The story so far:

----Aija, Zuri, and Ze are three friends, who were working at the Pristine School at Innermost. Aija gets involved with the Ytai first, leading Zuri and Ze to them as well. Zuri falls in love with Nala (Lalana), who is Ytai and works with Thieron. Aija and Ze are captured by Thieron, of H'eon, when they were at the Hospital - Aija was at the Hospital with Kuna of R'ies and Zuri to stop a Harvest; Ze was there to visit his sick student Xan. Thieron has bound Aija to himself, and Nala has bound Ze to herself. Luka works for Thieron(Ah'n), along with Lalana (Nala).

----Aija, Ze, Thieron, Luka, and Nala go to the South Land. Luka admits that they are there for a Harvest. While they are on the Harvest, they get stopped by a group of people - the Zayr. Aija and Ze meet Princess Ruyanir of the Zayr. Ze and the Princess have an instant connection. The Prince has requested Aija and Ze to meet him. Prince Irih'va and Aija have a conversation about the Àvo; he explains how it works. Aija seems to like the Prince. The Prince gives Aija a strand of his golden hair - for protection. Irih' va sees Aija in his future but isn't sure she will choose him. He wants her to choose him. Irih' va catches Ze using his powers, and he shows Ze that he, too, has the same powers.

----Etrie tells Zuri that he is going to kill Thieron and Nala. She is very adamant that she, too, goes to the Ker'zan with them.

----Aija, Ze, Thieron, Nala, and Luka go to the Ker'zan. Ze and Aija escape from the three Ytai. Ze tells Aija about the escape Prince Irih' va has offered them. Ze leaves, accepting the escape offer. Aija rejects the escape offer and goes back in to find Luka.

----Luka, when he searches for Ze, finds Aija running away. He is intercepted by Kuna - who is prepared for an attack. Luka tackles Kuna, and the Gale starts to attack. He sees that Aija is captured other H'eon Ytai.

----Iyler tries to rescue Aija, but she refuses, insisting to go back to Luka.

----Nala sees Etrie, Zuri, and Maya. She sees that Etrie has a gun. 

---- Nala's bond is hurting terribly, and she wonders where Ze is.

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****38.1 - Zuri****

She looked at herself in the mirror. 

The dark brown uniform of the R'ies fit her well and made her look good. Zuri was pleased that Etrie had gone as far as to get her a uniform that fit her. Kuna helped her secure the holster, and the blade and gun into it. Etrie had given her two shots of Izemirn just in case she needed it. 

Maya wasn't thrilled with Zuri's presence, but she didn't utter a single word of protest. Etrie's word was final, and Maya had no say in the matter. Zuri smirked at the red-haired girl as Maya scrunched up her nose in displeasure on seeing her in the dark brown gear. 

Zuri had to skip school since it was a Thursday, but she'd rather be here doing this than suffering alone at school. They had left Innermost sometime in the morning and arrived at the Open just in time for the Ker'zan. It was Zuri's first time in the Open, and it was just as bad as she had heard. Etrie had given her a breathing mask to wear until they reached the Mansion. 

"Let's go," Etrie said after she was ready. 

They drove the car to the Mansion; it was conspicuous, but they needed a quick way to escape, and the car allowed it. They drove on the mud roads, and Zuri looked out the window at the Open. There were fields of crops interspersed with grassy areas. The houses were terribly small – made out of salvaged wood and other materials. They were barely big enough to house three or four people and not even in comfort. 

They reached the huge stone building, parked the car far from it, and walked to the Mansion. There were Ytai everywhere she looked. She put her hand on her blade just to feel safer. 

"How are we supposed to get in? We are in our uniforms, too." she voiced her concerns. 

"We go in from the back," Etrie said. 

They walked to the back and saw people climbing the wall. 

"The Gale's here early," Etrie said, seeing them. 

Zuri looked up at the humans climbing the back wall. She sighed. Everything was going to happen at once. They had left early to avoid the Gale, and they had ended up coming sooner than anticipated. 

They reached a small door at the back, and Etrie knocked on it. Zuri looked on, confused. Whom did he expect to open the door for him? 

A few seconds later, the door opened and revealed a Ytai man in dark-blue H'eon gear. To her surprise, the Ytai nodded at Etrie and let them in. 

"We have our people everywhere," Kuna whispered to her. 

They entered what looked like a tiny storeroom. The Ytai, who had opened the door, led them to another door – that led to the inside of the stone building. 

Clever, Zuri thought. 

The man opened that door for them and let them into the building. He then came out as well and locked the door behind him. The building was crowded with Ytai, but no one had seemed to notice them. 

They walked deeper into what looked like the main hall. The place was extravagantly decorated with hover lights, and there was strange music playing from somewhere. Etrie looked around as he walked, and Maya stayed close to him. 

"Luka," Kuna said, smiling, looking somewhere ahead of her. "I'll take care of him," he added and left. 

Zuri wanted to go with Kuna instead of Etrie and Maya, but Kuna was out of her sight in a moment, and she had no idea where exactly he'd gone off too. 

Zuri heard gunshots upstairs. The Gale had started their attack. 

She followed Etrie and soon she saw Nala. Her breath hitched in her throat. Nala looked gorgeous in a red, deep V-necked dress; her hair was tied up, revealing her long neck. Nala was looking around, seemingly tensed. When they reached her, Thieron joined Nala, and he spoke to her in Ytèan. 

That was when Nala and Thieron's eyes fell on Etrie. And, Nala's went to hers. 

She looked taken aback at the sight of her in the R'ies gear. 

They couldn't take their eyes off each other for a long time, and when Etrie asked Thieron where Aija and Ze were, Nala's gaze went to Maya, who removed her blade. Nala took out her own blade, and so did Zuri. 

The gunshots drew nearer, and she saw the Gale members holding long guns and shooting at the Ytai – most of them hitting them right in the head or heart. The fallen Ytai didn't get back up. 

Zuri looked at Nala, who looked pale for some reason like she was in pain. Zuri couldn't take her eyes off her. 

"You won't get them," Thieron spoke. 

It was the first time Zuri was looking at him up close. She was sure he had had long hair and thick stubble. Thieron was handsome; very much so. More than a terrible person needed to be. 

Etrie took out the gun loaded with Izemirn. Nala looked increasingly sick. Thieron, however, remained calm. 

Kuna came from somewhere and held her close to himself as the Gale members started descending the stairs and moving closer to them. 

The shooting stopped for a moment, and Zuri heard Aija's voice calling out for Luka. 

Everyone looked back at the sound of her voice – everyone except Etrie. 

Zuri saw Aija in the grips of two Ytai men, her hands bound in front of her. 

Then, Zuri heard the sound of a single gunshot. 

She turned around to see, but Kuna pulled her away as the Gale members resumed their shooting. A Gale member got too close to them firing around them, and he turned to Zuri and Kuna. He smiled and shot at them. Kuna blocked the shot by pushing her down. He took the shot right into his head and fell lifeless to the floor. 

"Kuna!" she shouted. "No! No! No! Kuna! Kuna, please!" 

Zuri held Kuna's lifeless body on the floor. He was dead for nothing. One moment ago, he was breathing; he had been alive. Why had the Gale members shot at them? Just because he was Ytai? Just because she was with him? 

Kuna had died protecting her. He hadn't wanted her to go for her safety. Kuna was now dead because of her. 

Kuna's eyes were open as she held him, the shock still wide in his eyes. She closed his eyes and held onto him. 

This was wrong. This wasn't supposed to happen. 

"Kuna!" she yelled, the tears streaming down her cheeks, oblivious to the chaos around her. 

Etrie sat down beside her. He looked angry and sad. "We have to go," Etrie said. 

"We can't leave Kuna." she sobbed.

"No, we aren't. I'll carry him. Zuri, move. The job's done. We have to go. Maya is out looking for Aija." 

Zuri sobbed, but she forced herself up. 

There was a huge blast somewhere; the stone around them started to crumble. 

And, the roof began to fall. 

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