Episode Two, Part 3:

B o u n d   T o g e t h e r

Well I know, I know the sirens sound
just before the walls come down.

Sol followed her people in through the gates of Basilisk, glad to see that there were a lot more guards standing watch around the fence from all areas of camp. She was hopeful to head into the Quarters and find Kodiak resting, healing by now, but she never found a moment to sit with him before the second warning of war made itself known. 

On her way to the medic tent to meet with Aeryn, Sol noticed Ares guiding someone over in the same direction, moving slowly as the person he was with seemed barely able to support themselves up. Worried, she diverted and made her way over to them, hoping it wasn't Wynn. 

"Ares, what's going on?" 

"It's Quill." He breathed out, tired from carrying his brother across camp. He shifted him into view of Sol. 

She lost her breath for a moment, completely taken aback by how ill he looked. Then, without wasting another second, she moved to his other side, wrapping his arm around her neck as she helped Ares to carry him to Aeryn. 

As they entered, the two of them hurried to lay Quill down onto the nearest bed, their struggle enough to gain Aeryn's attention. She hurried over, the fear visible on her face once she recognized who it was, and she immediately began examining him to find out what was wrong. 

"How did he get like this?" Aeryn asked, flashing a light in Quill's eyes. He squirmed away, shutting his eyes tightly in great discomfort.

"I-I don't know. He was fine went we left to meet Targo. He's been in the tent with Wynnlow since we got back, and he just came over to me, like this. I asked him what happened, but he can't speak." 

Sol tried to process Ares' words, figuring out what could suddenly make him take a turn for the worse, especially if he hadn't left camp. And then it clicked... 

"Ares, where's Wynn now?"

"Probably still in the tent. Why?" 

She closed her eyes apperception, quickly turning on her feet and sprinting out of the tent. 

"Riverly, where are you going?" Ares called after her, but he didn't get an answer. He wanted to run after her, concerned why she would be asking about Wynn, but he knew he couldn't leave Quill behind. 

Sol hurried across the camp as best as she could without causing too much alarm. The last thing she needed was to worry her people unnecessarily, but if she was right about what she thought was happening, then she couldn't waste any time in getting to Wynn. 

As she made her way through the maze of tents, trying to remember which one was Wynn's, Elara caught her attention, coming over to what she was doing. 

"River-" 

"Where's your brother?" 

"Which one?" 

"Wynn. I need to find him. The others are at the medic tent." 

"Why? What's happened?" 

"Quill's not good- Wait!" Sol interrupted herself, grabbing onto Elara's wrist as she tried to turn around. 

"Aeryn's looking after him. I need you to help me find Wynn." Sol explained. She could see the hesitation on her face, the doubt that covered over all of her features, but she found the strength to nod, taking Sol over to where he was. 

Sol peeled back the opening to his tent, calling out his name for a response, entering when she didn't hear from him. It was dark inside, contrasting from out, and Sol couldn't make sense of what she saw first. 

But Wynn was lying on his camper bed, groggy, sweat coating his skin, confused about where he was. 

"Wynn?" Elara mumbled, her voice shaking as she hurried over to her brother. She placed her hand on his forehead, feeling his temperature, and her eyes widened in fear as she pulled her hand away. 

"Riverly.. What's wrong with him?" She turned to Sol for answers, still crouching low beside Wynn. 

"I don't know." She confessed, drifting over to the opening and pinning it up so they could get out without hassle. 

"Is there anyone else around? Bas? Fabian?" Sol asked. "We need to get him to Aeryn." 

"I'll go look." Elara answered, hurrying out of the tent and into the next. 

Wynn stirred, perhaps feeling his sister leave, and the wave of nausea rushing through him again. Sol approached him carefully, almost too scared to touch him. 

"Wynn." She murmured his name. "It's gonna be okay." 

The boy opened his eyes a little, trying to see who spoke to him. He was completely disorientated and could barely even comprehend that it was Sol who was beside him, trying to keep him awake. 

All of a sudden Bas hurried into the tent, a panicked look on his face as his eyes landed on Wynn. Sol didn't even need to give him any instructions; Bas came over, scooping him up into his arms, and carrying him across camp towards the medic tent. 

At the sound of more people approaching, Ares turned around, looking away from Quill to see his other brother being brought forward in the same state of being. His heart dropped again, horrified to see that another person he loved was in danger and he was incapable of helping. 

"Aeryn, whatever it is, Wynn's got it, too." Sol called over, moving out the way so she could approach. Sol glanced over at Quill: he didn't look any better, but at least was calm now - no longer squirming in pain, clutching onto himself. 

"Bas, Ell, I think you guys need to go." Aeryn claimed. "All of you." She added, looking up at Ares who was adjusting the pillow under Wynn's head. 

"No way." Ares responded, refusing to leave his brothers. 

"Aeryn's right." Sol pointed out, not wanting his defiance to escalate. "We don't know what's wrong with them, and it could be contagious. You're no help to either of them if you get it too." 

Ares debated her order, eyes drifting between Quill and Wynn, and then to Elara. He sighed and stood up, backing away from Wynn and wandering over to Elara. He wasn't proud of his decision, but he understood Sol's reasoning. If the same thing happened to him, he wouldn't be able to protect Elara from everything that was going on outside their walls. 

Two // Part 3