Of Blood and Loss

XII: The Stalker

The Moon rested on the crags that sat on the crater's edge. A broken pattern etched itself on the remnants of a once-proud tower. Warm ray flowed just barely out of reach of the boy, leaving him shivering. The morning was cold, he almost forgot he was on top of a mountain. He forced himself up off the wet ground, his burning piece of the tower he used to sleep next to was now a pitiful collection of smoulders. His deep mauve locks again was soaked in dirt. He sighed, but it wasn't any worry, the Lake was nearby. He just didn't want to lose what little warmth he could find. Hercules, Venus and Achilles all slept separately, He furrowed his brow as Hercules and Venus always had to sleep near each other. He stepped over the resting girl gently, and headed toward the nearby water, being careful not to wake anyone else up.

Morgan took off his leather wraps to let his hands breathe, he flicked them around to let the joints ease up. He hadn't had a proper bath since he fought last in the Arena. He closed his eyes, took off all his clothes and slowly stepped in. The water made his spine shudder, his arms became steel rods. His fingers and toes seized up, his lungs and thus his breath hitched, he encased his entire body; but then it all stopped. Suddenly, all the tension and stress from his muscles was all released. He let out a sigh of relief. The lake didn't lap gently at his body, it just sat as he did. He smiled, as he rested his head on a boulder. His tunic didn't do a very good job of keeping his body from being dirty, plus the dust from the crumbling castle constantly showered him. He opened his eyes, his deep mauve hair was dotted in mud and dust. He wouldn't be surprised if they had been then since Niruith's fight. He sighed, his body was now warmer. He dipped his head under finally, as he scrubbed, rubbed and ultimately cleaned his hair. Well as clean as a lake can be, which was surprising. The only movement was the dirt Morgan kicked up as he stepped in, the rest of the lake perfectly reflected the pale face of the lady in the sky. A deep sapphire sky sat high above the lake, and yet it's reflection filled the lake. He sat and appreciated the silence.

"Bit cold for a bath." Venus' whisper sounded like it could crack the mountain, it made the boy jump a little. "Nowhere else I can bathe, wanna get in? I can close my eyes if you want." She smiled and followed with a small no, resting her hand on her chest with a slight frown. "Well you can just sit on that boulder I suppose." He sighed, dipping his head in a little causing his breath to falter. "What are you doing?" The girl laughed. "Gladiator Technique, how you wash out the blood and the negativity. Force yourself in, and then stop fighting and let the cold in. It's hell but it makes you feel a lot better quicker." He grunted, lifting himself up a little. She smiled "Gladiators are so wierd, I think Hercules' used to do that too."

Morgan smiled "He's the one that taught me it." She tilted her head, and Morgan let out a small chuckle as he explained "We were going to have a match, just before Egalitith attacked. He's an older Champion but I was rising and people wanted to see who would win. Sorta an underdog thing. My last memory before waking up on some beach half dead, was talking to Hercules." Morgan smiled. "Us gladiators had to put on a front, we're actually very supportive of each other. Have to form friendships with what little time we have with each other. Or maybe that's just Akrasia, shit was rough out there." Venus seemed interested "I never visited Akrasia, what was it like?"

Morgan smiled and leaned forward, "Well it's mainly rich snobs who have too much money, but then there is also the lower half. The workers in the shops, the fishermen, bastards, and then the lowest of the low; Gladiators. I was a bastard, I only got there cos Mars lived there. And then one day he threw me out, I never had enough money to leave, let alone food or shelter so I lived where I was allowed. Sewers and especially docks. Eventually I was picked up and trained and I didn't die very easily, but yeah. You were either stupid rich, stupid powerful or just uhh... Stupid." Venus smiled "Doesn't sound like the nicest place." The boy nodded "It wasn't, but the people were the best." He smiled, but Venus began to frown. "That would explain a lot." Morgan held his smile as he looked at the last few stars, as the morning light began to set in.