I quickly ran to her, letting go of my sword as I got close.
"Mrs. Claire!", I called seeing Mrs. Claire laying lifelessly on the floor, "Mrs. Claire!!", I called again, crying uncontrollably.
"I can't loose you too Mrs Claire", I cried and she said nothing.
"This all my fault! If i had taken the battle more seriously, Mrs Claire wouldn't have died", I said as I stood up boiling in anger.
Aggressively, I ran towards the monster as he spined his chains around. I went low, picked up a sword on my with my right hand, and then another with my left. I held the one on my right tight and when I got close enough, I raised it up. The chains collided with it and got entangled with it just like it did before. And just like before, the sword flew from my hand as pulled by the chain and went around the chain wielding zombie; this time piercing him from the back, he growled in pain. I ignored all this, still running towards him, I made a switch by throwing the sword on my left hand to my right and went for the kill.
With the sword now in my hand, I pushed it through, from his gutt all the way up to his head, and took the sword out immediately. I repeated this multiple times until he fell to the ground.
I grew more angry as I saw more of our troops die, I ran to where ever I saw a zombie, and a swing was all I needed to take them down. I went until I heard no growls, the battle has just cries and screams of pain from soldiers who had been wounded.
I wasn't satisfied with the kills, I wanted more, I wanted to take the pain I was feeling out on more zombies, but looking around there was none, I dropped my sword, knelt down and began to cry. We won the war, but it felt like I lost.
If I had focused on protecting and not attacking, like Xender, Mrs. Claire would have still been alive. No! If I had focused on my self and surroundings rather than watch Xender fight, I probably would have been able to save her.
I went on kneeling crying and regretting amidst the screams and cry of soldiers.
I have the I am older now, I am bigger, I have the strength even much more than my equals, I can now fight; but its still not enough to protect my loved ones.
"Derick", I heard a voice call amidst my grief, "Derick", the voice called again softly, "Derick", it went on as the caller got closer. "What!!", I yelled raising my head up, "can't you guys tell when someone is not in the mood to talk!! Leave!!!", I yelled and turned around.
With the tears still in my eyes I looked at who had been calling, it was Xender. She waited not a second before walking away. I said nothing and turned back to my grieving.
It was morning, the whaling and crying had now subsided; either that, or we got use to it.
All through the night, the dead had been dragged to a pit that was dug for them by some troop members of each section. There was no space in the fort to have graves or tombstones.
I refused for Mrs Claire to be thrown into the pit like the rest of them, I had her carried out. I, April and June carried lifeless Mrs Claire out of the fort and gave her a semi-proper burial outside the fort, kind of like the one we did for her husband, Mr March.
I and June dug the hole, while April went to get flowers.
We made the arrangements and stood around the grave, paying our last respects to her.
April and June didn't seem to understand or feel her death as much as I did, for they uttered no words while I tried to keep my voice down while sobbing.
We dropped the flowers and went back into the fort through what as left of the bridge after the explosion.
The commander had called up another meeting, this time no one was tied and flogged like the last time. Instead he stood on the podium alone with his two daughters as they looked upon us sorrowfully.
"I don't have much to say, for I fear that the more words I speak, the deeper the wounds and scars may penetrate. So I have chosen to speak a few. I want to start by commending you all, those who fought and those who protected for putting your all into the battle, you all are worthy to be called mighty warriors and I am proud to be associated with you! Truly we have experienced losses, and I won't want us to deliberate on that, so as promised, we have wines and drinks of different kinds, in which we are all going to drink and forget our sorrows. For now, we are going to go out and gather as much supplies as possible; possibly things that we don't have in the fort. Not much, just enough to recreate them because tonight, we are going to take down that bridge.", The commander said they began to murmur amongst themselves.
"Once that is done, we are all going to come back here for a huge feast. There will be entertainment and enough food for all, so go gather and come back with great expectations", he said and turned to his daughters.
"Before we dismiss, I would like us to observe a moment of silence for all who have died!", He said and the entire place became still and quiet.
"May their journey to the afterlife be peaceful and successful!", he said as the silence gradually faded away with the murmuring people.
"You may begin the hunt, go into the forest and bring back things we don't have. Fruits of trees we haven't planted, let's gather as much as we can for now, before we build a boat strong enough to bring back perishable so they don't come in contact with the water. To make your going out alot more fun, I want you all to hunt for meat, the one who brings the most meat, will sit and dine amongst I and the other sub commanders, and get the biggest share of food, along with a close view of the entertainment, as well as other perks", he said and the crowd and troops were gingered up.
"Letting the hunting begin", he said aloud and the people departed.
We all got out in search of fruits and animals we could kill for the feast. I personally was out to receive fresh air, I was denied access to Medusa, they said she was brutally injured and needed more rest, so this is the best I can do to take my mind off her.
I had gotten my mom's knife back, strapped to my leg as usual, and Mr marsh's bow across my body, the only difference was the sword, I was prepared for anything.
Those in search of fruits moved together, while the greedy ones who wanted to dine with the commanders went out in search of animals to hunt down.
I turned to Xender who was secretly shooting down fruits and branches for children, "another one has fallen!", They would say excited and run towards the fruit or branch that had fallen.
She turned to me and immediately turned away, she still seemed a bit p_ssed about the way I yelled at her before.
"Derick!", Helen called out of no where as she walked towards me.
I said nothing as I kept on walking, "you were really amazing out there!", She said with excitement heard in her voice.
I said nothing and still kept on walking and from time to time staring at Xender. "Derick", Helen called walking In front of me, "what do you want?", I asked in a hostile manner, annoyed by the fact she was obstructing my view from Xender.
"I just want to talk", she said as she continued tagging along, "about?", I asked, "actually, I want to make a request", she added, "go straight to the point Helen", I replied, "well...I was wondering if we could talk privately after or during the feast", she said.
I looked her as she smiled with her face covered with black spots, "what are we talking about privately?", I asked confused, "well, it's just my own way of saying thank you for saving I, my father and my people out there", she replied, "I don't need it, besides, I wasn't the one who saved your father, Xender did; if she had not shot his leg at the time she did, he would have died", I added.
"Still! Okay, when was the last time you slept in a normal bed?", she asked, this led to some thinking.
Only while mom was alive and some few occasions at mrs Claire's house did I really sleep in beds, other times it was either on the rough floor, dirt, or trees.
I said nothing as I kept on walking, "I'll also have alot of food in my room, as well as freshly made wine", she added smiling, "I am not interested", I replied still walking away, I noticed as she stopped behind, but ignored and continued walking.
"Derick!", I heard April call as she too got closer to me, "yes April?", I replied, "I know you are still grieving, but I think I have some good news for you, that might change your mood", she said smiling.
For someone who lost her grandma she seemed a little too smiley.
"What is it?", I asked, "Medusa has woken up", she replied. She was right about the mood changing news, I had no idea where a smile came from, not full but just enough to know it was there, "where is she?", I asked as I turned to her, giving my full attention.
"That's the not so good news, she's locked up in the medical department", she replied, "let's go see her then", I said about to turn around, "we can't", she replied, "why not? Isn't that where you were allocated to?", I asked, "yeah, but only the sub commanders and some highly trusted medics has access to that part", she replied.
"I can get you there!", Helen interrupted and we turned to her. April was smiling excited, but I wasn't. "I can get Medusa out even", she replied, "then let's go!", April said smiling and looking at me, expecting same reaction, but I wasn't giving it, "not so fast jumpy", Helen said and April's expression slowly changed, "could you leave us for a minute?", she asked April who stared at her for a moment and then at me, back at her and then left.
"What do you want?", I asked, she chuckled, "what I want, is for you to have some fun, loosing up a bit. You've been uptight since you got here", she replied, "my life hasn't really been open, I don't on changing that now, at least not in this present situation", I replied. "Tell you what! If you spend the night at my room, eat, drink and sleep on the bed, when you wake up tomorrow, I'll get you Medusa", Helen struck a deal.
We got back to the fort having gathered all the supplies just the commander had commanded. It was almost night and everyone had already started gathering at the front of the main chambers.
The commander stepped out, dressed in a very beautiful outfit, purple in colour, "you may all come into the main chambers", he said and the peopled began to scream and yell in joy as we all got in.
The Chamber had been well arranged, with lights and larger speakers than the once at Mrs Claire's house, they emitted music, something I had not heard since mom. The music and setting moved people to dance and play around, just to forget about the war and enjoy the moment. I personally was looking for Xender, but couldn't seem find her, "Derick! Looking for me?", I heard a voice say from behind and turned back immediately.
On seeing helen I was disappointed, "where's Xender?", I asked immediately, "I don't know, am I her keeper?", she asked, "what do you think about my outfit", she said turning around asynchronously with the music.
She too wore a purple dress, a gown just like April's; only, hers was way above her knee and was a lot tighter than April's. Unlike April's her dress had no hands, they were seemingly held up her slightly enormous br_asts, which I for some reason couldn't stop looking at from time to time.
"Do remember our deal?", Helen asked dancing to the music, and I said nothing as I watched her dance, "Derick", she called smiling and staring at me, "where is your room?", I asked, she chuckled, "don't worry, when it's time, I'll take you there! For now just have some fun!", she said and danced away, disappearing with the crowd.
to be continued....
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