Serena headed over to the tiger beastman before Kiro could say anything to stop her. She watched as the beastman’s face cracked with a slight frown. He did not expect her to walk over to him.
The campfire crackled and popped along with the distant sounds of animals as Serena finally ca to a stop in front of the large beastman. He watched her quietly, curious to see what she was up to.
The air around them grew tense as neither one spoke for a few monts. Finally, Serena broke the silence and asked, "Is sothing the matter? You seem to keep staring at and it’s weird."
She wasn’t going to beat around the bush with this. It wasn’t her style. Better to get everything cleared out in the open, so she wouldn’t have to deal with this any longer.
"Nothing is wrong..." The tiger beastman answered after a mont of silence. "I’m just doing my guard duty and watching over everyone. You’re not special."
Serena felt the vein in her forehead twitch once more. Was he really going to play with her? Well, it wasn’t going to work on her. She knew there was definitely sothing up.
With a raised eyebrow, Serena muttered, "So, is eavesdropping on a private conversation part of your duties now? And don’t bother lying. You could’ve easily made noise to alert us of your presence. Instead, you were sneaking about. How can soone not expect that to be weird?"
Theo stiffened at her words, knowing she had caught him there. However, there was no way he was going to admit that he was curious about her strange behavior.
So instead he asked, "How did you detect my presence so quickly? Beastn with four stripes don’t have that skill, let alone so weak female."
Now it was Serena’s turn to bristle at the tiger beastman’s words. She was so used to using her instincts to detect others that she had forgotten it wasn’t a normal instinct to have.
It was sothing one could only develop from years of being in dangerous situations and battles. Sothing that beastwon in this world would never deal with.
Not unless sothing bad happened to them.
Still, she knew he was only asking her that to deflect her original question. And she could definitely play that ga if he wanted to.
"What do you an I detected your presence?" Serena tilted her head, acting dumb. "I was looking outside and spotted you... Does that an you were purposely trying to hide? Why?"
Theo smirked at her words, knowing imdiately what Serena was doing. She was turning this back to him by acting dumb. Answering questions with questions.
"Let’s not play dumb with each other." Theo murmured, leaning down until their noses were almost touching. "You weren’t just looking outside. You knew I was there and I only stopped because I didn’t want to interrupt your conversation."
It was a half-truth, but Theo figured the snow leopard beastwoman didn’t need to know that. Better to give her so excuse and end things there.
Serena opened her mouth to say sothing, but Theo added, "Now that I’ve answered your questions, I suggest you head back to your brother. It’s not good to leave a young cub alone for too long... Never know when sothing might happen."
He then straightened up and turned his head to the side, it clear he was done speaking with her. Serena pursed her lips at the dismissive attitude, but decided to not push it.
Instead she just muttered, "Don’t be creepy about it next ti then."
He turned to look at her, but Serena didn’t give him a chance to speak, walking back over to Kiro, who was sitting on the log patiently. Her words were petty, but Serena didn’t really care in that mont.
***
Smoke and the sll of death filled Serena’s nose as things exploded around her. People were yelling at each other and her ears rang, unable to properly hear what was being said.
Red dirt flew up, hitting her and blurring her vision. But she could still make out the chaos around her. People were running around and lights were shooting everywhere. She knew this scene all too well.
The Battle of Trois.
One of her first military missions and one of the bloodiest. The outer colony on Trois had decided to rebel against the empire and in response soldiers were sent out there to get rid of everyone.
Sothing tugged at her shoulder and Serena glanced up from the ground to see a fellow soldier pulling her up. He was older than her with two stripes on each shoulder.
"Get up Private!" The man yelled at her as she struggled up. "Keep advancing!"
He then let go of her and ran forward, firing his laser gun as he moved. Serena didn’t have a chance to think as her body moved on autopilot, trained to move before she could process what was going on.
Around her bodies dropped, forcing her to change direction or jump over them. Her eyes stayed forward, not daring to glance at the horrors before her.
Eventually, Serena found herself before the nightmare of her mission. An enemy stood before her, holding up a laser gun and trembling at the sight of her.
The girl couldn’t have been older than fifteen, yet Serena didn’t hesitate. She couldn’t. Not when it was hers or the teen’s life.
"Please!" The teen begged with tears. "Let -"
Bang!
Blood splatted everywhere and Serena turned her head, running off. A bitter taste filled her mouth at what she had just done, but Serena kept moving forward. Kept pushing.
It was the only way she could live.
She kept advancing along with the other soldiers when sothing suddenly exploded near her. Blood splatted across her face before she was hit in the back of the head, darkness taking over.
Serena gasped awake, bile threatening to rise as she sat up. She ran a hand through her hair and tried to keep her breathing controlled.
It’s just a nightmare. Serena chanted to herself. You’re not there anymore... They’re all gone.
Gone because of her and her comrades. They destroyed everything. The air around her got thicker and she found it hard to breathe.
NO! Don’t... Serena scread to herself. Don’t think about it! Don’t! Don’t! Don’t!
She stood up and ran out the cave, ignoring the few glances she got. Serena got to the side of the cave and hurled, unable to stop herself. She kept puking until she was heaving.
Dawn broke around her at that mont, but Serena couldn’t help, but hate herself. Wanting to bury those mories far away.
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