***25 years later***

“Calli, come join me. I want you on point.”

Callida offered a silent prayer of thanks to the Primordials and joined Lieutenant Li at the front of the company without looking back. “Thanks.”

Li couldn’t pass up the opportunity to tease her. “So, how’s your ex?”

“Jerk,” Callida said, shooting him a nasty look out of the corners of her eyes.

“Too soon?”

“Seriously?”

“Sorry.” Li caught the subtle, fleeting pain in his friend’s expression and sighed. “Remember, if he gives you a hard time, just come stand by me or Germanus. As your ranking officers, we can order you out of… uncomfortable situations.” Callida nodded her silent acknowledgement and swallowed the lump threatening to conjure tears. Li looked over his shoulder, searching for inspiration for a new topic of conversation, but with Duoqing’s eyes throwing daggers at the back of his head, it was hard to think of anything else. Instead, he ended up taking a different approach to the same topic. “Do you want to talk about it?”

“About Duoqing? No.”

“Calli, I know you too well. Even if you think you don’t want to talk about it, I know it would do you good.”

“Really, Li, no thanks.”

“If you change your mind-”

“I won’t.”

A few moments passed in tense silence. “So, uh... are you ready for your first tournament?”

Grateful for the change in subject, Callida granted Li a small smile. “What do you think?”

“I think people are going to underestimate you and then wish that they hadn’t.”

“Why? Because I’m a girl? Or because I’m only eighteen?”

“You’re not much to look at, Calli,” Li said with mock appraisal. “First impressions: young, quiet, your scars make you look a little rugged, and you’re lurpy and scrawny- Ack!” Li automatically raised his hands into a defensive position as Callida threatened a second hit.

“Take that back!”

Li grinned, delighting in how easy it was to provoke her today. “Which part? It’s the truth, isn’t it?”

“I am not ‘lurpy and scrawny’.”

“Well, how would you describe yourself then?”

“Tall and lean are perfectly adequate.”

“But it doesn’t convey your natural awkwardness.”

“You think I look awkward?! In what way?!”

Feeling anxious for the safety of his already sore left arm, Li stepped just out of reach before answering her. “I think your awkwardness is an endearing quality.”

“In what way am I awkward, Li?” Callida demanded, advancing towards him in a way that implied a warning.

“I don’t know! Maybe awkward isn’t the right word.”

“Then what is the right word?”

“I’ll have to give it some thought,” Li deflected.

Callida backed down unwillingly and looked herself over with a small sigh. “I know I’m not particularly feminine, let alone pretty. But that’s also never been important to me.”

“Hey, you said it, not me,” Li jabbed with a grin, then flinched when Callida gave him another dirty look. “All I’m saying is, except for your long hair and the vague impression of curves that you tend to hide beneath your uniform, you kind of blend in as one of the guys. Maybe that’s why initial impressions of you are awkward. You’re a little androgenous at first glance.”

Callida scowled. “I can’t say that your evaluation is flattering, but I guess I can see where you’re coming from.”

“I’m always happy to help you with your self-awareness,” Li grinned with an infuriating casualness.

“Please remind me why we are friends?”

“Because we know all of each other’s dirty secrets and can’t risk each other blabbing.” Callida snorted, much to Li’s satisfaction. “There’s that smile. I haven’t seen it in a few weeks.”

“Aaaaaand we’re back at square one.”

“Oh. Right. Sorry,” Li grimaced in apology. “Well, being single at the tournament might work to your advantage, Calli. Lots of hulking young men out to prove something, and the ratio is definitely in your favor.”

“Do you honestly think that I need a rebound relationship?”

“Nah, just a fling. Find someone to take out all of your pent up feelings on knowing that you will likely never see them again, or, if you do, you will only ever see them at another tournament.”

“That’s terrible advice.”

“Don’t knock it ‘til you try it,” Li shrugged.

“No offense, Li, but when it comes to relationship advice, yours is the last that I will be taking.”

“No offense taken!” Li chortled good-naturedly. “Actually, if there’s one point of relationship advice that I honestly think you should take from me, it’s not to take any relationship advice from me.”

“Way to contradict yourself.”

“I’m happy to help.”

“You’re no help.”

“Exactly.” Callida laughed. “Success!” Li was happy to hear her laugh again, a rich, genuine chuckle that both exuded and elicited a sense of confidence and warmth. Callida might not be the prettiest girl to look at, actually, by most standards, she was rather plain and rugged, but there were things that would always make up for that-- her laugh, for example. It was one of his most favorite sounds. “You know that’s the real reason we’re friends, right?”

“What is?”

“That laugh.”

“How do you mean?”

“When we met for the first time, both of us were going through some things.”

“Right?”

“Well, remember how you knocked me face-first into that puddle during that sparring match? I’ll admit it, I was being a jerk and totally deserved it.”

Callida giggled slightly at the memory. “Yeah.”

“Well, no one knew how to react. But then you helped me back up and started laughing.”

“You were blushing so hard, I could see you flush underneath all that mud. It was funny!”

Li nudged her shoulder affectionately. “That’s when I knew that we were going to be friends.”

“What? When you were wiping the mud off your face?!”

“Technically, but really it was when I heard you laugh for the first time. It made the anger I was feeling seem smaller for a moment, and I realized that if you could laugh and be happy after everything, so could I.”

“Aw! I didn’t know that. That’s kind of sweet!”

“Yeah, yeah. Don’t get all gushy about it.”

“Oh, come on! We’ve been best friends for nearly eight years; you’re practically a member of my family. I’m allowed to get a little gushy.”

“It doesn’t suit you.”

“Why not?”

“You’re just not the gushy type, ok?”

“Fine.” Li snorted at her amusement, poorly veiled with false dejection.

“Lieutenant!”

Li and Callida turned around to see Germanus approaching at a slight jog. “Captain Animo, what can I do for you?”

Germanus surveyed the pair before him as they turned to continue walking down the road. “Hey, kid, how are you holding up?”

“I’m fine,” Callida responded softly and dropped her eyes to the ground, not eager to revisit the subject she was happily avoiding.

Getting the hint, Germanus turned to Li. “We should be arriving at the tournament grounds soon. The organizers are expecting us and will have cabins ready for everyone.”

“Do you know who we are rooming with?” Li asked.

Germanus shook his head. “Every year, it’s a little different depending on who’s doing the organizing. They may divide people up by tribe, age, rank, or some other arbitrary thing. Regardless, once we get to the tournament grounds, our group will likely be split up. We need to decide how to set up duty shifts to support, erm,” Germanus paused to glance at a stone-faced Callida, “to support the bodyguards protecting the young Alpha and his brother in case of a bandit attack or something.”

Li sighed with something approximating irritation. “Right. I’ll piece the shifts together once we figure out where everyone will be staying. In the meantime, let's pick who will cover the first shift now so they will be set to go as soon as we get there.”

“That would be prudent,” Germaunus agreed. “Make the assignments, Li. I’ll inform whomever you pick.”

Callida zoned out in the oppressive summer heat while Li and her brother sorted out duty shifts and other logistics. Nearing the end of June, the sun beat down hot and the air was sticky so even the shaded forest paths failed to provide much relief. With their Wolf Tribe military uniforms plastered to their skin, the company made stops every hour to refill water bags in the mountain springs that joined the river running parallel to the road. The fact that bathroom breaks weren’t nearly as frequent spoke to how heavily they were all sweating.

“Callida!” Germanus’s voice cut through her heat-induced daze.

“Huh, what?”

“Bathing.”

“What about it?”

“When we get to the tournament grounds, everyone is going to need to wash up in the river after sweating all day.”

“Ok?”

“I’m assuming you will want to clean up privately.”

“What’s your point?” Callida droned.

“Do you want to go first?”

“Does it really matter?”

“I suppose not.”

“I’ll just find a private spot to wash up right after dropping my bag off, and then I’ll meet up with you guys back at the cabins.”

“Sounds good,” Germanus nodded, “and, kid, I have some friends that I’d like you to meet, so be sure to find me after you get cleaned up.”

“Yeah, yeah. ‘No need to nag,” Callida smirked and rolled her eyes. “You’ve been reminding me nearly every day for the last three weeks! You must be excited to see them.”

“Some more than others.”

“You’re talking about Keit?”

Germanus grinned. “Yeah. Keit promised that he’d be there this year.”

“I look forward to meeting him then. Did you tell him that I’m going to be competing this year?”

“I’ve been keeping that a surprise. Keit won the tournament last year, and he’s the favorite to win the tournament again this year, and you’re the Wolf Tribe’s secret weapon.”

“Oh, please.” Callida squirmed under the compliment as Li and Germanus exchanged amused glances.

“You have the Animo family legacy to maintain, Calli,” Li added with a smirk, “so don’t screw up.”

“I think you’re more invested in that Animo family legacy than I am, Li.”

“Just do your best, Callida, and I’m sure you’ll do our family name proud,” Germanus contributed his brotherly wisdom before adding slyly, “no need to worry.”

“Who’s worried?!” Callida protested, feeling anxious for the implication rather than the actual tournament. Both boys just laughed.

***

The tournament grounds were absolutely packed with soldiers, dignitaries, and spectators from every tribe. It was difficult to navigate the narrow pathways between all the tents and merchant stalls to get to the cabins reserved for the higher-ups and competitors, and once there, it was equally challenging hearing the instructions being shouted over the din by the rather hoarse organizers. Eventually Callida was shown a map upon which miniscule dots were labeled with the names of each competitor, indicating where they would all be sleeping. A quick scan revealed that she would be the only female contestant this year (figures), and as such, she would have the smallest cabin, barely big enough to fit a bed and chest of drawers, all to herself. The perks of being a woman in a male-dominated profession, Callida mused to herself.

Finding the cabin, Callida rummaged through her small pack to find a lightweight summer dress, sandals, a towel, and some soap before heading for the river. Getting out of her sticky uniform and boots sounded heavenly.

The river was already crowded with soldiers from other tribes blissfully washing away the day’s travels. Callida hiked upstream, giving the riverbank a wide berth until the sounds of splashing and raucous laughter faded away behind her. Now, she just needed to find a calm stretch of water conducive to bathing, preferably with some kind of shelter to provide privacy should she be unexpectedly interrupted. A little further upstream, Callida found a wide, flat area where the river lazily wrapped around a large sandbank equipped with the desired boulders, tucked up against a short, jagged cliff edge as a bonus. This would be perfect. Stripping down to her undergarments and a simple but long gold chain necklace bearing a pair of rings, Callida jumped in.

***

"Get up, Callida." Shock displaced the would-be tears as Callida looked up at her dad. Probus was berating her, his own emotions difficult to rein in. "Get up! You want to be a soldier?! You can't call yourself a soldier if you can't even take a punch! Get up!"

Doing her best to control her emotions, Callida found her feet. WHAM!

Probus knocked her legs right back out from under her. "Are you just going to take that?!"

Gritting her teeth, Callida forced herself to roll onto her stomach and push herself back up. This time prepared for her dad's attack, she dodged another punch, throwing a punch of her own at his ribs. But what was an eight-year-old’s punch against a grown man? Swinging around violently, Probus landed another hit to his daughter’s gut, throwing her backwards. The wind knocked out of her, Callida crumpled and finally broke into tears.

"Get up!"

Callida lifted her head, the tears falling steadily, struggling to suck air back into her lungs. "Dad?!"

"Get up, Callida! You're not unconscious, dead, or broken. Get up!"

"I can't!"

"You can. You have to. You only lose a fight when you stop fighting. Get up!"

Struggling to her feet again, only to be rewarded with another hit to her face, Callida saw stars.

"Get up!"

Tasting blood, it took everything she had just to push up onto her hands and knees. Grunting as her dad’s boot made contact with her ribs, Callida landed on her back, gasping from the pain. It hurt just to breathe.

"Get up, Callida."

Her eyes were struggling to focus.

"Get up!"

Requiring all of her remaining strength to do so, Callida tangled her feet up in her dad's legs and kicked, knocking him to the ground. She rolled over and tried to push up onto her hands and knees, but Probus was faster, knocking her onto her back again to pin her.

"Push through the pain. Fight me!"

Feeling scared, Callida got a small hit of adrenaline and managed to kick her dad below the belt, momentarily stunning him and giving her an opportunity to try and get away. Again, Probus was too quick for her, getting up behind her to deliver a final punch. Callida hit the ground with a bloody nose.

"Get up, Callida."

Her final, fleeting effort to obey ended when she passed out.

***

The cold river water was glorious. Normally, it was a little annoying feeling the need to bathe in her undergarments, but today, it meant that the coolness would last just that much longer. It was tempting to stay in the river for the rest of the afternoon, but Germanus would be waiting impatiently for her if she stayed too much longer. He’d almost certainly connected with Keit by now, dancing around the subject of his sister competing, eagerly watching for her to arrive. Callida snorted at the image floating through her head, dipped her head under the water for a final time, and emerged from behind the rocks to swim back to shore and get dressed.

The only problem was, her dress was missing.

I swear I set it down on top of my sword. The unwelcome sound of footsteps made her look up. What she saw made her groan internally as her body simultaneously prepared for a fight. Bandits. That's gutsy of them to crash the tournament. “May I please have my dress back?” The man holding her dress (the leader?) laughed and passed it down the line of (disgusting, loathsome pigs) his comrades. “I said ‘please’.”

“So you did.” The man advanced toward her wearing a grin that would curdle fresh milk. Callida drew her sword from its sheath on the ground and bolted back into the river, swimming to the sandbank to climb up the boulders that would naturally funnel the bandits a few at a time up towards her. She didn’t know how many of them there were, but she was certain that there were too many to take on all at once. Taking the high ground, Callida waited for the bandits to challenge her.

“Well, miss, you’ve certainly made this more entertaining for us,” the man jeered.

“How nice for you.”

“We only want to talk.”

“If that’s the case, say what you have to say. I’m listening.”

“It’s impolite to pull a weapon on a visitor. Why don’t you come down and introduce yourself to us properly?”

“No, thanks. I’m not exactly dressed for a social call.”

“No, I suppose you’re not.” The leader turned to his men with a chuckle and slight nod. “We can’t let her go. Whoever captures her gets to keep her.” Callida took a rough head count as ten... twenty... thirty(!!) men emerged from the woods, following her into the river. She’d never gone up against so many foes on her own before, and Callida felt her mouth go a little dry.

Deep breaths. Take them as they come. Drop them quickly. Don’t overthink things. Stick to the basics. Stay aware of your surroundings…. Callida rehearsed to herself in an effort to calm down and remind herself what she was capable of. All too soon, she was putting those lessons into practice.

At first, it was easy. The boulder did it’s job, preventing too many men from approaching too quickly. The first dozen or so men fell dead into the river without landing a single attack. But as more men got up, Callida wasn’t able to take them out before the next wave arrived. And the boulder was getting slippery from all the blood. It was hard to maintain her footing, barefoot as she was.

Taking and dishing hits, Callida fought like a cornered animal, and eventually, somehow, there weren’t any more men trying to climb up the boulder. The end was in sight! She just had to finish off the last few-

She hit the ground, her vision a distorted mess of splotchy ink spots and blinding beams of light. Someone had gotten around behind her without her noticing. She felt her consciousness begin to drift even as she fought to get her legs back underneath her.

WHAM!

The kick to her stomach winded her and rolled her body through the bloody streams on top of the rock. She couldn’t get her eyes to focus. She couldn’t-

...

“Get up, Callida!”

***

Callida woke up to see her dad standing over her and immediately prepared herself for a fight. But instead, Probus smiled and raised his hands in surrender before kneeling down next to her to wrap her in a warm hug. "I'm proud of you." Callida started bawling, her tears soaking onto his shoulder. "You know that I love you, right?" She nodded. "If you want to be a soldier, Callida, you need to learn what your true limits are. You need to know how to handle pain and how to fight through it. Do you understand?" She nodded again, her sobs intensifying. "I don't like hurting you, but I'd rather that you get hurt now than you die in a fight later." Probus said softly, kissing her forehead and standing up to carry her home. "I love you, my warrior." Exhausted and in pain, Callida cried herself to sleep on his shoulder on the walk home.