First Blood

Motionless for an hour, images besiege my mind

Roads travelled, trials endured, sacrifices offered...

The pressure of the past allied to the stakes of the present

My body submits to the strains of my mind,

I see my hands quivering as I wait for the onslaught

I've wanted this day for months,

Being able to prove to the horde that I'm worthy,

To reveal to the world the scope of my destiny

My excitement intertwines with my nerves,

I feel the hour drawing close!

Our war cry shatters the silence,

As the first rays of the sun rip through the gloom

We charge our enemy and reach him before he's set in battle order

The racket is deafening!

I shove back a spear, his bearer exposes his flank to me

So much awaited, so much dreaded,

This is the time for my first slaying!

Born to be a warrior,

I enter into my destiny

As my sword runs through this man

Until the guard stops his course

I feel the heat of his blood on my hands,

His final breath against my neck,

The scraping of my blade against bones,

The stinging stench of flesh and guts

I am stricken by this utter violence,

My lungs are burning and my heart is bursting

I release him and watch him fade away

Arrows flying, swords clashing

The assault of an enemy forces me back to reality,

I fight till victory

My maiden slaying could have been my last

There the true warrior is unveiled