Our second world- book one: Past beginnings

Chapter 18: Haren

Throwing the bandit he was locked in combat with to the ground, he turned to see the bandits leader swing at Marylyn from behind. She managed to block it, but the big sword shattered her tiny blade and slashed her hand. Jumping backwards, she blocked another swing but her dagger wasn't going to hold.

"Go, I've got this," August said.

Haren nodded, and, with no thought to the consequences of his actions, he flung himself at the bandit leader with inhuman speed, intercepting the mans' blade as Marylyn's was shattered. The man slid backwards with the force of the collision. Black smoke billowed from the blade of Harens sword and his tail thrashed angrily. A low growl escaped his throat as he bared his fangs, standing protectively over the fallen girl.

Haren lunged again, sparks flying from the colliding blades. When he pulled away, he noticed a small crack on the other mans' sword. With incredible accuracy, he struck the same point in two more exchanges. The crack growing ever bigger. On the third hit, he fractured the blade into several fragments of shattered metal that clattered to the ground. The man wasn't expecting Harens' ferocity; he staggered backwards as Harens' sword stopped a mere inch from his face.

"Leave," Haren growled." Take your men and go. You have two minutes."

"R-Right away," he quivered, scrambling to gather his beaten men.

After Haren was sure they were gone, he sheathed ShadowBlight. As the tension in his body relaxed, he was overcome with such a strong wave of nausea he promptly hurled in the bushes. Sighing, he collapsed against a nearby tree. His vision blurred and everything felt like it was spinning, so he sat down slowly and tried not to think, least he throw up again. He heard feet shuffle in the dirt and looked up to see August making his way over. Trying to stand, he found no strength in his limbs to do so, and managed nothing but a weak waste of effort that made his head spin.

"Don't," August warned." You shouldn't move for a while."

"Is everyone ok?" Haren asked.

"Yes, we're fine. Well...not deathly injured, anyway," Grace said.

"Worry about yourself, you big dummy," August added." I can't believe you would do something so reckless. What would you have done if those guys didn't leave when they did? You need to think about this kind of stuff before you do something stupid."

"Yeah, not my smartest decision, but it turned out ok, mostly." Haren muttered, barely able to string together words in his exhausted state, as he was on the verge of blacking out. Which he did, soon after.

When he woke up, he was aware of voices somewhere nearby. He was also aware of the pain and stiffness in his body, and something cold on his forehead. He recognized Grace's voice mixed with another. Still groggy and tired, he hadn't the time to put a name to the voice as he inevitably fell asleep again.

The second time he woke up, it was to the smell of smoke and the crackling of a fire.

"Are you awake now?"

"...August?" his throat felt tight and dry.

"Grace and Marylyn went to the river to find some medicinal herbs. They should be back soon. How are you feeling?"

"Better," he replied, pushing himself up on weary limbs.

There was a rustle in the bushes as Grace and Marylyn emerged from the trees, each carrying a bundle of green in their arms, or arm in Marylyn's case. Her injured one had already been bandaged, but she was still being extra careful with it.

"You're back," August said." Did you find everything you were looking for?"

"Yep. Mary even found us some wild berries," Grace replied.

After eating, Haren was starting to feel a lot better, but he was still tired. When it got later, he and August curled up near the fire laying back to back in the grass. Shortly after, Grace joined them, laying down nearby. Marylyn sat on the other side of the fire and watched the flames dance over the wood.

Guess she's not quite used to us yet, Haren thought. Well, I'm glad she's not trying to force herself, at least.