Episode Two, Part 5:
How to Save a Life

Wynn and Elara were still trying to make their way back towards Basilisk, knowing that Kodiak was supposed to be meeting them closer to camp. But with the scare of Elara's vision, they were running behind schedule and knew that it might worry the rest of their people if they didn't return when they were presumed to. 

Wynn wanted to get back as soon as he could, but he was also trying to be careful of his sister, afraid that anything could set her off again. Of what little they did know about her visions, they knew that they were made worse by fear, and being out of Basilisk when Targo was around was the perfect set up for another one to come. 

All of a sudden, Wynn thought he could hear someone approaching in the distance. Not knowing what it could be, he came to an abrupt stop, holding out his arm as a barrier to Elara. 

"What? Why have we stopped?" Elara asked, secretly appreciative of the few seconds it gave her to regain her breath. 

"Shh, I can hear something," Wynn hushed her, pulling her to stand behind him as he glanced around. Elara stayed close to her brother, stepping forward whenever he did, looking in the directions he wasn't. 

Suddenly, she became aware of the noise too, recognising it as someone obviously running. Afraid of who they would find, Wynnlow pulled out his gun and held it ready to shoot, deciding to take his chances with the weapon rather than spending time trying to find a place for them to hide. 

"Wynn..." Elara whispered, unable to find her voice. It was just like when she was with Quill outside of the radio tower, only this time they didn't have someone else to come and fend for them. 

"It's okay," Wynn told her, speaking over his shoulder. "I won't let anything happen to you." 

Elara gulped, burying her head against the bag on Wynnlow's back to try and block the world out. She could sense as he stood taller, tightening his grip on the gun, but then he relaxed for a moment, his hand tucking his gun in the side of his pants. 

"...What?" Wynn mumbled in disbelief, trying to comprehend who he was seeing. He stepped aside, encouraging Elara that it was safe to come out from behind him, allowing her to fall into the same state of confusion as him. 

"Bas, Quill," He muttered their names, crossing the remaining distance so he could get to them. "What are you guys doing out here?" He looked over them for injuries, his first thought being that something must have happened when Targo got to Basilisk and they both fled at the first chance of danger. 

Quill swallowed a deep breath and turned to Bas, looking to him to answer. 

"A slight change of plans," Bas began, pointing out the obvious. "Rhea and your dad ended up taking Quill along with the hostage. I had to sneak my way into march and get him out." 

"Targo took you!?" Elara exclaimed, looking up at her brother. They had only been worried about their dad taking her, not her brothers. 

"Yeah," Quill breathed out, recalling the ordeal. He had barely had a moment since to let it sink in, but the fear he first had was very much still there. 

"I don't understand, why did you two come back this way? Basilisk is the other way; you should know that, Bas. Or is Kodiak not the one meeting us anymore?" 

Bas and Quill shared a worried look with each other - knowing that Wynn had all of the same questions as them, but they didn't have the right answers to give him. 

"What...?" Wynn dropped his voice, his concern growing. It was then that he began to figure out that something else was wrong. "What's happened?" 

"There might be some miscommunication," Bas said. "When Targo took Quill, Ares and Fenn had already left so Dreea turned the radios back on to try and send a message to them to not send the flood." 

Wynn nodded, noticing how that would be a major problem, but he sensed that there was more to it. 

"Well, we don't know if they heard that message or not. For all we know, Ares could be thinking that Quill is still a part of the march so he won't send the flood. And because you turned Riders' radio tower off, even if we were close enough to connect to it by now, it wouldn't work." 

Wynn exhaled a deep breath, trying to conceal how afraid he was so he didn't worry Quill or Elara. "Okay, so we need to assume that he heard Dreea's message about Quill being in the march and that it would mean he's not going to set off the bombs." 

Bas nodded. "Someone needs to get to him. Make sure that dam goes off." 

"I'll go," Wynn said without a beat. "Can you make sure Quill and Elara get home?" 

Just as Bas went to accept Wynn's request, both siblings immediately defied, just as desperate to get to Ares as Wynn was. 

"We're going with you," Elara declared, standing her ground. 

"No way," Wynn shook his head, "It's not safe out here. I shouldn't have to tell you this, Elara." 

"At least let me come. If anything were to happen, it's better than you have someone with you," Quill argued, hopeful that he would manage to persuade Wynn. 

He stared at him for a moment, contemplating his offer before giving in. "Fine. Quill can come with me. Ell, you're going back with Bas." 

"No! I'm going to find Ares-" 

Wynn ignored his sister's dispute, nodding at Bas to pull her away. He watched as he grabbed onto Elara's arm, pulling her away with great struggle, hating that they had to separate from her even though he knew it was the right decision. 

"Come on," Wynn muttered, swatting Quill's chest as he motioned for him to follow, taking off in the direction of the dams. 

///// 

Bas fought to remain his hold on Elara's wrists. He knew that if her family was in trouble, then she would do anything to get to them, but he couldn't allow her to get away. 

"Come on Bas, just let me go!" She groaned, still trying to twist her wrist free. It wasn't working, but it was worrying Bas at the fact that he might be hurting her. 

"I'm sorry, Elara. You heard your brother. I have to get you home." 

"Bas-" 

"If it was Harlow," the desperation in his voice instantly gaining Elara's attention. He composed himself, "I'd want you'd guys to do anything to make sure he's safe. That's all your brothers are trying to do for you, Ell." 

The girl sighed. For the first time since they had left Wynn and Quill, she stopped fighting. 

"You're right, I'm sorry." She apologised. "It just feels like this is our one chance to get rid of Targo for good, and now, if they don't get to Ares in time, it'll all be for nothing." 

"I know," Bas replied. "But no matter what happens, your brothers will find a way to keep you safe. Which is exactly where you need to be right now. Targo are-" 

"Out here, I know," she finished. "Look, I won't fight anymore. Just let go of my hand. Please, Bas." 

He looked over at her, hesitating, but he couldn't do it. 

"No, Ell-" 

"Fine. But you can at least let me tie up my laces," she muttered, whipping her hand out of Bas' hold and crouching to the ground before he could react. She leaned forward in her position, shielding the fact that her laces were perfectly knotted from Bas' sight as she tried to figure out how to get away. She could just make a run for it, but Bas was fast and would no doubt catch up to her within seconds. 

Right beside her foot, there was rock half wedged into the ground. It wasn't particularly large - the perfect size to be held in both hands - but it was an answer... The only answer she could find. 

Bas was still standing right beside her, but he wasn't watching - too focused on the path ahead and trying to figure out which route to take. Without wasting any time, Elara pulled the rock out of the dirt, discreetly holding it in her possession as she rose to her feet. 

"I'm so sorry," she murmured, drawing Bas' attention as he turned around to figure out what she was talking about. But Elara was already holding the rock above her head, and before Bas could react, she pulled it down, hitting it straight against his forehead. 

Elara's eyes welled up with tears as Bas collapsed to the ground, falling unconscious. She just stood there for a minute, coming to terms with what she had done. Bas was family - he was trying to get her home - and this is what she did to him... But the anguish to reach her brothers was greater than any desire to be safe or be home. She knew it her heart that she had to be there with Wynn and Quill, and there was no way Bas would let her go. 

A fear came to her that she hadn't considered: what if someone from Targo or Riders came past and found Bas? They would hurt him even more than she had. 

Panicked and not knowing what else to do, Elara moved behind Bas and wrapped her hands under his arms, dragging him across the dirt. There was a large bush beside one of the many trees around them, and if she could get him there, then she could cover him with the leaves and branches. 

It was a heavy task, especially given Bas' tall and muscular build, but after a great amount of effort, she had managed to pull him over. She covered him the best she could, hoping that the only reason she had any doubt in her camouflage skills was because she knew he was there, and what she was looking for. 

She bent down beside him, making sure his head was as cushioned as she could make it before whispering a final apology to him and running in the direction of her brothers. 

She knew that when Bas made his way back to Basilisk, she would be in a lot of trouble, but that was a worry for another day. The only thing that mattered now was getting to Ares, Wynn and Quill. 

Two // Part Five
Your brothers will find a way to keep you safe.

I really like the dynamics in these scenes! Even though Elara did knock Bas unconscious, its fun to show more of their relationships with their family (other than just their siblings).

17/04/20