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

"You know an invitation never hurt anyone," he shouted, his tone calmed her, making her feel like a friend again.

"Oh for Quill's sake! Anderson Rockwell, get the hell down here! Consider yourself invited!" She replied, hoping the conversation wouldn't end.

Out over the cliff's edge came Ander's body soaring through the air until finally submerging into a huge splash of water just short of hitting Beth. As his body emerged into the beautiful moonlit pool, Beth couldn't help but smile.

"Welcome to the party." She chuckled as he wiped the excess water from his eyes.

"What exactly is it that possesses you to get up in the middle of the night for this?" He said with a laugh.

"I told you, adventure. Which someone claims they have in place of blood." She smiled with a grand gesture to show her enthusiasm, splashing water in his face in the process.

"Well you, miss, have not changed in the slightest." He splashed her with a laugh.

"So I’ve been told."

"Do you know how long you've been out here?"

"An hour maybe."

He chuckled, "Yeah, try three."

"What?" She nearly screamed, her eyes widening.

"You've been out here for a long time, Beth. Sunrise is in two hours and we might want to get sleep tonight, or today now." He called as he swam towards the shore and the log at which they first spoke. "Goodnight, Donoway."

"Ander, wait." She said, sadness now making its twisted appearance. "Do you really think Chaess will be okay?"

"I don't know, but I do know this-" he paused swimming closer to her. "No matter who lives, no matter who dies. You will be okay." He offered a smile.

"What about you or me? What if we die?" Her question stopped him, he wasn't sure how to reply.

"It will be okay." Was all he said, seeming as though he didn't believe it for himself.

He turned back and swam to shore. Beth wiped her face and watched Ander as he walked through the forest back towards camp, she too had to leave, so she forced herself from the water and gathered her knives that she had left by the rope, and made the return to her cabin.

*~*

Days had passed before they finally got word on Chaess’s recovery status. He was going to be okay, but he wouldn’t be able to fight for a while. For some reason, they allowed him to stay on base, no one is really sure why. But for Beth’s sake it must be a good thing. Ander knew how guilty she felt for what happened, and though he would be okay, he wasn’t sure how Beth would take it if she couldn’t be with him. The healer had finally left and Chaess was finally able to start walking around and taking care of himself. His quirky mannerisms exhibited even stronger now that he was injured, he giggled far to much for someone who’s literally been to war, stabbed and taken to within an inch of his life. But Ander wouldn’t have it any other way. Chaess brought the whole team’s morale up, he was kind of like the team mascot, cheering them on from base while the others were in the field wreaking havoc on the enemy. 

Ander woke to, surprisingly, silence. He groggily peeked around the cabin to find he was completely alone. He noted that the sun was up however, which meant one of two things: No battle, or he had actually somehow slept through that unearthly siren. The good news was affirmed when he looked outside and found Noeh and Beth sparring in the grass. It was clear who was better, she was so much swifter and her reflexes were so natural, he was a little more wild. Within seconds Noeh was backed to a tree with two swords, one being his own, cross at his neck. Ander laughed, she was truly fierce.

Ander pulled himself out of bed and dressed more casual than he was accustomed, in a t-shirt and mesh shorts. He squinted as the sun met his eyes on his way out of the swinging double doors of the cabin.

“You really think you can just sleep the day away?” Quinn Fletcher asked, his black cropped hair shining in the overwhelming sunlight.

“Shut it, Fletcher, or it’s you who won’t make it to day time tomorrow.” Ander joked sitting at Quinn’s side on the steps of the Commons Building watching Noeh and Beth go at each other over and over again.

“How long have they been at it?” Ander asked.

“Since before I even woke up, it’s been at least three hours.” Ander worried, but didn’t show even the slightest emotion.

“Noeh,” Noeh’s dark eyes meeting Ander’s, “Take a break,.” Ander walked to Noeh who was offering his sword, Ander nodded and took it.

“Be careful, Rockwell.” Beth said with a grim smile, “That sword isn’t the one your used to.” She started to circle him, “Might not work the way you’d like.” She lunged.

Ander was prepared, he met her sword with the one in his hands and pushed her back. Laughing, Beth, went after him again this time switching the position of her sword at the last second, spinning around and stopping her weapon an inch before it sliced through his leg.

“Not bad,” Ander said and in one swoop sent her sword flying to the ground, pinned her to a tree and whispered inches from her face, “But, don’t think that the fight’s over.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” She winked and made a quick maneuver to escape.

Ander turned to her weapon pointed in her direction, even without a weapon, he knew she still had a chance. He lunged at her, sword in the air. Beth rolled, sweeping a leg under Ander’s, he fell to the ground. Quickly, Beth jumped to her, Ander doing the same before stabbing the sword towards her. A powerful kick sent his sword flying and the two were unarmed. 

“It’s not too late to call it, Captain.” Beth smirked, circling him more intensely, she looked like an animal, ready to pounce at any moment. Ander knew her next move before she even made, after all he was the one that taught it to her. She leapt into the air, her legs flying around her, and it one move he had her pinned to the ground.

“You’ve gotten better.” He said smiling, a genuine smile.

“I learned from a great teacher.” She said breathing heavily. The two sat on the ground, as the others clapped and cheered.

“That was sick!” Chaess yelled. Quinn and Pietre were of to the side spewing the childlike phrases recounting the sparring they just witnessed. Noeh watched a small smile on his face, he was off. Something about him hadn’t set right for Ander since the moment he met him. He was determined to find out why. 

“On that note,” Beth said, “I’m going for a walk.” She smiled at Noeh who joined her immediately like a dog. Beth shook her head, and disappointed, he turned back and went into the Commons Building. Ander couldn’t help but chuckle a little.

*~*

It was nearly night, no one had seen or heard from Beth since she had left that morning after the sparring. Noeh was unsurprisingly starting to worry, he knew she’d asked him not to follow her, but he felt like he had to. She was not weak or vulnerable by any means, but he knew that he had to find her. He wandered out into the musty, smelly woods. He’d always hated the woods, he was honestly thankful that citizens were banned from them. He walked and walked, he wasn’t even sure which way to go. He supposed he should’ve at least watched the direction she was going. He called out for her several times, the only response was the cursed, repetitive rustling of the leaves. Nature truly infuriated him. Why would anyone voluntarily open themselves up for vicious woodland creatures, traps, hidden animal dens to break a leg in, or to listening to the stupid noises? 

“Beth!” He called for what must’ve been the eightieth time. “Beth, I swear if you can hear me-”

“What? What do you swear?” Beth called, Noeh looked around but couldn’t see her.

“Beth, what the hell? Where are you?” He heard her laugh, looking behind him, to his left, to his right. And suddenly he heard something behind him. A large dark figure hurling towards the ground and landing before him laughing as he jumped into a panicked fighting postion.

“What? Never climbed a tree before?” Beth asked chuckling at the fear ridden on his face.

“No, as a matter of fact. I have no desire to be a damn raccoon.”

“Oh, please. You’re no fun.” She fake frowned and shoved her shoulder into his.

“Whatever, let’s just go the sun is already setting.”

“Fine, Lieutenant Grump, let’s go.” She smiled widely and gestured for Noeh to lead the way.

“I don’t think so,” He grumbled pushing her infront of him, “Let’s go.”

*~*

Chaess felt useless. Completely and utterly useless. He spent an hour laying on the ground staring at clouds, another eating anything he could find in the Commons Building, another staring at a single tree, and another literally walking in circles. It wasn’t like he could be doing anything that day any way, there wasn’t even battle. But he couldn’t stand just sitting around doing nothing. Needless to say he was thrilled to see Beth walk into the commons.

“Hi! Hi, where have you been all day? Did you do anything interesting? You know, I didn’t really see anyone else today. I wonder what they were all doing. Do you think they had work to do even on their day off, I mean maybe Ander did but the rest of them?” He chuckled awkwardly, “No they were probably lollygagging.” He smiled at Beth, who was staring blankly back.

“Hello to you too.” She half smiled, “I went out to the woods today.”

“Wow, that’s crazy that’s totally against the law.”

“Yeah, well, I guess their rules don’t apply here.” She winked.

“You know, you’re kind of a bad ass.” He blushed as he said it, she was pretty. Pretty girls terrified him.

“Me? You’re the bad ass here, you survived a stab wound while kicking some tail on the battlefield.”

“Well, I didn’t exactly wanna die, so I didn’t have a ton of options.” Beth laughed, but he wasn’t sure why. He was being serious.

“What am I going to do without you for the next few weeks?” She asked.

“Probably kill a bunch of people.” This time she didn’t laugh, that time she was supposed to. Is this why the boys say girls are confusing? He thought. Suddenly, a fear weighed on him. “Beth?” 

“Yeah?”

“Do you think I’m in danger staying her by myself?” He supposed she could see how scared he was because she walked over with a sad look on her face, “I know I’m a really good fighter, but I’m hurt and if they come here. I might not be able to fend for myself.”

“Chaess, you are unlike anyone I’ve ever met in battle specialty.” She paused, it didn’t seem like she would say more, but then she did, “You are a great fighter, and yes you are hurt, but no one is going to come here. That’s why we go out there, to keep them from getting to anyone else. You are safe here. But, I have a question.” He looked up from his wrapped arm and met her eyes, “Chaess, if you are so afraid. Why are you still here?”

Her question surprised him, no one had ever addressed his fear before. He was usually much quieter about his feelings, there was just something about pretty girls that made him squeal like a pig.

“This is all know, my dad sent me to battle training because he thought I would never amount to anything. So, I worked hard. I worked really hard. And I made it this far. I think he thought I would be put on combat duty in year five and just die there. But I made it to year six, in the