#hemma

For a moment, there was no reaction, the guard's face impossible to read behind their helmet. After a pause that was just a bit longer than Hemma would have liked, the guard opened their hand, letting the bat fall to the ground, then raised both arms above their head.

"Good. Now, up against the wall. No sudden moves, no loud noises." Hemma jerked her head towards the corrugated metal that served as the stronghold's outermost wall.

Another pause, then the guard started slowly walking in that direction, Hemma turning to keep the knife trained on them.

"Okay. Now-

The moment they reached the wall, the guard suddenly dropped down, sweeping a leg out at Hemma's ankles. She hopped back, just barely dodging the strike, but was too slow to react when the guard launched themselves forward, driving a headbutt into Hemma's stomach.

She crumpled, losing her grip on the knife as the air was driven from her lungs. It took the guard a moment to regain their balance, giving Hemma just enough time to turn the crumple into a roll, slipping under their followup strike.

She sprang to her feet and gave the guard a solid kick to the back of the knee, sending them toppling to the ground. Hemma dove after them, grabbing their wrist with one hand and yanking it to the side while wrapping the other arm tightly around their neck.

"Nice try, now telll me where the storeroom is or I'll..."

Henna trailed off, staring at the guard's wrist. As they struggled against her grip, a small strip of skin had been exposed, revealing a distinctive tattoo of a songbird nestled within a star.

"Hemma"/"Saltsjö-Boo", 1975  by Gunnar Smoliansky (1933-2019).

I got this a few years ago at a now-closed discount shop (I think it was the Op=Op Voordeelshop) in my home city for something like €1,=, together with my Disney Fairies Superleuk Kleurboek.

you guys dont understand. my heart it squealing <3333