Fractured

Chapter 44: The Wolves Within: Lunar

The Darkblade faded from Vesper's chest as she regained consciousness. Exiting her Primal state and becoming coated in her black and white markings. The rest of the pack watched as she awoke. Agnello was quick to wake Rufus, who slowly opened his eyes in a groggy state.

"What? What's going on?"

"C'mon man Vesper did it!"  Agnello notified.

Rufus shook his head and rubbed his eyes as his vision cleared and he saw Vesper slowly getting up. "Oh shit!" He instantly got up out his seat as both Agnello and Rufus ran over to her help her out.

"I fucking knew you'd do it!" Rufus congratulated as him and Agnello helped her to a seat for her to rest.

"Was there really a doubt if your stupid ass could do it. Of course I-" Vesper stumbled for a moment as she fell into the chair feeling the pain in her body as he markings disappeared. "Holy shit my body is fucking killing me."

"Yeah it'll do that to ya." Rufus said as he kneeled down beside Vesper.

Ayla walked over with a proud smile on her face. "Well done Vesper. I never had a doubt you'd make it through."

Vesper let out a weak smile. The only smile she could manage give due to the amount of pain her body was in. "Yeah kinda wishing I didn't with how bad my body is fucking aching. By the moon I could sleep for a millennia."

"Go ahead and rest. You've earned it." Ayla suggested as Vesper slowly closed her eyes falling asleep in almost an instant. Rufus made sure to stay by her side admiring her as she slept before looking over to Agnello who had been rather quite the entire time.

"Hey Agnello you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." Agnello answered him with a blank tone as he focused his vision on Leora. The last one to achieve Lunam. Watching her as she still struggled with a the blade in her chest, it was hard for him to watch but he knew such actions were needed. This was something he had to leave to her, there was no way he could help her this time. Just like how she had to prove herself in the arena, she had to prove herself now. "C'mon Leora, were all waiting."

Ulima walked up behind Agnello wrapping her arm around his shoulder comforting him. "She's going to be just fine. That girl is a lot stronger than she looks."

Agnello smiled knowing more than anyone how true such words were. "Yeah I know."

                                  ~~~~~
Blood dropped from forehead staining the leaves around her. Another spray of blood came from her lips as she spat it out her mouth and rose up wiping away the blood that was on her lips. Her clothes were torn and the only weapons she had was her own fists.

Leora struggled to stay standing as she stared forward with determined eyes. Looking directly into her own. A Doppelgänger of her self which stood completely unfazed with a smile on her face. The doppelgänger began to laugh in Leora's face gaining some form amusement from her state.

"Is this really all you got. You really think I'd let you achieve Lunam being this weak." The Doppelgänger lunar dashed forward slamming her leg into Leora's stomach causing more glowing blood to spray from her mouth. "The fact you even dared to come here is disrespectful. You're weak as fuck."

Leora flew back before she could land on the flower bed beneath her the doppelgänger appeared from under hitting her with a powerful jab to her spine. "You came here wanting to achieve Lunam. You, a mere healer, a collector of potions, nothing but a little flower girl." 

The glowing doppelgänger appeared above Leora as she was suspended in the air slamming its foot down and sending her into the flowers below. Causing the petals to rise and fill the air. The doppelgänger landed in front of her looking down upon her. Just like most would, the fact was her alternative self was right. She was weak, she was never a fighter, she wasn't a warrior like Rufus, Agnello and Vesper. Fighting was never her thing. She was always more focused on saving people rather than fighting others.