Final Goodbye
Leksa watched as Klark drew the bow back. Kijo was resting on her shoulder and every time Klark released the bow, sending the arrow toward a dummy, he would cover his eyes.
Leksa sighed. Klark had been a little too high and had sent the arrow flying over her target. “You’re trying to overcompensate for strength Klark and with a bow, it isn’t needed.” She sighed as she sent Kijo to collect the arrow.
“I’m trying, Leksa.” Klarks tone was dangerous. Her eyes narrowed. “Not all of us were born with a sword in our hands.” She shot back.
“That wasn’t my choice.” Leksa growled, crossing the space between them in three strides.
“Then learn to be more patient with me.” Klark threw the bow down and hit Leksa’s shoulder as she passed by, slamming the door into the house.
Leksa glared at the bow and then picked it up, grabbing the arrow from Kijo as he climbed back on her shoulder. She strung to arrows on the bow and pulled back. She let the arrows fly, sending one arrow into the heart of the target and the other into it’s head. Maybe if she went through her forms she would feel better. Of course, then she would have to go inside the house and possibly deal with Klark. She shuddered at the momentary thought. Klark needed space right now. Leksa decided to let Klark come to her when she was ready to talk.
Leksa moved the targets back into the shed, Kijo moving from her shoulder to hang off of the neck of the target. She decided to leave the arrows in the target as a reminder to Klark that she knew what she was talking about when it came to combat. She shrugged and reached her arm out from Kijo, the small monkey climbing back onto her shoulder.
“Alright Kijo. Let’s go explore the woods.” She closed the shed quietly and headed into the woods that surrounded their small home.
//
Klark paced back and forth in their bedroom. She was angry.
“I wasn’t overcompensating!” She screamed at noone. “I don’t have her muscle! It was her idea!” Klark looked at their bed and sighed sitting on it. “Snow will be after us. You need to learn to fight.” She mocked Leksa’s tone from the night before. “A bow will be easier than a sword. Snow left it for you anyway.” Klark balled her hands up and looked down at them. She got off of the bed and headed to the window. She looked out the window and heard the car before she saw it. She frowned and headed to the door. She opened it quickly and stepped onto the dirt path that led to their front door.
The peacekeeper car stopped in front of the house. Three peacekeepers first. One opened the back door and her mother slid out. She looked around at the peacekeepers and huffed at them.
Her fell on the house and her frown only deepened. Shouldn’t a victors house be a mansion? She took her time getting to Klark, the peacekeepers going to all of the exits of the house and creating makeshift guard spots.
“In the house.” Abbie quietly motioned toward the front door of the house. Klark opened the door and allowed her mother in, shutting it quickly after to keep the guards out. Klark hugged her mother, tears brimming her eyes.
“I’ve missed you.” Klark said into her mother’s neck.
“I’ve missed you too. We have to talk softly and quickly, I can’t stay long.” Abbie stepped out of her daughter's embrace. “Is there a place away from the doors?”
“Come to our room. We can keep an eye on the guards while we talk.” Klark led her to the right of the opening hall, through the dining area, and then to the bedroom.
“Snow has something planned.” Abbie whispered. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he has cameras and speakers all throughout this house.”
“We’ve found a few speakers and one camera, destroying them. We know something is coming Mom.” She showed her Mom her callouses on her hands. “I’ve been training all day.” She frowned at the sudden remembrance of her anger.
“I think, I think is probably the last time I’ll see Klark.” Her mother quickly whispered to her, taking her hand. “I’m your mother and so your transgressions show on me and you father. They took him into Snow’s house two days ago and I haven’t heard anything. His medical files were wiped. It’s almost as if...as if he was never here, Klark.”
Klark felt her anger flare up and then her sadness at the news. Snow had erased her father. She had thought her punishment was over. She felt the tears drop and quickly wiped them away.
“I’m going to try and ask Snow for forgiveness of our family. I’m going to try and see if he’ll leave us alone. I..I think I’m next Klark and then I think he’s coming for you two. You defied his rules and he has an iron fist, as you know.” Her Mother wiped at her own tears. “Leksa can look after you, I know that. Just be careful. I don’t know what he has planned.” She looked into her daughter's eyes for what would probably be the last time and gave her a hug.
//
Leksa looked at their small house from the wood lining and crouched down. She hadn’t brought her swords. Hopefully Klark was okay. Kijo hung off of her back and hide in between her shoulder blades.
“Yes Kijo. Good boy.” She whispered. She watched as the outline of a woman left the house and was followed to the peacekeeper car by the three peacekeepers that had been pacing around the house. She watched them leave and sat for a few moments more.
“Okay. Kijo, let’s go find your Ma. Hopefully that visit isn’t what I thought it was for. Hopefully she’s still..” Leksa paused feeling the lump in her throat. If Snow was going to kill them, surely it wouldn’t be like this. She headed down the slight hill of where the forest started and sprinted, Kijo tightening his grip.
Leksa flung open the door to the house. “Klark?” She called out. “Love?” She walked through the house and finally found Klark sobbing on the floor beside their bed.
Leksa dropped to the floor, wiping at her tears. “I’m here Klark.” She gingerly touched Klarks cheek with her fingertips. “I’m here.”