Winterfall

“But, hey it’s not like you…” I continued the taunt despite the incredibly loud battle cry.

“Shut the fuck up!” Quinn shouted as she raced towards me in a dead sprint. Her feet pounded so loudly that I was able to detect when she would reach me.

Utilizing that, I was able to quickly turn around and catch her fist as she tried to take a swing at my back. As I grasped her fist within my hand, I thought back to how I looked in the mirror. Toned, I was toned which meant I had muscle. I began to squeeze her fist that I clutched, I squeezed it until my knuckles had turned white.

“How?” Quinn breathed. She tried to get away from me as her face shifted from pure rage to desperation real quick. I could tell that she knew that she needed to get away from me before it was too late.

Well, too late came sooner than we both realized as I continued to squeeze with all my might. I heard a crack echo in the air.

“Damn it!” Quinn shouted in pain as the bone began to protrude from her fist as I continued to squeeze.

Maria! Release!

Théoden's voice boomed in my mind. His voice was filled with concern as he watched the scene unfold. Blood began to drip from the area where the bone had pierced skin. Each second that past, more and more blood dripped onto the dusty floor below.

Maria! Théoden pleaded one more time.

This time I released her wrist and stared at it in amazement. I had no idea where that pulse of strength came from. However, I couldn’t help but wonder if I somehow was able to manipulate her energy and feed it back to her. I mean, that would have explained the bone cracking.

Maybe you are onto something. I will pay more attention to the bond and see what happens.

Quinn took a moment to heal enough to fuse the bone back in place and close the wound. “Damn that hurt like a bitch!” Quinn shouted as she took her other fist and struck my shoulder.

I stumbled backwards from the sheer force of impact. I felt my own bones crack beneath her fist and I couldn’t help but yell in pain. “Fuck!”

Thankfully for me, my own body started the healing process quickly. I thought back to them adjusting their bones back in place themselves and wanted to try it.

However, to my surprise Quinn struck me again. This time her fist impacted my stomach sending me backwards another five feet.

Pain tore through my insides as her strike hit true. I gritted my teeth as I tried to not to scream, however that failed as I felt the scream build up in my throat. I had no choice but to yell.

I seen out of the corner of my eye, Théoden flinching at the gut wrenching scream that escaped my lips. He wanted to help. He wanted to take the pain. But he wanted me to get stronger. So, he resisted every urge in his body to leap forward and aid me in the fight.

Perhaps I should have been grateful for that, however the pain that resided in my stomach was horrible. It was so horrible that I ended up throwing up what I had eaten prior.

I glanced up at Quinn with a plea in my eye, “Give…me…a…second.” I breathed out between gasps of pain.

She looked down at me with rage in her eyes. She wanted to continue but she knew it was best for me to heal. “Alright but one minute.” She said with a sigh and went back to tending to her own fist.

I rested my body against the ground of the arena. And focused on my breathing instead of the pain that racked my body.

I began to count each of my breaths in my mind as I felt the healing energy expand over my entire body. One. Two. Three. Four.

Are you alright?

I’m wonderful. I said sarcastically. No but seriously, that punch hurt like hell.

You need help in healing?

No. Let me get this one.

He fell silent but watched my healing process through the bond.

Once the minute was up, I was able to stand up on my feet once again. “Alrighty, that one hurt like a bitch. The next one from me is going to hurt equally as bad.”

“I’ll use more force next time.” She brushed her hands against her pants as she looked at me with a smile.

“More force?” I questioned her as a wave of fear washed over me. However, I knew if I wanted to get a head on this fight, I couldn’t focus solely on fear. Perhaps, I could harness that fear. That pain I had felt over the last minute. I will utilize it against her. I mean if my wild magic uses my emotions, why couldn’t I use what I felt to fuel my own combat skills.

With that thought in mind, I focused on the fear and pain that I felt. Harnessing all of it and felt a build up of energy. And that was the push I needed. I ran at her as fast as I could with the limited time I had and punched her in the gut. Sending her flying back, landing with several cracks. I had even managed to make her bleed as my fist seemed to have gone in…

I stared in shock as her body instantly went limp against the dusty floor of the arena. I watched as blood spewed from the impact sight and her breathing slowed, second by second.

Fear shot through me. What have I done!? I cried through the bond.

“Fuck!” I shouted and found myself running towards her slowly dying body. “Théoden!” I cried as I glanced over at him.

I was relieved when he was already moving just as quickly to her. Reaching her before I did. “Step back Maria.” He spoke to me as calmly as he could but I could tell he was pissed. I had used her energy that she transpired on me and into her.

I stopped dead in my tracks as I was just a few feet away from her. I could tell the impact sight had caved in her gut. I could tell she had lost a lot of blood at this point and her breathing was almost nonexistent as her eyes just stared blankly at the ceiling.

I stepped back far back. And fell to my knees. I couldn’t believe the hurt I had caused. I couldn’t believe the damage I had done to my best friend. “Is she…” I whispered. As I watched him examine Quinn.

His face said it all, she was dead, or so I thought. I buried my face in my hands as I dared not to look at him. I didn’t even want to enter the bond to see what he was thinking, to know what he was feeling about me through the bond. I need permission, if I can’t save her with healing magic in time. He asked me through the bond.

Do whatever you have to do. I told him trying to keep it together. I felt him use his magic to heal her. I saw her breathing begin to stabilize and the wound begin to heal. I sighed slightly but not fully. Not until he told me the truth.

She’s alive. You didn’t kill her. You can look now.

I shook my head and dared not to move. “What happened?” I heard Quinn ask Theo as she slowly regained consciousness.

“Take it easy Quinn, we almost lost you but you are alive.”

“I what?” Quinn asked in shock.

“The last hit nearly killed you.” Théoden said. “Let me help you up.”

“Alright.” Quinn breathed.

A few moments later I heard two sets of footsteps fall next to me. He knelt down beside me, “she wasn’t completely dead.” He told me, “close but not dead.”

I still couldn’t look at them. I had almost killed her. “Maria?” Quinn’s voice was gentle, and concerned. I felt her hands against my bloody ones, “please look at me.” She carefully pulled my hands away from my face.

I remained staring down at my knees. “I…I’m sorry.” I whispered. As tears stained my cheeks. I hated what I did. I hurt someone I care about. So, where does that leave me?

“Look at me.” She spoke again. I listened and slowly met her gaze. “There you are.” I smiled softly at her but was in for a surprise as she punched me hard in the chest. Crack. I coughed to catch my breath as I felt my ribs pierce my lungs. “That's for almost killing me.” She said with a smile. “I think I am done for the night. I need rest.”

Theo instantly healed me, as he could feel my lungs fill with blood. “What am I going to do with you two?” Theo questioned as he looked between us.

I coughed up my own blood at the force of the impact. I didn’t have time to react as Théoden's reaction timing was faster than my own.

“See you tomorrow Captain?” Quinn smiled as she started to slowly walk away.

“I better.” Théoden said and turned his focus back to me. “You didn’t kill her.” He told me to help me to my feet. “It was a close call though.”

“I’m sorry..” I repeated

“I know. From a teacher's point of view, I'm proud of you.”

“And the other points?”

He thought for a moment, “Still just as proud.” He pulled me in for a kiss before we left the arena, using his magic to clean me up. So I did not arrive at the castle bloody.

Up for a dream tonight? He questioned me as we entered the grand hall, parting ways for bed.

Of course. I told him and slowly, ever so slowly walked up the stairs to my room, locking my door behind me, instantly crashing on my bed.