Iris

Chapter 7

Iris sat at the he edge of her bed, she has been trying to clear her mind since morning, but her thought refuse to settle.the quite room only made everything louder inside her.

Something felt wrong

Something felt hevy , maybe it was the strange look she has been getting from few members of the pack, maybe it was the wispers she had heared when she walked out . Or maybe it was just the memory of Roshan's smirk from the other day , the way he had turned away from her as if she was nothing.

" why should I be bothered" , he barely knows me .

Besides I'm an ostracized wolf he wouldn't want to have anything to to with me ," he might believe I'm cursed too."

she hugged her feets tighter," I hate this feeling "

She hated being helpless, she hated feeling out of place and she hated the quite fear inside her, the one that spoke she doesn't belong anywhere.

She stood up abruptly.

No. she wouldn't sit here and feel useless , she will not hide in her chambers like a frightening bird she needed to do something anything to feel less useless.

Her eyes shifted to the window .

The training field wasn't far.

A dangerous idea formed in her mind.

Before she could talk herself out of it, Iris slipped from her room and headed up to the field.

The training ground was empty at this hour, the sun hung higher now, the air carried the faint scent of dust and steel.the silence felt stranger , she was used to hearing worriors shouting and weapon clashing. But the quietness also made the space feel bigger , almost secred.

Iris step into the dirt slowly, her heart tapping gently against her rips.

Weapons layed neatly on a stand ... Swords, Spares, Daggers , all polished.

She reached out, her fingers trembling a bit.

" I C...can do this" Just try, she wispered to herself.

her eyes landed on a training sword, it was one of the lighter ones worriors use for beginners, she wrapped her hands around the handles, And tried to lift it.

It bearly moved.

She frowned and tried again, using both hands this time.

The sword moved an inch.

Her arm shook, her breath Struggled.

Then the blade slipped from her grip and hit the dirt with a dull thug.

Iris stood there staring at it , her throat tightening.

"Why is it so hard" , she wispered , " it's so difficult.''

Why was she so weak.

Why couldn't she lift it like every other worriors in the pack, who seems to do without to much effort.

She reached down again, stubborn

But before her hands touched the handle, a deep voice spoke behind her.

" Iris"

She froze, only one person spoke her name like that.

Lillard.

seer and keeper of the cave, the one who knew her before she came, knew things without asking , and who saw truth hidden from the rest.

Iris stood up slowly and turned.

'What are you doing?".

Iris swallowed, " I want to learn........I don't want to be useless "

Lillard looked at the sword then back at her, You wish to fight?

Yes. I wish to be strong, I do not want to be remembered as the Feeble, weak and little minded Iris.

You wish to be strong?

She nodded .

" then listen to me, child" strength is not found by rushing into battle, "it grows slowly, patiently like a seed."

Iris looked down, I....just don't want to be a burden.

" You're not a burden"

"Then why do they look at me like one ?"

Lillard stepped closer, because their are afraid, not of you but what they do not understand.

Iris blinked at him.

Your past is unclear to them , your exile Makes them uneasy, they wonder why your clan casted you out. They fear if danger follow you.....and fear makes people unkind.

Lillard rested his hands on her shoulder.

" non of this is your fault and non of it defines you."

" But I want to be strong," I wan to defend myself, I want to stand not hide .

"You will, but not today."

Iris frowned, but why not today?

" Because your mind is troubled, your heart is unsettled, and your body is not ready ." he pointed to the sword, '' look at it even the smallest of weapon feels heavy when the mind is not ready."

Iris stared at the blade in the dirt realizing he was right.

"When the time is right, you will learn, you will train, your mind will grow strong. But furt you must know who you are, what you Carry and what you're capable of."

You came from pain, from rejection and fear but pain can either shape you or break you.

Iris lifted her eyes,

" which one will you be ?"

Iris replied, I want to be shaped and not broken.

Lillard smiled, a smile filled with quiet confidence.

You will be shaped in ways you can never imagine.

" Does the future shows that, ?" she asked.

Lillard chuckled softly," The future shows many things , but the strongest truth is this, you are not here by mistake ."

"Go to your chambers", he said 'rest , clear your mind and when you are ready I will teach you and not before."

Iris turned slowly,

"I understand ".

She turned to leave but Lillard called her name once more.

" iris, do not let the wispers of men draw you down, you're more than that."

She swallowed hard.

" Thank you she wispered."

Then she walked away , the sun warming her back, her steps a little steadier than before .

Lillard watched her go, his eyes watched her thoughtful.

Because the girl who believes she is weak, is more stronger than she realized.

And soon very soon the pack will see it manifest.