Eight | The Outlands |

10:30 AM WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 5th 4865

[Zemira's POV]

It took no less than ten minutes to travel outside city limits, outside Derrick's supposed jurisdiction. It took no less than ten minutes for me to press the gas pedal to the floor, effectively scaring everyone in the back of the transport truck shitless.

"Are you trying to kill us, Zem?" Iris asked both in angst and anger. I just laughed, grateful for the distraction from Insanire, and the knowledge of the wars to come.

"Is that insubordination I'm hearing Lancaster," I asked sarcastically. I'm certain beyond a shadow of a doubt, half the squad currently sitting in the back of the transport truck were confused. After all, I'm their leader, most people only hear me seriously.

"Insubordination my ass, that was a genuine question, which by the way you still haven't answered, Phoenix," She practically spit the word phoenix as if it were a prayer to Fri-Heca or my tribe's worst realm of hell. The words in loose translation mean, Firey Damnation.

"No, I'm not trying to kill you," I said tersely, keeping the Fri-Heca comment to myself I added under my breath, "If I was you wouldn't have had time to ask, let alone breathe."

"Did you say something?" someone asked.

"No," I lied, and then thought to myself, 'Welcome to Desakari,' Desakari being the true name of The Outlands.

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We reached the point where the squad would split off into groups of two or three, each with at least one person whose Ativi could detect metal. That meant I'd be going with Iris, the Remirez' in another, and Holand and a woman named Camryn Maxwell in a third as well as two others in a fourth.

"Alright, as you know The Anopoly doesn't bar access to The Outlands for shits and giggles. There are tribal people who didn't join Derrick in his revolution." I reiterated as it was a main point in the briefing not thirty minutes earlier.

It's mostly true if you ignore the fact that some of those people are from my tribe, who now resent me for unknowingly aiding in the end of our beliefs. A decision I've regretted for five years now. The few among my tribe that don't despise me defend their opinion with the argument that I was only twelve at the time and lost the only good influence in my life two years prior. Unfortunately for them, my age meant nothing supportive as I was considered one of the most lethal in the tribe by the ripe age of five years old.

"Those people view anyone armed with guns as a threat, "I continued, my voice even despite the myriad of emotions that accompanied Desakari and talking about the people I was once made to rule. "So be on guard, however, if you come in to contact with anyone besides this squad," I paused, lowered my voice, "Do Not Engage, send me a signal and I'll come handle it. Do I make myself clear?" I asked followed by the murmur of assent.

"Why would we bring guns if it makes us a target? Moreover, why bring them if when there's conflict we have to call for backup with our tails between our legs?" Someone asked.

I turned in the direction of the voice, to find it was Camryn that objected.

"I'm sorry could you repeat that, I didn't quite hear you over the sound of that bullshit," I reply with lethal, false calm.

"I asked why you wou--" Camryn started.

"I know what you said Maxwell, now answer me this, do you speak any Sanreain?" I cut her off, losing my already thin patience.

"No Pheonix," She answers, I don't miss the tremor in her voice. Fear.

"So would you be able to defuse the situation peacefully if they can't understand a goddamn word you're saying?" I ask my thinning patience come through in my voice.

"No, I shouldn't have said anything," Camryn says quietly.

"Alright now that that insubordination has been resolved, everyone get to work we have to be back at the Dawn before evening," I say, and with that three of the groups divide to locate the predetermined metals.

I sighed inwardly, drawing a concerned look from Iris. " Are you alright," She asks tentatively, in the same way, one would coerce someone off a ledge before they jump.

I understand her concern, I've never been the most mentally sound, I mean I have a raging madness problem named Insanire for God's sake. And although Iris is unaware of that, I'm sure it was painfully obvious that I was hanging by a thread just now.

"Yeah..." I released air I'd trapped in my lungs not a moment ago, "I'm just," I paused before I said anything about what transpired here six years before. "I'm tired of people questioning my orders," I finished.

I started walking in direction of the metal deposit, I decided to take the ones found closest to my former home.

"I'm sorry by the way," Iris hollered as she moved to keep my sure pace.

"For?" I asked incredulously, I honestly can't remember what she would have to be sorry about.

"For the 'Are you trying to kill us' thing," She responded, shocked that I'd forgotten. "And if this won't get me killed to ask, what did you say under your breath anyway?"

I stopped, like the path I knew by muscle memory had been erased, forgotten. I stood frozen, a rock weathered and eroded by time into a statue. Her question little more than an afterthought in my mind.

"Oh shit, I'm dead, " Iris murmured, only for me to signal her to shut up. Thankfully she made no effort of protest, just pressed her lips together, her hand moving towards her gun.

"Stop," I whispered in a trained way so that I appeared to have said nothing, "No guns if they see it brandished, you're really dead," with that her hand receded from her gun.

Time seemed to have stopped so this stalemate between the movement in the trees and myself. Everything was still, the wind not bold enough to move the brittle lifeforms known as leaves. It's a strange stillness and just as I was about to discard the humanoid movement I saw the glint of polished metal. A sword to be exact.

I raised my hands above my head revealing nothing save the gloves that cover them. Iris followed suit quickly after, the sleeves of her jacket succumbing to gravity making a faded scar that twists up her arm visible. The scar leads up the side of her neck under the ink of her tattoo.

Apparently raising your hands is no longer a universal sign of 'stand down, we're no gonna hurt you' anymore, as it did about jack-shit to quell the person's hostility.

"Chil duan, oso gøre ondt yu," I said calmly, the loose translation being 'Calm down, We aren't here to hurt you.' I stiffened as the movement continued. I wasn't prepared to face anyone from my tribe yet.

"Den hakom op yu fri-metra taim non gonplei?" 'Then why do you have guns if not to fight?' A voice I think is female asked from the trees.

"For protection, why else?" Iris said before I could stop her.

"Iris," I whisper tersely, "What are yo-"

"From what do you require protection?" The voice I'm now certain is female asked.

"You speak Archalian?" Iris asked incredulously.

It took all I had not the facepalm at her ignorance. She knew I was raised in one of Desakari's tribes and I spoke near perfect if slightly accented Archalian. I had learned it when I was young but Sanreain still feels more natural to me.

"How else would she be speaking to you Achali beischala (scum)," A male voice spoke up as he came into view.

Illeron Mezdarr, I've known him since I was four, he was my older brother's best friend, before the Archalian attack. Talon died that day.

Upon seeing the speaker shock coursed through my veins alongside my blood. I was careful to keep my expression neutral, uninterested even as my mind raced to find a way out or around the inevitable encounter. As well as praying to Fri-Sala(Salvation, highest realm of heaven) that he wouldn't recognize his deceased best friend's sister.

"We're just here for resources then we'll be gone," I said my voice calmer than how I felt.

"What resources could you possibly need that the traitor you follow won't provide?" Illeron asked, I was unclear which of us he was addressing, most likely me.

"It seems there been a misunderstanding here," I replied attempting to remain diplomatic, "We don't follow Reyes,"

"Look forest border patrol we just here to get some metal, so if you're done that'd be great asshole," Iris said anger growing in her tone.

"Ill," The female cut in, "Sa gada dei heina sløv

loka," (The girl that has silver hair.).

Illeron nodded, to what I've no idea. He then whispered something I didn't catch to the girl. I was bewildered and about to say something to the pair, remind them we're still here when something in the girl's demeanor changed. A second ago she was hiding behind Illeron as if he were a shield. Now she moves with lethal grace, the kind of gait found in the best warriors in my tribe.

'No' I thought as she charged at Iris sword in hand.

"Sløv move," I yelled as drew a pistol from its holster. The girl stopped mid-motion, Illeron stiffened, my pistol was steady in my grip aimed right at the girl's head.

"Nobody move or I shoot the girl." I continued, my threat hanging in 5he ensuing silence. "Iris," I jerked my head to the left, motioning for her to move over to me.

She moved quickly, a blur of black and white as she did. Once she was less than a meter away Iris raised two fingers in mock salute.

"You're not actually going to shoot her, are you?" She asked tentatively, she has a good heart and soul, not pure but it seems that way compared to mine.

"Only if I have to," I said louder enough that Illeron and the girl could hear.

"Vera, Let's just go, we've been in the open too long anyway," Illeron said to the girl whose name is apparently Vera.

"Wait a minute, what do you mean 'In the open too long,'" I questioned.

"What are you doing Zem, just let them leave," Iris said exasperated.

I sighed, "Fine," I've honestly run out of energy to argue.

Illeron and Vera walked back into the trees as I lowered my pistol. It's amazing how it's only been three hours since my supposed abduction and I feel like it's been three years. I stared at the back of Illeron's head as he walked away, questions and worries assaulting my mind.

Did he recognize me? What the hell did he mean by those last words? Why has Insanire been so damn quiet? Then I started spiraling, Why did the Archali attack that day? Why didn't more Elders die? Why just my mom, grandma, and Talon? How in the hell did my dad survive when he was with my mom?

How...?

How....?

H o w . . . ?