The short book of shorty short shorts

Spitfire

{Location: The caves of despair}(Katara's POV)

The bandit takes his sweet time coming closer to me. I harden my face, I just lost my wings, I'm not gonna lose my life. I curl my legs up as he towers over me. Until I give him a hard kick to the ankles. He stumbles down, the knife flying out of his hand and me running away. He grunts then there's loud steps after me, "Hey. Get back here, ya little spitfire."

I run past some tower with a skeleton face on it, "Not likely." And really? Spitfire? Even those Ninja had better comebacks.

I run faster eventually out of the desert into some woods. I look behind me to see the bandit long gone, "Slacker." I bite my dry lips as light blood trickles down my back. I lean against a tree, rip off the prison sleeves and try to wrap them around my back. "There. Nice and sturdy." I get up and just kinda wander forward. Maybe I should go faster, the green eclipsed moon is creepy. But I pace myself until I find a small stream. "Finally." I lower myself for a drink.

Whether it's the recent banishment or the walk, I'm tired. Prison was horrible beyond belief. And lonely. I never thought I'd actually miss someone like Jezzie's company, "On second thought. I don't miss her. I miss my sister." The last time I saw Willow she looked ready to jump me. And for very good reason too. Oh geez, I suck.

I find a small rock and toss it to still water, I get three bounces then it sinks, "It's not like she'd ever trust me again. Or listen to what I have to say." Everything was so much easier a few years ago. Especially with that thing Jezzie gave me. Even something against my morals was doable. I hold my hand out, letting a small flame flicker over my fingers, "And now I'm free to be me." I look back up, the eclipse is fading and these woods will only get creepier.

I get to my feet and look for a road. There seems to be a cut in the forest that turns right. Maybe I'll come across some night hikers. I start to turn, pulling my foot high when something stings my right hand. I muffle down a few choice words as I look. A bee? I bite my lips as my other hand burns with a dull flame, "What'd you do that? What is the point of a bee?" I watch it as it curls up after the stinger is pulled, "You died without killing me. What's the point of....." my eyes pull downward to see a upturned log. With small honeycombs in the firelight. "You were protecting your family. Your friends. Your home."

That's what I should have done. I shouldn't have stuck with my father. I shouldn't have gotten boy-crazy and fly off the handle half-cocked. At least this little guy has more morality than me. I pull out the stinger and the bee corpse. I burn the thing to ash, "There you go little guy. At least you have more honor than me." I let the light grey flicker down over its old home. I brush my hands and try to not tear up from the pain.

I start to the path, with way too many thoughts filling my head. At some point, I pass into a small town. I study the sign, "Heltec Cove." I wonder around a bit as my stomach growls. I look around, there are some people up, mostly fighting near not so safe places. I eventually find an alleyway with a fair sized cardboard box. I settle down and sigh as someone get tossed out of a small motel, "We're all just below a bee's honor."

I lower my eyes and spot a red rubber band. How many times did Willow defend me, honor me, take a hit for me? It must be endless. She never deserved that. I pick up the band, place it around my right hand over the bee sting. Willow, the White rose, the Hero of the story, never deserved anything she got from me. "But I do." I squeeze my eyes as I pull the band up.