The Beginning of Lexa

1

As soon as my lips were able to leave my mother's milk, I was taken away from my family to Polis. It didn't matter though, I grew up with the family I knew there. The 8 other natblidas. We have been separated from our families because of the colour of our blood.

From the day we were able to understand words, we have been taught that our purpose in life is to serve the others. And that only one of us can live as soon as Heda dies. It never was a problem amongst us though. For one thing, we were young, and we barely understood what the words exactly means for us. For another thing, Heda was strong. The strongest man we know. We thought he would never die. But we'll come to that later. For now, let me tell you my story. I am Lexa Woods kom Trikru. And in a few years time, Ai Laik Heda.

The emerald green eyes of the brunette gleamed mischievously as her chubby limbs ran through the streets of Polis.

"Grilled Rats! Come buy the best grilled rats you'll ever taste."

"Rabbit skins, lamb skins, you name it you got it! Freshly sewn to keep you warm this winter!" 

Hundreds of the market sellers yelled to the crowd of grounders streaming along the street of Polis. The small brunette darted nimbly around the legs of market goers, her eyes sparkling bright with happiness. 

"Anya! Anya! I'm here Anya! Let's go!" Her high pitched voice squealed against the wooden door which lay between her and the strong rider. 

The child pounded her tiny fist on the door as she jumped from feet to feet, waiting for the teenager to open the door.

"Leksa!" Anya appeared, fully dressed in her newly made warrior armer. The brunette gaped in awe at the shiny armour the warrior proudly wore. 

"Let's go! I want to catch a boar today. Luna caught one yesterday. I want to catch one too." The brunette pouted slightly making the other girl laugh. 

"Yes. We will leave now. We will have time to spare before your first lessons with Heda." Anya nodded her head towards her house which stood by the hut, grazing the bright green grass. 

The little brunette grinned happily and ran to the horse, her mini bow and arrow bouncing off of her back with every step she took.

Anya grinned at the little girl. She has potential to become a great warrior. She is going to be a great warrior. Unfortunately, she may not be able to survive the conclave that is sure to come up in the near future. A deep frown imprinted itself between the thin eyebrows of the teen's face. Heda may be the strongest warrior now, but we all know that commanders drops like flies. 

Brown eyes tracked the small figure struggling to climb up the large beast, patiently waiting for his owner. One thing Anya knew for sure is that she will try her hardest to help the little spirit of joy to survive her cruel fate. She was going to make the 4 year old her Second. And she was going to teach the kid everything she knows that helped her graduate the top of her class. Right now, they are going hunting in the beautiful morning sun. Right now, she was going to let Lexa be the little kid she is. A few more hours of being a kid before turning onto a warrior in training.

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Leaves ruffled softly in the morning breeze. A brown stallion stood discreetly behind a bush, with two riders perched on top of him. The older girl guided little hands on her bow, correcting her posture and positioning.

Emerald eyes focused solely on a fuzzy creature sniffing the grounds of the forest, unaware of the sharp stick aimed at its heart then and there.

"Nau Leksa." The black haired girl whispered to the brunette and the brunette dutifully released the strung arrow. They watch it zip through the air and pierce the beast in the chest, The beast roared in fury and pain as it scanned the jungle for its attacker. The girl strung another arrow on her bow and fired it at the beast, piercing it again in its chest. Three more arrows followed the second and in a couple of seconds, the beast crumpled to the ground, its red blood coating the grass. 

The two girls dismounted from the horse and headed to the still beast lying on the forest ground.

"Yu gonplei stei odon." The young child said and the teen grinned with pride. 

"Good Leksa. We have to honour the dead." Anya ruffled the braids that held the brunette's hair together. The brunette nodded her head, already in the process of preparing the corpse back home.

"Sha Anya." The brunette plucks her arrows from the beast's chest and looked up at the older girl. "Thank you for helping me."

"Ogeda." The older girl nodded and helped the brunette drag the beast to the makeshift stretcher.

"Looks like you got something to show Luna now." Anya grinned.

The little girl nodded her head vigorously, her deep emerald eyes shining.

"We should go. Heda wouldn't be pleased if I was late... again." The little girl clambered aboard the stallion and waited anxiously as Anya hooked the stretcher to the horse and gracefully pulled herself up.

The dark haired girl wrapped her arms around the little girl to grab hold of the reins. They trotted back home in silence for awhile, listening to the whispers the trees seemed to give out.

"Leksa?" The brunette looked up to the warrior, her little brows furrowed together.

"Anya."

"Leksa, every warrior has a second, training alongside them to become the best warrior they can be." Anya looked down at the child who looked slightly confused.

"I was a second to Josher. He taught me everything I know now. And throughout my training, I always wanted to be like Josher, training another to be a great warrior. Leksa..." Anya looked down at the little girl, the confusion gone from her face replaced with excitement. " Leksa, would you be my Second?"

"Sha!" The child radiated with happiness as she accepted the offer. "Sha Anya! Ai na na bilaik Seken. I will be your second."