A few days later, a few people were standing around a campfire late at night. This wasn't uncommon in the clan, and bonfires on the roof was a time to relax and catch up about the daily events. Tonight, Jaz and Blaise stood by the flames, accompanied by a few others who were chatting idly. The cast shadows were soft, and all was calm. "Do you ever wonder what it was like for them living in the forest?" Blaise asked, her arms crossed not unkindly. "It seems like it would be so different from living here." Jaz looked thoughtful, as if contemplating the question. "I've heard from a few people what it was like. Good things, apparently. I heard they lived near a river, or something, and there was fireflies. It sounds peaceful." "Mm," she murmured, frowning slightly. "It's a shame they had to leave. That was their home. I wish there was something we could do." Jaz knelt down, scratching his chin before speaking lowly. "There is something we could do, but it would take time." She looked down at him incredulously. "You're not suggesting..? That's crazy. They would never agree to it anyways." "They don't have to know," he said, looking up at her with a serious expression. "We would need a few people. A sneak attack. We could take me, Dion, Beverly, Jason, and a few others as the fighters. You're good with maps, so you could scout it out. Rory could come in case anything goes wrong, since she's the medic. We have bows and knives, everything we could use to get in quick and quietly." "Well.. We would have to know how many people they have.. Then we could prepare.." She went quiet, watching the fire for a long moment. "You really want to do this?" "Like you said, it's their home. Not only that, but we do not need another nearby threat like that." "..Alright."
The small group gathered. They had discussed what they were potentially getting into and what the risk was. They would attack in the dead of night. There were a few guards, as Blaise had discovered and marked down their positions. Attacking at night would allow the silence to their advantage, taking out the guards and moving to the rooms where the rest would be sleeping. There was also a crude map of the inside, which was much less certain as Blaise had only used her knowledge of what she was told, since she had never been inside herself. "Is everything clear?" Blaise asked, assuming the position as the director of the plan, Jaz acting as second in command. "We all know where we art supposed to be?" "Yes," Dion said, watching the group with serious eyes as he spoke in a hushed voice. "I've gathered the bows and daggers, and made more arrows and sharpened the blades. Weapons are ready to go." Blaise nodded, turning to the next person, which happened to be Beverly, a small, tough-looking girl with auburn hair cut short. "I made us some camouflage and dark clothes, so that should help us sneak in." "I helped Rory gather any herbs or medical supplies we would need," added another young man named Jason, who had a scar on his cheek and scruffy, brown hair. A few other chimed in as well, declaring their aids to the group. gathering ammo, supplies, traps, and the creation of a few crude bombs as well. "We're ready then," Jaz said, looking around at the medium sized group. "And no one knows but us." Blaise nodded, looking down at the maps. "We're ready. Everyone knows where they will be. We will attack tomorrow night. Be ready. Get some sleep." * * * The night had come. It was late when they gathered, and made their way to the hijacked base in the woods. They moved quickly and silently, each carrying their own rounds of weapons. Even Rory was equipped with a blade and her medical supplies, in case it had to come to that. They approached the hideout, circling around it and setting traps for any potential runners. Dion climbed a tree, gaining a vantage point. He took out it bow and armed it with an arrow, taking a breath and drawing. He let loose of the string, and the arrow soared before striking a guard right in the neck, another member of the team taking down the one next to him. That was two. The one guard at the other entrance was taken down as well, leaving it open. Dion stayed in his position, making sure nothing happened as the team crept inside. It went well. Disposing of any threats that they came across. Dion was listening from the outside. It was silent for a while before a gunshot rang out. Then many. The sound of the firing lessened, until there was silence again.
Lucy stirred awake, murmuring sleepily as she sat up, looking around the empty workshop. "Jaz...?" * * * Aisling woke, frozen in fear as she stared up at the ceiling. Desperate for comfort, she turned towards Dion's space, her fingers curled against the mattress. Upon feeling the empty coldness, she sat up suddenly, standing up and looking around the room. * * * Ellis had been drifting in and out of sleep for a few hours. When he woke once again, he found his bed frighteningly empty of a certain black-haired girl. He sat up, blinking blearily. "Blaisey? Are you here?" * * * Emerson reached for his companion, his eyes still closed. Upon feeling her absence, he shot up immediately, looking down in confusion before standing up, looking out the window.
They would all find the same thing; their rooms absent of their partners and not a trace of them. In Blaise's room, however, there would be a map careless discarded on her desk. It was a map of the forest surrounding the base, a hint to where they had gone. *** At the base, Jason came out, signalling to Dion who came down, expecting to be told what happened. The rest had been eliminated with the problems. A few scratches and bruises, except.. Blaise. Someone had attacked her from behind, driving a knife into her side. Dion paled rushing inside.
They met each other, wandering through the building in confusion. "They're gone," Emerson said, gritting his teeth. "They all left." "Where would they have gone, though?" Lucy asked tearfully. "Are they... is their clan seceding from us or something?" Ellis emerged from Blaise's room, frowning. "I found this map that Blaise made," he said, his voice low. "It's back at our original campgrounds. By... the Plaguer Camp." Aisling paled and she jerked her head, turning on her heel. "Those *squee!*ing idiots. Come on. I'll get the car." * * * They approached the area, screeching to a halt as they got close enough. All four of them emerged from their seats and hurried to the area, Aisling taking the lead and Emerson guarding the back.
The group was out front. Dion was supporting Blaise, who had one hand on her side and the other pointing. Despite her injury, she was still ordering them around as they rid the base of the bodies. No one had noticed the arrival of the others yet.
There was a silence before Ellis called out in fear and helplessness, coming over to her. "Blaise!" Emerson's voice was that low, deadly tone that gave everyone pause, the one that suggested an eruption of his temper was imminent. "What... were you thinking?"
She jumped, turning to him in surprise. "Ellis! Don't worry, I'm okay!" Most people looked at Emerson with a bit of fear. Rory approached him. There was blood on her hands and her expression was hard.
"You have a giant gash in your side and there's Plague everywhere. Of course you're not okay," he said worriedly. Emerson looked down at her, but there was no warmth in his gaze as he considered her. "You could have died," he said sharply. "What were you thinking?" Aisling's gaze settled on Dion, but she also looked furious, her brows furrowed in disappointment. Lucy found Jaz in the crowd and came up to him, obviously terrified. "Oh my God, Jaz. Are you okay? Are you hurt?"
She frowned, hesitating. "I'm sorry." Rory watched him, her hands turned to fists and she couldn't reply. Rather turning away from him and wiping her hands off. Dion hesitated, looking down. Her intense gaze made him realize his mistakes. Jaz looked at her, taking her hand gently. He had a few cuts, but nothing more. "I'm okay, don't worry."
He cupped her jaw worriedly before looking over his shoulder. "Aisling, can you drive her back? She needs proper medical aid immediately." "Yeah," she said sharply, her gaze moving from Dion to Ellis. "I got it." Emerson glared at the group fiercely. "You could have all been exposed to Plague," he said sharply. "You could be putting your entire clan in danger. You should all be ashamed of yourselves." Lucy looked incredibly relieved, taking a shaky breath and hugging him, burying her face in his chest. "Don't do anything like that ever again. Please."
Blaise went with Aisling, her brows furrowed as she paused to look at Emerson. "It was my idea. If you deem punishment the best option then it should be mine." Jaz nodded, pulling away gently. "I won't. Let me get my things," he said, stepping off to the side and retrieving his bag from the ground. There was the sound of a twig snapping. Then a gunshot.
They all turned that the direction the shot came from in shock. Emerson pulled Rory behind him instinctively at the sound and Ellis jerked his head up, looking immediately at Blaise to make sure she hadn't been shot.
It was one of the guards. He had apparently been absent during the whole ordeal. A gun was in his trembling hands. Everyone seemed fine at first, except Jaz was on his knees, hands to his stomach.
The whole camp went silent before there was movement. Emerson started towards the man, but a bang stopped him in their tracks as the bullet went through the guard's heart. Lucy had wrenched the gun out of Aisling's hands and shot the man instantly, dropping the gun and running over to Jaz. "Jaz," she said breathlessly, her eyes filled with tears, putting pressure on the wound. "Jaz? Jaz. Listen to me, okay? Stay awake. It's so important that you stay awake right now. Rory?! Rory, help me! Jaz, it's me. It's me."
Rory's face paled and she rushed past Emerson, going over to Jaz as she tried to control the bleeding. She didn't say anything. She couldn't. But they needed to get back to the camp.
Aisling got Blaise into the car and Lucy helped Jaz getting into the car. "Jaz, talk to me," she said, holding pressure on the wound. "Please? Talk to me."
