(Wednesday's)

~Burdon~

My blankets were suddenly pulled of of me. I searched, with one hand-without opening my eyes-for my missing blankets.
"Aeri? Guess what day it is?" questioned my Father, excitedly.
"The day I get to sleep in," I muttered, groaning.
"No, guess again."
"My birthday."
"Yes, now get up so we can celebrate your eighteen birthday," ordered my Father.
I groaned, but I eventually got up, walking out of the tent, where we were the party for my birthday.
As soon as I walked in, everyone in the tent yelled, "Surprise!" Even though it wasn't a surprise. We did what normal parties did: we ate cake, dance, sang happy birthday to me, dance some more, and surprisingly I had a few presents-despite popular belief, the Varden isn't very rich, so it was amazing, and very generous, that the Varden saved up to buy me some gifts-so I opened them and thanked everyone for the gifts. The party went by quick-so we don't get got off guard if the Empire comes back.
I was going back to my tent when I heard Ava say, "Hey, birthday boy. You are going to run off before I even get to show you my birthday present for you?"
I turned around and greeted Ava. "Sorry, I thought everyone left," I apologized.
Ava shrugged as if it didn't matter and handed me her present.
I opened up the box and inside was some sort of a handmade necklace for men.
"I didn't know what to get you, besides weapons, and I wanted to something simple," explained Ava.
I took it out of the box. "Ava, I love it!" I exclaimed.
"You do?! You're not just saying that because we're courting and I made that for you?" asked Ava, a mix of happiness and suspicion.
I chuckled at that. "No, I'm not saying that because we're courting or that you made it for me. I'm saying that because I love it." Ava noticeably blushed at that.
Now that I could fully see it I could see that it was a wolf tooth with a crystal accent pendant. There was a string through a loop that was on top of the pendant. I placed the necklace on my neck. Ava walked around and adjusted the wolf tooth necklace.
"Think of me when you touch it," said Ava, as she adjusted the necklace.
I covered her hand-the one that was adjusting the necklace-with mine, saying, "Always." I kissed her on the forehead and walked away. I walked back to the tent. As soon as I walked into the tent everyone-that was there-greeted me and wished me a happy birthday.
"Hey, I'm not the only birthday boy in this tent! Come here, Malo, I got something for you," I said. Malhaw walked up to me and I handed Malhaw his present. Malhaw opened it up and smiled, actually he chuckled.
"Very clever Aeri," said Malhaw, chuckling.
"Birthday hug?" I asked, outstretching my arms. Malhaw rolled his eyes and he hugged me.
Malhaw rarely gives any hugs, usually just on birthdays.
When we finished hugging-which only lasted a second-Malhaw gave me a present. Ironically, Malhaw gave me the same present I got him-Malhaw didn't give it back, he just brought me the same thing. I just chuckled.
I was about to leave, after the gift exchange, when my Father argued something about them having to sing to me. I sat back down on my bed, rolling my eyes. We did this every year, for each of our birthdays-it's tradition so we kinda have to do it.
"There is sorrow in the air people dying everywhere but happy birthday," they grunted- which is part of the song, the grunting part. "Happy birthday," they sang, grunting again.
Everyone said happy birthday to me again.
After that I did some more sparring. I was in the middle of a sparring duel when I heard a dragon that sounds like Espinho.
Ugh, not now, not on my birthday. I groaned. I really don't want to fight-especially on my birthday!'
Suddenly a sword hilt was slam into my face. I fell down, taken by surprised. I stared at the man I was fighting with shock. The man I was fighting had a smug look on his face. I stood up with a sword in hand. "What was that for?!" I demanded. The man just shrugged.
I sniffed the air, but not noticeably. Pride. He was prideful that he hit me in the face, not a traitor. The man was just prideful that he scored a hit, but honestly did it happen to be in the face?
"We're done for the day," I said, walking away.
Usually I can control what I hear, coming from people minds, but I couldn't help but overhear the man's thought. Ha! I made a hit and he gives up! What a coward!
Coward?! I silently demanded. I show him who's a coward! I stalk back towards the man. "Get out your sword, let's fight!" I ordered the man. The man seemed surprised that I was back and took out his sword.
Hmm, maybe he's not that much of a coward, I heard the man think.
The man swung at my head, I ducked and swung at the man's feet, which the man fell down and dropped his sword. I pointed my sword at the man's neck and asked, "Do you surrender?"
The man shook his head, rolled over to get his sword, and swung at my legs. But I jumped and avoided the sword. I slashed at the man's midsection. The man stumbled back, but manages to hold his ground. I swung at the man's legs and the man stumbled back and fell backwards. I points my sword at the man's neck. The man pushed my sword away and stood up.
The man charged to the right-actually faked to go to the right then went to the left. We charged at each other and we locked blades. I shoved the man away. The man stumbled and fell down. The man immediately got up and was about to swing at me again when I pointed my sword at the man's midsection. I stood close. "Be careful who you call a coward," I growled and I walked away.
Honestly what did he knew, to call me a coward?! Why would he think he could just call me a coward after I had proved myself and everyone that I was everything but coward?! Frankly, he hit me in the face, while I was distracted, and I'm the coward. I mentally rolled my eyes. He's just ridiculous, and so annoying. The only way he actually made a hit was because I was distracted! I would've been able to block the blow had I been concentrating and had not been distracted. It was ridiculous that he thought he score a hit when I was distracted. That doesn't count where I'm from, but sometimes it does, usually doesn't.

***

~Aidan~

That was one of the most scariest moment of my life, I actually thought he was going to kill me. He didn't, that was when the scariest moment of my life happen.

"Be careful who you call a coward," the dragonrider Aeri as his eyes glowed! Glowed!

They actually glowed, I swear! It was one of the most scariest moments of my life, ever! Honestly, what kind of eyes glow?! How did he know I called him a coward? I didn't even tell anyone...unless he can read my thoughts. Oh, I better hope he can't! I thought, my thoughts spinning wildly.
I wanted over to Kar's tent, to go talk to him about this and maybe he can fix it. I walked inside the tent that was Kar's. Everyone was there-Kar, his sons, and their friend.
"Um, Kar, I need to talk to you for a few seconds," I said, nervous beyond belief.
"Okay, talk," replied Kar, without standing up.
"It needs to be in private," I muttered.
"Whatever you can say to me, you can say it in front of everyone."
I swallowed. "I... I saw your son...," I stopped in mid-sentence, too embarrassed to go on. "Never mind, forget I ever said anything." And I quickly left the tent. I walked to Eucer's tent after that.

***

~Burdon~

Someone came through the tent. It was a soldier.
What is he doing he? Did something happened? I wondered.
"Dragonrider Aeri, I need you to come with me; Lady Nasha wants to talk to you," informed the soldier. I stood up and followed the soldier to Nasha's tent. I walked inside the tent. Inside was Nasha, Eucer, and the man I just sparred with not to long ago.
"Aeri, Aidan was just telling me how he saw your eyes glowed and you growled. Can you explain?" interrogated Nasha.
"He saw my eyes glow?!" I demanded, astonished.
Nasha nodded-and seemed surprised and suspicious at the same time.
"I have no idea why he would think that. Maybe it was a trick of a light. For me 'growling' at him I actually didn't literally growl at him-"
"I heard you growl at me," yelled the man.
"You shut it!" I growled.
"Aidan, that isn't a growl. That is a tone a person use when they are angry or frustrated at you." Now addressing me, she said, "I'm sorry we wasted your time, you may leave now." I left Nasha's tent and walked back to my tent. As soon as I walked through the tent suddenly everyone hugged me, including Malhaw. When we stopped hugging we all went to bed. I fell asleep.

I heard a slithering sound. I turned and saw a vine-like creature, a Vinstockar. The Vinstockar turned into its human-like shape. "Are you Trouble?"
Trouble nodded.
"Nice to meet you again."
Trouble smiled. "You remember us."
I nodded.
"We wanted to wish you a happy birthday and Malhaw also."
"You know his real name?!" I was deeply surprised.
"Yes, Burdon, we know just about every werewolf of Anjustlia names-well I know," explained Trouble.
"How?!" Is there a traitor?
"I'm half werewolf of Anjustlia."
"But you're..."
Trouble nodded. "Yes, but I'm also half werewolf of Anjustlia."
"But that's impossible!" I yelled.
"My real name is Dilver, but I goes by Trouble when around my Vinstockar families," said Trouble, who's real name is Dilver.
"Dilver?! Isn't that the name of E-" before I even finish Trouble nodded yes. "Why aren't you-oh, you probably didn't want to have that."
Trouble/Dilver nodded.
"Do you mind if I call you Dilver?"
Dilver shrugged as if it didn't matter. "Just don't call me that in front of my Vinstockar brethren," replied Dilver.
I nodded.
Dilver looked like he wanted to say something more, but decided against. "Bye," said Dilver, and he disappeared. A second later, Dilver suddenly reappeared. "I almost forgot to give this to you." And he handed me a box, presumably a present. It said something on the box. I read it.
Hmm...interesting, I thought. "I want to take this present back with me," I said aloud. I woke up.

When I opened my eyes I was still in my bed curled up, but I had the present I got from Dilver with me. I sat up with the present in my lap. Everyone was up.
"What's that Aeri?" wondered Malhaw.
"A present I got from somebody," I responded, handing him the note.
Malhaw read it. "Hmm...interesting."
I nodded, agreeing with Malhaw.
We opened up the present. There was a note on each of the items inside. I handed Malhaw his and I took mine out of the box.
"This is by far the most interesting present I ever received," said Malhaw.
I nodded, agreeing with him.
"Do you think he realize it was a little late?" joked Malhaw.
"He gave it to me last night," I explained.
Malhaw nodded.
I left a little pinch on my neck and everything suddenly went dark.

-
Question(s) for chapter:
Who wants to go to sleep? Because I know I do. If you do, comment if in the comments below.

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