into my feet, into my calves, and push forward, surpassing the clustered group and heading to the front of the pack. I can do this. 

I clear the hurdles with ease, no matter the height, and take my place back in third. A few more obstacles later I am crossing the finish line, collapsing to the ground with two others as I suck in all the air in the universe.

   And that's how I got here, standing with a muddy towel in my hand after a vain attempt to wipe off as much as I could. Meanwhile, whispers are beginning to spread like wildfires. I know they're talking about me. They're disappointed that the sweet-looking girl with a fragile physique is tougher than many of them. They're gonna get suspicious if I don't restrain myself. But I can't hold back too much...