Chapter Four

Lex stared down at the strange colored liquid in his earthenware mug that he had been given. The small Gaian girl, Robin, he believed her name was, had given it to him, telling him that it would strengthen him. It smelled pretty peculiar, but after all the odd concoctions Tai-San had made him drink over the past several months it was like drinking a well brewed coffee.

“So,” He frowned a little, swallowing a mouthful of the bitter liquid. He then looked up and began to study the young woman sitting directly across the table from him. The woman he had once known as Amber. But now everyone called her Eagle. She even dressed a bit like a bird.

“Yes?” Amber interrupted his thoughts, her dark eyes reflecting more strain and weary than he was sure she wanted to project.

“Let me get this straight.” Lex set his mug down, his gaze fixated on Amber as she shifted nervously under its intensity, “All this time, all these months you’ve just been hanging out with these tree huggers, coming into the city in disguise from time to time to make sure we hadn’t killed each other or something?”

“No.” Amber smiled ruefully at Lex’s description of the Eco tribe. “Not exactly. It’s a bit of a complicated story, but in short, I was really badly injured in the explosion. Pride found me and brought me back to his tribe. I was confused and disorientated. I don’t think I could have made it back to the city if I wanted to.”

“But you did go back.” Lex frowned. “Why?”

“Well, the first time I contacted anyone back at the mall was through Robin, who you’ve already met, and one of our injured Gaians named Manatee. You probably wouldn’t have remembered them, but they went back tot the mall looking for Ebony. See, the Gaians caught the virus just like the rest of the city tribes did, only we didn’t have the access to the antidote like they did.”

“But why Ebony?” Lex interrupted. “Why not Bray or something? I’m sure he would have been all happy to see you.” He smirked as he spoke.

Amber’s cheeks flushed and Lex could tell he had hit a sensitive spot. “It’s a bit complicated, Lex. I contacted Ebony because, well, because she already knew I was alive.”

Lex started, his gaze shooting over to where Ebony sat, her eyes downcast as she slowly traced the pattern of the wood grain with her finger. “You’re kidding me. How did she know?”

“She’s the reason I’m still alive today, Lex.” Amber stated quietly. “I would have died on the mountain if she hadn’t found me and brought me inside the observatory, sheltering me for the night.”

“You’re joking, right? You really think that viper saved your life?” Lex shook his head in disbelief. “More likely you regained consciousness right before she bashed your head in with a rock, finishing you off.”

“She saved me.” Amber repeated, her voice firm.

“Look, I don’t know what Ebony has told you, but she’s no reformed saint. She killed a guy. Spike. One of her own militia. She tried to kill Danni, Tai-San—“

“That’s enough, Lex.” Amber cut him off, her eyes flashing dangerously. “Ebony has been nothing but a friend to me and my tribe. I know you and the Mall Rats have had problems with her, but believe me when I tell you the problems have not always lien with her.”

“Right.” Lex quickly backed off, seeing that it would be of no use to argue with Amber. He knew enough about her to know that she was fiercely loyal. Her opinion of Ebony would not be swayed easily, and for some reason Lex found comfort in that fact.

“Anyway,” Amber continued on with her story as if there had never been an interruption. “Ebony helped us get the antidote. She even taught us how to make the formula so we wouldn’t have to keep going back and forth between our village and the city.”

“Oh really?” Lex turned his attention to Ebony, seeing her color at Amber’s revelation. “I thought Tai-San and Bray were the only ones who knew how to make it.”

“You thought wrong.” Amber returned. “Besides, does it really matter now? No one needs the antidote any longer.”

“That’s true.” Lex nodded, still noting it in the back of his head that somehow Ebony had managed to manipulate either Bray or Tai-San into teaching her how to make the antidote. “So why’d you keep coming back to the city if you didn’t need the antidote any longer?”

“The Chosen.” Amber stated her face grim. “We’ve been aware of their gathering forces for months now. We knew we could trust Ebony, so we’ve been in touch with her letting her know their movements, numbers, and any other important information we could gather about them.”

Lex felt something snap inside him as he listened to Amber’s words, as he thought of his wife, only a few days married, being held prisoner who knew where and it was all because Ebony had kept her knowledge of the Chosen from them. He turned an angry scowl in the shorter young woman’s direction, his lips turning up in an ugly sneer. “You knew about this? You knew the Chosen were going to attack?”

Ebony looked up, nodded slowly, her expression indifferent. “Yeah, so?”

“You could have warned us.” Lex felt the anger boil up inside. “But then I guess you wouldn’t, would you? You didn’t care about us. None of us. You were always out for yourselves, looking for the best offer—“

“She did warn you.” Amber cut him off, standing to her feet and glaring down at him. “Many times, but you wouldn’t listen. Bray wouldn’t listen. No one would. She tried, Lex. You cannot fault her for that.”

But Lex was not about to let it go, turning his wrath against Amber instead. “And what about you? You didn’t even care about your old mates enough to warn us yourself instead of going through someone you knew we wouldn’t trust?”

Amber pursed her lips, staring Lex down with cold certainty. “My tribe took a vote. They did not want to deal with the city tribes. We don’t trust them. Any of them. Ebony was the only one who proved that she was worthy of our trust.”

“Ebony?” Lex’s lips turned up in a scornful smile.

“Yes, Ebony.” Amber shot back. “Now, Lex. I suggest you stop hurtling accusations at your hosts otherwise you just might find yourself reunited with your tribe sooner than you thought.”

Lex glared at Amber, but realized he had pushed her too far. Swallowing his pride he nodded and sat down, refusing to meet Amber’s gaze. In some ways she was the exact same Amber he remembered from months ago and yet in others she was so different. She was stronger than before, but in a different way. A way that Lex found oddly attractive.

Lex quickly pushed aside those thoughts, turning his attention back to his tea. It had grown cold during their heated conversation, but he didn’t mind. He needed the distraction. He picked up the mug and drank the rest of the liquid, feeling it slide down his throat, hitting his stomach and instantly cooling his nerves.

“You should probably go back to the lodge and rest.” Amber commented finally, searching for Lex’s eyes and finally meeting them. “Tomorrow will be a big day.”

“Why is that?”

“Tomorrow,” Amber smiled a little, a strange smile that Lex did not recognize as Amber’s, “Starts the first day of the resistance against The Chosen.”

~*~*~

Bray’s mind danced in and out of consciousness for hours, or maybe even days. He couldn’t be sure. Everything was still a muddled and confusing haze, making no sense to him whatsoever, especially when he tried to piece everything together. He felt as if he was missing something. He kept grasping for it, but every time his fist would close around it, like quicksilver, it would slip through and become more elusive than ever.

He moaned softly, feeling his mind begin to wake up for at least the twelfth time. He felt as if someone was in the room with him, but he didn’t even want to try and figure out who. He blinked several times and tried to clear his throat.

Suddenly, as if appearing by a thought that had not yet formed in his head, he was presented with a mug of cool liquid. He hoped it was water. He took a long, satisfying sip of the refreshing drink, feeling his strength slowly begin to seep back into his bones.

“You awake for good this time?” A female voice not at all familiar to him sounded from less than a few feet away.

“I think so.” Bray swallowed hard, blinking several times trying to regain his vision. “Why can’t I see?”

“It’s night.” Came the simple response. “We don’t have lights like you do in your mall. We wake with the sun and sleep when it sets. You’ll get used to it. That is if you’re here long enough to.”

“Let me assure you, I won’t.” Bray frowned, trying to remember where exactly here was. “I need to get back to my tribe. To Danni—“ And then suddenly he broke off. Danni. Amber. Amber was alive? Or was that a dream. Some wonderful dream that he could only hope and pray was reality.

“Danni, she’s the dark haired one, correct?” The voice asked. “Wears a feather in her hair like she’s Pocahontas or something, right?”

Bray frowned. Danni did wear feathers in her hair quite often, but like Pocahontas? And then he remembered. She had changed her hairstyle recently, and yes, one of her feathers stuck up from the back of her head like the cartoon pictures of the Native Americans.

“Yes, that’s Danni.”

“She’s missing then.” The girl stated callously. “We’ve managed to learn the whereabouts of the rest of your tribe, the Mall Rats, but Danni is missing. We think The Guardian may have taken her elsewhere.”

“Danni.” Bray whispered, feeling his heart begin to crumble inside him. He had promised that he would always be there for her, there to protect her. But just like with Amber when it had come down to it he hadn’t been there and she was taken from him – just like Amber.

Bray felt tears begin to well up in his eyes and he quickly bit down on his lower lip to keep them back. He struggled for control of his emotions for several minutes, the strange girl in his room remaining silent as if she sensed this struggle.

Finally, he managed to find his voice again, though he knew it must be obvious to even the densest person that he had been crying. “W-Where am I?”

“You are at the Gaian village. We’re about half a day’s journey from your city.” The girl replied. “My name is Panther. Lucky me. I was on watch when you decided to wake up.”

Bray frowned, for the first time picking up on the animosity in Panther’s tone when she spoke to him. “You don’t like me, do you?” He realized.

“No, I don’t.” Panther stated dryly. “But my opinion doesn’t really matter right now. We are in war and you are our ally. Eagle has stated that you are to remain here at least until you are fully recovered.”

“Eagle.” Bray repeated, feeling as if that name was very important. “She’s your leader, correct?”

“Yes.” Panther replied. “And she wanted to talk to you as soon as you awoke, but somehow I don’t think she thought you would be waking up in the middle of the night. It can wait until morning.”

“Alright.” Bray sighed a little. He wanted to ask this strange woman who seemed to dislike him so strongly if she knew Amber, but he held his tongue. Amber couldn’t be alive. She died on Eagle Mountain so many months ago. And he had Danni now, right? Or at least had had her.

Bray closed his eyes shut, feeling another wash of emotion sweep over him. He rolled over onto his stomach and buried his head in his arm, trying to muffle the sound of his tears as Panther silently stood watch.

~*~*~

Pride watched as the moon slowly rose higher and higher in the night sky, a calm reminder that no matter what happened around him some things would always stay the same. When his parents died with the virus the moon still rose, the sun still set. When he met Amber, his Eagle, the love of his life, the moon still rose and the sun still set. And now that he felt like he was losing Eagle the moon continued to rise, reminding him that life did go on.

He had not seen much of her since the Chosen attack, unless he counted during the war councils, but he didn’t. She was not his Amber during those meetings. She was calm, collected and in control. Issuing orders and planning strategies to assist them in their fight against the Chosen.

Whenever Eagle was not involved in a war meeting she was either sleeping or spending time with Ebony, or occasionally with Lex, though Lex had not been conscious for more than a few days. She did not, however, spend any time by Bray’s beside, a fact that worried Pride far more than it comforted him.

Pride closed his eyes, feeling the cool evening breeze wash over him, cleansing him from his tormented thoughts. He tried to imagine how he would react if Eagle told him that she did not love him any longer, that it was Bray she truly loved. Would he fight for her? Would he refuse to release her from her commitment? Pride shook his head. No. He would do whatever she asked of him. He had to. He loved her.

“Hey there handsome.” Pride felt a warm pair of arms encircle his waist. “Where’ve you been hiding away?”

Pride slowly turned around, a smile breaking across his face. “Eagle.” He breathed, his arms tightening around her. “You look so beautiful tonight.”

Eagle looked down, her cheeks coloring. “I’ve missed you.” She finally said, looking back at him, her eyes meeting his. “Everything has been so crazy around here lately... Somehow you and I have sort of lost one another in the hub bub.”

“I noticed.” Pride tried to appear nonchalant, but he knew Eagle could see straight through his cool demeanor if she so chose.

“Panther told me Bray’s fever broke.” Eagle commented quietly. “He didn’t mention me. She thinks he may have forgotten all about the other day.”

“I see.” Pride frowned, recalling how difficult it had been for Eagle going into Hawk’s old lodge to face her past. He had hoped she would have chosen him to go in there with her, but she hadn’t. She had taken Ebony. He liked to pretend that hadn’t hurt.

“Is something wrong, Pride?”

Pride shook his head, contemplating whether or not to tell her that since the Mall Rats had arrived in the camp he had felt as if a huge canyon had grown between them. But he wouldn’t tell her that. He couldn’t. “I… No, Eagle. Nothing is wrong. I just miss you.”

A smile turned up the corners of Eagle’s lips as she snuggled deeper into Pride’s embrace. “I need you so much, Pride.” She murmured softly, wriggling further into his arms.

‘No you don’t, Eagle. You don’t need anyone.’ His thoughts spoke to him, though he did not say the words allowed.

“Eagle,” He said finally, putting a small distance between them so he could stare into her dark brown eyes. “Spend the night with me?”

Eagle stared at him, obviously taken off guard by his request. “I, but, well, where?” She stammered, flustered. “Hawk is in your lodge and Ebony is in mine…”

“Out here, under the stars.” Pride whispered huskily, a warmth spreading through him. He wanted her. He wanted her badly. He had wanted her since the moment he laid eyes on her, and somehow he knew that if he did not claim her as his own soon he would lose her forever. “Haven’t you ever wanted to make love under the stars?”

Eagle blushed, her head ducking. “Y-yes, I have, Pride.” She murmured softly, “But not like this. The timing, its just off, wouldn’t you say?”

Pride felt keen disappointment wash over him as he studied her face thoughtfully. He had to fight his most primal urge to grab her and drag her off to their meadow, having his way with her, apologizing later. But he did fight, and instead answered her in as smooth of voice as he could manage. “You’re right, Eagle. The timing is all wrong.”

“Are you sure?” She looked at him, a worried expression on her face.

“Yeah.” He forced a thin smile. “Goodnight, Eagle. I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Goodnight, Pride.” Eagle called after him as he walked away. He hadn’t meant to sound so abrupt with her, but it was so hard. Hard because he realized he was losing her and he didn’t even know to who.