Running The Gauntlet
“Haigar. I need to talk to you.” It was a few days after the bombshell had been dropped. Bailey’s idea had been developing since that evening and now she was ready to put the first step into action.
The dark Steef looked at her. He’d been very occupied since he’d been told about Loki, and though Bailey knew some of his preoccupation was for his younger sister, there was something else as well… Bailey shook herself. She’d turn her attention to that later, but right now she needed his help.
“What about Bailey?” The pair were walking companionably through the village now,
“Which one’s Karnan?” Bailey asked. Haigar stiffened at the name, but he nodded angrily at a rather short Steef male with thick horns and red-blonde fur. Bailey narrowed her eyes and sized him up as an enemy. She then turned resolutely to Haigar. “Blue. I need to know how to fight.” Haigar looked at her in utter surprise.
“You want to
WHAT!?”
“He’ll fight me, I’m his size and he’ll think he can win. But I need to beat him. Haigar looked at her, eyes wide.
“He could kill you.”
“I’m not letting them hand over Loki to someone older then Stranger. It’s not going to happen.” There was a pause. “Jelani’s daughter is not going to get off her lazy butt to save Loki, so I will.” Haigar was silent for a moment.
“It’ll be tough.” Bailey nodded as if she’d expected as much,
“I’ll do it.” Haigar nodded sharply.
“Alright then.”
¤§¤
Bailey sat on a large hill, the valley was spread like a blanket below her. Haigar had told her to meet him here, and he’d teach her to fight like a male Steef. She stood up as she noticed two Steef, one dark and the other paler, coming up the hill towards them. She grinned as she recognised them,
“Hullo Haigar, hullo Chiron.” The tribe leader’s son nodded and smiled at his human friend.
“Greetings Bailey. Haigar told me what you plan to do, and here I am to help you out. You’re going to need it.” Bailey nodded, grinning ruefully,
“So I’ve heard.” Haigar cleared his throat and Bailey looked at him.
“I asked Chiron to help us out, he’s more the same size and build as Karnan then me.” Bailey nodded. Chiron was only a bit taller then she was, and though he had pretty impressive horns he wasn’t as broad and strong as Haigar. “Alright, let’s begin.”
Three hours later and Bailey had never been so tired in all her life, but though she was battered and bruised, Haigar would not let her stop.
“Karnan has more stamina then any of us, you’ll need to increase yours if you have any chance at all.” Bailey grunted and pushed against Chiron. The young blonde Steef had his head lowered and Bailey was holding his horns, and they were straining against each other.
Bailey wasn’t as green as Haigar had first thought, she could hold her own, but her stamina and technique needed to be brushed up on. She couldn’t use her small size to her advantage either, she had to fight like a Steef, not a human and that meant throwing her body weight into it and using her muscles, not her agility.
Sweat slid down past Bailey’s eye and her muscles screamed in protest as she fought to hold Chiron at bay, she didn’t even have the energy to try and force him back. Suddenly, vaguely and as if it were far away, Bailey heard a voice through her exhaustion,
“Alright, change!” and suddenly Chiron pulled back. Bailey jumped back as well and though her mind and body were tired, her sub-conscious knew what was coming. She spun and caught Haigar’s horns as he charged her. This was hard, much harder then Chiron. Bailey was tired and Haigar was stronger then the pale Steef.
She began sliding back.
“Fight!” hissed Haigar, “C’mon Bailey, you have to fight back.” Bailey’s knees almost buckled but she locked them and panted.
“I- I can’t.” she panted, “I’m so tired.”
“Fight me.” Haigar growled, he wanted nothing more then to pull back, he hated put Bailey through such torture, but if she wanted to save Loki… Bailey’s stubborn heart suddenly came into play. The human dug in her heels and with a burst of strength and a yell she pushed Haigar back. And then she dropped to her knees. Completely exhausted. The two Steef collapsed beside her, one on each side.
“Good Bailey, very good.” Haigar muttered. Bailey flopped onto him.
“But good enough?” she asked. Haigar didn’t answer.
“Let’s hope so…” Chiron muttered.
¤§¤
Bailey was put through the punishing combat training for a week. None of the adults were told, but Loki was and she felt a small ray of hope on an otherwise dark horizon. She came now, to watch Bailey fight. Though the human was better now she still could not match the Steef. Loki cried the first time she saw the training session, how hard Bailey was pushed, how tired she was and how much she hurt after each fight.
“You can’t keep doing this to yourself.” She whispered when Bailey collapsed on her stomach onto the grass. “It’s going to kill you.” Bailey picked her head up, she grinned tiredly.
“Nah, I’ll be fine.” But her eyes told a different story. No matter how much she improved, no matter how well she could fight and for how long, Steef were superior to humans. There was nothing more that could be done.
“We’ve done all we can. The rest is up to you Bailey.” Haigar said as the three Steef and the human trooped home. Halfway there Bailey’s legs gave out and no matter how hard she tried she couldn’t get up again. Haigar hadn’t needed to think about what to do. He’d swept Bailey up as he’d seen his uncle do and sat her on his back instead.
“Please, don’t do it Bailey, I’ll go, I’ll go to Karnan, just don’t do this, you’ll be killed.” Loki pleaded, but Bailey was set, even if she was riding Haigar for the time being.
“No Loki.” She fixed Loki with a stern, human stare, Loki looked away, unable to keep the gaze and she argued no more. Finally they reached the village and Bailey slid down from Haigar. Even so she kept hold of a handful of fur to keep herself steady.
Before they went their separate ways, Chiron to his own home, Haigar and Loki to theirs and Bailey to hers, Bailey stopped them and looked at them seriously.
“Not a word to the adults. Agreed?” The boys both nodded, but Loki paused uncertainly. “Loki?”
“Yes.” Loki finally consented, though it looked like she hadn’t wanted to. “Not a word.” Bailey nodded. She gave a reassuring grin that could not hide her nervousness. “See you guys tomorrow.” She said and they left for home.
¤§¤
“The wanderer returns at last.” Teased Stranger’s voice as Bailey walked through the door, covered him mud, grass stains, and bruises.
“Hi Stranger.” Bailey murmured, feeling tired. She yawned.
“Yer played hard again today then?” Stranger asked,
“Uh huh.” Bailey muttered and dropped onto her beanbag chair in the hut’s main room. Stranger came and sat down beside her, he wiped a strand of hair from her face.
“What have yer bin getting’ up ter?” he asked in surprise as he saw Bailey bruises.
“Nowt,” said the human stoutly, “Just bin playin’ rough is all.” Stranger ‘hrm’ed but didn’t ask anything else as Bailey leaned up against his side. She yawned again. “I think I’ll miss dinner…” she murmured, eyes closed, “Just want ter sleep.” Stranger rested his cheek on her hair. He nodded,
“Alrigh’ Bailey, sleep if yer need ter.” Bailey didn’t need any more encouragement and soon she was sound asleep. Stranger rose quietly and took Bailey into his arms. He carried her gently into her bedroom and tucked her in. “G’night liddle darlin’.” He muttered, kissing her forehead and leaving the room silently.