𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐈𝐎𝐑, bellamy blake ²

17; starlight

"When the sun has set, no candle can replace it." 

― George R.R. Martin

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NAOMI TOOK TIME APPLYING THE WARPAINT ON HER FACE.

It was in the same pattern Serena had first applied to her—the symbol of the Graunshila. Black paint ducked over her eyes, whispering in gentle lines down her face. Her fingers left dark trail marks across her cheeks.

Ley sat beside her, legs splayed out across the rocks. She was sharpening her mother's knife on her lap. The forest was quiet. They were surrounded by large trees, murmuring in the strong winds. A river rippled somewhere nearby. Naomi stared down at her own blade. The sword Serena had given her was made of slim steel, long and graceful, and the golden owl pommel twisted between her fingertips.

Naomi still hadn't told anyone about the wolf incident—what would she tell? The entire situation was strange. Even the direwolf being this far East was unusual. Perhaps their packs were moving for the seasons.

She lay back against the stone hillside. Her sword rested, unsheathed and cold beside her body. Naomi raised her stare towards the cloudless sky.

"What was your mother like, Ley?" Naomi asked, raising her fingertips to frame the sky above her. Rays of golden lit the world like a painting, filling the heavens with colour. Yellow sunlight caressed over the hollow's of Naomi's face, framing her in a celestial glow.

The young girl looked up, fire hair falling over her face. She brushed it away from her eyes and leant back. Ley seemed to be pondering for a moment. "She was beautiful," was the first thing that came to her mind. "She had long brown hair and jade eyes. Her face was shaped like an angel—seeing it was my first memory," she recalled. "Indra said that in her youth, she'd been the most beautiful woman the cities had ever seen. Every man wanted her—but she would have none of them. She was strong, too: the best fighter of the 12 clans. The previous Commander respected her so much, he hired her as a private guard. She saved his life so many times. And she was brave. There wasn't a time that I remember when she wouldn't fight an entire army to protect those she loved."

Wind scattered leaves over the two girls. The day was warm and gentle, long rays of sunlight beating down on them. Naomi curled her legs up to her chest.

Ley looked up at the empty sky. "She loved my father. And he loved her. He died when I was born, I didn't ever know him. But I know they loved each other very much. He was a healer, she told me, with fire-hair like my own; and kind, gentle. Like me, she'd say." Ley leant her head against her own shoulder. "I'm nothing like her."

"You're brave," Naomi countered, "you're a warrior."

Ley pressed her back further against the rocks and tilted her eyes towards the tree-line. "I hope I can honour her memory."

"You will. She'd be so proud of you, Ley." Naomi reached out a hand to take the younger girls. They sat there in the sun for a while, upon the hill. Among the woods, the armies rested. Both Skaikru and Trikru were reunited in an attack against Mount Weather—and they were almost there.

Naomi had strict instructions to stay inside the camp, but Naomi had easily snuck past her guards and into the forest. Some Arkers had agreed to watch over Kasey and Amira for her while she was gone. There was no way she wasn't going to see Bellamy again, if he was alive. They were still on radio silence.