Alive

Chapter 8

A few days after my meeting with Ivy and Mel, Crystal had awoken from her 'smoke coma' as I like to call it, and was busy trying to earn her way back into camp. I had seen her rush from one end of the camp to another with gadgets and gismos, then run from inside the camp to the outside in a huge rush to get somewhere. At first I was extremely joyful that Crystal was awake and fully healthy at that. But soon her everyday appearance and voice got quite annoying, and intervened with my everyday activities.

"Arrow!" Crystal said happily as she rushed my way. I let out a frustrated sigh as I sat my bow down, my quiver empty from where I had target practice a moment before.

"What is it Crystal?" I asked with pure annoyance. "Can't you see I'm in the middle of something?" I say, giving her a slight, warning glare. What she had to tell me better be good, or else she would face the consequences.

"I just wanted you to train with me." Crystal says, looking saddened in the face. Her eyes drooped and she stared at the floor. "I figured that you would help me test out my new arena I built for Scarlet and I to train in, since she's not here." Crystal explained, her blonde roots shining a gold color in the afternoon sun. I couldn't help but admire how well she acted, I knew she was only pretending to be upset, and most of the time it wouldn't work on me but I had to humor her in some way.

"Well, maybe tomorrow." I say and walk up to the target I had been firing at just a few moments ago. I pulled out one black tipped arrow from the wooden target, then another as I heard Crystal's feet pad towards me.

"Please Arrow. I promise I won't bother you anymore if you do this for me." Crystal begs and I tried to hold in a smirk. I was playing her like a puppet on a string.

"I'm not interested Crystal." I lie, looking serious as I pull out the rest of the arrows from the target. Crystal stared up at me with a disappointed look, then sat in the ground beside my target.

"Fine then, I guess I'll watch you train until you agree to come with me." She says in a teasing voice. I let out a sigh of frustration before rolling my eyes in response and walking back to where I had aimed at the target before. Quickly I took aim at the target, pulling an arrow out of my quiver and pointing it above where I needed to aim, and let the arrow fly. It hit exactly on the bullseye and I felt a slight wave of pride come from Crystal as she watched the arrow with awe.

"What if I miss the target and hit you?" I say out of pure concern, aiming another arrow, pretending not to aim correctly.

"I know you never miss." Crystal said plainly, staring up at me with glowing crystal blue eyes. "Scarlet told me all about you." She finished. Crystal continued talking to me about her own past, going on and on about her father and the village she came from. She never seemed to stop talking.

"Oh my Mira, Crystal, if you don't stop talking I'm gonna hit you with a rock." I threaten as I put my bow and quiver down. Crystal looked at me with an offended expression, standing up beside me.

"Train with me and I'll stop talking." Crystal said, getting on her tip toes to look me straight in the eyes.

"Will you leave me alone if I train with you?" I ask and Crystal nods her head vigorously, joy waving off of her expression.

"Yay! Thanks Arrow, you're the best!" Crystal says and quickly wraps her arms around me in a hug. I quickly push her away in complete surprise, not knowing how to react. After a moment of silence, I clear my throat before speaking.

"Let's go and start training." I say and guide her out of the camp and towards the ongoing forest of Scarlets territory.

We trek through the territory until we arrive at a small clearing that I had guessed Crystal had cleared out herself. In the center of the clearing lye what looked to be a training court, with hand crafted fences all around it. On the outskirts of the ring were three types of gadgets that all had different abilities. I was in awe by the blonde mortal's craftsmanship, studying the arena before me in a total trance.