The Wastelands

"You're really are that dumb to do the same thing over and over again, aren't you?" Captain Terrance glared at Lilia while she stood at attention. "You're disregarding your own safety, and your inability to ask for help are problems that you need to reflect on."

'However, because it's quicker that way,' Lilia had at least enough sense not to say it out loud.

He continued lecturing her. "I knew that you were reckless, but this…" The Captain just tsk, shaking his head. "The way you're going, you're going get yourself killed one of these days."

She flinched; her eyes moved to Heather, who was glaring at her. *I'm going tell Bryson on you, or better yet, Shadow.*

Lilia internally shuddered, but she knew that she deserved it. Lilia knew in the back of her mind that her life wasn't just her own, though she couldn't leave the boy hanging like that.

*You're too soft,* Heather replied. *I would have just left him there. If it was Daniel or Katy, sure, but for him? He's just a useless lump.*

*Then ruin the diplomacy that the Headmistress was trying to create?* Lilia questioned. That wasn't the first thing Lilia thought of when she decided to rescue him. Her instincts just drove her to save Conner. However, she wasn't going to tell Heather that, though. *Terran would have helped him.*

*He would, but he at least would know his limitations and be smart about it,* Heather refuted back. *Though I do see your point.*

Lilia could help but sigh; if even Heather was chewing her out, maybe she went too far.

"In hindsight, you showed initiation and an ability to think on your feet. You accessed the situation correctly, and you acted." The Captain just sighed. "I just don't know what to do with you."

Lilia couldn't believe her ears; was he complimenting her? "Then…"

He gave Lilia a hard look, and she had to swallow her words. "It just means that I need to think more on what to do with you, but I see let's of cleanup and dish scrubbing in your future. You're a loose cannon, and I hate loose cannons."

"Yes, Sir."

"Dismissed! But don't go too far." Captain Terrance warned, seeing Terran approaching.

"Yes, Sir."

Lilia moved to sit next to Heather, and Heather bumped her shoulder.

"How is he?" The Captain asked.

"Most of his wounds are superficial, except for the wound on his leg. Though apart from some discomfort, I don't foresee it hindering him." Terran stated.

"Good," He nodded.

"Ha, you're not thinking of continuing, are you?" Miss. Duncan argued, fiddling with her glasses. "We should go back and get the proper treatment."

"Mss. Duncan, this not a field trip. Getting injured is normal for the Trials. It just one more challenge to undertake," Captain Terrance said bluntly.

"But they're not Compound students." Miss Duncan stated.

"Ha, if they want to participate in the Trials, then why should I treat them any differently," he reflected. "Besides, Camp 2 is closer. There should be enough supplies there."

The teacher opened her mouth to argue some more but seemed to think better of it. "Fine," she huffed out. "But my top priority is to keep my students safe."

"Then have more sense than take them out in the middle of the Wasteland," Captain Terrance sneered out.

"Hmph." As she crossed her arms in anger.

"You bastard!" A voice called out; then Conner slammed into Daniel. "You tried to kill me!"

Conner tried to punch Daniel, but he guarded with his forearm. "What the hell, man!"

Lilia started to get up, but there was a tug on her arm. She looked back to see Heather shaking her head, and Lilia settled back down again.

"Conner, stop it! Please!" Tessa cried out.

He wouldn't stop though, sooner or later, they both would tumble out of the tree shelter.

Tyson and the Captain both grabbed Conner and dragged him off Daniel.

"Hay boy, enough is enough," Captain Terrance growled out.

"Conner, don't be foolish," Tyson added.

"He did it. It had to be him!" Conner shouted as he struggled. "Get off of me, get off! Get off!"

Suddenly a needle slammed into his neck. "I rather not use this. But the way you're going. You're going to injure yourself more." Terran stated.

"What did you do?" Conners words slowed into a slur, but he was staying awake.

"It's just a mild sedative. It's not even enough to put you to sleep." Terran said. When everyone just stared at him, his confidence wavered. "Wasn't I not supposed to do that?"

"No, Mr. Collins." Captain Terrance, as he handed Conner over to Tyson. "You did the right thing. Just surprised, that's all. Good work."

"Yes, Sir."

"Mr. Sinclair, what happened?" The Captain asked.

Daniel swallowed. "Um, I caught Conner…" The Captain gave Daniel a hard look. "Um, Mr. Tanners, trying to sneak down the ladder. I told him, no, saying it's against the rules."

"And…" Captain Terrance prompted.

"And nothing, he left angry, and I thought it was the end of it," Daniel stated. "Then maybe twenty minutes later I found him like that,"

"No, that's got to be a lie," Conner denied.

"Then tell me something," the Captain pondered. "Why was the ladder hanging from the denser side of the forest instead of facing the pathway? Hmm."

"But…"

The Captain leaned over him. "Be grateful that you got tangled up, it saved your life, but by your actions, you put our Scout at risk. Someone detrimental to our survival."

"But it was my decision," Lilia piped up; the Captain swung his head with a glare. Making Lilia swallowed her words.

*Idiot, he Is saying that for your sake,* Sil advised sternly.

"I know," Lilia whispered.

Heather looked up, confused. "No what."

Lilia smiled. "Never mind." Then she replied telepathically to Heather. "Sil's telling me off again."

"Oh," nodding her head, "Well, you deserved it."

Lilia just rolled her eyes at that.

"And Mr. Sinclair, he was on your side. You should have caught him before it got that bad," Captain Terrance chided. "So for punishment, since Miss. Spencer has scouting duties. You both are going to help her with cleanup duties and dish scrubbing." When Conner was about to protest. "Plus, night watch duties."

"Yes, Sir," Daniel responded.

"Mr. Tanners." The Captain warned when the boy didn't reply right away.

"Yes, Sir." Conner reluctantly answered after he was prompted.

Katy came up. "The rain stopped, Sir."

"Did it, Mss. Marrow?" Captain Terrance asked. "Then I think none of us is getting any more sleep tonight." As he walked away.

"Huh? What does that mean?" Tessa asked, confused.

"It means that you are about to see one of the many secrets of the Wastelands," Katy said with a smile.

Terran was staring back at Lilia, going over what she told him and Heather earlier.

***

"I might have found something odd while I was rescuing Conner," Lilia piped up.

"What, what, what?" Heather asked while bouncing all over the place.

"I found that the ladder had frost where the ladder had broken apart," Lilia revealed. "Though it might be nothing."

"Hmm, that is strange," Terran asked. "But it could be several reasons why frost had developed."

"I know," Lilia sighed. "But what if there is another reason?"

"You mean there might be another Lumeye," Heather asked, her eyes wide.

"I don't know that seemed a little farfetched." Terran was conflicted. "Why would a Lumeye be here of all places.

"And why go after Conner." Lilia nodded her head in agreement but replied, "I don't know, but keep your eyes peeled just in case."

"Agreed." The twin said together.

***

Terran was still thinking it over even now, and he still doesn't want to think that there might be another Lumeye nearby. Hopefully

"Ha, what are you staring at?" Tessa's voices broke into his thoughts.

He quickly diverted her eyes and responded automatically, "Nothing."

"Hmm," Tessa sounded doubtful, but she sat by Terran with a sigh. "May I ask you something."

He could feel blush forming on his cheeks. "Um, sure, anything?"

"What's between…" Then she shook her head. "Never mind. Um, I mean, why didn't you shoot those wolves?"

"Oh, basically hunting at night is not a great idea. Blood will lead to other predators. It could get really messy very easily." Terran replied. "if you're in a sticky situation, and it's night, it's best to find any other solution than that."

"Good to know." Tessa shivered a little. "Never do anything at night. Got it."

"I don't know," Terran smiled shyly at Tessa. "There is something at night that's worth seeing."

"Oh, you mean what Katy was talking about," Tessa guessed.

"That too." Terran rushed out, his blush deepened. He couldn't believe that he just said that. He was such a dummy.

He heard Heather coughing. "Corny."

Terran glared at his twin before turning back to Tessa. "Um, what I meant was do you want to watch it with me?"

"Are you sure there's no one else you rather asked," Tessa's eyes moved to the side, and Terran followed it, and all he could see was Lilia? Still sleeping away.

He looked back at Tessa. "Who?" Tilting his head in confusion.

"Never mind, of course, I'll watch it with you," Tessa replied.

Terran's smile widened. "Great! It should come soon."

"Oh, it's coming!" Katy exclaimed excitedly.

"Excited, are we?" Daniel noted, amused.

Katy glared at him. "Since I was forced to come out here, can't I enjoy something for once."

"No, No, just wondering why," Daniel defended.

"Hey, pretty things are still pretty," Katy answered with a huff.

The voices faded as a shining glow slowly appeared; it spread out above the treeline like a never-ending ocean. A screeching sound resounding as Terran spotted Sil diving into the layer like it was actually was an ocean, leaving streaks in his tracks.

"Pretty," Tessa whispered, her eyes widened in wonder.

"Just wait," Terran whispered back.

Suddenly, a rippling wave fell and hit the layer with a brightly coloured splash before merging into one.

Terran felt Tessa jump beside him. "What was that?"

"They were the Ripples," Terran explained. Seeing how pale Tessa had gone, he tried to reassure her. "Oh, no, they're not going to fall on us or anything." Terran pointed up to the layer. "That layer protects us from them."

"Really?" Tessa seemed unsure. Then her face lightened up with realization. "Like how the bubbles protect the Cities."

"Yeah, kind of like that," Terran agreed. "So, there's nothing to worry about. The layer's always there. It's just the only time you can see it is at night after a rainstorm,"

Tessa sighed. "It's just I never been this close to the Ripples before. In fact, the last time I heard Ripples falling was maybe four or five years ago."

'Around the time the Ripples hit Lilia's neighbourhood,' Terran thought, giving a sideways glance at Lilia, who now had Sil perched beside her.

"Believe me, though, less frequent, the Ripples do fall," Katy interrupted, bitterness laced her voice.

Beside her, Daniel nodded his head in agreement.

"Oh," Tessa said, in a thoughtful manner.

"Are you okay?" Terran was worried that he somehow upset her because of how depressing it got, all of a sudden.

"Yes, I'm fine, just a lot to think about, is all," Tessa answered. Then she began to snuggle into his side as another Ripple hit the layer, lighting up the sky once again.