Characterisation B6C3

I grimaced. "I'm not prepared to disarm myself for a stranger."

"Funny," she quipped. "I'm not willing to endanger my people to one." Her eyes trailed to Ruby. "Especially not when they have already expressed their intentions as to our history." Ruby winced. "Vacuo is not a land to be pillaged. The desert exists for a reason. We exist for a reason."

"Is that reason to see one of your friends die?" Blake challenged.

Dew, Ruby and I looked back at the same time, though Ruby and I cautiously, prepared in case Dew attacked. Blake stood behind us with one arm around a girl's shoulders, holding her up on her feet. There was a blade to her neck and the girl looked much the worse for wear. Her dark hair was cut on one side and there was a bruise beneath her eye.

"Gwen!" Dew gasped. She bit her teeth and levelled the spear toward Blake.

But she didn't attack.

"Your assault has failed and we have a hostage," Blake said. "I suggest you back out of here slowly and talk to whomever is in charge. If you want her back, we're going to need an assurance we won't be attacked."

I backed away so that I was stood a little in front of and to the side of Blake, just in case Dew lunged. Ruby did the same but even further forward, giving her a little more swinging room. If Dew wanted to try her luck, she could, but there was no way she'd make it past both of us, and certainly not before Blake slit her friend's throat.

I couldn't hide my despair at the thought of that. She would, I knew. If it was necessary, she would do it. That nausea must have shown on my face for Dew took one look at me and stepped back. She regarded Blake with obvious fear.