Chapter Fourteen

Amber waited in a crouched position, breath held and her eyes taking in every movement of the scene unfolding before her with keen and careful eyes. It was not a cheery site, a tall ugly stake set up in the middle of a circle of jagged sea rocks, branches and kindling laid out strategically around it for faster burning. It was already aflame, or as much aflame as the damp wood would allow. A thick gray smoke filled the air, creating a tall plume that could be seen over a mile down the beach.

Pride had been correct. The Guardian had selected a Mall Rat to witness the execution – Dal. Amber’s heart broke in her chest as she studied the handsome young man. He had grown up so quickly. It was hard for her to believe she had been away from him for less than a year. He stood bravely between two Chosen guards, his face void of emotion and unreadable as he watched the man who had been his leader slowly burn.

“If we free Dal first it will make for better odds.” Lex whispered softly from his position next to Amber, his eyes finding hers. Amber could tell Lex was disappointed that it was Dal, not Tai-San who had been selected to bear witness to the event, but somehow Amber had a feeling Tai-San would be more needed at the mall than Dal would.

“But what about Bray.” Ebony’s voice was a hoarse whisper, her eyes riveted to the stake in the center of the circle.

Bray was not in good condition, that much Amber could tell with just once glance. When they had first arrived Bray had been standing stalk still, his lips moving in a silent prayer. But as the seconds ticked by, each feeling like an eternity, his head began to droop and he slowly began to succumb to the affects of the smoke.

“We have to move quickly.” Amber nodded, her heart in her throat. Everything inside her wanted to leap up from her hidden position, ignore the guards, ignore Trudy and the Guardian, and free Bray from his flaming pyre. But she knew that unless they waited for Pride’s and Panther’s distraction she would be cut down before she even made it halfway.

“Amber, you and I should create a second distraction freeing Dal while Ebony goes to Bray.” Lex plotted, tucking a long strand of raven colored hair behind his ear. “They look like they’ve given Bray up for dead already.”

Amber nodded, seeing that Lex’s words were correct. The guards, bored that Bray had not pleaded for his life or wept, had turned to one another and began to quietly joke and jest while their insane leader stood with his arms neatly folded against his chest, his eyes boring holes into Bray.

“That’s a good idea.” Amber murmured softly, careful to keep her voice low. She glanced over at Ebony who’s brow was furrowed with concern, still unable to move her eyes from Bray’s unconscious figure. “Take my dagger.” Amber instructed her. “Pride is hidden in the rocks directly behind the pyre. Once he sees you moving up there he’ll go to assist you.”

“Right.” Ebony agreed. “I’ll leave seconds after you and Lex go.”

The plan being made and discussed, silence fell between the three and Amber found her eyes drifting back towards the scene in front of her. Trudy’s shoulders were shaking with silent tears and somehow Amber knew that the Guardian had forced her to light the pyre herself. With each contact with the Guardian confirmed to Amber that he was a sick man with a dark and twisted soul.

After what felt like an eternity had passed, the chilly beach air was rent with a low guttural cry that Amber instantly recognized as Pride’s. The Chosen, however did not know what to make of it and when it was joined with the high pitched screech of Panther’s animal cry, they began to dart back and forth in fear and confusion.

“Now!” Amber declared, leaping to her feet, feeling Lex jump up a split second after her. The guards barely noticed her as she pushed her way through making her way towards Dal who was staring at her his face as pale as a sheet.

~*~*~

Ebony counted to two before she jumped up from the hiding place Amber and Lex had just vacated. Lex had been correct. Their attack to free Dal had drawn the attention away from the pyre. Even the Guardian seemed distracted and fearful.

She moved swiftly, ignoring everything and everyone around her, her focus centered entirely on the man who held her heart. “I’m coming Bray. Hold on.” She muttered through gritted teeth, mustering all her strength as she sprinted towards him.

The flames licked up around her as she scrambled up the burning wood stack and somewhere in the back of her mind, Ebony knew that she would have burns on the exposed part of her flesh the next day, but she did not care. She only had eyes for Bray. She had to save him, before it was too late.

“Bray!” Ebony gasped as she quickly slit the cords that bound his wrists. “Speak to me!” She guided his arms around her neck so that his full weight was against her slight frame. If she hadn’t known that Pride would relieve her of her burden in any moment she knew she would have given up right there, but somehow she found the strength inside her to half carry half drag him down the pyre and towards the jagged perimeter of the execution circle.

“Pride!” Ebony screamed at the top of her lungs when she spied him running towards her. By now several of the Chosen guards had seen the distraction for what it was had had begun to come after her, but while as she had climbed the pyre she had scatted much of the wood and now flaming debris lined the beach making it difficult for the Chosen in their long flammable robes to come after her.

“I’ll take him.” Pride was beside her, looping his strong arms beneath Bray’s knees. He lifted him like a small child and Ebony scurried after him as he walked away from the skirmish, knowing that Amber, Dal, Lex, and Panther would meet them at the designated spot when they could.

~*~*~

The trek back to the village took twice as long as usual, the small rescue party having to take the more difficult route and doubled back several times in an attempt to throw any following Chosen off their trail. If it had not been for Panther, Amber knew they would not have made it, but Panther knew the woods like the back of her hand and could lead them in the dead of night if need be.

“How is he?” Panther inquired as Amber strode beside her, struggling to keep up. “Will he live?”

Amber nodded, biting her lower lip. Though he had inhaled much smoke, he would live, none of the fire touching his actual flesh. Ebony had suffered far worse, but the former Loco refused to let anyone treat her until they reached the village.

“He may have injured his leg again, but he will be alright. Just not much use to the Rebels for a few weeks.” Amber explained, keeping her tone as flat and emotionless as possible. Amber knew that Panther had a strong dislike for Bray, though she did not know why. As far as Amber knew, Bray had done nothing to offend the strong willed Gaian.

“But it is not for the Rebels that you rescued him, is it?” Panther shot back, her neatly groomed eyebrow arched with suspicion.

“I don’t know what you mean.” Amber frowned, her heart still shaking inside her.

“You’re still in love with him. Admit it. Everyone can see it. Even Pride. The longer you lie to yourself the more you will hurt both of them.”

Amber bit down hard on her lower lip, the warm metallic taste of blood filling her mouth. The truth was, she didn’t know if she still loved Bray. At times she felt that she did, but whenever she was with him, talking to him, she was filled with disgust. He was a completely different man, a stranger to her, and a stranger she wasn’t particularly fond of. However, she could not deny the fluttering her heart whenever she thought of him.

“I don’t know what to do, Panther.” Amber agonized, knowing that the others following behind them would not hear their conversation. “I was deeply in love with Bray but now, seeing him again I’m just confused.”

“And why is that?” Panther challenged, pushing through the thick green foliage and holding it back for Amber so it would not slap in her face.

“He’s different, Panther.” Amber found herself admitting, realizing this was the first time she had voiced the words to anyone. “He’s no longer the man I left behind on Eagle Mountain.”

“Did you really expect him to stay the same, Eagle?” Panther turned towards her, her dark endless eyes studying her carefully. “People change. You have changed. Drastically I’m sure. You are no longer the woman he knew and loved.”

“I don’t feel like I’ve changed.” Amber frowned, folding her arms against her slim body. “Maybe my name, but not even that. Not really.”

“But you have.” Panther assured her. “You’re stronger now. But now seeing Bray and the others from your past you’re conflicted. You’re unsure of how to act so rather than being the Amber they knew and loved or the Eagle that we know and love, you are indecisive, frustrating everyone.”

Amber’s head shot up with Panther’s words, her eyes widening. “What do you mean, Panther?”

“I’m sorry. I meant not offense.” Panther hesitated for a moment, looking Amber in the eye. “But both of us, the Gaians and the Mall Rats, are waiting for you to step up and reclaim your role as leader. If I remember correctly, you were the leader of the Mall Rats, right?”

Amber nodded.

“And I know you are leader of the Gaians. So step up, Eagle. Amber. Lead us.”

Amber fell silent, contemplating Panther’s strong words. She was right, she realized. Since Bray had reentered her life she had been thrown into confusion. Her heart was with Pride one moment and with Bray the next. It was frustrating her and that frustration had leaked out into the way she led her tribe, her tribes.

Amber shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. She did not have time to worry about love. They were in a war – a war many of them might not make it back from. She could not allow herself any distractions, even if that distraction was Bray.

“You keep going ahead, Panther.” Amber instructed the dark haired beauty. “I’m going to talk to Dal for a bit.”

“The short one?”

“Yeah. The short one.” Amber grinned, nodding.

~*~*~

Pride let out a long and heavy sigh as he trudged through the forest, pushing back branches and leaves so they would not strike him as he passed. He was pleased that the rescue attempt had been successful, though he was not exactly happy with the fact that he had been paired with Lex and asked to drag the stretcher they had fashioned for Bray back to the village.

Pride was not overly fond of the short Mall Rat. Lex seemed to have a permanent chip on his shoulder and spoken endlessly about getting back to his mall to kick the Chosen out once and for all. Eagle, however, seemed to like him, so out of respect for her, Pride would tolerate him.

“So,” Lex stated suddenly, obviously trying to strike up a conversation with the silent Gaian. “You and Amber, eh?”

Pride frowned down at Lex, not liking his tone. “What about Eagle and I?” He stressed her Gaian name though somehow deep inside his gut he knew that she would not be Eagle for too much longer.

“You don’t really strike me as her type, you know.” Lex said casually. “But I guess out in the woods there isn’t too much selection? How long have you been sleeping together?”

Pride narrowed his eyes, feeling a cold rage build up inside him. He did not like this Mall Rat at all. He reminding him too much of what every Gaian felt the city tribes were like. The thought of having him live in his village irked him to no end.

“I don’t think that is any of your business, Lex.” Pride stated, venom dripping from his voice.

Lex chuckled, shaking his head. “You are an uptight one, aren’t you? I guess maybe that’s why you and Amber get along so well, eh?”

Pride rolled his eyes not dignifying Lex’s words with a response.

“You knew she and Bray were once a thing, right? Before she died or whatever on Eagle Mountain.” Lex prattled on. “Real serious too. Though they did have their fair share of fights. Everyone expected them to tie the knot when we got back to the city, but she disappeared and Bray moved on.”

Pride arched he eyebrow in interesting. “Moved on?”

“Yeah. Danni. Bray found her while looking for the antidote then brought her back to the mall. She couldn’t cure the virus, but she cured Bray’s broken heart right quick.” Lex quipped, laughing at his own joke.

“Where is Danni now?”

Lex shrugged his shoulders. “Your guess is as good as mine. Panther was saying that the tribe leaders were taken to a prison camp or something up near the mountains, but she doesn’t know if Danni was with them or where the prison is located.”

“We should try and find it.” Pride stated suddenly. “If we can free the tribe leaders we can rally the rest of the tribes to our side. We’ll overwhelm the Chosen in no time.”

“Have you ever worked with the city tribes?” Lex shook his head. “They’re a stubborn lot. You’ll find that even if you rescue their leaders they won’t exactly follow like sheep.”

“Right.” Pride nodded, a plan slowly formulating in the back of his mind. “Well, it was just a thought.”

“A good one too.” Lex complimented him. “But if you want to save the tribe leaders because you think that Bray will run back to Danni once she’s back, you’ve got another thing coming. Bray, he’s always loved Amber. Even when he was with Danni. Everyone knows that.”