Episode Three, Part 6:
Exiles

Wynn huffed out in frustration, defeated to find that another place he had searched showed up empty for Sol. She wasn't hiding in any of the tents or huts their people had built, and as far as he could see, she wasn't somewhere in the crowd of Basilisk that stretched out along the shore, leaving him with very few guesses as to where she could be.

He glanced over to where Chessca and Atlantis were sitting around one of the campfires, seeing them lost in conversation with Izzy and Elara. He didn't want to worry either of them if it wasn't necessary and he certainly didn't want to alert them to the fact that Sol was missing as he knew what horrible questions would start filling their minds: was she hurt? Had someone taken her? Was she lost? Had she been left for dead somewhere?

Wynn pinched the top of his nose, exhaling out a heavy breath as he tried to soothe his ever-growing headache. Breaking him from his focus, Wynn's attention shifted to the noise of dried leaves cracking under footsteps and branches being pushed apart, watching at Bas and Kodiak stepped out from the forest and into sight. He immediately crossed the distance to reach them, knowing from the absence of Sol alone that it was good news.

"Any trace of her?" Wynn asked hoping for a least a minuscule clue about what had happened to Sol.

"No. Nothing," Kodiak shook his head, struggling to keep himself composed. "I don't know understand what happened. No one saw anything; our people would have told us if they saw Terra Firma approach again."

"Maybe she went exploring and she got lost," Bas suggested. "I couldn't find any tracks out there or anything that looked like there might have been a struggle. I don't think she was taken, if that's what you guys are worrying about."

"Sol wouldn't just leave without telling someone," Wynn said. "She knows better that, and she knows how she'd feel if one of us snuck off without a word to anyone. Especially considering that Dreea isn't here at the moment..."

"Have you checked everywhere here? All the tents?" Kodiak asked.

"Yeah. Three times over," Wynn answered. "She's not here."

Kodiak frowned, trying not to let his emotions take over so he could figure out a plan of action; figure out what the hell happened to his best friend and where they needed to be looking.

"The only thing I can think of is that it's Terra Firma," Kodiak began, "but that would still mean that Sol wasn't at camp for them to have found her... Maybe they took her hostage, too. Maybe..."

Wynn waited for him to finish, but something was holding Kodiak back. "Maybe what?" He searched.

"Maybe Chessca knows what happened to her."

"Chessca?"

Kodiak nodded. "Riv said she had to do something for her right before she left the tent. That's what she didn't stick around to help us come up with a way to announce the alliance to our people."

Wynn glanced over at where Chessca was sitting, trying to figure out of Kodiak was onto something. "It might be worth asking... Atlantis too?"

Kodiak hesitated. "No, we don't want to make her worry until we know anything for sure."

"Gotcha," Wynn said, nodding his way before he wandered over to where the girls were sitting, waiting until Bas joined them before he attempted to pull Chessca away.

"Hey Chess?" He called her name, gesturing for her to follow his lead back to Kodiak.

She stood up, seeming nervous to leave Atlantis' side, but gave into Wynn's request nevertheless.

"We don't know the easiest way to put this, but-" Wynn began, reluctant to break the news to her, but he was interrupted before he could say anything else.

"Riv's not here. I know."

Wynn looked over at Kodiak, wondering how she had figured it out on her own or why she hadn't asked them where she was. "How? Do you know where she is?"

"Yes, and I told her not to go."

"...Go where?" Kodiak asked, surprisingly not feeling at all relieved despite Chessca seemingly aware of her whereabouts.

She sighed, wrapping her arms around herself and avoided their eyes. "To Exile Allegiance," she confessed. "She said she was going to find out about them because I was talking to her about how afraid I was because...". She forced herself to look up at them, hoping they would see how sincere she was. "Because I feel like I did when The City of Targo were around. I feel terrified."

Both Sovereigns softened at her words, unable to feel anything but empathy for her over her fears, despite the information she had been keeping from them.

"She wanted to prove to me that they don't all have a vendetta against me or want me dead like when we were in The City, and that even with Dreea gone for a few days, I'm safe, but I begged her not to go. I even told her that you guys wouldn't like it, but she asked me not to tell you and I didn't know what to do. I'm sorry."

"It's not on you," Kodiak told her, grabbing onto her arm for extra reassurance. "I just can't believe she didn't tell us. This isn't like her."

"Well, it wasn't just me she was doing it for..." Chessca admitted, wondering if the truth she was holding back would actually make them less likely to bite Sol's head off when she returned.

"Who else?" Wynn frowned. If he couldn't figure Sol out, then he didn't know who could.

"Elara," she answered, weighing in on both of their responses. Wynn looked guilty - as if he was ashamed of himself for not having thought of it before, whereas Kodiak looked nervous; the truth suddenly hitting him and confirming what his underlying fears had been.

"Because of her being 'the Heir' and everything that happened to her because of The City of Targo. Also because Izzy is from there and she knows how much she means to you guys and Ell," she continued to explain. "She also said she felt responsible for everything that happened because of Hannah not only to Quill, but you, Kodiak. A lot of people have suffered because of The City of Targo and their people, not just me, and I think at the end of the day, all she's doing is keeping us all safe. Albeit, she wants to do it on her own partly because Dreea isn't here right now, partly because of all you two faced on Neptunum. She loves you guys: this is her way of trying to protect us."

"You almost make me not-so-mad at her anymore," Wynn chuckled, running a hand through his hair as he wrestled with his conflict.

"Don't worry, I get it," Chessca sympathised. "And I already let her know how I feel about this, but I think we have to trust her this time. Trust that she won't get herself killed."

"She's good at that," Kodiak muttered, trying to hold onto his annoyance for argument's sake, but it wasn't working. "Thankfully," he added on.

"Well, with any luck, she'll show up soon," Wynn said. "But if she's not back before before dark, a full search party is underway-"

"A search party? For me? You guys make me feel so special," Sol jumped down from the bushes where Kodiak had appeared from minutes ago, landing right at his side and subsequently startling him.

"What the hell, River?" He muttered, trying to catch his breath.

"Sol, do you have any idea how worried we were? We've been looking everywhere for you. We thought something had happened."

"I know and I'm sorry," she emphasised as she answered Wynn, reaching out to Chessca who was standing at her side and trying her hardest not to look at Sol. "But I needed to do something and I know what you guys would have said if I told you about my plans."

"Yeah, and for good reason," Kodiak said. "Chessca told us where you went... Anything could have happened to you out there and we wouldn't even know where to start looking if you got hurt or taken by someone. Don't you get how terrified that makes us? Something happening to you?"

"Hey," Sol softened, now shifting her attention from Chessca over to Kodiak. "I'm okay. We're all okay," she assured him, knowing that his fears from having been alone on Neptunum all that time were still present. "I'm sorry. You know that, right?"

Kodiak nodded and dropped his head, inhaling a deep breath as he wrapped an arm around Sol's shoulder, pulling her into his side in an act of forgiveness. "I know," he told her. "But, as stupid as your plans like this are sometimes, I'd still rather you tell us."

"I hear you," Sol replied. "And thank you for understanding."

She drifted her eyes over to Wynn and Chessca, not sure who would hold off the longest.

"Guys?" She stretched out the word, offering a sly smile their way, hoping to break them into laughter. "Come on," she teased. "You know you can't stay mad at me."

"Unfortunately, that's true," Wynn rolled his eyes as a smile escaped him - Sol knowing she had won. "But I can still try."

"Chess?" Sol turned to her lastly, poking her side in an attempt to lighten the mood. "If you need to tell me how stupid I was, I'm all ears. Have at it."

Chessca huffed and finally looked over at her, standing with folded arms as if to maintain her displeased state for as long as possible. "You're right: you make stupid, reckless, impulsive decisions a lot of the time and it doesn't make them any less reckless just because you make it out alive," she said. "And I'm so mad that you did this when Dreea isn't here because you know how I feel when you alone are not around, much less when you're both gone. But..."

"But..." Sol repeated, her voice light in hope as she leaned ever so slightly away from Kodiak, preparing herself to envelope Chessca in her arms.

"But I know you were doing it to make sure I was safe, and you must know that I do realise that, however annoyed I am right now. And I'm glad that you made it back okay."

"Thank you, Chess," Sol murmured, wrapping her arms around her just like she had been waiting for, finding relief in the girl's arms hugging her back. "Now, why don't you go join the others and I'll find you in a little while. I need to talk to Kodiak and Wynn about what I found out."

"About Exile Allegiance? You actually have answers? Your plan worked?"

"Yeah, and it's a long story, but I have answers," Sol smiled at her, relieved to know that Chessca would be resting assured until they had a chance to speak. "You're safe. I'll find you and Atlantis soon. I promise."

Chessca nodded and gradually drifted away from the Sovereigns, leaving Sol to lead both boys towards the tent, anxiously awaiting the chance to explain everything to them.

Wynn let out a deep breath once they were alone, not even sure which question to ask first. "Were you okay out there?"

"I was fine," Sol smiled softly over at him, grateful for his concern. "I actually found Exile Allegiance and made it inside their camp."

"Woah..." Kodiak breathed out, impressed at her courage. "Don't tell me you killed a couple people before you left. We don't need to leave any more trails left behind, like someone-"

"Hey," Wynn chuckled, swatting Kodiak's chest. "I saved Dreea's life. I'm a hero."

"Sure, we'll call it that," Kodiak said, joining in on his laughter before he turned back to face Sol, slightly more serious now as he awaited an answer.

"I didn't kill anyone," Sol informed them. "But I did have the chance to talk to their leader, or 'pioneer' as he called himself. Tobias Bailey."

"Wait, you spoke to him? You actually walked right inside their camp and spoke to their leader? And made it back in one piece?" Wynn was baffled, struggling to imagine how she had pulled it off.

"Pretty much," Sol shrugged. "I mean, I did snoop around for a while and take a couple of their weapons, but they found me and made me hand their blades over. After that, Tobias and I sat among the rest of his people and we just...talked."

"Strange," Kodiak mumbled. "No one tried to kill you even once?"

"No," Sol laughed. "And that's a good thing so get that confused look off your face!"

"I'm just struggling to understand why they'd let an outsider walk right in and sit around campfire with them, or whatever. I mean, they've met Terra Firma... Why didn't they assume we were like them? Take precaution?"

"I don't know," she sighed. "They're not like any other clan I've come across before. They seem kind," she said, recalling what Tobias had said to her. "Like they know peace, despite Terra Firma's active attacks against them and all their attempts to wipe their people out."

"Yeah, well, that's going to be us too, in a couple of days," Wynn scratched at the back of his head, not looking forward to waging another war after everything that had happened within the past few weeks.

"...Riv?" Kodiak pried, seeming to notice a change in her. "What is it?"

"I-" Sol hesitated, completely at a loss for words. She knew in her heart what she wanted to say, but she couldn't find the right words to persuade Wynn and Kodiak.

"It's something about the attack on Exile Allegiance, isn't it?" Kodiak continued to ask, slowly figuring her out. "You're worried it's not going to work?"

"No," Sol shook her head, wishing it was as simple as that. "I'm worried we shouldn't go through with it - with the attack."

"Without it, we don't have the alliance," Wynn reminded her. "Without it, Terra Firma keep up their attacks on us and who know what else will happen."

"I'm aware of the alliance, but-"

"And too much has happened to the people we care about," Wynn interrupted, needing her to hear what he had to say. "Half of us shouldn't even be here: Chessca, Kodiak, Bas, Elara, and me. We're not going to get lucky anymore; there comes a point where we can't keep cheating death and I don't want to see what happens the next time it comes knocking at our doors. I've fought too damn hard for my life; for Quill and Elara; for us. I'm not risking it anymore."

"Wynn," Sol tried to reason with him, not having predicted him to be so tender to her confession, completely unprepared to figuring out a way to calming him down before he hurried out of the tent, desperate to clear his mind of all his fears.

"I messed up, didn't I?" Sol sighed, running a hand through her hair.

"No, you didn't. He's just stressed. Probably still overwhelmed from what happened on Neptunum as well as trying to secure this whole alliance - with Dreea now being gone. I know I am."

"I was just trying to take this into my own hands," she told Kodiak. "Because you've been doing it alone for six months and because Wynn tried to do all by himself on that cursed ship. I'm the Nobel Sovereign, I'm supposed to be the one who protects you guys, but it's pretty obvious I'm not very good at that lately."

"Hey," Kodiak grabbed onto her arm, turning her around to face him but she kept her head down. "Riv, look at me."

Sol glanced up - reluctantly, not feeling deserving of whatever kind words he had to say.

"You know that's not true," he said, expecting some sort of reaction from her but he got nothing. "Tell me you know that's not true."

"How can I?" She shrugged. "Chessca doesn't feel safe, I let Wynn down, Dreea's currently a hostage for a clan that I just suggested we end our alliance with. How can you look me in the eye and tell me that you honestly think I'm doing a good job here."

"Because you're my best friend," Kodiak said. "You're my family. And the whole time I was on that ship, I thought to myself, 'if Riv was here, she'd know exactly what to do. She'd have no trouble figuring out a way to get back to everyone else because she always comes up with a plan, no matter what it takes.'"

"We already had a plan," she muttered, shaking her head at herself. "Wynn and Dreea risked their lives to go out there and they got us the alliance. Why couldn't I just be grateful for that? Why did I have to go and look for an alternative?"

"You tell me," Kodiak said, knowing that deep down, Sol knew she had the answers to her questions. "Why have Exile Allegiance shifted everything for you? Because I know it has nothing to do with them being exiles from The City... If anything, that makes me wonder why you're so hesitant on our alliance, now."

So sighed, glancing at the opening of the tent where Wynn had exited from, wishing he had stuck around long enough to hear her explanation. "Because there are so many kids there," she confessed. "Izzy and Harlow's age. Jonas' age. Young, innocent kids and if I'm honest, Kodiak, even everyone else - I'm not too comfortable with the idea of murdering. They seem... They seem like good people, dare I say it. And I don't know if I want to be the person who kills them just so we don't have to die, instead." 

Three // Part Six
You're my best friend. My family.

Yo, sorry it's been an entire week since an upload! I've been so busy! I filmed a music video for my college course (and hopefully I can post the link on the next chapter) and I got 100/100 marks for it! I am literally over the moon!

I didn't really like this chapter (and it completely went off script, but let's not talk about that), but I just wanted to get more of the story out for you. I've felt so sick since Monday and I've barely had any energy to write, but I pushed myself to get this done! Hopefully I'll be more productive tomorrow because I'm so excited for all the storylines to unfold!

03/03/21.

I'm turning 21 so soon, what!?