45 Luke

The sun was down, and the hive felt emptier than usual, but for the last few months, we've been what some would call overly cautious. We wouldn't go out at night under any condition, we'd always travel as a group by day and we'd no longer leave the Hive unguarded at any point in time, but Riu was growing bolder, less overly cautious. I'm not sure if it was the influx of food that had revealed this aspect of himself or if it was the promise of weapons and supplies that Danev had implanted in him. As a result of Riu's newfound street courage, the majority of the Hive had been deployed including the man, the myth, the legend himself, Riu, Trap, and some of the others.

I was one of the lucky ones, or unlucky ones depending on who you asked, guarding the Hive. I considered myself lucky due to quite a few factors. One, the Rats were growing day by day and were quickly wrestling control of the streets away from the Hornets. Not so much in terms of occupying territory, but rather through popular support. "The heroic freedom fighters fighting back the Fire Nation and their tyrannical rule." It may have sounded ridiculous a few weeks ago, but the lengths to which it seemed to be working were frightening. Nobody would even consider giving away any information surrounding the rats. People relied on them now and the rats delivered. This wasn't the "protection" that the Hornets would offer, no. This was relief and guarantee. A guarantee of survival and freedom. From what, I don't know. Citadel? The Fire Nation? The Hornets? Who the hell knows, but what I do know is that it wasn't good for us. So, there's why I would rather spend my days within the confines of the Hive despite me knowing full well that the Rats and their Earth Kingdom supporters could easily tear down our home in a moment's notice, but an entire gang hideout disappearing in seconds is something even the Fire Nation would take note of.

As far as I was aware, the existence of Earth Benders within the city was something that only the Rats, I, and a few Hornets knew about. I don't even know if the other Hornets knew anything or if it was mere suspicion. I couldn't say, but frankly, I felt safe enough just where I was, sitting at the entrance of the Hive, holding the same sharpened stick I practiced with earlier today with a pile of throwing rocks at my side.

I didn't know why Riu brought Trap along with him. He was the youngest of us all and didn't know 2 things about fighting. I would know because I would practice with him and bring him to his knees every time. And I doubted it was because I had grown skilled or something. Hell, maybe Riu just didn't want Trap in the Hive. He had one of his rat incidents today where he let a very sizable one scurry away on the promise that it would bring more to come. If we weren't as well fed as we were, I have no doubt that somebody would have finally killed Trap for the little meat on his bones.

Cannibalism wasn't rare in Citadel. It was more uncommon now thanks to the nuns, but we had heard about a small group of 3 or 4 older boys who killed kids in the slums to eat them, even going so far as to go into the military district from time to time for better pickings. It was probably bullshit though. No doubt there was one cannibalism one day, then one more a few weeks later and some smartasses put together an entire odyssey in the name of a couple unlucky meals.

I think it was around two hours past the moon's descent when I felt my eyelids growing heavier only to pop back up at the sight of Trap, crouched in the alleyway, motioning for me to come out. I checked behind me into the open cafeteria to see if Ladle was still awake. He was so I could leave knowing the Hive wasn't abandoned. I looked both ways on the small alleyway street before crossing and joining up with the young Hornet.

"What's going on?" I asked. "Rats?"

"Shut up and just come with me."

I did. We moved along the alleyways until we reached the side of a collapsing building that we climbed up onto the roofs of the one-story homes. We moved from building to building, jumping the tiny gaps until Trap extended a hand to stop me from going any further, nearly tripping me in the process.

"What?" I asked. "Why are we stopping?"

Trap just put a finger over his mouth, telling me to shut up, before crouching down and pointing down the alleyway to what was a stash of equipment. Equipment I recognized.

"That's our gear. The shit the rats stole from us."

"Look closer."

I did. And there stood a kid I recognized, rummaging through the equipment as though he had stumbled upon a hidden treasure trove.

"A rat." I said. "Let's knock him out and take our gear back." I said as I started to stand up, preparing to jump off the roof right behind the young rodent before a hand on my shoulder prevented me.

"No no no no no. Not yet. Be patient."

I tried to suppress my snort of disbelief. "Patient for what. That's the gear that was stolen from us. Let's take that shit back."

"Oh Luke, Luke, Luke. You never learn. I was hoping it'd be different. Go back to the Hive and guard the entrance like a good boy. You'll understand everything soon enough, I hope."

Even in an effort to hide my confusion, I felt as though I could see my reflection in his eyes when I looked back at him. I want to say that I understood what the fuck was happening, but plain and simple, I didn't. I left. In my mind, we had passed up an opportunity to get back the gear that was stolen from us. Hit the rats in a small, but effective way and remind them that they wouldn't steal from us and get away with it, but I found myself sitting back at my post with more questions than when I left, and I was pissed.