Greedy Bones

Bellamy let out a startled gasp as she was scooped closer. At first her body tensed, a reaction to such a movement that was instinctually, but then, once she realized what it really was, she relaxed. Bells let her eyes close and shet let her body rest against Sparhawk’s own, heart starting to race some. An embrace, partial or not, was startling and yet, at the same time, such a welcome feeling. She hadn’t realized how much she had craved such a simple action, and it was something that helped lower the walls she had built up haphazardly over the years. She was tired of being alone… she yearned for acceptance, to feel happy again. She had been as a kid… surely there was hope.

The name of the drink he gave her was honey mead… something she had never heard of prior but… she didn’t mind it. The taste was strong but it warmed her bones. Made her feel odd but not necessarily in a bad way… It would be something she wouldn’t mind taking again.

Bells breathed out slowly, not moving to get away from Sparhawk but rather letting her head rest against his chest below his head. She felt… oddly content. The crackling of the fire and the warmth flooding through her veins because of the alcohol were welcome. His words caused her to shift a little, snuggling against him.

“Then don’t let the night end…” Her words were soft.

Alcohol or not that was the truth.

“Whiskers and Ears kept me going. A badger and a devil… Ears is like my brother and Whiskers is a guardian for us.” She explained. “I lost my family when I was a little girl. Dad… he worked with fire. I’m only just starting to remember bits and pieces of everything. He had this workshop in the mountains.” She opened her eyes slightly, watching the flames flicker.

“My sisters and I would sneak in there sometimes to play. Dad told us not to but we liked the warmth. The mountain base could get cold, especially at night.” She spoke easily, telling him of what she knew, what she could remember.

“Before the soldiers of the Empire came… there was an accident.” She frowned. “A cave like this… the fire burning… the Earth began to shake. I had been playing with Cammie. I got too rough… I had made her bleed.” Her voice became quiet.

“She didn’t make it out.”

Bells sighed softly.

Then the soldiers came.

“When they came… they killed my parents. The one male used the same sort of weapons my dad made. Maybe even ones he had made.” Bellamy’s voice was thoughtful.

“We tried to run… but they chased us. My sister was small, meek… grabbed too harshly.” The female whined softly. “She was a kid… WE were kids…” Her voice was quiet. “Losing my family was hard… but what came after was harder…” Bells let out a heavier sigh now.

“My life didn’t matter.” She said. “I was a living, breathing weapon… but I was disposable. The things that I’ve had to do make me want to be sick. Not just because I had to do them… but because sometimes… I learned to like it.” Her ears flicked back. “Fighting… tearing into flesh… I like the feeling it gives me. A drive, a sense of being able to survive…” She squeezed her eyes closed.

“I’ve been so scared of being taken again… after I managed to gain my freedom. It makes me scared… not certain of trusting… Even when I was injured and needed help to avoid infection I was terrified of letting Winterfell’s healer treat me. I was afraid of being drugged… being held against my will.” Bellamy explained. “What if they had been like those in Lyenne? In the Empire? I couldn’t bear the thought of living like that again.” Bellamy shook her head and nestled against Sparhawk, getting comfortable.

“I don’t want to be the monster they created…” The female whimpered.

“I just don't know how to change responses that are so deeply ingrained… especially when I’m afraid… How can I judge when it’s okay to trust or not? What if I do get claimed again? I’d rather die than live on my knees again…”