Untitled Pt 1

Into the Fray

Carmen's heart was pounding against her ribcage as she and the Wolf Gang raced further into the woods.
"Split up! Find Henry!" she roared. She continued to run through the trees as Alpha Team split up behind her. For what seemed like an eternity, she moved through the forest, her thoughts centred around finding Henry before it was too late. Pumping her legs as hard as she could, she raced up a small incline and gasped with horror as she reached its crest. Without wasting a second, she pulled out her flare and set it off before racing to Henry's side as the sky exploded with purple light.

∞

"Good. Good." Conan chuckled to himself. He stood alone in the dark confines of his quarters, his eyes glued to the misty mirror displaying the scene in the forest.
"Is that what you wished to see, my lord?" the image faded away to reveal the face trapped behind the glass.
"Yes, thank you, Sidney. That is all for now." Conan replied, waving him away. Braving the chill of winter, he stepped outside onto the balcony, and look down on his new kingdom. He couldn't help the sly grin that creeped across his wrinkled face as he watched the birds flit in and out of the naked trees, whilst people scurried below like ants racing out of the cold. An icy wind nipped at his nose as dark clouds rumbled over the mountains, obscuring the light of the setting sun. The chattering of his teeth signalled his body that it was time to go inside. With a mind of their own, his feet began to carry him back to the warmth of his room. But before he could be welcomed back into the arms of blissful comfort, something made him hesitate and turn back to the clouds. His mind pricked with the sense of recognition, and his stomach dropped with fear. He knew he'd seen those clouds before. Racking his brain, he realised with a start that they only had eight days until he arrived. They needed to put the plan into motion. Otherwise, it would be too late.

∞

Carmen's eyes were glassy as she let her legs dangle over the cliff edge. They ached from fatigue after being pushed to the limit during her mad rush through the woods. The image of Henry lying face down in the dirt, the tip of the arrow protruding from his back was still fresh in her brain. Several shivers suddenly began racing up and down her spine, and she knew they weren't caused by the cold. Below her, the soft, warm light of the Hive shone out through the entrance, where Henry was getting the best care Mother Superior could provide. She looked up at the heavens and was met with the twinkling lights of the Everglade Ancestors. Twisting her body, she looked up at the bright, white moon, and the ominous line of black clouds making their slow advance over the mountains. He was coming. With a sigh, she turned back to the clear side of the sky and let the light of her forebearers wash over her, and her mind wander, enjoying her diamond in time.
"Hey babe." Lucas' voice was like a hot knife slicing through the butter that was her warm thoughts.
"Hey." She smiled as his lips collided with hers.
"Watcha thinking?"
"Do you remember when we used to sit on the Northern Cliff back home, and watch the moons rise over the mountains, while all the smells and lights and laughter from the Festival of Stars rose up to meet us?"
"I do. It was my favourite time of year."
"Mine too. If we were back home, we'd be preparing for it. We only have eight days until it arrives."
"Well, who says we have to be home to celebrate?"
"What?"
"I was thinking that when all this is over, we could have our own Festival of Stars. It wouldn't be on the right date of course, but it's better than nothing, right?"
"You're a genius!" Carmen laughed.
"I am?"
"Yes! You'd think I would've remembered something as important as troop morale. We've been pushing them too hard. They need a pick-me-up. And what better way to do that than a festival?"
"I knew you'd like it."
"Starting tomorrow, we begin preparations." She declared, jumping up.
"Woah, woah, Carm. Slow down. We still have your sister and Conan to worry about. You saw what she did to Henry."
"Not by choice."
"That's beside the point. If she did that to her own son, then what do you think she's going to do to the rest of us? I love that you're on board with the festival idea, and I agree with you on the fact that it is much needed, but we have to face the facts. We can't jump the gun with this. We need to finish what we started, and defeat Conan first."
"I know. So what do you suggest we do?"
"Go on the impetus."
"What? Are you crazy?" Carmen cried. The thought of sending the Storybrooke residents into a fight made her stomach churn. "Look at these people. They wouldn't last a second on a normal battlefield, much less on one where Conan was controlling the Dark One herself."
"I'm not talking about an upfront attack."
"Then what are you talking about?"
"The style of fighting all the Strike Teams are experts in. Guerrilla Warfare."