Pebbles skidded beneath Ava’s sandals as she traversed the uneven ground. It had been dusk when she'd departed from the temple and the sky was now an inky black. A magnificent array of stars were the only thing to illuminate her path. She knew that she should stop climbing for the night, but she was so damn thirsty. Every cell in her body screamed for water, so she continued to look for the source. She could hear it rushing from somewhere, but what direction was it?
She pulled at her ornately woven hair. Did it really matter? Would dying of thirst be any worse than perishing in the clutches of a monster?
Ava was unaccustomed to the clothing she wore. The priestesses had dressed her in a billowing silk dress embellished with jewels and embroidery work. She carried it awkwardly behind her, as she moved through the unfamiliar area.
Unbeknownst to Ava, the train of her gown caught on a gnarled, low hanging tree branch. She tugged roughly at it to free herself, but lost her balance in the process. She could feel the rocky terrain slipped beneat her feet in slow motion. Oh, fuck.
She attempted to catch herself, but only managed to fall with her entire weight on her left leg. Her shriek of pain was accompanied by a loud crack as she fell. Her palms stung as they became embedded with gravel. Just my luck, she thought to herself.
Ava moved to right herself. Her head felt fine, but her leg felt as though it had been set on fire. She ran her hand over the tender skin. A large gash had cut through her inner thigh, but no bones protruded from it. She propped herself up gingerly and attempted to stand. She let out a painful hiss of air. The bone was definitely broken and it would be impossible to support her weight.
She frantically pressed upon her wound to quell the warm, sticky flow of blood, but it was no use. The cut was far too deep and the elegant fabric she wore would be a pitiful tourniquet.
Rather than panic further, Ava was overcome with the feeling of numb resignation. She let out a deep sigh. At least her decision was made for her. No more moving. No more running. No more fighting. She would stay here and meet whatever fate Eupheme held for her. What a way to go…
She closed her eyes and relaxed onto the boulder that sat behind her. As a sacrifice to the gods, she hoped that a heavenly welcome awaited her, even though her faith was no longer what it used to be.
She only had one more decision to make: what would she do in her final moments? It was an easy choice. She decided to wrap herself in her happiest memories; they would give her some semblance of comfort as she slipped away from this world. She envisioned the time she’d spent with the only woman she’d ever loved as she sang a short tune she’d learned in her youth.
Love to the loveless shown, that they might lovely be.
Me and my sailor dear, stroll by the gentle sea.
Away again you go, now never to be seen.
But here I shall stay and sing, so lovely, lovely to me.
Always lovely, lovely to me.
She hummed the last sentence repeatedly as her senses faded. She barely heard the rustling steps behind her. She opened her eyes a fraction, but only saw a large shadow cast over her. She was in no position to turn her head, so she once again let her eyelids drift shut.
“Ah, monster of the mountains. It looks like you’re too late to kill me.”
Ava flinched as a long-fingered hand curled around her shoulder. But rather than rip and tear, it gently rubbed a soothing circle into her skin.
The responding voice was thick with emotion. “Oh my little dove, what have they done to you now?”
Ava recognized the voice immediatley. “D-Damalia?” she gasped. She was barely able to register her surprise before blacking out.
--
It was bright. It had to be at least mid-day. Ava tried to shift her weight, but groaned at the pain that flared through her leg. Her leg. Her wound. The mountain.
Where was she?
She pulled back the blanket that was covering her. Her left leg was wrapped in clean, white cloth and was tied to a splint.
“You shouldn’t move so much,” a calm voice said from behind her. “Drink the tea beside you. It’s been infused with willow bark. It will help ease the pain you’re feeling.”
“Damalia?” she breathed hopefully. “Is that really you?”
Had she died? Was this heaven? No, surely in heaven her leg would be healed. She struggled to turn her head, but her pain stopped her.
“Yes, it’s me. I’m sure you have many questions, but first I’d like for you to drink your tea. You lost a lot of blood; you must be dehydrated.”
Ava licked her chapped lips; she was terribly thirsty. She took a tentative sip and relaxed into the bed she was laying in. She took in her surroundings. The lodging they were in was compact and wooden. There was a small kitchen by the entryway, and a modest bedroom beside that. The walls were adorned with an eclectic array of art and ceramics. It gave the living space a cozy, lived-in feeling.
“Please,” Ava begged. “Come closer to me. I need to see that it’s really you.”
“I will, but first you must tell me what happened to you. My dove, why are you here? Is this all because you came looking for me?”
“I wouldn’t do that,” Ava whispered, her heart sinking in her chest. “I knew that you didn’t want to see me. I wouldn’t ignore your wishes like that.”
Damalia made a strangled noise. “It’s not-,” she stopped and cleared her throat. “Then what is your reason for being here?”
Ava gave a dry laugh. “I’m only here because you saved me. I’m guessing I would be dead otherwise.”
Damalia made another noise, but this time it sounded like a small sob. It sent a flutter through Ava’s chest. I guess she does still care about me...
“I was supposed to be a sacrifice,” Ava continued. “Some of the soldiers spotted a monster in the mountains. They said it would be a few months before they could mobilize, so they sent me up to appease the gods,” she took another sip of calming tea to her lips. “Or something like that. I believe it’s really my punishment for rejecting Timone.”
“Rejecting him?” Damalia hissed. “He made a pass at you?”
Ava sighed, oh how she had missed that protective tone. “Yes, but he was unsuccessful. Damalia do you live here? Have you come across any monsters?”
“The only monsters are those soldiers stationed at the temple,” she spat. “Oh Ava,” she lamented, "this is all my fault.”
Ava shook her head, trying to comfort her friend. “No it’s not. How could that possibly be the case?”
Damalia made a loud sniffing noise. Ava couldn't see her face, but it sounded like she was crying. “Because it’s me! I'm the reason you're so injured! I’m the one you’re being sacrificed to!”
Ava gave a laugh that shook her body, but stopped as pain rippled over her ribs. “No, you’re mistaken. What they are looking for is inhuman. It killed a soldier.” Ava was met with silence and a chill prickled over her skin. “Damalia? Why aren’t you saying anything?”
“Ava, I think it’s time that you saw me without my cloak.”
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