The Ivory Killer (DISCONTINUED)

-Chapter Ten- Merhedith

Chapter ten! We're finally in the double digits! Also, above is a sketch of Merhedith. Aron's portrait will come next week with his chapter ;). Head's up, there is implied death in this chapter.

As soon as I stepped foot into the safe-city, exhaustion hit me like a wave. It made sense, considering I hadn't slept at all the night before and was out all day. Just the thought of soft blankets and my slightly lumpy mattress was enough to make my eyelids start drooping.

I walked, though it was more like well hidden stumbling, to my hut, fully prepared to sleep. The door opened with a familiar scrape. I set my bag down on the ground, not bothering to light a candle. It was early evening, so the warm glow of the sun lit everything just fine. I toed off my boots, peeled off my socks, and climbed into my bed.

I was woken up minutes later. Well, what felt like minutes anyway. Jarad stood over me, lightly shaking my shoulder.

"Merhedith," he whisper-yelled, "Merhedith, wake up."

I frowned, still completely disoriented from sleep. My blanket was no longer covering me, but being relentlessly strangled by my limbs. My toes were cold and I could feel drool on my cheek. I was sure that my hair was an absolute rat's nest, but I wasn't embarrassed by my appearance. Besides, Jarad had woken me up plenty of times before, whether it be for human sightings, or just making sure I ate a meal. He knew how ugly I was when I slept.

I rolled over, still clutching my blanket. According to the light still leaking through my window, I hadn't been asleep for more than a few hours. I was not ready to be awake, so I just wouldn't. Simple.

"Come on, Merhedith," Another sharp shake to my shoulders, "You've got to get up. There's been a sighting."

I perked up. Sighting meant humans, and humans meant danger. I sat up, straightening out my aching legs. Danger meant we needed protection. I organized any protection.

"Details?" I asked. Jarad held a hand out and pulled me to my feet. There was a moment of intense tingling and dizziness, but it only lasted a second. The change in position plus my obvious lack of meals created a mean head rush.

After he made sure I was awake and standing, he opened my drawer and pulled out a wooden comb. Placing it in my hand, he started, "Some of the farther patrols, the southern groups, reported minutes ago of an oncoming cart. It's not very large, but there seem to be passengers in the carriage," I quickly started yanking the brush through my hair and he bent down to pick up my boots, "They're Otanian soldiers, by the sound of it. They reported of red and silver colors," I nodded in acknowledgement and pulled on my socks, followed by my boots.

"How long until they're at the attack spot?" I asked.

He handed me my bag. I started filling it with things I would need. It was already equipped with leftover smoke and light bombs, and the one fire explosive, so I didn't need to grab anymore. I did retrieve one thing, though. Deep in my drawer, was a small vial. It was never, ever to be used outside of missions, but was vital for a mission's success. I stared at the object in my hand with a sour look, then dropped it into my bag. I hated it, but it was necessary.

"Not too long. We should leave as soon as possible, though. If they were caught by the southern patrol, they'll be here soon," He responded in a serious tone. I slid the whistle on a string over my neck.

As we walked out the door, I worked on tying my hair up. The sun was close to setting, and I sighed disappointedly. I really hadn't gotten much sleep at all. I could feel the deep bags under my eyes and soreness of my joints. My stomach rumbled, throwing in it's two cents. I wasn't in the best condition for a raid, but any cart could be important to us mages. Letting one pass because I was tired and hungry was just straight up lazy.