Three for Kree

I am not sure when I realized they were coming. They knew just as well as I did that soon the light would be in their eyes and they were not willing to wait. They did not know how old I was, or how experienced but they were right for rushing me now. I half expected it. It is what I would have done in their place.

I expected five. There were only three and I lifted up under the first one over the crest of my hollow and I shoved my lance deep through his body. Perhaps they judged my experience by the kaiila I rode. I broke the second one's quiva thrust with an uplifted arm as the third jumped my back and wrapped an arm around my neck. I grabbed him and threw him onto the ground breaking his hold. I may not be big but everything I have is rock hard muscle. I work with the bosk all day. I spend long hours roping, branding, and wrestling young stock. That man got a taste of it when I threw him over my shoulder. My quiva caught the light as I swung wide at the second man and I felt it rake across his chest and biceps. I took a left fist to my jaw and felt my teeth rattle in my head and my eyes went funny but I never stopped. They fought like larls and it was life and death there for a few ehn but when it was all said and done and I crouched taking ragged gasps of breath into my starved lungs the first was laying there with my lance still through him, the second was staring at me from the ground with a broken spine and the third had my quiva through his throat spilling blood onto the baked ground and the scent rose acid in my nostrils. My arm stung and I realized one of them had gotten in a blade cut. It was messy but not enough to cut through the muscle and I tore off part of my shirt and tied it around the cut.

I wiped my hand over my face and let my dazed mind catch up. Points for reflex. Everything was foggy right now. Too much movement and not enough hydration.
Water .... I needed water. I stumbled over to Kree and grabbed a full bota and I drank, small sips. I knew better than to dump water on my system at this point. I was torture, but I kept to small gulps as I wiped my brow and began to look around. I stayed low ... I did not know where the others were and I was not willing to risk myself again so easily. Slinging the bota over my shoulder I slid back into the hollow. I retrieved my quiva and my lance and I wiped them off on the chest of the man that was still alive. He never said a word and I didn't ask him any questions. It was just settled between us. I left him to die in the heat as I began to work my way to the ridge, the smoke was almost gone now. I dreaded what I would find but it was there for me to do and I would do it.