Conflict
Khalida walks around the ground like most nights. Alone. Allowing her thought to be with her people. With Raelle, who she had been told by Abigail when visiting them before, she comes out.
She believes that she will live but the worrying feeling still lingers. Within. She had also been given word that her people were fighting. To stay home, to not be forced out of their lands.
She fully understood why they were doing so I would not hold it against them. Would she do the same, if she was in their boat? She doesn't know.
She paused at the same tree. The centre point of almost everything. The only tree to see Alder First cover, get built and fall. And live to this very day. She did know this but that was the meaning of the tree. But she just sensed it, most Triem would. As there are earth based witches. Or that their specialty is of the earth.
She placed her hand over the letters. And R, L and S, with a little plus sign under that. They were small but up close, very visible. She could believe they had marked this tree. But then again she might off done so, if she was in love. Or had a second.
A present made her stop and look into the black of this night. It was different. Most nights, it was peaceful but this night, there was darkness. A weighted sadness, haunting feelings and a weird eeriness and no one could describe.
"conflict" a voice in the darkness comes out loud and clear.
She brasted herself, just in case of an attack, "What part of the world are you describing"
A small chuckle came out and Bearkiller stepped out from the blackness. And into the moon light that reflected off her nose ring. Khalida had seen her around base last week.
“You are wise, I often ask people to see how they react or how they think of the world.”
“I thought you who have returned home already”
“I have more business to attend to here, i will soon” Bearkiller says with a small bow.
“Care to join me in my walk tonight. Is not a good night to be alone”
“And why is that?” she looked at her concerningly.
“There is a Power at work, not fully. The mild version of one. It makes the night hollow” she looked around and takes in a deep breath. “It is within the wind, the great pain and suffering of all witches, only if the world could speak of the horrors. I wonder if it hate us, or be saddened by the pain we cause others.” She looks back at Bearkiller and with a weak smile, “So do you which to join me”
“As the Cession council, and a member of the Founders. I will accompany The Triem, leader. A guest of our land”
“It just Khalida, to my friends”
And with that they wonder about the grounds.
"May i ask you something,”
Bearkiller looks at her, bowing her head a little, for her carry on.
“My people have lived peacefully for so long. Know there are fighting. I do not know, where I went wrong"
“You didn't, the world did. The Camarilla are a strong threat. I myself did not wish to fight. But I made a plan, just in case. And that day came when I was forced to act. Save my people. Even though I kill people, to protect many lives. Both civilian and witch. It doesn’t make it any easier”
She placed her hand on Khalida's shoulder, “your people have been pushed to its breaking point. And once this conflict is over. Do not force them to become peaceful once again. Allow them to choose. Be protector or mender”
“You have helped me tonight with my conflict” she says with a sad smile.
Through her laugh Bearkiller said, "I am glad".
******
“Do you think we can get night clothes?” Tally grown, sitting up from her camp bed.
“I don’t think so, Tally,” Glory said. A few beds over.
“Just go to sleep, Tal,” Abigail said next to her.
“It doesn’t feel safe to sleep,” she whispered.
Abigail turned onto her side, “I know.” and with a sigh she sat up and looked over everyone that was still in the hall/ training room.
“Who is awake”
All of them raised up to a sitting position. If Abigail wasn’t a fan of horror she would have freak out with that. They all come up at the same time, with communicating it. All of them moved the chairs and bed out of the way.
They all gathered around three candles. A few of the cadets were given, by visitors, family checking on her daughter's. In the centre of them. Abigail leans over and with a lighter of Glory she lights them all.
“We gathered here to remember the dead and injured witches. At City Drop”
She looked around at them, “Cadet Sandy, Cadet Pinshocks, Cadet Marko and Cadet Butterworth. And countless other witches that were killed at the hand of the Camarilla”
One by one, each of them speak of the fallen. Each told a story about them. It was early morning, the first light bringing a new beginning. Like a ball of fresh air. Extortion finally taking hold of them. Slowly after the final one spoke, they moved to their beds. Almost as their head hit their beds. They were asleep.
*****
A thick fog clouded the battlefield. Making everyone pause and put up their shields. Two witches their hoods up their lower face also covered, with their scourge in their hands really to attack. As they stepped forward the fog started to fade. Along with an absence of noise.
The enemy was gone. Their fake work was lifting.
They carried on moving in, until there was a distance away. That when the first out, echoed out. The sound of engines.
‘We have engines, should we proceed’
General Stone looked at everyone. ‘Stay put, unit 6, meet them there on the double.’
Three witches of General Stone. Rushed off toward the other witches.
They quickly got there. They're all heading toward the noise. And found a small generator beside a building that was covered. They quickly search the building, finding nothing inside the building. But they did find tracks outside. In fact, I found them everywhere.
‘General, there gone’