half way through

... i think

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I rubbed my wrists getting the blood flowing to them again and once it was I jumped up into a tree and I sat down closing my eyes and I was soon breathing softly and no I was not asleep I was resting my eyes I heard the snow crunch but still I did not move then I heard a few more pairs of feet fall behind the leading pair it was only then did I open my eyes and look to the noise they were not the people I thought they were I dropped from the tree quietly and I crouched down behind the rock scarcely breathing they were clad entirely in white matching the colour of the snow I gulped their eyes darted towards me a pure blue but they did not veer from their path they continued to walk towards the place where the Brack Ballas had set their camp up

'I have to warn them' I thought

putting the bow in its quiver and jumped into the trees I dashed across them going faster then the unknown figures I saw the crew and breathlessly flipped out of the tree and landed shaking on the ground sides heaving

"Angel they" said running to me

Some of Busters crew had looked on in interest I looked to see Neon I had no words nothing was forming in my head only pictures then the words came to me but it was too late I heard the click of an arrow and I jumped back as it thudded in to the tree only millimetres from me

"that" I said sides still heaving

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"whats happening" said Buster

he had his shield and axe at the ready all his men shrugged the arrows just came out of nowhere I heard the flinging of arrows as Guren stepped forwards

"dozens of them captain" he yelled

blocking the arrows with his shield Buster stepped in front of me blocking a few more arrows with his shield he looked to me with a smile

"I see you got out of your bonds" he whispered I looked at him with narrow eyes

"be careful" I growled "because one morning your going to wake with my dagger buried to the hilt in your chest"

I touched the dagger by my side and he bit his lower lip

"aww that's so cute" he whispered as he blocked a few more arrows with his shield "lets have a little chat after this battle and I'll show you what I think"

as I looked at my bow then the arrows in my quiver 22 sharp bits of wood I gritted my teeth

sounds

"great" I said

then like a bullet sprinted up the nearest tree arrows thud after me I nocked an arrow pulled it back and launched it the arrow propelled through the air and met its target who let out a yelp in surprise then staggered back and fell down stone dead the other archers stopped then looked in the direction the arrow had come but I was no fool I launched another four that also met their targets killing two and wounding the others I smiled then looked to the other trees nodded to myself grabbed the trunk of the one I was presently perched on then jumped shooting a few more arrows in my wake ones that also met their targets I heard a low whistle which might have come from Buster but I had no time to look as arrows came flying at me I sped along the trees tops I felt the bolts thud into the trees behind me I poured on the speed loading arrows and sending them off not really potentially hitting a target I just wanted to draw their fire I came to a jump and launched myself across it but I felt one arrow sliced along the length of my leg shallowly I cringed and reached out for the tree I felt the pain through my arms and back I yelped and I fell to the snow

'ow' I thought

as I nocked an arrow and ran into the forest I let out a loud ear piercing whistle

"If I die" I said as I heard a shing shing of weapons "I'm going to haunt Buster for the rest of his miserable life"

I continued into the forest hoping to climb another tree but I was too slow to jump as they surrounded me four to one

'well' I thought 'that's not fair'

they all had their arrows nocked and aimed I had one I took a deep breath pulled back the string I could shoot two arrows in a heart beat I fired them off hitting two of the people I thought to be quilians though I highly doubt it and as I predicted before shot the third I got an arrow in my leg and one in my shoulder ignoring the pain I released two arrows and they thudded into their targets I breathed out feeling the pain bolt up my leg and shoulder making me fall in to the snow the pain was unbearable I don't know how long I was out there for but it was long enough for the crew to come looking for me. But it was Neon and Gallent the found me and ran over to my aid grabbing me and gently pulling me to my feet I stagger but stood as they both helped me back to the cabin being a 100% careful of the arrow shaft jammed in my leg and arm

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they helped me on to my bunk that was in my opinion very rarely used but they may say other wise I grabbed hold of the end of the shaft Neon let out a squeak I looked at him and raised an eye brow he shrugged the last thing I wanted was a commotion I looked back at the arrow shaft wiggled it a little making sure it did not hit the bone then pulled it free I bit my tongue I took hold of the one that was jammed into my shoulder I wiggled it

"uh-oh" I said "its stuck"

"is that bad?" said Neon

I rolled my eyes choosing not to answer his question

"let me try" said Gallent

as he made me get off the bunk so he could try he gave it a wiggle I heard a pop I winced as I felt the pain then Gallent gave it a yank and it came out

"done" he said

good I moaned as I felt the blood down my shoulders and leg teetered from side to side I felt someone grab my collar and lift me into the air then put me down on the bunk and I close my eyes and drifted off to sleep but I awoke the next day to booming voices one raising higher than the other I sat up seeing all the blood from my wounds I sighed slipping on my leather vest and pants that someone had taken off of me the night before I pulled them on just as Neon walked in to the cabin

"Angel he said the crew are arguing

I sighed I can hear I said

with Rikard gone the crew had started arguing about petty things

"can't you take care of it" I grumbled

pulling the cover up and over my head Neon was first mate and by default he was the captain of the crew he shook his head

"no" he said yanking the blanket off "I have already tried you the captain remembered"

I remember now I grumbled and swung my legs out of bed Neon grabbed my good arm and helped me to my feet I nodded my thanks as I slowly made my way out of the cabin to see the ring of people around who I thought to be Forum and Khan I walked a little faster as much as I had wanted to let them punch one another's lights out I could not let them do it as I broke through the ring of men and got between them giving Forum a solid punch to the jaw and Khan a left jab making both of them stagger back they looked around for who ever threw the punches their eyes settled on me blood slowly dripped down my shoulder I saw there shoulders sagged and there heads dropped

"sorry Angel" they said as they climbed to their feet "it won't happen again"

"it better not" said Buster before I could mutter a word

he broke through the ranks I turned my back and slowly walked out

"no one move" he said as he looked at Forum and Khan then too me "what happened here?"

"nothing" every one chorused

he looked back to Khan and Forum who had black splotches appearing on their cheeks and jaw

"what caused that?"

they both looked at each other and smiled then pointed to me I froze

"alright" he said looking to me his left foot went back a little "punch me"

"what?" I said taking a step back I saw some of the crew start to smile

"you heard me" Buster growled "punch me"

I sighed walking closer to him I let fly a half hearted punch that would have landed in his ribs if he had not have grabbed my fist and shove me back I slid across the gravel landing on my knee he grunted with the effort then rolled his eyes

"harder" he barked I sighed

"are you sure?" I said straightening slightly on my knee

"do it" someone yelled there were yars and ayes all around

"I think that answers your question" replied Buster as I sighed again

"don't blame me if you hurt all over in the morning" I mumbled

then launch a full speed punch and got him right in the chest he had not seen it coming I had not expected him to punch back which he did he did it so fast that I did not see it coming he hit me In the side then his elbow in my face propelling me backwards sending me out of the circle of men and about five meters away I crashed against the ground skidding for a few metres I laid on my back dazed

"hey Angel" I heard Gero yell "you dead?"

I didn't say anything there was a long silence and everyone looked to Buster there were growls of hatred and I heard the gravel shift as some one I guessed to be Buster walked backwards and the crew might have began to walk towards him until I answered

"yes or at least feel like I am"

then they turned back to me with a sigh of relief and started laughing as I sat up and I winced slightly and my face started throbbing I touched my nose and winced

'he broke it' I thought

I staggered to my feet standing awkwardly on the account of my injured leg his eyes were wide

"good" he said with big splotch starting to form on his chest and around his throat "but keep these ones of yours under control got it" I rolled my eyes and stuck out my tongue

"yes captain" I said i watched as he gritted his teeth in frustration

"good" he said turning away and leaving the group

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he touched my nose I winced

"ow" I got out squeezing my eyes shut

"sorry kid" he said I think he was Gulaver he pulled back "well your nose is definitely broken" I nodded "and I'm going to try and push it back into place I'm pretty sure you want to be a pretty girl and not a troll" I sighed

"just get it over with" I scolded he laughed

"feisty one ain't ya?" he said

he touched my nose he pulled it and slowly slid it across I felt and heard it click I flinched and he smiled as blood flowed down my face

"god" he exclaimed "your a gusher"

I held my wrist to my nose he handed me a cloth and I took it holding it under my nose he placed things over my nose keeping it in place

"okay sweet heart your free to go" I sighed

"Angel my names Angel" he shrugged

"what ever your free to go"

I nodded standing up I turned to the tent flaps and left only to be crowded by the crew

"what happened?" asked Barium "does this give us a reason to throttle that Buster person" I shook my head

"I'm fine" I said to every one

I pulled the rag from my nose every one looked at me with straight faces then Gallent was the first to start laughing

"its purple" he barked holding his sides

I walked up to him yanking him down to my level the crew remained silent

"I'll make yours black now do you want that?" he shook his head

"no captain" he said quickly I raised an eyebrow

"okay whats wrong with my nose"

"nothing" he said his eyes wide I let his collar go

"nothing good" I said pushing through the crowd

"god she's scary when she's pissed" I heard Gallent exclaim

I turned back to the group and they backed away

"I'm not pissed" I said through gritted "I'm teeth fucking furious"

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it was a few hours later when the purple on my nose had slowly began to fade away. that I saw Buster who came towards me it was about at that moment that I was thinking differently of the words I had chosen. I could see clearly the big bruise on him mine had long since disappeared he pushed me up against a tree his face millimetres away from mine his face was red either because he had ran all the way to me or because he was angry with me for what reason I have yet to know

"why" he asked "do you keep calling me captain?"

"for the fun of it" I replied

I attempted to move away but he shoved me back into the tree making my cry out in pain he held me there he opened his mouth to say something but he looked lost for words he pulled away I rubbed my chest the redness fading from his face

"um?" he said "sorry I um" then he baled his hands into fists then he suddenly turned away and stomped to the mess hall

'weird' I thought