The Wastelands

Chapter 57 - 21

"So you Nomads are the ones behind this," Captain Terrance growled at the two hooded Nomads dressed in orange and blue. They both were standing inside of the gated area like they were waiting for them. "What did you do to my students." He stepped in front of everyone. Putting his body between them and the Nomads.

Lilia was kind of impressed by his actions.

"Nothing, they're our guest for the time being." the Nomad woman said. Her voice was full of confidence. She stepped forward but stopped when the Captain tensed up. She held her arms out, showing him that she wasn't unarmed. "See, I have no weapons."

"July." The Nomad man warned. "We shouldn't trust them."

July turned her head to the side. "I wouldn't be here in the first place if it weren't for you, Kay. So be quiet."

Kay turned away, but he didn't look happy about it, but some things became more apparent. 'So he was the one I chased in the woods!'

Lilia didn't care about that. Her focus was still on the distortion. "Sir." Her voice was urgent.

"I know," he responded. "But I need some answers first. So you're telling me that you people kidnapped my students and are the cause of distortions."

"Distortion?" Oh," July looked straight at Lilia. "Must have a talented Scout. No wonder." She gave a sideways look at Kay. "Sorry to say that we aren't the cause of the distortion. In fact, we were running from it and decided to pick up your people on the way. We were about to do the same for you but…" She turned to Kay.

"Your group is odd," Kay said, with a little bit of hostility. "For some reason, we couldn't approach. So we observed instead. If it were up to me, we would have left a long time ago."

"Why didn't you?" Katy blurted out, but her eyes widened when the Captain gave her a sharp look. "I'm sorry, Sir."

"It's fine," Captain Terrance stated as he turned back to the Nomads. "It's a good question."

The Nomads exchanged a look. "Because some barrier blocks us off. Plus, the river was flooded. Someones is taking a lot of effort to make you all stay." July replied.

"Lilia, do you think?" Terran send to her.

"I know." Lilia sends back. It sounds like something a Lumeye would do. Though the Nomad could be lying, still, there was a ring of truth in their words.

Tessa's hands were trembling as she whispered to Tyson. "Tyson…"

Tyson 'Shhed' her.

"It sounds like bull to me." Captain Terrance was like a dog chasing after a bone.

July just sighed heavily. "I don't really think you have a choice. Those distortions are getting closer, and this is the only safe place. So we can be good boys and girls and share."

"I don't trust you." Captain Terrance. Sneered.

"I don't care," July responded sweetly. "Do we have a deal or not? Or do we wait here, staring at each other?"

There was a long pause. "Fine." He was reluctant. "but I can't work with anyone if I don't know your faces."

They nodded at each other then pulled down their hoodies. Lilia couldn't help but stare. They both had dark skin, but the Vine was covering part of their faces. The Vine was framing Kay's face more. At the same time, July's was more aggressive. Both had their dark hair partly shaved off to show off the markings more.

Although a part of Kay's right ear was cut off, and one of July's eyes was milky-white with scarring around it. If anything, the war-wounds made them look more enhancing… especially July.

'She's gorgeous! Stop hormones stop now; it's not the time.' Lilia sneaked another peak, and July caught her and gave Liia a wink. 'Damnit!'

The Captain warned, "You'll follow my orders, no exceptions."

July mocked saluted. "Aye, aye, sir." She put her arms around Kay. "And you won't regret it. My Cousin here is a pretty good Scout, and I'm a half-way decent fighter." Kay just rolled his eyes. "But may I ask one thing?"

"What." Captain Terrance's tone was abrupt.

"Where did that older woman go?"

Compound

"Are these good?" Stella asked, but the person she was with didn't answer. In fact, that person was looking the other way. "Rachel, is everything all right?"

"What?" Rachel whipped her head to stare down at Stella. "Oh, I'm sorry I just thought I saw C.h.e.s.terfield arguing with someone." She shook her head. "Nevermind, I just can't help it sometimes. What did you find?"

Stella held up a pair of hairbands with feathers and cat paws. "Aren't they cute? They'll be perfect for Lillie, don't you think." Va meowed in her other arm. "Do you think it's a good present, Va?" She baby talked to the spotted cat.

On the other hand, Va looked like she would roll her eyes if she could, but she tolerated the girl's rough handling.

Rachel reached out to pat the poor thing and promised. "Good work. I'll give you a treat after this." The cat seemed to like that idea and purred. "I think it's nice," Rachel said, referring to the hairbands.

Stella looked at them thoughtfully before nodding her head. "Yes, this is good." She turned to the attendant.

Rachel looked around. 'Now what would Lilia like?' But she sighed. 'I really don't know, not anymore.'

The Compound looked different with caravan setting up shop. There were a lot of trucks and stands all over the place. People were going from one Stand to the next and just as chaotic. It was exactly like one of those old-fashioned marketplaces that Rachel on seen in the Lower parts of Towa, and just as hectic.

Patrolling the caravan certainly kept her busy, and Rachel only had today to hang out with Stella and pick out a present for Lilia's birthday. Which was regrettable; she wanted to spend more time with the small girl, to get to know her all over again and maybe through her Lilia, but Stella didn't seem to mind.

In fact, Stella seemed really happy, but Rachel couldn't help but notice the deep sadness in the depths of the young girl's eyes.

Something caught Rachel's eye in the next Stand over, and she instinctively moved over to get a closer look.

"Interested." The attention asked.

"Yes," Rachel blurted out but instantly second-guessing herself. Maybe she doesn't like them anymore. Although despite her doubts, she found herself handing over the money.

"Thank you for your purchase." Holding out the item.

"Ha, Stella!" Rachel turned around, but the girl wasn't beside her, her gaze swept the crowd, hoping to find the more petite body, but the girl was nowhere to be found. Worry edged on her brow.

'No, don't panic.' Stella must have just gotten lost. Even still, my instincts are screaming at me that something is wrong.

Rachel spoke to the Attendant. "Did you happen to see a brown-haired girl? She was wearing glasses and had a cat in her arms?"

"No, I'm sorry." The Attendant denied.

She closed her eyes for a second then opened them. "Okay, can you do me a favour?" Taking out a pen and a piece of paper and writing down a short. "Can you send my purchase with this note to Headmistress Weatherly's assistant?"

"It's possible, but it'll cost extra."

"Of course." Practically throwing some more money down and running to the Stand where she saw Stella. "Excuse me, did you know where a girl holding a cat-headed off too?" Rachel asked. "She bought some headbands earlier?"

"Oh, such a cute child, I think she went that way." Pointing to the left.

"Thank you." Before spending that way. Looking around, trying to find Stella, calling out her name, becoming more frantic.

Rachel passed by some students and happened to overhear them. "Did you hear that sound a moment ago?" One said.

"Yeah, sounded like a screeching cat. It kind of startling." Another responded. "Someone must have stepped on its tail or something."

"Poor thing hopes it's okay."

Rachel stopped. "Must be Va," she whispered. She didn't like what she just heard, but at least they still may be nearby.

Suddenly she spotted something shiny on the ground, just within the circle of trucks.

As she got closer, Rachel picked up the all too familiar pair of glasses. "This is…" A cl.i.c.k.i.n.g sound resonating. She tensed and slowly looked up to find a man holding a gun to Stella's tear-streaked face. They both were standing in the truck's bed. The man had cat claws down his forearms and the side of his face. There was no Va sign, but behind them was a bag, seeing how the bag moved slowly up and down. Breathing.

'Va must be in there, but I don't know how hurt she is. There's undoubtedly fresh blood on the bag. Is it hers? Probably. But judging by the claw marks, she had put up quite a fight.'

The man holding the gun wasn't alone as two others more stepped out. "Drop your weapons and come quietly." With no other choice, she dropped her weapons and stepped forward, just as the path of her escape closed behind her.

Camp 2

Lilia walked further into camp and placed her rucksack down. Beyond the gate was smaller than it looked from the outside. Only one building stood at the centre, and beyond that, the ruined City. The utopia of salvage.

Captain Terrance took charge of organizing the search party for the teacher and reinforcing the gated area. Lilia ignored it all, and like a dream, she moves further and further until she stood at the edge of a cliff with tall buildings towering below. The experience feels like diving to the bottom of the sea and seeing a shipwreck for the first time. It seemed so surreal.

Lilia's heightened eyes sharpened as she saw movement on the streets below. She moved closer to get a better look. Could it be an animal? No, they were more human-like, and it wasn't the only one.

*Lilia!* Sil interrupted, but his voice sounded wrong. She spotted him flying, but he suddenly dropped before catching himself. He seemed so sluggish.

Suddenly a wave of dizziness overtook Lilia. And she saw something.

'The feeling of being held.'

'A familiar voice.' "Stella," Lilia whispered.

'Then hands grabbing, and a cry cut short.'

'Jumping with claws out. Claws?' Va? 'Then something pricked into my neck.'

'No! Need to keep fighting. Need to save…' Darkness.

Lilia felt the sensation of being rushed back into her body, but the grogginess remained. She saw Sil attempting but failing to fly. Lilia called out, but her voice sounded so disconnected. "Sil! He's falling." Not realizing she, too, was falling into the ruined city below.

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