Well, he was right. The moment I woke up the next day my limbs were useless, they hurt so much I could only groan in pain and curse Rieka seventy times. I missed the evening spar the previous day, breakfast and dinner and now I am starving and tired...
Bang! Bang! Bang!
"Oh come on!" I let out a frustrated groan as I rolled on my bed, then used my pillow to cover my ears.
My pillow case was already a mess, under the influence of my nightmares I had torn it to shred but now is not the time to worry about it.
Bang! Bang! Bang!!
"Get out here sleepy heads." I heard July shout as she banged my door continuously.
I groaned again, I should have known, that girl was the one in charge of the roll call. Ah I should have known, she's not going to let me off, she stood at my door and did all the banging there.
She banged my door again and I rolled out of the bed painfully and walked towards the door. I know I can't say I wasn't coming, I had to bite my tongue and endure the pain after all she didn't seem like she had plans of leaving.
I yanked the door open on the fifth round of banging or was it the seventh? I don't know but July stood there giving me a mocking smile and I could only raise a brow.
"Looks like you are finally awake. Let's move to the training ground." she said and I nodded.
"I will be right behind you."
"I don't mind if you walk in front of me." she said with another smile and I angrily shut the door in her face.
The moment I did, the banging started again and I clenched my fist angrily and suppressed the desire to scream at her. I then closed my eyes and breathed in and out with my mouth, gave my bed one last look of longing, opened the door, and walked out of the room, limping in front of her toward the training ground.
While she spent the whole walk snickering and making fun of me, I ignored her and waited patiently for Rieka who had been silent all morning to speak so I could explode and vent my frustration and anger out on her.
But of course, my wise wolf knew when to tuck her tail between her legs and avoid me.
...............................................
We did twenty press-ups during which I succeeded in embarrassing myself greatly and became a laughing stock to all the other members of our group and Rieka was right, my messing up watered down the Austan wolf idea and whatever name she had made for herself when she was doing her power lap yesterday.
After the press-ups, we all went on the twenty laps, which I spent walking or shall I say limping. By the time I was done everyone had gone to grab breakfast and I decided to join them. I can't starve myself to death now can I?
I might have messed up during the training but I had to eat breakfast since I haven't been able to eat anything thing since I arrived in this ice mountain two days ago. I walked into the dining hall not minding the weird looks I got from those who didn't know me or the mocking look I got from July and my group members, even Rieka was hiding her face in shame so who am I to care about them.
I just want to eat and find a way to overcome this stupid muscle cramp I have.
"Hey, come seat here." I heard a girl with short dark hair and a heavily freckled face designed with warm blue eyes that made her look so innocent, say to me as she made space for me beside her on the extremely long dining table that was filled with all sorts of food and people. I limped to her side and sank into the bench, smiling a little, she reminds me of Cecil.
She smiled at me, "Hi, I am Rosie." She said and my smile broadened, I think I have seen her before. She is a member of our group, one of those good students who were always running in the first line behind July and Jake.
"Silveen." I said nodding.
"I know who you are." she said excitedly as she picked up one of the empty stainless plates stacked in the middle of the large table and placed some sandwiches in it before placing it in front of me. I smiled nodding a thank you.
"Orange juice or lemon juice." she asked as I began to hungrily wolf down the sandwich.
"Orange juice please." I said with a full mouth and she stood up to go the large fridge the whole pack shared and returned with a bottle of orange juice, then poured it into my cup.
"Thanks." I said as I drank it.
Rosie smiled and sat down beside me.
"I don't trust this girl." Rieka suddenly said and I almost choked on my food, earning myself a worried look from Rosie.
"Are you okay?" Rosie asked.
"Yeah." I said as I hit my clenched fist against my chest and drank some of the juice to push the food down. When I was calm I sighed.
"July doesn't like you very much." Rosie said and I looked up at her.
"What?"
"July," She said nodding at July as she continued, "She doesn't like you very much."
"Oh, yeah I guess." I replied thoughtfully at first, then shook my head, "No, she hates me."
Rosie giggled. "She hates everyone who has potential."
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Well I have been one of the oldest members of our group and I have watched how July makes the life of all those who seem to have enough potential to get into the castle miserable. Many wolves have left the lair because of her." Rosie explained as she ate her pancakes that were overlaid with heavy syrup.
"Why doesn't the dark mistress say anything?" I asked as I looked at her seriously.
She scoffed, "The dark mistress? Do you know how many wolves she has under her command in the castle alone?" she asked and I shook my head.
"Hundreds! Many of the wolves in the castle are Austan wolves." she whispered and I looked at her with wide eyes as she continued. "Their training ground I hear is top-notch, different from ours, only we rogues who want enter the castle go through this vigorous trainings to be good enough." she finished with a shrug.
But by then I was lost in thought, something about being amongst Austan wolves pleased my heart, Rieka's too. "How can one get into the castle?"
"Simple, keep working hard until someone notices you." she said and my countenance fell.
"But there is another way." she said when she noticed my look and I raised my brow.
"Show them how outstanding you are." Rosie said with excitement in her eyes.
I frowned, "Isn't that method basically the same as the first?"
She shook her head and lowered her voice, "there is this underground cage fight that happens every night, you can face off with anyone there. If they see you have so much potential, one of the Austan wolves in the castle can recruit you to train under them." she explained with excitement.
"An underground cage fight? Here?" I asked with disbelief.
"All is not as it seems Silveen." she said and I kept silent for a while trying to take it all in, the underground cage fight that they engaged in to win the heart of Austan wolves who would take them out of the barracks.,
"I can take you tonight if you want to go." she said and I looked up with excitement.
"I would like that!"
"I won't." Rieka answered as Rosie smiled and poured out a glass of orange juice for herself.
"Why is that? You have always wanted an opportunity to show off." I said but I felt her frown.
"I said I don't trust this girl and by the way, you are not even strong enough to win a fight." Rieka explained.
"Why should I bother, if I need to fight, you would do the fighting," I said and shut the link without giving her a chance to protest neither did I respond to her paranoid talks of not trusting Rosie.
Who cares about her opinions on this, I liked Rosie, she reminded me of Cecil who gave me a chance to run when I was about to be killed by Layla.
"Meet me on the training grounds after light out at midnight." Rosie whispered, "And don't get caught by the patrols."
"Why?" I asked with confusion.
"Even though everyone goes there, it is not a legal thing. If the patrols find you sneaking out after light out, you'd still be punished. Be careful." She whispered again then picked up her plates and left the dining hall while I nodded discretely.