Unedited.

The sound of crumpling paper, caught the attention that was straying. It seemed to echo through the air that had stilled in surprise.

Setting the crumpled ball back on the podium Sophie stared out at the faces. Running her hands over the sides of the podium nervously, she cleared her throat. "I've lived by one motto my whole life." Her hands were clammy and her legs felt weak. "One problem at a time." She could see people glaring at her, others seemed to scared to meet her eyes. Sophie went to her main source of encouragement and found the front row. Biana gave her a tiny thumbs up, Alden and Della smiled, Grady and Edaline gave her a nod. But Sophie ignored them and looked at her teal eyed cognate partner. "Deep breath." He transmitted calmly taking a deep breath. Sophie copied him and felt her legs steady.

Giving Fitz a thankful smile she turned back to the crowd. "Look, I know the council seems like these all powerful untouchables, but the truth is we aren't." Sophie slipped the circlet of her head and set it on the podium. Stepping down from the podium she went to the front. Facing them as Sophie Foster. She shrugged giving a smile. "We're just like you."  Without the podium between her and the crowd, she felt exposed, and the chill in her spine tingled. "Truth is, we're just as concerned as you. We understand your fears....and we know your uncertainty." Sophie let her gaze sweep over the elves. She spotted a greasy haired Valen with his normal blood of spit at the corner of his mouth.

Despite being grossed out, Sophie recognized his face. It was familiar. She realized nearly half the crowd was familiar. She didn't knows their names, she didn't know who they were, but she recognized them from the swim party. "Yes, as twelve we are stronger than most, but what really makes us powerful is you. Every, single, one, of, you." Sophie said, punctuating her words to get the point across. Her eyes met Ambra's,

"Without your support, your trust and belief we can't do our jobs properly." Sophie walked back up to the podium, having to grab the edge so she didn't trip on the step. "Unrest is the last thing we need. If you start doubting us,  fear starts creeping in...on all of us. Fear can cause irrational decisions, it can cause mistakes to happen, and that is the worst possible thing any of us could do sat this moment. The unity tree is something that represents us as elves, but what's a unity tree without others to compare it too...it's just a tree. What's a council without citizens? We're just twelve elves wearing pinching circlets wearing ridiculous capes." That earned a few chuckles.

"We need you as much as you need us. We need your support as much as you need our strength. The truth is there is a reason to feel uncertain. It's okay to feel fear, and it's okay to be angry...just don't let those emotions rule your better judgement. Know what's important, know that love makes you stronger, and never give up hope. No matter how much you want to let go, no matter how much you want to give up, hang on. If not for yourself do it for your family...for those you love, for a stranger. Don't give up. Don't ever lose the light you add in this darkness, don't stop trying to help others. So as the council we ask you to lend us your strength so we can protect you, give us your support and we will give you hope."

Sophie lifted the circlet. "We're only one elf...but together we can be unbreakable. We may bend, we may crack, but we will not break. Look around you and find a stranger....go make them a friend." Sophie said holding her hand out to the side where the picnic had been laid out. "Give each other hope." Looking down she picked up the crumpled piece of paper, and just as she was about to step down, someone clapped. Before she knew it thunderous clapping filled the air, and people started talking, Sophie could practically feel the tension in the air ease. The council looked over the crowd as they stood. "Not what we expected." Emery said watching as the crowd started heading for the tables.

"But look what it's done." Oralie practically breathed as elves started dishing out food laughing as they cracked jokes, and started playing games. "The tension certainly has calmed." Emery agreed. "My speech wasn't what they needed." Sophie said. "May I have your speech?" Oralie asked holding out her hand. Sophie gave her the crumpled ball of paper. "Thank you." She said as she smoothed it out and folded it before placing it in her pocket. "I think we made the right decision making you councilwoman." Emery told Sophie. "You have them hope, you were the light they needed." He said. Sophie blushed, and scuffed her heel on the platform. "Thanks." Sophie mumbled.

Gradually everyone dispersed back, leaving Oralie, Bronte and Sophie. That's when Sophie realized. They didn't have family to go to. "Your both welcome to sit with me." She offered. Oralie smiled, "Thank you." She said helping Sophie place her circlet back on her head. Sophie took Oralie's hand and they started defending the stairs. Stopping Sophie glanced over her shoulder at Bronte. "You coming?" She asked. Bronte followed in a haughty strut, which made Sophie smile, as she went to the long table. Oralie sat down greeting the Vackers and Ruewens sweetly. Bronte sat next to her, the chills in Sophie's spine burst into freezing cold. Jumping she spun around, glaring behind her. "What's wrong?" Keefe asked. Sandor nodded to Sophie, silently telling her everything was okay.

"Nothing." Sophie said before pushing Dex closer to Biana so she could sit beside him and Edaline. Dex made a sound of protest as he chewed on his food.
Dex pushed against her shoulder with his. "Move cousin, you're squishing me and Biana." He said. Sophie sent him a smile. "I didn't think you two would mind that." She said as she scooted closer to Edaline. Dex turned red and turned to his food as Biana blushed and vanished. Sophie ruffled Dex's hair, "Thanks for the sucker punches." She said. "Oh yeah, I've been meaning to ask you how you liked them." Dex said looking at the cuffs on her wrists. "Yeah I've been meaningful to visit...everyone. Just got caught up with work." She said shooting Bronte a look which he returned with a glare.

"Great speech by the way." Keefe said. Linh nodded, "Yeah, I could practically feel the tension vanish." She said stealing a strawberry from Keefe's plate. "It wasn't the one I planned." Sophie said, then she felt eyes on her back her back stiffened and she turned around to glare, but stopped when she saw Eli, at an different table. Sophie breathed a sigh of relief. "I'll be right back." she promised, before standing up and walking over to Eli and his family. "Hey guys." Sophie greeted. "Hi Sophie." Joanne said shyly. "How's the store?" She asked. "I wanted to talk to you about that." Eli said. "What's wrong did it not work?" Sophie asked worriedly as she sat beside him and his sister. "No, I'm jammed packed, and the books aren't being printed quick enough." He said.

"But, I wanted to say thank you. I had a line of people waiting outside of the store nearly every morning. " he said. "Good for you. Maybe you could hire Marie out as extra help." She offered. Eli blushed but nodded. "Thanks again." He said. Sophie smiled. "It's no problem, I'm glad your store is finally getting some recognition." She said standing. She nodded to his parents when she heard so done calling her. "Sophie!" Pearl called, as she ran up practically tackling her off her feet.

"Oh it's awesome come on, come on. Sorry people I have to borrow my girl for a minute. Hurry." Pearl said before dragging Sophie through the crowds. "Hold on." Sophie called glancing back at her table, but Pearl pulled her along. Sophie caught a teal eye winking at her. Pearl pulled her over to a table of elves, including Eliza and Anne. Sophie was relieved to find a few familiar faces. "So ladies, this is the dress my partner Biana Vacker and I call Angelic light." Pearl said. The women gave praises to Pearl for making it and to Sophie for wearing it so well. Sophie was only saved nearly ten minutes later by Melody.

Melody and her strolled, arm in arm, calmly. "That was a beautiful speech." She said. "Thank you." Sophie breathed. "You looked to be drowning and floundering over there." Melody laughed, as she led them back to Sophie's table. "I was." Sophie said, as Melody took a seat beside Bronte. She greeted everyone softly. Sophie sat back down, the triplets had left to find Blossom and Joanne, the five seemed to be gaining an infamous reputation at Foxfire. "So how are you liking job as councilwoman?" Melody asked. "I can't wait to be representative." Sophie's replied with a smile. "Ah, so that was what made you take the job up?" Melody asked. Bronte and Oralie explained the exception and details of Sophie taking the job.

Sophie turned to her friends. Linh and Keefe had disappeared and Stina was sitting beside Tam. "Hey." Sophie greeted. "Hey." She replied cooly. Sophie and Stina had never been on the best terms, but because of Tam they agreed to be civil with each other. A crash sounded and the triplets squealed in fright. Dex groaned and stood up. Biana stood with him, leaving, Tam, Stina, Fitz and Sophie. The adults were talking to Bronte, Melody and Oralie.
"So...how have you two been doing?" Sophie asked poking her fork at Tam and Stina before stabbing a grape.

"We started dating." Tam said bluntly. "So far it's fine." Stina shrugged. Sophie observed the two teenagers who were completely open and brutally honest. "Uh-huh. That's nice. Anything new going on?" She asked. Tam and Stina looked at each other frowning before shaking their heads. "No." Sophie returned to her food. "Wylie is going to graduate from Foxfire this year." Fitz offered. "Really?" Sophie asked. She hadn't known that. Looking around the crowds for Wylie she didn't spot him. "Yeah, he's thinking of taking up a part of fashion designing with Biana and Pearl." Fitz said. "That's awesome." Sophie said. "Yeah he's pretty good at designs." Fitz said. "I know, he's helped me more than once." Meaning Anne had helped Eliza. "He makes it look so easy, and when I try it, it turns to a lump of fabric with a hole." Fitz said.

"I wonder where he's at." Sophie mused, as she finished her food. "We can go find him." Fitz offered as she finished off her drink. "Yeah. Let's go." Standing, Sophie and Fitz walked away from the table. Sophie slipped her arm in Fitz's, as she spotted a certain tramp sitting at another table.
Fitz and Sophie walked through the crowds. "Sophie, I was tempted by Ambra. It was stupid to feel that, but I did, and I can't ignore it. You deserve someone loyal." Fitz said. "I just wanted something to feel up the space that is in my chest, but that temptation it was only for second, I thought about actually seeing if she'd feel up the space but then I realized." Fitz and her walked away from the crowd to a tree. They sat down at the roots of it, Sandor stood only a few feet away looking out at the crowd.

"I realized you had already filled it up, I didn't need that temporary feeling warmth, because you were already there. I remembered just why I was waiting for you. I remember exactly why I like you. In truth Ambra tried tempting me." Fitz said. Sophie patted his hand, the bold possessive side of her came out again. "Well I can understand that. But if you feel like that again..." Sophie let her words hang. Fitz's face turned red and he lowered his head resting it on her shoulder. "I promise, I will never feel that way again." He promised aloud. "Good." Sophie said blushing at her own words. Fitz sat up straight and looked at Sophie with a shy smile, "I always heard moonlarks were possessive. I didn't know you got that gene as well." He said. Sophie turned red and stood up.

"We are supposed to find Wylie." She said. Fitz stood up with a smile. As she started walking Fitz grabbed her wrist, and pulled her back hugging her. "I'm sorry." He said. Sophie hugged him briefly, before pulling away. "You better be." She teased. Fitz gave a small laugh as he placed her arm in his, they walked back to the crowd.

~

After the picnic everyone decided to go to Sophie's flat. Where they lounged around catching up on each other's lives. Sophie had set her circlet on the table where the triplets took turns impersonating all the council members. Biana, and Wylie were already planning her third dress. Sophie leaned her head against Grady's shoulder and she held onto Edaline's hand. The warmth that surrounded her made the chill ease.

She listened to the chatter around her. A knock on the door made everyone quiet. Sophie met Sandor's eyes and he opened the door. "A scroll came in for Sophie. It looked important. So I brought the rest of them to her." Dole said. Some his stood up. "Thank you Dole." Sophie looked at the thick pile of scrolls and letters. "I'm sorry to bother you. I just figured you'd want to be notified about the important things." Dole said. "Yes I do. Thank you very much." Sophie said taking the thick pile. "Good day." Dole said before trotting away. Sophie looked at the top scroll. A blank red seal, like the one on that had sent the map. Flipping it over, Sophie didn't see any name besides her own. Sighing she set the scroll down before sifting through the others.

Tossing them carelessly on the counter. Wedding forms, something from Quintin, which could wait. Sophie eventually gave up on checking the rest and tossed them on the counter. "So what'd you get? A love letter from a secret admirer?" Biana teased, as Sophie broke the red seal. "No.." Sophie trailed off as she stared at the short note.

Tunnel eight: twelve tonight.

Tunnel eight would be right beside Emery's office. Was someone wanting to meet with her? What if it was the Neverseen? But why would the Neverseen have a map of secret tunnels? Why would they tell her about them? "What's wrong?" Keefe asked, reminding Sophie she wasn't alone. Sophie forced a smile as she turned on the stove. "Nothing." She said as she lit the edge of the paper, before turning off the stove she dropped the paper in the sink. "So what were we talking about?" She asked, as she sat back, between Grady and Edaline. "Secret admirers." Biana said. Sophie raised an eyebrow, "I doubt that." She said making Biana snicker and turn back to the dress design. "Sophie, is someone threatening you?" Alden asked.

Sophie's eyes darted to Sandor, "No." She said, turning back go Alden. "Because if someone is, it's probably best you tell the others." Alden said. "No one is threatening me." Sophie said as she pulled her boots off. "If they were they'd have a whole new problem on their hands." Sophie said tossing the boots beside the door. "Just because you're the Moonlark doesn't mean you can't get hurt." Dex said. "I know that Dex. Better than anyone." Sophie said staring at her cousin. "Did you know, if predators try attacking moonlarks, they turn around and fight. Meaning the hunter." Sophie said emphasizing the word. "Becomes the hunted." She said. "And that's what you are going to do? Hunt them down?" Tam asked.

"That depends on whether they try attacking me again." Sophie said, tucking her feet under her.
That silenced the room for a while, before Bex broke it.

"Again?"

(Who do you all think the notes are from?)