Moving Forward

Nine years, it's been nine long happy years here on the ground. I've officially spent the same amount of time on the ground as I had on the Ark. During that time I've come to a realization, I belong here. In the time that I've been free from the Ark I've realized that I didn't have a life before.

I was a prisoner simply for not having a family. The room that I had known all my life as home was merely a prison cell. I was sacrificed as an experiment for the council. The citizens of the Ark are not my people, my people are the citizens of Polis. Lexa, and Matthew are my family now and I love them as such. Matthew is the father I never had and Lexa is the most amazing friend that I could have ever asked for. Together they made me who I am, and who I am is a warrior. A faithful warrior to the Heda and the people of Polis.

Beating Lexa in a spar for the first time as children sparked something within me. That day forward I was more motivated and dedicated than ever before. I have never lost a battle since that day and I do not plan to anytime soon. I am now eighteen years old, I have made a name for myself. People from all over know my name, to Lexa and Matthew I am known as James. To the clans, I am known as The shield gon Heda's.

Two years ago, a couple of assassins were sent to kill The Heda. If it wasn't for me, Matthew would have died that day.

Heda and I were walking through the city as we do every few days. It's good for the citizens to see their leader. It builds stability and gives people hope of a better future to know that their Heda cares for them. We just passed an alleyway when I felt the hairs on my neck stand on end. Spending every waking moment to better myself as a Gona, has forged me from the weak boy that fell from the sky; into a battle hardened man. A man, who sensed that danger was imminent. I quickly ducked, an arrow flew through the space my head recently occupied. I could feel the air displacement as the arrow skimmed past my hair.

Looking up, I see a hooded figure dropping their bow and sprinting at me with a short sword in hand. Clenching my spear in my hand, I can feel the blood rushing to my ears and my heart pumping with the eagerness for a fight. I've grown to love the feeling of it. The feeling of not knowing if the next battle will be your last, if the next foe will be the one to end your life; It was exciting.

Meeting the hooded figure head on, I quickly drop to one knee and duck under their swing. Seeing the opening that they so graciously gave me, I thrust my spear through their stomach. Hearing their sword hit the dirt behind me and the warm feeling of their blood on my hand, I knew the fight was over.

"Yu gonplei ste odon." I whispered into their ear, swiftly removing my spear from them and letting their body collapse.

As soon as the body hit the ground I heard a pain filled roar behind me. I turn around just in time to see Matthew fall to the ground with a dagger in his leg and another hooded figure standing over him. The figure raised a sword and was about to plunge it into Matthew's heart. I acted without thought and that is what saved his life. My spear split the air... as well as the flesh of the assassin. For my aim was true, and my Heda was saved.

I already had a reputation as an unstoppable warrior. Years of being undefeated with my trusty spear will do that. The clans hold tournaments, tournaments to boast of who has the strongest warriors... I've won six of them, but that doesn't mean I am invincible. My body holds many scars of my various brushes with death. My chest, back, arms, and legs have all been the canvas of various blades. Spider Web like scars crisscross over my skin. I wear them like trophies though, to show I am but a human like the rest, and I use them as motivation. Motivation to grow stronger, so I don't make the same mistakes that had caused me to receive these scars in the first place. The most painful, yet the one which brings me the most pride nearly cost me my life.

Across my neck is a thick scar, a scar caused by a vicious blade. I was lucky that it didn't cut deep enough to sever my jugular or any other important arteries. It nearly severed my vocal chords though, I wasn't able to talk for months. The one who gave it to me wasn't as lucky... for the cut he received was deeper, deep enough to decapitate him. After that battle I trained harder than ever, never again letting myself become distracted in battle.

After my run in with the assassins I was deemed the shield gon Heda's. I was assigned to be his personal guard, and the guard of every Heda that was to come after him. I was not his second anymore, I have long since surpassed him in that aspect...

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Standing as still as a statue while listening to the annoying ramblings of different clan ambassadors and fellow tribesmen was exhausting. For hours each week the Heda would give audience to his people. To listen to their problems, to be the deciding factor in an argument, to give resources to those in need. It was all the same and it was simply boring. I would never want to be Heda, it was way too much responsibility.

The man seeking audience at the moment was whining about how his neighbor should be executed. Apparently the neighbor in question has slept with this man's wife. Personally I agree with the man's reasoning on execution. Those in relationships needed to be faithful, therefore the wife should share the punishment with the accused.

Heda thinks along the same lines as I do and passes his judgment. With the man thanking Heda and the guards escorting him home to deliver punishment to his wife and neighbor, the long day is over. Allowing myself to relax, I let my thoughts speak.

"Heda, how do you do it? How do you sit here and listen to these people's complaints and requests for hours on end?" I ask in bewilderment.

Heda stood up and looked at me with a soft smile on his face. "A leader must be there for his people, my son. For if I am not, then who else would be?" He answered honestly and sincerely, once again providing wisdom to myself.

With it being only us two left in the throne room, I took off my bone mask so I could look at the man I grew to love as a father over the years more clearly. He had grown old, due to stress and time. Grey lined his beard and wrinkles edged from his eyes. For eleven years he had been Heda. That is the longest anyone had ever been Heda before, that thought saddens me and amazes me. It amazes me because if anyone could do it, it would be him and it saddens me because I know his time as Heda draws towards an end. Whether that end is a bloody one, is undecided.

The people love him but there are always those who will hate you. I have stopped multiple assassination attempts upon the Heda. That alone proves his life is in constant danger, let alone how dangerous his routine hunting trips are. Twice times a month he goes out on a hunting trip for three nights. The trips consist of Heda, myself, and two random guards. If our hunting party were to be ambushed I fear that we wouldn't make it out alive.

"I understand father." I replied with a small smile, over the years I've realized that my father's wisdom should not be questioned. Heda was a very wise man. "Follow your passion and life will reward you." I remember when the Heda told me these words, and I will never forget them. My passion of being the greatest warrior had never failed me, it has rewarded me with friends and family that I would not trade for anything. The citizens of Polis trust and love me just as much as they do their Heda.

Wanting to see Lexa again before the day was up, as well as get out of this suffocating throne room, I decided to speak up. "Father, let's go see Natblida. We haven't seen them train in a few days." Although, there was only one nightblood that I was only ever interested in watching train.

Agreeing with me, we walked to the courtyard. For some reason, today I have been thinking about seeing Lexa again more often than usual.

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Yu gonplei ste odon. - Your fight is over.

The shield gon Heda's. - The shield of the commanders.