"Those ghosts are your burden."
The chief's voice echoed in my head as I lead a half-asleep Samuel towards the training fields. Melissa was beside me, her fingers intertwined with mine. They were my responsibility while we were on the Mpande territory. I knew that – I would gladly take up the mantle for my family.
"Care to explain why we are up before… the sun?" Sam yawned out. I knew my best friend was a fan of his 'beauty sleep' but war is no time for lazing.
I merely smirked at him, ruffling his hair. Slapping my hand away, he glared at me. Sammy was many things, but a morning person was not one.
"Enough," Melissa said sternly, I could hear the laughter behind her words though. I kissed the crown of her head and smirked back at Sam. There's that smirk again.
We reached a field saturated with sparring bodies. Some human and some fighting on all fours. The site of the overgrown kitty cats barring their teeth at one another was enough to wipe the sleep from Sam's eyes.
