[COMPLETE] African Pride

27. The Scarlett Sorceress

"You know, scars are pretty attractive," I said to Lei, smiling softly.

I was wiping the blood from a small cut on her forehead, courtesy of our jump from the train. By the grace of the gods, we had only minor bumps and bruises that would heal in time. I was putting on a brave face for the others though because I was aching terribly. I wasn't healing as I used too, and every time I moved was complete and utter agony.

"So," Lei said. "Where do we go now?"

"Yeah," Victoria asked, rubbing her arm. "Where do we go now?"

"We are in luck the train was very close to our destination," I explained. "We only have to walk...forty-eight hours, and we will be at the Falls."

"Two days?!" Victoria shrieked. "Kara, you have to be joking!"

"I never joke about something like this," I said, my voice deathly serious. "We have to keep one moving. The spring equinox will soon be upon us. So, if we want to get there before the poachers I suggest, we all move our asses!"

Picking up my backpack I swung it over my shoulders and nodded to Halima to join me. Victoria grumbled under her breath but picked up her backpack to follow, Lei and Albert doing the same.

"Lei, your girlfriend, is beginning to be a serious pain in my ass," Victoria snapped.

I guided them off the road and together we all began the long hike up Mount Kenya. I sighed with relief the moment I was back in my element, stopping briefly to take off my boots and put them in my backpack. Feeling the earth between my toes filled me with energy, and I couldn't help but wiggle them against the grass.

The air seemed to sing with my arrival; animals poked their heads out to watch our little progression. Now and then something popped out—wither it be a snake, a huge bug, or even a frog—and Victoria would scream. After a while though, I slowed my pace so that we could walk side-by-side for me to comfort her. However, as we walked, and the scorching sun beat down upon us; I heard Lei clear her throat.

"Kara?" Lei said. "I need to ask you something..."

"What is it?" I asked.

Lei took a deep breath. "Well, I want some clarity on something. Those men on the train. Did you like killing them?"

Did I?

Her question echoed in my head. I know I always said that I didn't care if poachers died, because after all, they were murdering innocent animals. But, did I like inflicting pain upon others? Did I enjoy seeing them in pain?

"I... I don't know..." I confessed. "I mean... do you like stepping on ants? Or swatting at a spider that so happens to wander into your house?"

Lei frowned. "No..."

"But sometimes it's required. With poachers... Lei, you don't understand that with them, it's kill or be killed. They are murdering for profit."

"It's just... you are killing..."

"What would you have me to do then Lei? Would you want me to let them kill you? To let them kill me?"

"No! Dear God, no."

"Then why bring them up?"

"Because...I'm concerned about how this might be affecting you, all right? When I look into your eyes..., I'm afraid of what might look back at me."

I stopped, looking into her brown eyes. "Lei... this is me, and this has always been me. I can't change who I am."

"I'm saying I want you to be careful," Lei replied. "Please. I...I care deeply about you. I hate to see you get hurt."