"... We're leaving together, But still it's farewell And maybe we'll come back To earth, who can tell? I guess there is no one to blame, We're leaving ground (leaving ground.) Will things ever be the same again? ... It's the final countdown, The final countdown."
- The Final Countdown
(Europe)

KAI COACHMAN
[May 15th, 2023]

"Grab the children and make sure they're safe!" Marcus yells as he pushes Aiden and Asher into Killian and Finnicks direction.

He rushes away and towards the commotion. I find myself grabbing Hazel instantly and lifting her into my arms and turn to see that Declan is doing the same with Easton in his arms.

I still wasn't fully comprehending what was going on or what my eyes saw because this didn't make any sense. Screams rang out in the air and I heard growling and the disgusting sound of bones cracking but I couldn't find it in myself to look back.

The real question was; was that really Lyn?

A warrior stands by a door that leads into a square shaped building that looked to only have a single floor. Once I reached the inside, I looked around to find out who else was in here and when I saw Finnick, I rushed over to him.

He was on his knees, hugging a scared Eros and Xander in his arms. They were his children, Xander came a few months after Eros. I could hear Finnick whispering calming things to them, trying to get them to calm down and by the looks of it, it was working because their bodies stopped shaking.

When I made it to him, his eyes instantly met mine and I saw the fear that was in his own eyes. With the thought of if my mother was safe, I look around the room quickly, trying to survey if she made it inside but I didn't see her so I swallowed and looked back at Finnick.

"Did my mom make it inside?" I ask him quickly.

He doesn't say anything for a bit before he shakes his head, "no, but are my eyes playing tricks on me or did I actually see Lyn out there?"

He sounded just as confused and baffled as I was feeling at the moment. I lick my lips and nod.

"I saw her too but I need to make sure my mom makes it out of this," I tell him.

My voice hid how I was feeling inside. I was scared shitless. In the battle we had before, everyone precious to me made it out alive but now I wasn't so sure. Not only did I now have children that I had to watch out for, I had my mother who was here and Declan there up against thousands of people that were out there attacking us in their wolf forms and guns. Now there was also Lyn who was out there, who was supposed to be dead and until I know how the fuck she's here, I don't want my mother to see her because I knew this could be a trick and I wasn't about to lose my mother.

I drop Easton and Hazel and bend down on my knees as I cup Easton's face with my right hand and Hazels with my left. Easton was crying silently with tears streaming down his little face. Hazels bottom lip was quivering as her eyes were watery and the tears began to fall. They were scared so I had to make sure I didn't look like I was.

I sucked in a breath of air and smile the best I could at the both of them. Wiping the tears that streamed down their face, I kiss their cheeks individually.

"There's no need to be scared, okay? Everything will be alright. Daddy has to go out but he'll be back," I tell them softly.

Easton shakes his head instantly and grasps my hand that held onto his face. I knew he didn't understand what was going on but the atmosphere that clouded the air gave away that what was happening was not something light. My kids were smart so it wasn't just Easton that felt this but Hazel too and I heard the whimpers building up in her throat.

"Daddy, no!" Easton shook his head wildly.

That broke me so much that my words became stuck in my throat. I had to swallow and take deep breathes before I was able to utter a word. I would not allow my voice to shake, I wouldn't allow it to break because I had to be their backbone.

Looking up, I saw May hugging Asher and Aiden tightly to her. They were shaking and I saw May's mouth moving so I knew she was saying something but they still shook. I wanted to go over to my other two but time was ticking and I was scared the longer I stayed here, the longer it'd take for me to find my mother. May looks at me and I see her mouth move to form that she's got Aiden and Asher taken care of.

I was hesitant but I forced my eyes to look back at Hazel and Easton.

"Daddy will be okay, I promise. When I come back, we can come back home and play one hundred games," I tell them hoping to evoke happiness.

Easton sniffles, his hands loosening slightly on my hand and I smile at the both of them. Taking my hand off their faces, I hold up both of my pinkies out towards them. They don't move their hands for a moment until I pout playfully. They give me a wavering smile and both intertwine their tiny pinkies with mine on different pinkies. I stamp my thumb firmly with theirs and release their hand.

I hug them tightly to me before releasing them and I look at Finnick who has got Eros to go to sleep but is still holding Xander to him.

"Please watch them," I beg him.

"You don't have to ask," he gives me an encouraging smile, "Please be safe."

I nod without a response and turn around instantly without looking back because I'd waver and rush back to my kids.

I try to walk out but the warrior holds his hand out, stopping me.

"I don't recommend that, it's nasty out there," he tells me.

"I don't care," I tell him firmly, "my mom is out there."

"Declan would kill me if—"

"I'll kill you if you don't let me go," I glare at him.

"Kai—"

"Please," I plead with him.

He sighs but turns and motions for some guy to come over. The guy that jogs over is tall and buff with pale skin and eyes that slant just a bit. He was only wearing a white dress shirt with black slacks that were a bit torn and scuffed up dress shoes.

"Alec, could you please go out with him and protect him as he finds his mom?" The warrior asks who I now know is Alec.

Alec nods, "yes, sir."

The warrior pushes the steel door open and I instantly rush out with Alec by my side.

The once beautiful scenery now looked dreary and dull. The fresh grass and forest floors were now stained with the blood of someone who was once alive or un-injured. The sound in the air that was filled with bird chirping and beautiful music was filled with the harmony of death and the tragic sound of people crying as they face their last moments of life.

I stopped moving as I felt like throwing up. Everything was so overwhelming and my stomach began to churn. What was supposed to be a day filled with joy turned into a nightmare with the snap of a finger and I hated it.

It was all because of fucking Ailee. She ruined everything and I was damn near tired of it.

Looking around, I see wolves fighting, there weren't anymore men shooting as they were all ripped to shreds with their bodies disregarded to the side. I recognized Declan's wolf, Dalton, leaping into the air as it tackled a wolf down and chomped on to its side. There was the crimson sight of blood as it dripped from its razor sharp teeth.

I see Killian, Marcus, Chris and Veras wolf attacking and fighting but I didn't know where my mother was in the mass of fighting wolves. When I looked down on the floor at the dead bodies and wolves, I didn't see my mom amongst them so there was hope in my heart.

"Cover me," I say and don't wait for his reply as I start running.

This was dumb of me, I knew that but I was more frantic than anything else to find my mother. I hear Alec running by my side once more. My anxiety flared up as a wolf ran towards me but I saw Alec shift and rush towards the wolf, snapping its neck instantly before coming back to my side.

I look at Alec's with wide eyes and I see his wolf slightly smile.

Shaking it off, I continue running past the battle until I see the sight of Elliot. Before I can walk further, arms grab my elbow and we hide behind a bush.

I look at Alec but blink in surprise and quickly look away because he's naked. The only naked man I've ever seen was Declan and the occasional wolves in the pack during training but this was beyond weird.

"Look," Alec tells me.

"At your dick? No thanks," I make gagging noises.

He slaps at the back of my head and I look up at him to see his glare and his finger that points through the bush at what he's actually talking about.

I push leaves aside from the bush and I see Elliot but what I failed to see was Ailee who was talking to Lyn. It was so weird to see this. It looked like Lyn. Her hair was the same, her eyes the same, her body type the same and when I closed my eyes I could distantly and vaguely hear that her voice was the same but I wasn't so sure.

How could this be?

Lyn died, I saw her body that was ripped apart until I couldn't even recognize her anymore. I saw her as dirt was thrown over her as she was buried. This didn't make any sense and the only real answer to this lied with Ailee.

In the corner of my eye, I see my mother and my eyes widen. She's hidden behind a tree, slightly close to where Alec and I were but my heart dropped when her eyes began to glaze over as she looked at Lyn. I knew what she was thinking, I knew what she was about to do, I knew this wouldn't end well.

And I was right as my mom began to move from behind the tree and she began to walk towards where Elliot, Lyn and Ailee were.

No, no, no, fuck.

Oof. Pardon any mistakes & feel free to point them out, I was rushing to get this out.

Xoxo, Babybird.