I discarded of the thoughts in my head. It was fine. As long as we won the damned thing, then surely we could get away with that catastrophe too... Couldn't we?

"Raven!" I called. She ignored me and scouted ahead. Clenching my teeth in frustration I grabbed her shoulder and spun her to face me.

"What's your problem?!" She snapped. I pinned her to a nearby tree and used my most ominous voice.

"Don't you dare talk to me like that!" I groused. She paled a moment before what can only be described as a suicidal light ignited in her eyes. 

"Oh... Macho - " I clenched my teeth at her tone.

Not knowing what else to do I slapped her. Not hard enough to cause serious damage, but hard enough to sting. She gawked at me.

"D-did you just...?" She sounded so much like a hurt child that it almost caused me to whimper. I had no choice. It was either that or public whipping. 

She would not have survived public whipping. 

I did what I had to. I told myself. You saved her life. My brain whispered against my conscience, one I thought was dead long ago. It was the conscience I thought I didn't possess. 

"Listen to me. You only speak to me with respect! You understand?!" She didn't respond. She seemed to be in some sort of shock. 

Oh, wonderful! See what an ass you are!?

You did what you had to. You saved her. That didn't stop my guilt from gnawing at what little I possessed of sanity. 

"Raven... I-" Just as I was about to be stupid enough to apologize for it and cause us all to die, rustling sounded behind me. I spun around to scrutinise my surroundings. The predator in me broke loose. The bloodlust, the sickening insanity came to the forefront and I was lost. I didn't think about Raven. I didn't think about anything.  Adrenaline rushed in my veins and in a blink of an eye, I was the monster they all claimed me to be and more. 

I was Death. 

I spotted two archers to my right, three amateur assassins holding out for a "surprise" attack.
Seriously? What is this? Suicide amateur hour?
I bent my knees and moved them slightly apart. My heels lifted off the ground and I took off. I grabbed Raven and hid her behind a boulder. Grabbing the bow on my shoulder, I inserted an arrow in and took aim, not at the idiots. I, much to my dismay, couldn't kill them. Therefore I took aim at a cluster of beehives up in the tree. I stretched the bow and aimed as if I'd intended to shoot one of the archers. I let loose a second later and three of the hives came down on top of the idiots' heads. This specific breed was poisonous, not in the sense they'd kill you, but they will render you in a coma.
I smirked viciously in satisfaction. Five out. My satisfaction increased as I recognized the bandana they wore was that of the Sirens, Siren's wretched crew. Now her crew was down to three...
Karma's coming home roastin'.
"Raven?" I asked. she glared my way. I ignored the gesture. "Scout for the Sirens," I threw her a whistle that I kept in my pockets. "If anything happens, whistle." She nodded and vanished into the trees. 

I lurked around in the wet, archaic forest. The crown of many trees was all but gone. The canopy of the rhododendron, beech, and chestnut painting a serene picture with their contrasting autumn hues. With the flowers all but gone and the ground thick with the rotting, wet leaves, it was an unvarying scenery: beautiful, but unchanging. 

The forest was in perfect harmony, though being a quiet one. With the exception of some rummaging critters, bugs and birds, it was silent. The distance sound of a waterfall could be heard the occasional whoosh of an arrow, maybe a muffled thump. Though those sounds were only heard by one of us, a higher ranking assassin. I doubted the newbs, such Raven were able to hear those sounds.   

I stumbled upon a cluster of whispers west of me and a group moving towards them. Their combined breathing and whispering caused a slight shift in the air, my senses were fully alert. 

I inched towards the tree right ahead of me and climbed up. One step, then the other. A minute later I sat at the highest of the branches looking down. All of the crews' commanders were assembled, all but mine and Skrymer's. I knew instantly what that was about. 

They are planning to ambush us?!

Why wouldn't they? Skrymer's crew always wins!

I sprung to my feet and was just to leave when I caught a glimpse of an all too familiar figure. 

Please no!

Raven was amid the crowd of assassins, hood up, but I knew that posture. I had already memorised her every movement. I knew her and I could spot her anywhere, but... 

Shit! Come on! Why can't you just follow orders?!

You're the one who ordered her to scout around! My brain chided. 

I sighed in disgust as I made my way down towards the group. I Threw my hood up and covered my bandana, inching slowly towards her. 

But just as I was about to get a hold of her, Siren's voice rang out.

"Did you need something, oh sweet Raven?" She mocked as she snatched Raven towards her. Raven kicked and broke loose, but Siren wasn't alone. We were trapped. I dashed towards her and took out a gas tube from my pocket. It was a bomb of sorts. We only had the one and it would not knock them down forever. I took a deep breath and set it off. 

Raven had thankfully held out her breath and so I took a hold of her and rushed out of the ever-growing cloud of smoke. 

"What? How did you know I was in trouble?" She asked staring at me, matching my pace and steps, one for one. I let go of her hand. 

"You're always in trouble," I said under breath. She gave me a peeved smirk.

"It's not me!" She said credulously. "I swear," sarcasm. "It is trouble that finds me absolutely sexy, tracks me down and jumps me every time!" She argued gesturing frantically with her hands flying all around, while we zig-zagged throughout the forest. I snorted derisively at her comment.

"Sexy?! I don't think there's an idiot on the entire planet that will think you sexy!" It was her turn to snort, as I passed an aggravated look. 

"'Cause you're just Mr Charming!" Suddenly she paled. 

I looked up and noticed an arrow a little too late...