Lyra's POV
I couldn't answer.
I didn't know anymore.
All I knew was that three days ago, I had parents
And now I didn't.
The man didn't look angry.
That was the first thing I noticed.
His hand was big around my wrist, but he wasn't squeezing it. When I turned fully, I saw his face properly.
He had tired eyes.
Not mean eyes.
Just eyes that looked like they had seen too many long days.
His beard was rough and uneven, like he didn't care much about mirrors.
"You're shaking," he said a bit quietly.
I didn't answer.
I couldn't.
My throat still hurt from crying.
He let go of my wrist slowly, like he was scared I would run if he moved too fast. The gunshots had stopped. The men's voices were further away now.
"It's alright," he said. "You're safe."
I didn't believe that word anymore.
But I followed him anyway.
Maybe because I was too tired not to.
The camp was deeper inside the woods than I expected.
Tents were set up in a circle.
There was smoke rising from a fire. I could smell something cooking. My stomach made a small sound and I felt embarrassed, even though no one could hear it.
He handed me a bottle of water first.
"Drink slowly," he said.
I didn't realize how thirsty I was until the water touched my mouth.
It felt like it was fixing something inside me.
I drank too fast and burst out in a series of cough.
He waited, patiently calming me down.
After a while, someone handed him a piece of roasted meat. It still had tiny feet at the end. I stared at it.
"Rabbit," he said. "Bush rabbit."
I had never eaten rabbit before.
Daddy always bought chicken. Mommy said rabbit was for people who knew how to hunt.
I hesitated, then took a small bite. It tasted smoky and strange.
Not bad.
Just different.
I kept chewing slowly.
The men around the fire were laughing loudly. Someone shouted that this was their first big catch in days. They were celebrating.
The man crouched down so we were almost the same height.
"My name is Cobra," he said. "I run this camp. The real leader's not here. He's on transit. So for now, I'm in charge."
I nodded even though I didn't fully understand what that meant.
He studied me carefully. Not in a bad way. More like he was trying to solve a puzzle.
"What's your name?"
"Lyra," I whispered.
"Lyra," he repeated, like he was testing the sound of it.
Before he could say more, another young man stepped into the tent.
"Cobra," he said. "The troops are about heading for night hunt. Six p.m. already".
Cobra nodded and said " I'd be with you shortly", then the man walked out
Cobra glanced at me. I must have looked scared because he softened his voice.
"We use code names," he explained.
"That was Tiger. Don't let it frighten you. He's harmless", he then gestured me to follow him and said "come along."
He stepped outside with me beside him.
The air was cooler now. The sun was going down.
As we walked, Cobra pointed at a man sitting near a log with a guitar resting on his lap.
"That's Scorpion," he said quietly. "The burn scar on his face was from a car accident years back. He used to play in shows although he was not famous, but he tried."
Scorpion noticed us looking and gave a shy wave. His scar ran across his cheek like melted wax. He smiled anyway.
We kept walking.
"That one," Cobra nodded toward a chubby man chewing something loudly, "Is Python. He talks too much, eats too much but a great hunter when we get to the fields."
Python was smiling while enjoying his meal, with crumbs on his lips.
"Lion named him that," Cobra added. "Don't ask me why."
I almost smiled.
It felt strange to see people acting normal.
When we reached the group preparing for the hunt, I saw Tiger properly for the first time. He was putting on a metal breastplate. It looked heavy.
"And this is Tiger," Cobra said.
Tiger turned, saw me, and smiled warmly.
"Hey there, little princess."
My chest tightened at that word.
Little princess.
Daddy used to call me that.
Tiger leaned closer to Cobra and whispered, but I still heard it.
"Signals are still down. If we don't reach the King tomorrow, it'll be bad."
The King?
Why did they need a king?
Why tomorrow?
Questions rose inside me but I felt too little to ask.
Cobra's face changed slightly.
Just for a second.
Then he looked at the group of younger men standing nearby.
"You," he called to one. "Watch after her." he said then left with Tiger.
The young man stepped forward.
"Good day, m'lady," he said with a dramatic bow. "My name is Tyron."
His eyes were bright blue. Like the sky right before rain. His dark hair fell into his face and he brushed it aside.
He looked young.
Maybe early twenties. But confident.
I forgot my questions about the king for a moment.
He smiled when he saw me staring.
"Oh m'lady," he teased gently, "this lad is tougher than he looks."
Before I could react, a loud explosion tore through the air, sounding like its coming from somewhere very close to the camp.
It didn't sound like a normal gunshot.
Everything changed in one second.
Men scattered around looking for its source.
Another blast echoed.
Smoke rose from near the tents.
My heart jumped so hard I thought I would faint again.
Tyron grabbed my wrist.
"Come with me!"
He pulled me fast.
Too fast.
The world blurred. People were running in every direction.
I heard more gunshots. The celebrating laughter from earlier was gone.
We rushed into a small wooden structure near the edge of the camp. It smelled like oil and old wood.
He pushed open a tiny storage door and guided me inside.
It was dark.
Small.
Dusty.
"Stay here," he said quickly. "Don't make a sound. I'll be back."
My body went cold.
I had heard that before.
Stay here.
I'll be back.
Daddy said that.
He didn't come back.
"No," I whispered, grabbing his trousers. My fingers clung tightly. "Don't go. Please don't go."
My voice sounded smaller than I wanted. Desperate.
I could hear more shouting outside. Someone yelled Cobra's name.
Tyron crouched down quickly.
"Lyra, listen to me." His voice was urgent but soft. "I have to help them. I promise I'll come back for you."
Promise.
That word felt sharp.
My eyes filled with tears. I didn't want to believe anyone's promises anymore.
He gently removed my hands from his trousers.
"I'll be back," he repeated.
Then he was gone.
The door shut.
I could hear gunshots. Screams.
Boots running across dirt.
Something heavy falling.
I curled into myself in the tiny store, pressing my hands over my ears.
Please come back.
Please don't leave me too.
I didn't know who was attacking.
I didn't know what was happening.
Three days ago, I had parents and a quiet house.
Now I was hiding in a stranger's camp while bombs exploded outside.
My heart hurt again.
Not just from fear.
From the realization that life had started moving without asking me if I was ready.
And I wasn't ready.
I was just a girl who wanted her mommy and daddy.
But the world didn't care what I wanted.
It had already begun.