Turned

Chapter 10: Holding Up the Sky

Warning: This chapter is going to be super long. Please take the time to read it and don't give up midway through. Oh, and I apoligze for my lack on indentation, copy and paste acted up. Anyway, I've worked my hardest on this chapter and I hope you guys like it! Thanks :D

Destiny decided to take no pity on me. She waved off my damaged, aching head and my viciously sliced arm, telling me I needed to get ready for tomorrow. She stood at the soft wood trees and borrowed my sword to show me how to thrust, jab, and block.

I took the sword in my hands and immediately, warmth I've never felt before spread through me. Again, I felt destined to use this sword. It feels natural. I jab at the target and it punctures the wood cleanly. Destiny praised my jab and requested for me to try another one, followed by a block. It feels effortless.

I worked through all of Destiny's drills flawlessly, and by the time we finished, even she was a bit surprised with the perfection of my strikes. She told me I was doing a decent job, for a beginner. I'm pretty sure she adds the last part because she doesn't want me to get a big head.

As we talk about improve my thrusts, Rachel skips over, across the field to join us. She's wearing a bright yellow sundress, which is off-putting. Poisonous snakes don't wear sundresses.

"Goodness, doesn’t she have any other friends?" Destiny mumbles.

"Hi guys,” she says sweetly.

We greet her with an unenthusiastic hello.

"Such a bright sunny day, isn't it? Truly beautiful," she says with a smile. "Pity, we have to fight tomorrow. I was thinking I would go into the woods. I found this radiant patch of water lilies in the pond near base 5 and I wanted to go pick them up to dry them as a memory." she says regretfully. For a second I actually feel bad for her and her flowers.

Until I remember that she's evil of course.

She's looks at Destiny for a second, taking her in.

"You know, I never see you without that braid. Here, let's let is loose and try something else. I've been itching to try out a waterfall braid and it'll go beautifully with your bright, pure hair." she says happily.

"I'd rather not...." Destiny starts.

"She'd love to," I say, cutting her off. Perfect revenge for making me practice with an ill head and arm.

Her stormy iron eyes shoot daggers at me. I smile sweetly.

"Ahhh, how sweet is vengeance?" I sigh in her ear. She grimaces.

"Excellent!" shrieks Rachel, and before I even blink, she's already pulling her over to a group of rocks, deeper in the forest.

"There was another flower patch here," she says. She scrunches up her nose and narrows her eyes in concentration. “Filled with beautiful pink flowers. It would look so pretty on you," she says, trailing off as she finds the bush.

"Oh here they are!" she squeals. "I'm not sure what they are though. I though you'd be able to tell me what they are. I heard you're a master at plant life,"

"They're dahlias." she says gruffly, but in a pleased tone. I can tell she's softening up to Rachel. "Dahlia tenuis, to be exact."

"Oh I just knew you would know," Rachel exclaims, sitting Destiny down on a rock.

Destiny blushes.

Rachel's nimble fingers work their way through Destiny's bushy, uncontrollable hair. She manages to tame the hair a bit, and braids the top part of her golden hair into a complicated braid. The rest of Destiny's hair is left down, dropping over her slim shoulders. To finish the look, Rachel slides multiple flowers into the crevices in the braid. The light pink color compliments her hair, and clashes just right with her dusty eyes.