The White and Dark one’s chapter 5

I wake up and Hamkirk's face was the first thing I see.
"He's alive!" he yelled n my face and I push him away. I felt a little dazed moving.
"Where the hell am I?" I asked, pissed off and confused. I hear laughter, then I look around, however I can barely see. Am I in a nightmare? I feel spaced out, like I’m dreaming.
"What are we doing here?" I feel angry and scared. I rip my mask off. "What's going on?" I can't see a thing, I put my mask back on and I was shocked I can’t see anything. This can’t be at training?
"Hamkirk was about to give you mouth to mouth because we thought you were dead," Gust said laughing. He was in my face grinning and I shoved him away.
“What the hells going on?!" The atmosphere suddenly changes.
“Guys; I think he's actually not good.”
I hear, but I’m unsure where the voices are coming from. I wasn't in pain, just a little dizzy, and I really didn't know what the hell had been going on.
Clare came into my line of vision. "It's going to be OK, Philhaz. You have hit your head and your not one hundred percent. We are going to head back home soon. We just need to get this meat ready," She turned to the others. "Hurry up, keep cutting we need to go! Come with me Philhaz.”
She helped me up, leading me away from where the others were being incredibly loud. Vedin appeared and walked over to us.
“Check this out Philhaz, we killed this massive beast!" I looked over, but with how I felt I struggled to take in what I’m staring at.
Then, holy shit, I see it. It was maybe four meters high and at least a meter wide.
"Philhaz,” Clare then asks me gently. “What's the last thing you remember?"
I think back hard.“I don’t know. I don’t remember coming here, it's all blurry and weird, like a dream."
She looked a little relieved, at least one of us was. I was freaking out.
"OK; that's good. It's just recently your funny about. Do you remember where you live and where you are from?"
I answered her simple questions while the others packed up. I was then kept in the middle with Vedin along side the boys carrying a lot of meat on a wooden pole, as our team started moving back home.
It was a long walk and I couldn't run without my brain wanting to pop and my vision changing colour. We went a different way back and we were slow and careful. We heard a few noises at one point an we Paused and took cover. We waited patiently listening, then Gust went and checked it out to make sure it was safe.
My memory was coming slowly back. We started our way through the thickest bushes just before the grey zone. It was a nightmare, but we stayed close together and took turns carrying the meat.
Finally we broke through into the light, it was incredible! Light!! Goggles and helmets were thrown off with disgust. They felt like we hadn’t seen the light in forever. Even I had to admit It was an amazing feeling to be out of that place.
"Are you OK to run now, Philhaz?" Clare asked.
I nodded, I still felt out of it, but I'm sure I could run. We ran at a slow pace towards the gigantic stones, we were completely off track to where we had gone in. No search party was sent, or anything, so they can’t have been worried. Ruthless, I thought.
As we got closer to the wall, a party of troops came out to meet us. As they got closer we realised they were looking at us like we were potential enemies, which made us all feel uncomfortable. The troops surrounded us, weapons drawn, with harsh stares at each of us.
We stood our ground, looking ready to defend ourselves, but inside we were all surprised at the rough treatment. It definitely wasn’t Yimas’s group, they would have at least treated us like we were their people. The leader of the group walked out with no weapon drawn, which was a relief.
Vedin careful moved towards him and he looked angry but when spoke he was calm.
“We have completed our mission sir”, he said and the leader nodded.
"Greetings to you and your team. We are impressed to see your all alive. Congratulations on a successful mission. I’m captain Zeklush, son of Eler, and of the house Bushleek, and second in command at gate Ghoulslag. We will escort you to safety from here.”
Vedin looked unimpressed at all this mission talk, but following how we were trained, bowed. "Thank you sir, where is Yimas and their squad? We thought they would meet us."
"They are still out there. They would’ve been following all of you to keep an eye on you all and do a few more important jobs," he said, smiling darkly.
"We have wounded, and in this location, there is still a beast with meat underground for the keeps,” Vedin replied, not affected by what Zeklush had said. I was honestly impressed, I wanted to have a go. Vedin was definitely one cool cat, as I could tell the others were fuming as well.
"Don't you worry about that, Yimas will be bringing whatever you don’t have back. Now we will take you to a medic and get you cleaned up and looking all pretty,” he scoffed. “You all have a feast to attend with your families soon," he said, smirking with contempt.
We all looked at each other, this was crazy. Vedin spoke again calmly. "Thank you sir, please lead away."
We were slowly taken back to their barracks where we were treated better than out there. I was checked out by a doctor and apparently had a concussion, so would need to take it easy for some time. I also had clothes prepared for me.
I couldn’t believe that my father, or that all our parents, must have been in on this and known about this trial. Especially if father was at this feast, maybe that’s why he took me for that walk, in case I actually died.
I met back with the others and they all looked cleaned up, not that you could hide the bruises. Vedin and Hamkirk seemed to be the only ones in a bit of pain still. I didn't actually hurt, I just felt out of it, like I was someone else and looking through my eyes from far away.
We sat round awkwardly waiting and talking, a little stunned and what we had been through together.
Clare was keeping a close eye on me and I felt really emotional when she wrapped her arms around me in a hug and held onto me for a few seconds.
She sat right next to me. Feeling her next to me was so good, just the body contact of hers. I hope she felt that too.
"Are you feeling any better?” she asked me. The other guys were obviously uncomfortable and didn’t know what to do. We weren’t meant to have relationships in our teams.
I didn't want the others to see this. They could probably see how I felt through my face expressions but I couldn't control how I felt. We had just been through a lot and I would have loved to just be around her and not do anything, just like, have a break from this life.
"I'm OK. I just feel out of my mind. Like I'm not in my body properly."
Which was pretty much exactly how I felt, apart from my heart racing like mad.
"I'll stay with you until this is over, OK?" she said softly.
I could tell she was getting self conscious of the others now looking at us as she was finally making a bit of space between us, which was probably for the best. I just smiled, I should get knocked out more often, I thought.
Ian and Hamkirk came over to us, obviously because things had calmed down between me and Clare.
“Sorry to break this up, but us guy’s have to get our feast clothes on,” he looked at Clare and rolled his eyes towards the door grinning.
Clare stood up straight away and stormed off. I looked at Hamkirk, like what have you done?!
“Oh come on, Philhaz, someone had to get her outta here.”
We all started stripping off, all four half undressed, nearly men. Hamkirk talking crap and grabbed Ian’s butt and Ian turning round and attacked him. Then we just started chatting away, which shifted the focus. Then Clare came back and started giving us stick that we needed to hurry our asses up and put everything on properly.
We waited and waited until we were told it was time to move and we were lead all the way back to our grounds. It was cleared of fighters for once, and we entered the hall together.
Their were a lot of people inside, with cheers and applause greeting us. Mostly from our parents and teachers, and family friends. There was also a band playing, which was a very rare sight at our academy.
Yimas was standing up, a drink in his hand Talking loudly. We walked over and he looked to be telling stories of our time in the dark lands. He grinned and he began talking about how he tricked and messed with us.
To be honest, we felt like fools, listening to what he was saying. We were congratulated over and over, so we can’t have been that much of an embarrassment. We apparently passed with flying colours, and I didn't even remember half of it.
We split up, most of them went to their parents and me and Vedin checked out the band.
He grinned at me and I nodded smiling. This was usually how it was. My father to busy and Vedin with no family.
We wandered over to Ian and Hamkirk who had escaped their parents.
“Check this out Vedin”, Hamkirk said grinning and he pulled out a glass bottle of something alcoholic.
Vedin shook his head but reached out his hand with his cup and Hamkirk tipped some in.
“How the hell did you get that?!”, I asked and reached out as well for some.
Groups of parents and officer’s chatted away everywhere and still no sign of father. Clare arrived and Hamkirk flashed his bottle at her. She shook her head and looked at me.
“Please tell me you didn’t have some!”, she said looking at me suspiciously.
I looked away embarrassed.
“It doesn’t seem too strong”, I muttered.
All chaos broke Loose in our small group. She went quietly nuts at Hamkirk and my drink was quickly snatched off me.
“Come on Clare give me a break, I forgot!” Hamkirk responded.
“No you didn’t! You just didn’t care! Head knocks a serious!”, She insisted.
“Alright your right! Now can we go dance? Please! I love this song!”, Hamkirk begged and she looked around. Suddenly her expression changed.
“I like it too. You”, she said pointing at me,”be good”.
Then she grabbed Hamkirks arm and dragged him away to the dance floor much to his surprise.
Everyone was starting to relax now. Meanwhile our parents gossiped and chatted away. Clare wouldn't let me touch a drop of alcohol in my state, and stayed sober to keep an eye on me. Father finally appeared and went straight to Yimas. They were having a big chat along with our other instructor, Mortess. I walked over, and as I made my way Clare joined me. I received a few words of praise and a few pats on the back on my way. This was so strange, it was almost like we were heroes.
Mortess nodded politely at me and Clare as we approached and was the first to speak.
"Congratulations, Philhaz. We were just hearing about your attack to protect your captain. Well done. It’s good to see all the hard work we put into you is paying off," Mortess said with a smile.
Yimas spoke next. "He was a thinker, I believe it was yours and Clare's idea to hunt after me, right? Not bad, not bad. Have you ever thought about running for captain of your team, or beginning your own squad?"
"No, sir,” I looked at Clare, who eyed me up waiting for my response. I knew she wished to be captain. “I love my team how it is, and it's just how we work together, there's no I in our team. We try our best to work together. So how much did you watch?"
Yimas snorted with laughter. "We had three people on you at all times communicating with me. I knew where you guys were heading and making sure you all didn't get over ran by any crazy beast, at all times."
"What about that last beast? That nearly killed some of us? Why didn't you guys stop that?" Clare asked bluntly, with a nasty sting to the question. There was suddenly an awkward silence around us because of her anger.
My father came in with a strong calming voice. "It's decided on how well you all preform, when hunting down the other captain. There can be some luck of the draw, but you all proved you could handle your selves to Yimas."
"And this is why we celebrate! The parents freak a bit knowing what there children will go through. But we are just glad you all survived, because some don’t," Mortess said. That surprised and made it sickening for me.
"Of course, it isn't common to lose someone, but we have lost whole groups in the past," my father said, seeing the disgusted looks on our faces, "and we still celebrate, but it is very sad. I’m very proud of you son, you did well out there. And you Clare, and the rest of your team. This is a big step, but it’s apart of growing up."
We both nodded, just wanting this conversation to be over. I caught Clare’s eye and hoped my eyes said what I felt, which was, 'Please make this stop!'
"Come on old friend, did you not have faith in me; to protect your boy? He nearly killed me!" Yimas said laughing.
My father smiled, "I'm disappointed he didn't finish you off, when he found you a mess from being shot."
"Well his shots may not have killed me, but check out these bruises!" He whipped off his shirt, showing many scars, and two massive split open purple bruises. "I felt like I was going to explode on the inside."
“Sheesh, you should get that looked at,” my father said with concern, but Yimas appeared not to hear him.
“That dark armour is incredible, imagine if we all had a set of that stuff. Is yours as good as the one we use for the student outings?”
“No. Not nearly,” said my father, and he suddenly looked a little uncomfortable talking on this subject. “Our family one would be a fair bit older, I’d say.”
They rambled on for a while and Clare thankfully pulled me away so we wandered off to find the others. We found them in front of the band, still dancing like idiots, and laughing their heads off. If the parents didn’t know they were drunk before, they definitely did now.
Who could blame them though. After what we just went through, this was our first time out there hunting and being hunted.
I went for the food, it was very rare to get decent food on the strict academy diet. Hamkirk suddenly grabbed me.
“I loooooove you man!” He was swaying badly and half leaning on me. “If it came… down to it mate…” he then pointed straight at my face. “I would have brought you back.”
“What do you mean?” I was so confused and Clare looked mortified beside me.
“I would have brought you back to life!” He said, looking deep into my eyes, while his eyes looked like they were swimming.
Clare looked like she was going to hit him and I think Hamkirk realised, because he suddenly took off back to the others.
“You shouldn’t be dealing with all this, Philhaz. Not with a concussion.”
I actually agreed. I had a huge headache coming on and my legs were starting to feel a bit shaky. Seeing the guy’s like this was rare though, and even Gust was in good spirits. He came up telling me the story of how him and I nearly got eaten and he retreated into a tree while we attacked it and he, of course, jumping in at the last minute to save the day.
Ian was getting praised all round for his tracking and so he should, he did a great job.
Alcohol was being consumed fast, even by the adults,I guess because of how rare it was. Adults were only allowed a max of five each because they had to extract it from the dark lands. I could tell who had ran out, because they started getting over being here really fast, and they would head out.
Father, who looked to have escaped Yimas, came quickly over to me.“Let’s go.”
I nodded and stood up. As I started to leave I turned to Clare but I didn’t know what to say, and she kind of looked at me strangely, so I just left. Kicking myself for not knowing what to do, I looked at father. He looked like he hadn’t even had a drop of alcohol and I saw the concern on his face, as he looked at me.
I actually really needed to go. I felt tired out of my mind. I knew the others wanted me to stay, but I knew it wouldn’t be a goer right now.
We headed off and quietly walked through the alleyways. It was strange that here we were having this party, and a few drinks, but everything else around us was exactly the same. The same stalls everywhere, same women and soldiers, everywhere. We started talking a little about my concussion.
"You will be fine, it just takes time to recover. You can take three to four training sessions off and then you should be OK to train again, but no sparring. I had a bad head knock when I was younger than you and it took me years to fully recover,” he said with that calm presence he always had.
I was in shock though, hearing of that. That would be awful, imagine if that happened to me...
"And before you start going crazy I wasn't able to move or talk for days. You will be fine. You will heal way faster," He said, looking at me knowingly with a smile.
I was a little embarrassed. "How did you cope?”
"At first it was awful, every time I did something I would black out. Then it got better and better. I was able to do most of my training but if I moved my head too fast, it killed me. After three years, I was pretty much normal, then four, I was a hundred percent."
"That's an awfully long time to recover. I don't know if I could handle that," thinking about how long that was.
"When you don't have a choice apart from suicide, or patience, you learn to be patient, even if it kills you inside to wait, and wait."
We walked more in silence for a bit.
"So what's going on with you and Clare?"
Wow, oh no, please, please don't go there.
“What do you mean?" I said quickly, Don't panic, he'll know!
"Come on, don't play dumb with me. You two were very touchy, touchy, and she was watching over you the whole time. It actually scared me. You two aren't having sex or anything?" he asked, watching me closely. I nearly fell over, my legs went to jelly.
"Of course not! We are just really, good friends!" I blurted out.
He chuckled. "You and Vedin are good friends, but he wasn't all over you like a rash!” Father burst out laughing at my awkwardness.
"Father, just, no; no; no; OK? No," I wanted to run, or even be back in the darkness, so he couldn't see my face, if only...
“I know there are strange older women that try to come onto guys at your age, but they don’t care about you at all. They care about your house and the earnings that they could receive. I know with Clare it would be different…” but I cut him off.
“Stop! No! I understand, please, just leave it at that…”