Jude only inclined his head as they began to move into the forest. The smoldering remains of their Colony rose behind them and Eliza watched for a moment before they hurried into the woods. They walked for what felt like hours, the sludge drying on their clothes. The sun went down and it started to grow cold. Still, Eliza walked, a dogged perseverance in her eyes.
Sona looked tired, her arms crossed as she shivered occasionally. Vaughn had a stony face, simply keeping up with the rest of the group.
Finally, Jude spoke up. “Eliza, we should stop,” he said, his voice sharp. “We’ve made enough headway for now.” She paused, turning to look at the group before coming to a stop. “Fine. We need to get some wood for a fire.”
Jude began to gather some fallen leaves for beds and Eliza kneeled down, taking the butt of the gun and began to make a pit in the ground.
After a few minutes, Sona came back with an armful of sticks and branches and Vaughn returned with larger logs.
They had cleared out the area and Eliza wrote a symbol into the ground, muttering under her breath. "Indepete fuego, dynastia bendite achulous..." She gestured to the two with the sticks, indicating that they should lay them in the fire pit.
She opened her hands to the wood and whispered a spell, her eyes narrowed as an orange haze grew around the wood. There was a small spark before a flame grew, spreading to the gathered lumber. Moss caught fire, crinkling into black scribbles against the brown bark. After a moment, a sizeable fire had grown. Eliza dropped her hands, her lips pursed disapprovingly, and her enchantment glimmered through the fire's embers. No smoke seemed to rise from the flames, providing them with light and warmth, but removing the threat of them being from above. Jude spoke, his voice quiet. "We should all try to get some sleep..." "I'll keep watch," Eliza said, nodding in agreement.
She glanced up at the sky, her brow furrowed. "I estimate we walked about ten miles today," she said, looking back down at Sona. "Our destination is about 2000 miles inland. We have a long way to go."
She nodded slowly, quieting. Vaughn frowned. "We'll be able to get further tomorrow with the time we have in the morning."
She shot him a look, glaring, but Jude spoke up, his voice tired and cold. “What is your name, Enforcer?”
"Oh, you're not," Eliza said, her gaze incredulous. "You're not sure. I wonder why you're not sure. I was so sure that being paid to murder human beings for speaking would certainly encourage amicable introductions."
She wasn't done. "And the only reason you're still here," she continued, her voice still sharp and quiet, "is because you threatened to murder her." This was said with a point in Sona's direction. "So, go ahead, Enforcer. Ask her name. Look her in the eyes and ask her what her name is because you just aren't quite sure if you missed it or not."
Vaughn crossed his arms, a frown plastered on his face. "The option of letting her die was a weighing factor in your mind. I'm surprised you think I would have done it, especially after turning again the other Enforcers." Sona said nothing, only standing up and starting to walk. ".. I'm going to get more sticks."
