Battle Strong by Elizabeth McCready (have you read this book TXT) 📕

stalls. The night that Ander went after Noeh was simply uncomfortable for her, Ander decided it was best that she slept by herself, as sleeping anywhere near him or Noeh would only make matters worse. She partly admired how quick Ander was to defend her and how quickly he responded when she asked him to let it go. It had been hard for her to admit her feelings, and Noeh was now the only one who knew. Well, partially knew. She knew though. She knew that she loved Ander. She was angry, at Noeh. So angry at him. And she was so ready to get back into battle. They had received word the day prior that they would be able to leave the base, and for once, on horseback, with the request that they stay close to base in case the rain started again. The horses would be far better apt to taking on the terrain to go to battle directly instead of the bus that had to take the indirect routes. Unfortunately, battle was still delayed for them another day. Dumar was still declaring a stalemate which worried her more than she would’ve liked to admit. She was a little relieved to know that there were hundreds of soldiers holding their side of the lines just in case.

She hadn’t talked to Ander or Noeh for those two days, or anyone really except for Calypso. She was a good listener. Beth found comfort in just sitting with her horse, watching her, petting her, grooming her, feeding her, all of the things. It’s odd really, that a creature so big and so deadly can be of so much comfort.

Beth decided she didn’t like the silence, and apparently neither did Ander.

“Beth, can we talk?” Ander asked stopping at the door of Calypso’s stall.

“Of course,” Beth started to walk to the office, stopped by Ander. 

“Not here.”

Beth and Ander grabbed their horses putting only bridles on them. They led them outside into the still damp and puddled path.

“Close your eyes.” Ander said.

“What?” 

“Close your eyes.” And she did. She also didn’t want to say no, so, she took off her shoes and hopped on her horse without a saddle, gave her reins to Ander and allowed him to cover her eyes with a strip of cloth.

After several minutes of riding, Beth had to ask, “Ander, where are we going.”

“Shh, the less you know the better. Do you trust me?” The question made her uneasy and exhilarated her at the same time.

“I trust you.”

“Then no peeking.” She heard his smile as he spoke, her heart raced and her stomach turned. She didn’t know what to expect or how this at all constituted a talk. “Only a few more minutes.”

Just as he finished speaking, Beth felt Calypso’s body angle upward. She had no idea where she was or where they were going. She had never been one to trust another person, because people are people. They betray you. She would never have done this, not with anyone but Ander. He was her exception. She felt the ground getting steeper still and grabbed a fistfull of Calypso’s mane, worrying slightly about the rain making the ground slick. It was then that she heard the water. Rushing water, faint but unmistakable.

“Where are you taking me, Rockwell?” she asked, unable to control her smile.

“That’s for me to know and you to find out.” She couldn’t see him, but she could feel his eyes on her, and the light content smile he had to have had on his face.

They rode upward for several more minutes, the sound of the water growing louder with every step. Her anticipation grew. She heard trees rustling, felt the light touch of the wind blowing against her exposed arms and feet, and the sun lightly grazed her skin as to welcome her home. The water sounded strong, a waterfall. She felt the light mist of the nearby water kissing her ankles, her hair flowed lightly with the damp wisps of the wind. She heard twigs crunching beneath the hooves of the horses and the occasional snorts.

“I’m sorry,” were the first words he said as he helped Beth down from Calypso’s back and removed the cloth from her eyes, “I lost my temper when I shouldn’t have.” He paused for a moment, his hands were noticeably shaky as he stuffed them into his pockets. “But, I’m also not sorry.” Beth looked to him confused. “I’m not sorry because if something like that were to happen again I would do the same thing.” he looked down, his face read an emotion she had never seen him wear, “I.. care about you. And I,” he gulped, “Beth, I swear, I’m not going to let anything happen to you. Whether that be another attempt on your safety or on your heart. No one is going to hurt you. Not if I have anything to do with it.” 

Her eyes welled with tears, she knew she could handle herself, he knew it too. But, for her there was nothing better than to feel protected by someone other than herself, to feel guarded yet vulnerable again. Like a child. She couldn’t look at him a moment longer, she turned her head to the sight of the waterfall. She looked high to the crest of the mountain and followed the streaming water that fell into the immense river. The sound of nature’s drums pounding against the rocks on the banks was comforting, she closed her eyes, searching for the senses that were overwhelming. The smell of pines and freshwater, the sounds of rustling combined with the rushing water. The sensation of Ander’s hands arriving on her waist and pulling her back into his chest, the warmth of his arms wrapping around her, the sound of his whisper, “You are safe.” 

She held his arms to her body for moment longer then moved from his grasp and faced him, “Let’s be reckless.” She smiled and ran for the river bank, and to her side he followed, and together they leapt from the furthest rock into the deepest abyss of the wide river.

They resurfaced, inches apart smiles consuming their faces and laughter attempting to overpower the roar of the river. Silence fell upon them, and their eyes grew wide with intent. Ander’s hands found their way to her waist, her breath caught as those same hands pulled her close, slowly as if asking instead of guiding. She moved a hand to his cheek, with the slightest curve of a smile. 

“Beth, I-” Ander started, and Beth knew exactly what was about to cross his lips.

“I know,” Beth interrupted softly, “Me too.”

They smiled, and four hands pulled two bodies closer, meeting two lips together, into one passionate kiss. Their grips grew tighter as the kiss grew stronger. Years of distance pouring its many miles into mouths and between tongues. The message emanated wildly without a single word being spoken, and the two pulled apart, their foreheads leaned against one another. The water rushed around them in a symphony of splashing and currents, the world in that moment brightened and the sun fell lightly on their wet skins. The pine needles and leaves swayed to the wind whispering their secrets and leaving scattered traces of this moment slowly drifting to the ground, leaving the imprints of the moment that war gave way to love, even for just a few seconds. 

Beth’s heart swelled with the missing piece of her finally being returned. She traced a hand from his cheek to his arm, pulling apart just enough to look into the eyes of the man she had craved for so long. 

“I-” She smiled shaking her head, kissing him lightly once again.

“You what, Donoway?” He smirked teasingly, pulling her body closer to his.

“I just can’t believe- you- I- this-” She stammered her words, her cheeks reddened.

“I love you.” He said, his words carried through the roaring of the river and sunk deeply into her soul, her smile widened, tears formed uncontrollably.

“And I love you, Rockwell.” Joy and laughter radiated from them as they kissed and splashed each other. They stayed out there for hours before finally swimming to the rocks, high on the pure excitement of their deepest affections finally being exposed. They sloshed to the horses that had been tied to a tall pine. Ander helped Beth onto Calypso’s back and mounted Achilles, and the two, together, started on the path back to base.

*~*

“Where the hell were you two? We thought you up and died or something?” Pietre yelled when Ander and Beth returned with their horses. “And what made you so wet?” He paused, “Damn, that came out wrong.” Ander and Beth chuckled.

“We went out to the waterfall, and ended up going for a little swim.” Ander responded with a half smile.

“Well, you didn’t have go too far for that, the cabins are underwater.”

“They what?” Ander said his smile disappearing.

“Yeah, they are demolished, the wind must’ve done some damage because they don’t even have roofs anymore. They hardly even have walls, and the water is at least four feet deep. Come with me, I’ll show you.” Pietre started out of the stables.

“I’m sorry, I’ll be back.”

“It’s okay, I’ll take Achilles. Go do your thing.” She said smiling, holding back every urge to kiss him again.

*~*

Ander thanked her and went after Pietre to assess the damage done. He walked around puddles and ponds of water to what was once the cabins they inhabited. It looked like a hurricane had torn through their little homestead. They tried to assess what could be salvaged, wading through the high waters. Whoever designed the cabins being at the lowest point of the base was truly an imbecile. Everything was soaked, the beds were scattered on the yard along with the pieces of the walls, the bunks broken and collapsed. All that was standing was the toilet in the first cabin and the steel armories with the battle gear. 

“We will need to get our gear out of the armories, we are lucky those were strong enough to withstand whatever the hell happened out here.”

“Should I get the others?” 

“Yes, and tell Beth to get into contact with Lewisse, we may be in the stables longer than we intended.” Pietre nodded, but before he left, there was something he had to know.

“Ander? I couldn’t help but ask, you and Beth- are you guys- what exactly are you?”

“We are your captain and co-captain, Pietre, now move.” Ander smirked once Pietre was gone, how were they supposed to let that one out? He laughed and got to work on opening the armories.

*~*

Noeh was not thrilled to see Beth and Ander return hours later soaked and glowing. Something happened while they were out there. Beth didn’t do happy, but there she was. Happy. His skin crawled, he despised the two of them like that. 

“Noeh?” He jerked his head up and met her eyes.

“Need something?” It was then he’d realized that he had been staring at her while she was brushing Achilles.

“Uh, no.” He said. “Where were you?”

“I was safe.” She said turning back to Achilles, bitterness in her tone.

“I’m sorry, Beth.”

“There you go again, apologizing. You know my opinion on apologies hasn’t changed since the last time you tried.”

“What else am I supposed to do? Plead, get on my knees and beg that you forgive me, tell you I’m not going to do it again? Huh? How do I fix this?” He said desperately.

“Maybe you don’t, Noeh. Sometimes you go too far, and sometimes you can’t go back. No matter how hard you try.”

“Even so, I’m not going to stop. I’m going to keep trying, Beth, so help me I will. But you have to try too. It’s not fair for you to hate me over all of this.”

“I have every right to be upset. And in case you’ve forgotten what all of this is, let me remind you. You lost me, you lost your mind and couldn’t get your shit together long enough to go and find me yourself, so you