Episode Four, Part 2:
The Other Side

We're so used to looking out for each other, 
but this time I can't see you. On borrowed 
time. Too hard to face it, so we hide. 

Kodiak sighed as he stepped outside of his room, pulling the door to - still wanting it open a little so that he could Elara if he needed to. She was finally asleep and the Sovereign had to take advantage of this time to catch up with everything else that had been going on. 

He wandered down the corridor, already seeing Sol sitting on one of the couches, smiling sadly as he made his way over to her. She could see that he was exhausted, knowing how strong he had to be for Elara, and she hoped he knew how brave he was. 

"How is she?" Sol asked, waiting until Kodiak had crashed down on the seat opposite her before she spoke. 

Kodiak glanced towards his room for a moment, exhaling a deep breath as he turned back to his friend. 

"Alright, considering." 

Sol nodded, understanding that there was a limit to how 'okay' they could be. One of the hardest parts about grief was that you had to let it in to feel any better, and when you were in the process of that, there wasn't an awful lot that someone could do to help. 

"But it's hard to read her. Usually, I can see right through her, but not now. She seems angry - maybe that Targo are still out there, or that everything is still uncertain, or..." Kodiak hesitated. "At Ares... For dying." 

"She'll come around. I'm sure it's just because the anger is easier for her to feel than everything else that's trying to creep its way in." 

Kodiak shifted. There was more he needed to say, but he found it difficult to recall. "She told me that she misses her brother." 

"I bet she does," the Nobel dropped her head, reigning in her emotion. 

"She was talking about Wynn." 

Sol looked up at Kodiak, wondering if he was confused, or if she had misheard it correctly. Knowing that she was after an explanation, Kodiak continued. 

"Other than last night at the burning ceremony, or when they first came back here after it happened, she says they haven't seen him. That he hasn't said a word... To either of them." 

Sol's heart sunk in her chest, feeling worry squeeze the breath out of her lungs. Truthfully, she hadn't seen him either. Figuring that he just needed space, she had told herself that she would wait until he came back around, but what Kodiak told her was distressing. Now, more than ever, Wynn needed to be with his siblings, not push them away. 

"I... I want to help him, but I'm not good with these kinds of emotions," Sol grieved, afraid that she would only make Wynn feel worse about everything. 

"Yes you are," Kodiak said. "I hate to remind you, but you've been through a lot: Noah, Jonas, your dad. And besides, it wouldn't even matter if you hadn't; the point is, you're good with Wynn. Whatever you two are going through, whether you understand it or not, you're always the one to lift him up, just as he is with you. So..." Kodiak continued, "I think no matter what you try, even if you're just there with him, I think that will help-" 

His words meant a lot to Sol, more than he realised, but he cut himself short. When she looked up, trying to figure out what had crossed his mind, she saw his gaze following someone down the hallway. It was Wynn. 

He had to walk past them both to approach the hall, but it was as if he didn't even see them there, or notice their eyes on him. 

The Sovereigns watched, not saying a word to him as he approached Kodiak's door. Wynn was careful to push it open, trying not to make too much noise, finding that his sister was sleeping inside. 

Sol wondered if he was going to walk in and see her, but he didn't move from the doorway. He lingered against the frame, gazing in at the room for what seemed like a few minutes, perhaps trying to convince himself that his sister was safe, alive, right in front of him. 

Eventually, Wynnlow pulled the door back to, keeping it open just like Kodiak, and continued along the hall until he reached another room. 

A few days ago, it was full of supplies and weapons - acting as nothing more than a storage room. But after everything that his family had been through, Sol - as the Nobel, made the decision to change it into a smaller room in the Quarters for Wynn and Quill. Given that Elara stayed with Kodiak every night, she figured it would be a comforting way for all three of them to feel like they were close to one another. 

But it wasn't only because of what they had experienced; Sol wouldn't have done that for just anybody in Basilisk - many of who had lost loved ones. She did it because it was Wynn. 

Just like he had done with his sister, Wynn opened the door to his room, remaining in the doorway as he looked in on his brother, making sure he was safe. 

Sol hoped that he would join Quill and find rest of his own, retreating to his own bed and getting some much-needed sleep, but he showed no intention of doing so. 

Something shifted her gaze down to her hands, focusing on what was tattooed onto her skin: her debt - Wynnlow's initial to remind her that he had saved her life, and she owed it to him to make sure he was safe. 

Tapping into her heart, Sol was struck with an idea. She pulled herself up from the couch, trying not to startle Wynn with any loud or sudden movements. 

Seeing that she was heading away from the boy, Kodiak grabbed onto her hand as she ran past, wanting to know what she was doing. 

"Riv! Where are you going?" 

"I think I know what might help. Just keep him here for a couple of minutes until I get back." 

Four // Part Two
You're always the one to lift him up.

18/04/20