The seas of young peoples fighting each other seemed endless. Even though we were just a bunch of rebellious children and teens, we could still be brutal during a battle. Arms were broken and writs sprained. People screaming and crying that they should have stayed at home that day. I pulled out my Topinop. I drew one swift paint arrow and let if fly. It hit the closest person�s enemy that was about to go down. I loosed another and another until others with Topinops were loosing their painted arrows. (By painted arrows I mean that the arrows had a ball of fabric at the end instead of an arrow head covered in green paint) soon half of the Uinop were down and are people smashed the rest. We had won. The medical teens ran out with stretchers and got the kids of the battlefield. Then they would call a real Doctor and we would learn of how much damage the previous fight had caused. Suddenly without warning I was hit in the back of the head. That was a foul move by all our standards. I knew I would have a concussion at least. My mind blanked out and I knew I was down.
I woke up with a bright light in my eyes and an old man looking down at me. I tried to move but be forced me back into the bed I was laying in.
�Maro, don�t move. You got quite a nasty hit in the back of your head. If you move to suddenly you could hurt yourself,� I heard a snicker from the corner. I went red in the face. I saw Paluquo at the end of my bed ready to pounce. He was swathed in bandages too. I felt horrible.
�Tommy, you shouldn�t laugh. You�re in worse shape then Maro and you shouldn�t even dare laugh. He saved your butt!� the Doctor said indignity. I managed to prop myself up onto my elbows. I could see Tommy sitting in the bed beside me, we were in the Hospital. Another boy beside me was reading.
�Do you know how everything went?� I loathed asking Tommy.
�Yup, I do!� He blurted as though he couldn�t wait to see my face at having to ask him what it was.
�Excuse me, do you know how everything went?� I decided to ask the person beside me. He looked up and me and grinned widely.
�Maro? Maro Doicheo? It�s an honour sir! I know what happened. My name is Veartim, Veartim Opiniso! I�m a big fan of yours! You were the youngest Weapons Major in the history of the Tyquino. I want to be just like you!� The Doctor looked sternly at Veartim and he calmed right down.
�I�ll tell you what happened sir, it would be my honour!� Veartim it seems, had just joined the Tyquino and was a big admirer of mine. During the Battle everything was going pretty bad until I showed up and loosed the first Painted Arrow. When the medic teens had just started to carry in are wounded we were sneak attacked by another maufia. No one knew who it was but they hit and they hit hard. Then a group of Olbalts came and scared them away with real arrows. They had high tailed it out of there and the Olbalts helped carry a lot of wounded inside and they brought Doctors. The worst of the injuries was a young man, had two torn ligaments and a broken arm and of course Veartim�s injuries. Then three others had concussions, the rest had broken bones, bumps and bruises. Tommy, it turns out had been the boy who had the torn ligaments and broken arm. I almost felt sorry for the brat. Veartim it seems had severely sprained both ankles (he didn�t know how he did it) and twisted his wrist. I thought that was about equal to Tommy�s injuries. I had the worst concussion out of everyone and the Doctor was afraid I was going to go into a coma. I shivered at the very thought of being here for the rest of my life. Within hours of waking up I was out of the Hospital and sent home to make room for others. I actually didn�t really have a home, I lived with some of my parents best friends. They treated me badly and they were the ones who bullied me. I dallied so I wouldn�t get there soon. Then I remembered Miss Dunick. Should I go tell her it was my parent�s best friends who were bullying me? I turned to go to the school when I felt a hand on my shoulder.
�Well hello Maro, feeling better I see? That�s good. Be a dear and come with me, will you?� The decision had been made, but not by me. Miss Dunick lead me away into the store and I fallowed, not knowing what else to do.
�Miss Dunick? I need....�
�Pass me that will you please?�
�Yes M�am but...�
�And that?�
�Okay but I need to tell you...�
�MARO!� Juilu came bounding into sight her brownish red hair flying every which way. Her dark green eyes flashed brightly and Sari pounced Paluquo. Sari was Juilu�s Myto and was also a Sphinx (which were quit popular) but a more of a copper colour then Misheno Olpken�s Jopiniks. Her thick muscular arms wrapped around my thin body and I was constricted once more. Paluquo was pinned to the ground and humming with delight. Juilu finally released me and Sari got off of Paluquo. Miss Dunick chuckled quietly.
�Hi Juilu, Miss Dunick I really need to talk to you, about...� Juilu looked so utterly surprised I almost laughed.
�Maro, are you sure? I don�t want you to get hurt so soon after having a concussion. Juilu, close your mouth. You look like a frog,� Miss Dunick made a wise choice.
�Yes, I�m sure. That was my though exactly, I don�t need to get beaten up again so soon,� I said almost at a whisper.
�Alright, let�s get back to the school and we can talk. Juilu, will you be joining us?� Miss Dunick smiled and moved quickly.
Back at the schoolhouse Miss Dunick went to the cupboard by the west wall window and put everything she had bought away. Returning to her desk she handed Juilu and I each a chocolate bar. We took them gratefully. Eating hers absorbed Juilu but I put mine down and looked at Miss Dunick. Her grey eyes were wide in concern. Juilu clued into the immenseness of this and wiped her face of the chocolate that had stained her porcelain skin.
�Maro, you wanted to tell me something?� She acted as though nothing at all were above the ordinary.
�Of course he does! Why he�s put up with those horrid, retched, ignorant, son�s of ...� Juilu was shut up by an intense stare by Miss Dunick.
�Juilu, this is for Maro to say, I merely invited you to comfort him!� Miss Dunick�s voice reminded me of a venomous snake. I had almost forgotten Paluquo when he piped up.
�She�s not the only one with news,� the strange man came in from the back.
�What is going on here!� I yelled completely confused and growing angry.
�Maro calm down,� Paluquo cooed. Then as though to cut this little meeting short, Misheno Olpken stumbled into the classroom doorway, pale.
�Misheno Olpken!� I yelled and ran towards her.
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