Division

- I • Under the Sun -

- Orion's POV -

"Steady enough, right?" Echo slapped the side of the makeshift cabin. Rough cut logs and animal hide pinned up like a tent for shade. "Well, we don't have much to work with... good size... and its hidden from birds-eye view, so... yes." I affirmed. It's simple but it'll do.

Plum had come back with a net full of fish and a branch with a couple berries on it "Sorry... I couldn't get many berries around here. All the ones I found were either super scarce or poisonous. I've told you this already, but don't eat the... odd blue ones. They'll make you terribly sick."

The berries she had collected were glossy and were crimson red. "These ones are a tad bit tart, but they'll do. These fish need to be cooked, you guys can eat a few raw but me and Spear can't. D'mantis can't either... but y'know..." On the last note Plum sounded a little out of spirit even at the mention of him.

Echo snagged a few fish for himself, Spear came over here too, but he looked at me with a look describable with either disdain or anger. I get the stain on my reputation, and I don't think its possible to fix what has now been shattered. Solio... that bastard.

I still can't believe what I've done. It wasn't really purified me, but it doesn't matter. Would they even believe me if I told them what really happened? I've completely killed Zen and I've almost run Plum out of lives. What really... have I done? I found her out there... am I to blame?

"Orion?" She wandered around looking for me, I had perched in the shade obscured from everything else. "There you are. Are you hungry? Im sure the loss of your implant has been draining you a little. Mentally and physically?"

"I don't have much of an appetite right now. Ill get some soon enough." I looked down. "I just need to ask you again. How do you stand me? Isn't my presence around enough to remind you of all the abominable things I've done?" She lightly nodded.

"It's different for me. I knew you by heart and you're kind, even if there's
a bit of a rough exterior, I knew you before it all happened. You didn't know she would become this... dictator." She continued explaining, almost sounding sad. "Don't blame yourself for trusting her, blame Solio for her blood-stained actions. Solio killed Zen, Solio killed me, Solio did all the terrible things. She just used you as a pawn, and I'm sorry... for you."

I got the message, but I couldn't forgive myself. That doesn't mean I don't have an unbreakable grudge against that ash-scaled six-horned freak. "Thank you, Plum. It probably won't seem like it but..." I paused, "It touches my heart." We both said at once. "Heh, you remember the line."

I smiled. I felt warmth after a journey through a cold winter cave. All the torture Solio had ruined me with. "I would be careful though. D'mantis... wherever he is... won't be happy with you, Spear really isn't either. If you ever want me to come out to the outskirts of the woods to talk at all I'll be there." Plum assured.

"I wouldn't worry about it as much as possible, but we'll discuss your missing implant complication at a later point." And that was her departure note. Echo waved to her as she jogged back and helped start a campfire to cook the fish for her.

The area was very peaceful, butterflies flew past, a full prism of colors in variety. Those cold winters were starting to fade away. Both mental and physical winters. Warmth... finally setting in.

A voice peered through the immersion, raspy and pained. I knew it, I knew the voice. Even if its been a while I didn't forget the antics. It grunted, and looked up at me, on its knees. "Y- you aren't.. who I thought." It stuttered, looking beaten and worn out of it's days. "D'mantis." I grabbed him by one of his horns ans pulled his head up. "Ay- stop.. I'm sore as hell and I need a bit of shelter." He groaned. "That's not my decision to make. I'm sure you have no more second chances."

"T- then how are.. you here...?" D'mantis continued weakly. "You've tortured them... It... doesn't make any sense..!" "You'd fight my point, refute the truth like you always had." I stopped him, letting go of his horn and shoved him back down. "You're filled with lies and cowardice, I just escaped from my strings. You should be glad im the one to find you out here, the others would have killed you by now."

"Plum wouldn't h- have the heart to kill-" "Or I could tell them." I interrupted, hushing him. "I can't live out there without her." He tried to stand. "Do you know what you've done to them? You're fueled by jealousy, too. There's a message to be heard if I'm allowed in distance and you aren't."

"Are you insulting me?" He questioned. "Another one of many misconceptions. Take it as you wish, obviously your mind will drive that idea till it's run dry."

He growled under his breath and lashed out, but due to his weakness, it wasn't hard to stop him. Catching several hands before impact, I gripped his horn again and started to drag him to the campsite for interrogation. He panted, "Y- you can't do this to me..." I chose not to respond, waste of my words.

I wasn't too far from the cabin when Plum spotted me and our unwelcomed visitor. Dropping to him to the dirt, he didn't struggle, either he's too exhausted or he didn't want to appear as a threat.

All of us stood around him, he stood up and groaned. "I didn't harm him, D'mantis came to me in such condition, stating that he couldn't live without shelter from you, Plum. Im sure he's out of chances, yes?" I stated, while Plum stared him down.

"He's far gone with chances, I don't know what to do with him at this point." She saw Spear draw his axe and step forth. "Filth." Is all he said before Plum had to back him up a little.

"If you release him, he's just gonna come back.." Echo continued the discussion. "F- for a good reason, you haven't... EVER seen the terrors out there." D'mantis growled. I couldn't tell if that was a warning or him being insane.

Spear scoffed to himself while Plum and Echo looked at me and back at D'mantis. "What's the bag you have with you?" I pointed out. It was more of a small knapsack, obviously holding stuff. Echo nabbed it, "H- HEY! THAT'S NOT... YOURS!" He struggled. "Eh.. neither is this land." He responded, intentionally snarky. Deservingly.

"D'mantis, leave now and we spare you." Plum announced. "You will not return. Will not. If you have anything to say that isn't an insult, do so."

"Fine." D'mantis spoke. "I warn you. You can't run... too far out... this land isn't as safe as you think it is." He turned away. "If you don't believe me, go see for yourselves."

Plum looked at me, disappointedly shook her head, and Echo handed her the items he had as they walked off.