Hood: The Green Warrior

Camp

General POV

The grey, misty skies were decorated with silver linings and the fresh chirping of birds (standing out from the mood) filled the quiet atmophere.

Aled stared at the picture on his nightstand; the only memory that reminded him of the life he once had, the love he once had. It was the first thing he saw when he went to bed and the first thing he saw when he woke up. A young woman, blond hair frozen mid-air, beamed at the camera. Her sapphire-coloured eyes tinkled with joy. The photo was suppose to bring him happiness, memories for sweet reflection and savoury. Instead, they brought him distant screams and grim images. The furious fire producing intimidating black fogs. The cries and shouts of fear. The depressing news of death that had destroyed all his happiness, that had made him a leader. The anger that ignited a spark in him as merciless as the flames that claimed his wife...

"Aled! Aled!" came a desperate shout from the window. Snapped out of his intense trance, the rugged leader ran to his window, his rush of agitation replaced by worry.

"What is it James?" he belowed from his window. James, a younger member of the Distopian camp, stood at the foot of Aled's great wooden house looking shaken. His blond curls where ruffled by sleep and the silent shuffling of the residents implied the break of morning.

"Th-there was something floating in the w-water. My father pulled it to shore!" cried the teen, stumbling over his words like a klutz. Aled had already pullled a jacket over his shirt and had rushed to the door. James looked distant in recollection. Aled shook him with desperation as he looked on with wide eyes.

"James! Speak for God sake," boomed Aled. His bear like build towered over Jame's blond head. "A-a b-body! In the lake," the boy said, pointing to the distant twisting lake.

 A group of seniors had surrounded the muddy banks that led to the murky waters . The distant outline of The Wall that seperated the thriving life of Europia could be seen. A path cleared for him as Aled hurried to the scene. Ahead of him laid a weak looking body, pale despite it's darker colour. Alric (one of the seniors) kneeled by the still body. 

"Is she alright," Aled asked looking down at him and the serene figure.

"She looks bruised, quite a journey she had. Maybe got into a fight," Alric explained, gently turning her head. A short, deep red line ran along the bottom of her neck.  "Well, well. What do we have here. Oooh, looks painful," he said softly tracing the cut. 

Suddenly, the corpse gasped, eyes flying wide open, grabbing Alric's hand. Even Aled jumped back in shock. Her eyes swept over them rapidly before she muttered inaudible words.

"What are you trying to say?" Aled asked, squatting close to the gasping girl.

"The b-bodies. The bodies," she choked with terror before slumping back into the mud. Her words ringed in his ear, sending breif chills down his spine.

The seniors watched him, Alric stood further away than possible. "Tiamora, bring warm clothes. James, some food. Go clear a room, she needs rest!" Aled's voice roared. He turned back to the body, silentlly laid in the marshy dirt. Effortlessly, he picked her up into his bulging arms and turned to a suprisingly scornful Alric blocking his path.

"Alric, what is the meaning of this?"

"Aled, you can not bring her into the camp. She's an outsider and she doesn't belong here," he complained grimly looking at the mud. He couldn't quite meet the eyes of the glaring leader.

"And when did you become the leader Alric? I make the decisions since you where too cowardly to make them yourself and my decision is the girl stays," Aled's voice spat in a low, dangerous tone. Alric still stared at the floor as Aled passed him, slightly nudging his arm angrily.

The body in his arms stirred a bit before going completely placid. "You are safe," Aled said to the motionless body. "For now."

Just a taster of the next part. Thanks to the guys who have been readng my storie. Comments much appreciated!