Emerson had called a meeting a few weeks later. Ellis sat on the couch in the common room. Aisling was leaning up next to the window. Lucy was sitting crosslegged on the floor.
Rory was sitting on a crate, her expression thoughtful. Blaise sat on the couch beside Ellis, her leg crossed over the other as she waited. Dion stood near Aisling, his arms crossed. Jaz sat by Lucy, having healed from his wound.
Ellis had his arm over Blaise's shoulder as they sat, waiting for Emerson to arrive. Aisling's arm brushed Dion's and she looked over at him thoughtfully. Lucy was teasing Jaz about something. The clan fell silent, though, as Emerson entered the room. He was wearing a blue button-up and brown trousers today, and he held a few papers in his hand, but he glanced up as he arrived. "Ah. Hello, everyone," he said, closing the door behind him. "Today, we'll be discussing the notion of dividing our clans once again and having the Empire return to the forest and Ville Clan remains within the city."
They looked up in confusion, a few frowns as well. "You're going back to the forest?" Blaise asked, her brows furrowing slightly. "Are we supposed to stay here?" said Jaz, looking over at Lucy with a hint of nervousness. Rory didn't say anything, staring at him blankly. And Dion was also quiet, looking thoughtful.
He raised a hand against their complaints, his brows furrowed. "Please, let me finish. This is just a discussion of the concept. Several of Empire's members have come up to me with the assumption that we would be returning to the forest. However, there are several factors at play here, the first being that winter is approaching. My clan is not experienced in the city. We have not endured winters here. We have lived in the forest and thrived in the colder months, but this is unfamiliar territory. This is my most pressing concern." He dropped his hand and frowned. "However, it would be incredibly ungrateful of Empire to leave Ville Clan in the winter with no leader after they have extended their hospitality to us so graciously. Besides that, I am well aware that many of you have made connections with each other. We have each other's backs. I am not inclined to break that bond."
He frowned before speaking again. "I am suggesting that Ville Clan returns with Empire to the forest for the winter and we reconvene in the spring to discuss living plans. But this is a group decision. I'd like to hear your thoughts."
Blaise frowned. "I don't really like this idea.." Jaz looked over at her momentarily before looking at Emerson. "I'm not too sure of it either, but.. I don't know. We haven't lived in the forest during winter and you the city. Someone is bound to have the tougher situation." Rory watched Emerson before looking away, a frown on her face.
"That's true," he agreed with a small frown. "But if we were to stay in the city, we would have to have an adjustment in leadership. I am not familiar enough with your city and winter survival to dictate the actions of both clans. And as we previously established, no one in Ville is comfortable with assuming that position." He sighed, shaking his head thoughtfully. "Perhaps it would just be better to split back up again. Have each clan resume their original habitat and remain on friendly terms."
Blaise looked over at Ellis, her expression worried. "Split apart again..?" Jaz shook his head slightly. "What about the bonds you were talking about?"
He raised an eyebrow, still looking conflicted. "I wish to maintain those bonds," he said flatly. "But my priority is the survival of the two clans. Winter is incredibly dangerous, especially if we're ill-prepared. I'd rather have us alive and separate that united and dead." Aisling frowned, tilting her head. "Emerson, and I don't mean this to be flippant, but how ineffective of a clan do you think we are?" Ellis spoke up, clearly sensing the tension in the air and attempting to diffuse it. "What if we just left it on an individual level? Let people decide if they'd like to stay or go? Empire would return to the forest and Ville can decide if they'd like to come with us or not?"
Emerson frowned, uncomfortable with this. "That still leaves the initial problem of people from Ville who are inexperienced and lower in numbers to survive the winter by themselves. That doesn't seem right. I still believe the initial proposal is the best. We all go to the forest and revisit the issue in the spring. That way, we keep the clans together, and we can ensure the survival in the clans."
Blaise frowned slightly, looking thoughtful. "Fine. We can go. But we will be revisiting the idea in the spring."
