THE NEVERSEEN'S MOONLARK !

Chapter 2: Stars and Blades

I draw back my left arm, aiming for the center of the X on the forehead of the dummy. It still feels unnatural, after two weeks of training every day. Three...two...one... I throw. The dagger lodges slightly to the side, but still a killing blow. Fintan gives a slight nod.

"Pretty good for your left hand." I walk over to the dummy, pulling out the dagger. When I see the lushberry red on the silvery blade, I just wipe it off. It's hard to believe I was once that young, naive girl who couldn't bear the thought of hurting someone, even if that someone was her enemy. Now I would kill without hesitation. I take a deep breath, aim, and try again. Drat. The dagger veers off to the side, cutting into the fabric on the arm. Red juice sprays across the floor in an arch. I sigh in frustration, walking over to retrieve my blade.

"You'll get better over time." I turn around. Gethen gives me a faint smirk. I glare at him. Fintan doesn't notice.

"Right, but we don't have time." He says. "Keep practicing." I grab a throwing star from the weapons placed on a table and narrow my eyes. I'll show them. The curved blades of the four-pointed star stab into the middle of the X on the dummy's chest. I turn to Gethen and return his smirk.

"You, Moonlark." I stop in the middle of the training center. A blond-haired woman glides into the room.

"Gisela." I acknowledge her with a nod of my head. She looks slightly annoyed at the lack of admiration in my gaze and tone. Of course, up until a few weeks ago, I despised her with my whole being. Old habits die hard.

"You and two others have been assigned on a mission to take back the Lodestar hideouts and destroy the Foxfire pathway." She says, heels clicking on the shiny wooden floor.

"Who're the two others?" I ask.

"Lizzy and Trix." I nod, relieved.

"When do we leave?" Gisela's ice blue eyes glitter. I stuff away memories of other eyes once familiar to me, ice blue, teal, periwinkle...

"Now."