Orcinus's One-Shots! *Whoo*

Severance

I'm scared. I am so, so scared. Am I allowed to admit that? Will Hera's wrath come down upon me if I let those words describe what I'm feeling at this moment? I am supposed to be the daughter of the greatest merchants in the land; I can't permit myself to be scared by those lesser. Please, Hera, have mercy on my soul! What have I done to deserve this? What have I-

"Nira."

My eyes snap open, searching for the one who had spoken the name. I'm not sure why I reacted. It's not my name. At least, not anymore. It had been a few years ago, but now it seemed too far a distant memory. Even now, I most likely wouldn't have reacted. I'd have probably continued trying to drown out all the laughing and jeering that was surrounding me. Though, I know full well that it wasn't the name that had brought me back. No. It was something far worse. For it was the man who had spoke that drew fear. The man in charge of the majority of the country. The same country I had been cast into with no other words than "Good luck."

With as much strength as I can muster, I turn my head to look into the sickly green eyes of my captor. Upon our eyes meeting, a broad grin grows on his face as he winks at me, as if this is all some practical joke. He immediately turns away to face the ring of men, women, and children who encompass us, throwing out his arms as if he's on stage in some sort of staged play.

"Hello, and welcome to all those who decided to show their pathetic little faces," the leader calls out, a large mad grin on his face. I wince as cheers ring out and both swords and daggers are held up towards the sky. I feel my wings instinctively hug my sides as if hoping to protect me from the criminals. I watch the man, who had once more turned back to me, who had directed his vision reacting wings struggle with amusement. It's a brief moment, and he returns to the crowd and begins to wave, reminding me of the people who stood on the multi-colored floats of the many festivals I had seen.

Suddenly, I am yanked up, dragged to my feet to face the crowd with a shocked gasp. It is soon followed by a yelp as I stumble to gain my balance, wincing as the ropes that bind my wrists cut deeper. My tormentor smirks and wraps an arm around my shoulders as if I were a close friend.

He continues to drive the crowd on, bringing forth cheers, whistles, and laughter to reverberate throughout the large room. I look around fearfully as the people whom I had counted as my family for the past uncounted years, laugh at me as if I am some joke. There isn't one look of sympathy in the sea of faces, only the mockery that has been bestowed upon me.

I turn away, in hopes that I can cut out their obnoxious laughter. It only grew louder.

As our brave leader drives them on, I feel hot tears begin to form in my eyes as the urge to cry starts to overwhelm me. I begin to wonder if I should just give in, to just collapse and let it continue. After all, from what I know, I was enduring what many called 'The Trial.' I had never witnessed this event, but from the rumors I had heard passed throughout the streets, it was very much feared and impossible to stop.

I am once more jerked, driving me away from my thoughts and back to the cold embrace of reality. I am immediately met with his eyes, his smirk no longer present and instead has been replaced with a deep frown, showing even less compassion than it had before; if that was even possible.

"Alright, enough of this child's play," He snapped at the people with venom.

With those words, all fell silent and barely a breath could be drawn. Their leader's smirk returns as he saw the control he held and he once again turned to me.

"Perfect," he grins, roughly shoving me back to my knees. "So, this trial is in honor of Miss Nira. Now, Nira, here, came upon our little town some time ago, and she has faithfully followed orders, and I haven't had to do anything drastic in that time."

As he spoke, I could see one of my tormentor's brothers through the corner of my eye, barely able to watch as they came into the center of the ring with a large ax. My brown-feathered wings begin to twitch violently, begging to be set free and to take off into the air. But I force them to stay where they currently rest. I can't risk worsening my punishment. I watch as my captor walks past me and up to his brother, accepting the tool and tenderly running a hand over the splintering handle.

"But of course, there can not be a trial without a crime. So then, what did she do?" he smiles, waving the ax about. "Well, my dear children, Miss Nira has done one of the most atrocious, most vile, most rotten thing anyone could ever dream. She spoke to an outsider!"

A series of dramatic gasps fill the large chamber and a few even shriek in horror. If not for the fact that my life is possibly on the line, I would find it ridiculous. Unfortunately, that isn't the case, and I find myself too scared even to move and try to defend myself for the accused actions. Yes, I had talked with someone from outside of Tinalla, but he had meant no harm. It wasn't as if I had given away any secrets that could harm anyone, and I most certainly didn't let him into Tinalla.

I look back up at the man, who was now twisting the handle of the ax in his hands. He turns to face me and a wicked gleam shines in his eyes.

"Now we just can't have that, so I began to think: how can I get the message through to her? Then I remembered that the best way to do that is to hit it where it hurts. And, well, since she's a Winged Flier I suppose in this case the correct term is 'sever.'"

My eyes go wide, and I shake my head, my fear far too large for me to speak. With no more willpower to hold back my emotions, hot tears begin to roll down my cheeks and my wings fan out trying to push the enemy away. I hear the sharp gasps of onlookers as my extra set of limbs show a defiance to my leader.

Through flowing tears I see his smirk grow, still twisting the ax in his hands. I'm filled with an undying feeling of hatred and the want to tackle him and do everything in my power to fight back. But any attempts to do that would surely bring only dangerous situations, which I most certainly do not need at this moment.

I watch as he taps his chin as if he were in deep thought, "Hm. Could it be you are pleading for mercy? But then I risk the entire family."

I grit my teeth at the condescending tone of voice and a low growl rips from my throat. My captor only clicks his tongue.

"As I thought," he snarls, before motioning his brother to prepare for the ritual. In terror, I find myself being dragged towards the wall, where already blood has painted the stony surface. With that sight and thought of what was to come I finally find the power to struggle my wings fighting to push the one holding me away.

However, through my struggles my head is slammed into the wall causing me to become dazed and unmoving, my defenses no longer of use. I watch in horror as he gathers a firm hold on the ax, a psychotic gleam all that's left in his eyes. My screaming dies down and it is slowly reduced to small whimpers.

'Oh, please, Hera, no! Why are you doing this to me? You take me from my family, only to drop me into this madhouse?!' I scream in my head.

"If anyone would like to speak against this act, do so now," he announced preparing his attack. And, though I plead, not one soul is brave enough to step forward. With tear-filled eyes I watch as the one I had considered a father shrug and look at me.

"Too bad."

With one movement, he raises the ax over his head and brings it down with a sickening crack.

C:C:

This was the first short story I ever wrote and it was originally meant to be on an author's webpage but that never happened. I've used this story in multiple places and it's still one of my favorite stories out there! I hope you enjoyed it! Have a lovely day.