Relearn

BROOK

I've known Clap since she was a tiny little baby, and I have been her stepmom since we were trapped in the Green Grass Field. Freedom might've been her biological mom, but I love her as if she were my own; nothing's getting between me and her.

I stand beside Clap, her fur brushing my foreleg. After King Garonda XIV's violent attack on the White Tent Sea, there's been a distinct shift in the atmosphere.

No one says it out loud, but more and more are beginning to try to form startup rebellions. None are very big and all are brutally shut down.

People are waiting for Wolf and Dove's rebellion, the one that will fulfill The King's Remorse prophecy. They wait patiently, but it's clear just how much they're itching to fight back. Whispers are heard everywhere across the White Tent Sea, sending rumors spreading like a wildfire.

Where Wolf is.

What happened to her.

What's happened with Dove.

No one has seen or heard from the two siblings in over a month. I know Ice has gone to find Dove, Ky, and Phoenix, but I have yet to hear back. I can only hope the four are ok and that Ice has successfully found Dove and the brothers.

"Brook?" Clap asks.

"Yes?"

"Wh-what c-c-comes next?"

"Well, I guess it's finishing rebuilding the White Tent Sea. And then it's on to fulfilling The King's Remorse prophecy."

"Huh."

"You are going to be safely hidden away with me when the time comes and the final attack on King Garonda XIV occurs."

"B-but I-I want to help!"

"No, it's not safe. I promised Freedom and Ice that I would keep you safe. I'm not breaking that promise."

"I-I," Clap starts, but I cut her off.

"You can help by staying back with me. The so-called final fight likely won't be for a long time. Let's not get caught up in discussing it."

I lift my head when I hear footsteps approaching. I tense but relax when I see one of the Ragdonians who had quickly stepped up to help rebuild the White Tent Sea.

"Hi, Wyatt. Uh, what's going on?" Just as quickly as I'd relaxed, I tense when I see flashes of fear in his eyes.

"One of the tents collapsed! Come quick!" I nod and follow Wyatt, jerking my head so Clap will come too. I keep pace with him until we reach the fallen tent.

A person is trapped beneath one of the four massive logs used to form the supports for the tents. But this one has collapsed after two of the support logs cracked and broke, bringing down nearly the whole tent. I stand still as a harness is attached to both me and the log pinning the person to the ground.

"Hurry up," I say, ears drawing back. "They're being crushed!"

"Go, go, go!" I throw my weight against the harness, hooves digging into the ground. The soil beneath my hooves shifts and gives. But the log begins to move, ever so slightly at first. I scramble a step forward as soon as I'm able.

"Go, Brook!" Clap cries. A small smile tugs at the corner of my mouth.

Finally, the log rolls of its victim.

"Someone find a doctor!" I shout as Wyatt quickly detaches the harness. When I look behind me, I'm greeted with an unconscious person with a crushed leg. Blood coats most of their body like a second skin.

"Already here. Move! Let me through!"

Clap crouches beside them. She scampers away when Miles, one of the doctors in the White Tent Sea, gives her a harsh shove. Miles kneels at the victim's side. "What do we got, Miles," Wyatt asks. Miles curses in response.

"Too late. They're gone." My heart sinks. I nudge Clap closer to me with my nose.

"Go home, Clap. I'll be there in a bit."

"I-I. Fine." Clap ducks her head and runs off.

"There wasn't anything you could've done, Brook. Healing them would've taken some Arcane-level magic, one only a Midnight Wolf could possess. I'm sorry. I'll let the family know." Miles's shoulders slouch as he slowly rises to his feet. Disappointment and guilt weigh heavily on him.

xxxx

The walk home is slow. I know Clap will be asking about how the log's victim is doing. I don't want to tell her, but I'm not going to lie to her.

My hoof steps are the only thing that can be heard in the deafening silence. Collapsing tents are becoming more and more common as we rebuild the Sea. After King Garonda XIV's attack, it was blamed on us and we were told to rebuild the Sea without his help. Not that I expected anything different to begin with.

As soon as I nudge open the flap to our tent, Clap is in front of me. "Wh-what happened?" Clap demands.

"Well," I start, ducking through the doorway.

"What happened," she repeats.

"Miles got there too late," I murmur. "They were already gone."

Clap's ears fall, and tears brim in her eyes. My heart clenches. I know how she takes it when she hears someone has died, even if we hadn't known them. I close my eyes, the scar over my left one scrunching up.

"R-really?"

"I'm sorry." I know a sorry changes nothing, but it's all I have to say.

Clap says nothing for a few minutes, and she jumps up onto the bed in the corner and curls up on the mattress, ponytail resting across her shoulder. I shift my weight on my hooves. My eyelids softly close as I try to surrender myself to Dreamland.

"W-we," Clap starts. "We'll make i-i-it out of th-this, r-right? We're a-a-all g-gonna be ok? I-I mean, the K-King will be defeated, right? He-he's the bad g-guy. The one y-you a-a-always told me about."

"Yes, the King will be defeated. Go to bed, Clap. I'll be right here all night."

"P-promise?"

"I promise."

"O-ok," Clap murmurs.

She quickly dozes off and slips into Dreamland. Apparently she just wanted to convince herself of that. But it's true; King Garonda XIV will be defeated.

The King's Remorse prophecy is coming true, and I know most of the Ragdonians living in the White Tent Sea will fight if given the chance.

I soon follow Clap and drift off into a light sleep.

xxxx

I wake the next morning to the sound of heavy footsteps. My head jerks up and I nose my way through the flap to the tent, careful not to wake Clap. What's going on? One or two dozen Guard and Soldiers are racing through the White Tent Sea, making no effort to be quiet even though it's early morning. None of their gazes stray to the side. They remain looking straight forward. Where are they heading?

I look over my shoulder. Clap is still peacefully sleeping away. Not wanting to wake her, I softly make my way outside. The sun is just barely peeking over the horizon. Accelerating to a trot, I catch up to the Guard and Soldiers quickly. But I stay a few tents behind them, not wanting to be caught until I figure out what they're doing. My hooves are nearly silent on the packed-down soil. The Guard and Soldiers continue weaving through the tents, never once sparing a glance to the side.

What could they possibly be doing? Nothing's changed in the White Tent Sea since King Garonda XIV's death and Arcane's sacrifice. Well, more want King Garonda XIV gone, but that's not new. Where are they going?

Thank you for reading this chapter! I hope you enjoyed it. Please click that little yellow star- I'd really appreciate it! And comment your thoughts; I'd love to hear what you think of the story!

Here's a short part of Brook's chapter. The prologue for Reborn is only two short sentences, so I decided to do a double update. Just for funsies :) 

I hope you enjoy Reborn as much as I love writing it!

Hmm. Where are the Guard and Soldiers going?

People are itching for a rebellion... when will that happen? A better question might be will a rebellion happen?

Brook's wondering where Dove, Wolf, Ice, and the rest of the group are. Will she hear back? Will Brook and Clap meet up with the others?

-Werewolf14-