When I landed back where the others waited they looked as good as new.
Vulture Black was still woozy. Eden smiled brightly at me. Her cloak was pulled out of the way of her body as she worked to fix up Vulture Black. Her painted nails were chipped and dirtied. Her palms were still darkened from her seedlings.
"Ronin! I'm glad you're ok. That took longer than usual." She hugged me. She wasn't soft. She didn't smell very good. But for a moment I almost relaxed. I saw the Amazon when I closed my eyes. I didn't hug her back.
"Sgt Sayaad is dead."
Eden barely lost her smile, "Oh…. May he rest in peace."
She helped up Vulture Black much to her dismay. "The WereLions must've been tough. Your blade reeks."
We walked. But it felt more like I was hovering.
"They were…. formidable."
"Did you get what you needed from the Alpha?" Eden tried to look back at me as she walked down the hill but Vulture Blacks massive frame blocked her.
"Who told you I needed something from the Alpha?"
I stopped.
"Oh, Roni—"
The clouds darkened as thunder rumbled.
I unsheathed Muramasa.
The rest was history.
Seven years of my life.
A lie.
They…
They betrayed me!
They told me I'd get to learn how to grow stronger and continue to slay monsters! As we humans are supposed to! To get back. To find peace.
The whole time they were trying to find ways….
To assimilate.
Orphan again. Orphan for all eternity.