Maybe I just wish I knew who the enemy was. [ She shrugs her shoulder. ] I don't like not knowing.
[ There's so much of her future at stake here and she doesn't know who to fight, isn't sure what direction to turn in. It's hard enough knowing that all of this is inevitable anyway. He's right. She won't survive without giving in. ]
[ She lifts a fist and knocks it lightly on his bicep. ] I like you.
I mean, you're kind of scary worldly and half the time I think you just like throwing eight hundred words at me to confuse me, but. [ A small, shy grin. ] You're okay. For a pirate.
[ He's been firm, but not harsh. Maybe someone like that is what she needed. For a moment she can't help thinking of Luke. ]
[ He laughs. In some ways, she reminds him very much of Alina - but Alina as he'd first known her, when she'd been on the Volksvolny and still thought Sturmhond was his real name.
Strange, how that's all come around again. ]
Privateer.
[ He can't help it. But it does make him smile. ]
But you'd be amazed how often I hear that. Now, shall we? We can't let Korol have all the fun.
[ Her eyebrows actually climb into her hair at that. ] You do know we're not actually also space dragon cat things, right? [ Blowing out a breath. ] Do they even have names?
[ It feels better now, a lightness in her chest that wasn't there before and a smile that is edging out every second. ]
I don't want to shoot Bambi! [ But he's still guiding her and she's still following because there's no reason not to. The tension has gone from her body and she's seeing him in a new light. He's put her at ease somehow. ]
You said you had to go on mission tomorrow. I thought we were just walking around!
We're not going to shoot Bambi. [ He has no idea what a Bambi is. Though at the rate they're going, they're not going to shoot anything. She'll scare off all the prey. ]
And I do have a mission, but tomorrow is tomorrow. You don't expect me to sit dawdling until then, do you?
[ He shoots a grin at her, and cocks his head towards the trees. ]
Now come on, and keep your voice down. The codja might hear you.
Fine, fine. [ Her voice at least has dropped to a hush, instinct taking over. She hasn't tried anything like this since she got here. Hasn't even thought to tap into the power in her blood.
Maybe she should. ] I'll do the stupid hunt. But if I shoot you, you can't blame me okay?
[ She's about to make fun of him some more. But then she sees what he's pointing at and she stops. It seems innocent and for a moment she feels a twist in her stomach. But she wants to learn.
She raises her shoulders in a question. What now? ]
[ She'd brought her CDC issue gun with her when she'd agreed to go for a walk. Clary isn't necessarily a fan of all of the violence around here but she hadn't wanted to be caught out now. Which is why she reaches inside her coat for it.
Then Sturmhond is making her stand like a shooter and she can't be blamed if maybe she blushes just a little about it all. Just because she's shooting to kill doesn't mean she's dead inside. ]
If I do it wrong will you put it out of it's misery? [ She doesn't want it to suffer if she screws up. ]
[ He glances at her, seeing colour rise in her cheeks.
She's a Shadowhunter, but new to it. How many has she actually killed before? Any? And perhaps the things she would have to kill would be different from animals, anyway. He squeezes her shoulder. ]
[ She thinks of all the weapons that they'd had in the Institute. Not one of them had been a gun. Clary can't help but wonder if her power stops the minute she puts her fingers on the trigger. This is an animal, not a demon. It's done nothing to her and there's no reason she should kill it and yet the ghost of Dagger's punishment rattles in her veins and she narrows her eyes and looks at the Madu for a moment.
Breathing in slowly, Clary draws on every bit of strength she has inside her, tells herself it's this or death, and let's her breath out. She squeezes the trigger and fires, her arm being forced back by the recoil. It hits and she feels a thrill of something, though she's not sure what to name her feeling.
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[ There's so much of her future at stake here and she doesn't know who to fight, isn't sure what direction to turn in. It's hard enough knowing that all of this is inevitable anyway. He's right. She won't survive without giving in. ]
You sound used to crap like this. Are you?
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[ He lifts an eyebrow. Of course he's used to that. He rolls one shoulder in an approximation of a shrug. ]
A privateer learns to press any advantage, even when it's not to his liking. I've made difficult choices before.
It doesn't mean I'll enjoy them. But I'll make them. Yes.
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I mean, you're kind of scary worldly and half the time I think you just like throwing eight hundred words at me to confuse me, but. [ A small, shy grin. ] You're okay. For a pirate.
[ He's been firm, but not harsh. Maybe someone like that is what she needed. For a moment she can't help thinking of Luke. ]
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Strange, how that's all come around again. ]
Privateer.
[ He can't help it. But it does make him smile. ]
But you'd be amazed how often I hear that. Now, shall we? We can't let Korol have all the fun.
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[ Her eyebrows actually climb into her hair at that. ] You do know we're not actually also space dragon cat things, right? [ Blowing out a breath. ] Do they even have names?
[ It feels better now, a lightness in her chest that wasn't there before and a smile that is edging out every second. ]
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[ He looks amused. Why did she think they'd come? He had promised to teach her, after all. ]
Of course we're hunting. They're called bahari, and they make excellent companions for this.
What better way to teach you how to shoot?
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You said you had to go on mission tomorrow. I thought we were just walking around!
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And I do have a mission, but tomorrow is tomorrow. You don't expect me to sit dawdling until then, do you?
[ He shoots a grin at her, and cocks his head towards the trees. ]
Now come on, and keep your voice down. The codja might hear you.
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Fine, fine. [ Her voice at least has dropped to a hush, instinct taking over. She hasn't tried anything like this since she got here. Hasn't even thought to tap into the power in her blood.
Maybe she should. ] I'll do the stupid hunt. But if I shoot you, you can't blame me okay?
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[ He sounds like he's joking.
He's probably not joking.
He leads her around, until Korol is in sight again. His eyes are on something small, fast and furry on the ground. A furlix. ]
He's fond of those. Let's leave him to that, shall we? I don't think a target as small as that would be good for your first attempt.
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[ She offers him a grin because really, she's pretty much useless to anyone who's not a Shadowhunter. ]
I guess I could try and learn before you bleed out though. I wouldn't want Korol to be sad.
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Any scars I come away with will be on your head. Must you so openly attack my vanity? It's very fragile.
[ No it isn't.
He stops her, though, putting a hand on her arm and pointing up ahead.
One of those delightful rabbit-mouse things is there, nosing at the ground. ]
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She raises her shoulders in a question. What now? ]
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Try to relax. A cleaner blow is kinder. Keep your arms steady, and remember the gun will kick back when you pull the trigger. Support it.
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Then Sturmhond is making her stand like a shooter and she can't be blamed if maybe she blushes just a little about it all. Just because she's shooting to kill doesn't mean she's dead inside. ]
If I do it wrong will you put it out of it's misery? [ She doesn't want it to suffer if she screws up. ]
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She's a Shadowhunter, but new to it. How many has she actually killed before? Any? And perhaps the things she would have to kill would be different from animals, anyway. He squeezes her shoulder. ]
I promise.
Try to relax, you'll be all right.
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Breathing in slowly, Clary draws on every bit of strength she has inside her, tells herself it's this or death, and let's her breath out. She squeezes the trigger and fires, her arm being forced back by the recoil. It hits and she feels a thrill of something, though she's not sure what to name her feeling.
In a whisper. ] Did I kill it?