City Drop, Part 1
The light was flipped on. She rolled to her side and watched, as Dill Sargent Quartermain stepped inside her room. She was about to attack, but stopped as she spoke.
“Wake up call, get ready in, ten. City drop awaits”
And with that step out of the room.
She was still angry towards Quartermain and her action toward Scylla and herself. She wondered if she had the power to investigate people like her and arrest them. Life would be much easier for others like her. But right now she was glad she wasn’t going to be there at City drop. Well she crossed her fingers for that to happen.
As her mind wondered. Tally groans and sits up, grubbing her tried eyes. Abigail rolls over to her side but doesn't move to get up, in a hurry.
“I know I said, we should be procured. I forgot to add early morning training to that list.”
That good Raelle to chuckle. Tally just climbed down but didn't really take in what Abigail said. Still too tired to make any response. Both Raelle and Abigail knew this by now. So reluctantly Abigail gets up.
They all quickly get dressed into their uniform. Both Tally and Abigail in their dark blue uniform and black hood. While Abigail helped Tally with her hood.
Raelle pulled up her dark grey trousers, and buttoned them closed, her Cession uniform. Once she was done, she added her jacket. Her dark Grey jacket with brown highlights. And her own black hood that was attracted to her jacket. Instead of it being a separate piece.
She then sat down and pulled her black boots on. Both her unit mates are doing the same thing. Once there all were done. They stand together.
“We got this,” Abigail says.
“We have been trained for this,” she continued.
“Together we will get through this. As one as a unit”
Raelle looked at them, “I made you guys something”
Abigail and Tally looked at each of them and then back at Raelle and spoke together. “Really, let's see”
Raelle stepped away and opened her cabinet that was beside her bed. And pulled out three boxes. And handed them to Tally and Abigail. And the third placed in her bag. As she stood back up she started playing with her ring on her index finger a little, nervous about their reactions. There both carefully opened them and inside was charmed. Battle charms. Tally smiles and thanks Raelle. While Abigail just stares at the charm.
Abigail removes her one, it was a small bell with a blue and red ridden. That ties the safety pin on the back. Just above the bell were three white balls also known as pearls. Just like the once on Chavel wedding dress she died bringing tears to her eyes.
Tally also opened her, inside was a large marble. It was just smaller than an old British penny. Tally removed the marble and finally noticed the three small air bubbles inside. There was a small black bag inside as well. Which Tally just looked at a little confused not really putting two and two together, still early for her, which only made want to chuckle but she held back and said,
“That Bag is so you can attach your marble to your belt.”
Tally looks at her for a second, smiles and rushes over to her and hugs her tightly.
“Thank you”.
"It's nothing, I have one. I just wanted to make sure you both were protected"
Abigail moves closer to Raelle and places her hand on her shoulder.
"Charvel," she whispered.
"I add, the pearls from her wedding dress. So that she is with you even in combat"
With teary eyes she thanked her and then quickly placed her combat charm on and straight up.
Tally also gets her charm and places it into her pouch. They all gather once again. Abigail smiles at her sister.
“We should get going”
They quickly got their bag full of their equipment. Pulling the straps so that the bags were contable on their shoulders and back. And one by one they left the room. The last, sealing their dorm room.
As they stepped out of the building they noticed the other cadets that were going on City Drop too, where boarding onto a large truck. Which there followed. Removing their bag and placing it under their sets. It wasn’t long before they had to jump out.
There was a clearing just before the helicopters where some officers couldn't really tell from this distance. All the cadets rushed over and stood to attention waiting to hear what their mission was going to be, every year was different.
The lead officer stomps her feet in getting their attraction, making everyone silent.
“Welcome to City Drop, this will be a three day mission. At a push, four days. Your mission to rescue and protect the villagers that couldn’t escape City drop.”
She watched them all and continued,
“City Drop in behind the enemy line, take precautions the enemy is, spree. Bonus if you can protect the village.”
They step back allowing her fellow sister to talk.
“There will be no officers with you. Once you drop into City Drop, you're on your own. If anything does go wrong. Your team leaders have a flare. Fire that and within an hour we should arrive. All leaders step forward to receive your map and flare.”
Five witches step forward, Abigail Bellwether and Libba Swythe being two of them. She knew another Beth Treefin but that was it. All of them got their maps and placed them into their pack/ bag. Abigail on the other hand gave the map to Tally straight away. Who quickly placed that into her side/ leg pouch.
The lead officer smirked at that but quickly removed it. Before anyone could see.
“Your dismissed, good luck”
And with that they all stomped their feet and rushed toward the waiting helicopters. Bellwether and Swythe team both climb in one. Once they were secured inside. The doors slamming shut. The helicopter started taking off. Grey watches as another two take off behind them.
Raelle turned to them all. “Once the light turns red, where two minutes out to drop. So gather your equipment, and on my command we drop”
Everyone had agreed before any of this that Raelle who had combat experience was going to be in charge unless otherwise. So everyone agreed with her about this. They still had some distance to go, about half an hour before they were at the drop zone.
*****
“General Alder, City Drop had began”
She straighten herself a little more, “how long before the drop down”
“Half hour”
“Is all the troop ready”
“Yes , ma’am. All are prepared for any emergency".
“Good, your dismissed”
With that the officer leaves. Alder steps to the window and watches the trees blow in the wind. The sunset hitting on the tip of the trees. She smiles, she loves this view of the watch tower that was two miles away from the village City Drop. She could see it due to the trees. But she had fetches around keeping an eye on City Drop.
***
City Drop itself was built into the cliff side. On three levels. The lower level was the housing, four rows. With a winding road that snaked around in the wood before coming out into the second level where the pool house where and more housing. Once again the road snaked up to the third and final level which was for the school and church. But the church was long abandoned. And only two of it, four walls, still remain standing.
It was once a village but after a large battle that took place about 136 years ago. Most of this village people were killed and so the military took over this place, renamed it City Drop and abandoned the other location that used to be City drop.
****
“I have just received the confirmation, they are incoming. Twenty minutes out. And the military are in the old mining site. How do you want us to proceed?”
“Do nothing until nightfall. Will we used there inexperience to our advantage”
“Understood”
****
Libba sat beside Raelle. Tally in front of her. Toot to her left and Grey to her right. Abigail to the left of Raelle. She tapped her finger on her leg nervously. She wasn’t sure how they would react to this but she had to give it to them anyway.
“Libba, I have something for you and your unit.”
Libba sits up straight from leaning against Raelle and turns to face her better.
“Want, is it?” she said softly.
Raelle leans down and pulls out a box from her bag. She opens it and pulls out three little bags and hands them to Toot, Grey and Libba.
“Thank you” they all say together. Getting a laugh out of the others.
Toot and Grey opened their smiles but didn’t remove them. They simply attached them to the inside of their jackets. Not wishing to sour the moment. They could see, Libba was having.
“Thank you, Raelle. This means a lot, not everyone gets such a gift. Before Graduation.” Grey says. Toot just nodded along, keeping her hand over the charm. Tears in her eyes. She was a bit confused but made a mental note to ask Raelle about them later.
Libba just stared at hers. It was a gold band with three small bright blue marbles along it. She finally looks up at Raelle.
“This is beautiful”
Raelle smiles at that.
“I know I have been acting strange the past few days. This was a reason but not the full reason. My PTSD has been triggered. Which led me to have a breakdown, I just felt ashamed and so I made this for you guys. For protection and my own peace of mind”
Libba placed the pin on. And places her hand on Raelle's knee given it a little squeeze.
“We understand. That’s why we never pushed you. To open up to us. We all have our problems” she made eye contact with Abigail before quickly looking back at Raelle.
“I am just grateful that you found someone that you could talk to. While it was going on. But I am here to remind you all of us, have your back. And once we drop down. We will stand by your order.”
Everyone stomped their feet and carried on the conversation like nothing happened. Libba leans in, real close to Raelle's ear and whispers, ‘loving the outfit’ as she moves away she bites her ear. Sending shivers down her spine. Before she could get away. Raelle pulls her close and kisses her hard.
Putting all her emotion into the kiss. Their kiss became more passion and just before it was going to lead to them naked and hurting in all the good ways. Raelle stops and whispers to a stained Libba.
“If there wasn’t anyone here, i would remind you that your mind and Scylla’s”
And sit back fully impressed with herself. Abigail but could help the smile across her face. And the other just tried to keep smiling back but was failing badly.
****
Olly rushed into the infirmary on seeing Scylla and Bells he turned his run into a fast walk. The sunrise hadn’t come up yet. It was still early hours, he knew that Scylla would be awake worried for her girls and her friends. Olly stopped at the foot of the bed.
“It's happening, there, are ten minutes away from dropping.”
“Do you guys have taps on them”
With a smirk Olly proudly says, “off course, we don’t allow anyone. That going into fake battles or not. Without a tracker. For there protection and to knew roughly where to start the our rescue search if anything goes wrong”
Olly sits down on Scylla's bed and holds her hand.
“I see you're worried, there are safety protocols in place. The military have armed forces just a few miles away from City Drop and BatGirl is also heading there with very well trained soldiers. And if you're still worried. All of them have battle charms with their own location beacon that only myself and Bells have as we are out of the Cession.”
“What does that mean”
“It means if other members were here instead of us. There would have, the locations.”
“It's just Raelle was acting strange the past few days. Are we sure she is ok.”
“She fine”
She looks at him dead in the eye, ‘really’.
“Every night she would sit by me. Not saying a word. And by day break leave as your or other would sit with me throughout the day. Plus she had that breakdown, which i wish i was there for her, i'm glad Tally and Libba. But I just hate that I'm this broken thing and I can't do anything.”
“Hey no, you have issues, sure. Does that make you any less.”
He paused to allow her to answer but before she could he answered for her. “No, you're not. They both love you, deeply. And i promise you that when there return everything will go somewhat back to normal”
“I hope so” and turns away, her eyes stinging with tears.
****
The light changed from neutral colours to deep red. Everyone's stomach dropped, this was it. Everyone moved and got their bag out and made sure it was on properly.
Libba was the first to be ready.
“We are witches, we are storm and fury. Together we will take City drop”
Everyone one by one, once they were down. Turned to Libba.
“Everyone hoods”
With that everyone put on the hoods covering their top half of their faces. Libba moved closer to the door. Toot following her lead. They both waited for Raelle orders to open and for them to add their Saliva on. And drop.
Everyone moved closer to them. With a firm nob. Libba opened her door first and Toot followed quickly after. Everyone added their Saliva as the heavy gust of wind rushed inside their once warm cabin.
One by one there dropped out of the helicopter. Raelle being the last to do so. Making sure nothing was left behind. And just before her jump, traced her palm. With the letter R. letting Scylla know she was safe.
Little did she know what was coming.
And dropped. The wind blocked all other sounds.
The drop of Place.
Where nothing else matters.
The wind around you, given you, a weird protection.
Nothing comes close to this feeling.
It is after all the drop before the storm.