Finding The Courage

Part 4

We were being given a tour of Dauntless headquarters and I had a feeling we would all be getting lost at some point. I followed behind trying to memorize the twists and turns to each location. We ended the tour in the mess hall where the other members were waiting for us as they all ate dinner. We quickly joined them and began to eat. People poked fun at Tris and I for our lifestyle in Abnegation and while I laughed with them I paid more attention to the way people were looking at me. I had a feeling it had to do with the fact that I looked like a younger female version of one of their members. Christina and another transfer began to argue about their old factions and while it was funny to watch I caught Four growing annoyed out of the corner of my eye.

"I don't want to hear about your old factions. You're Dauntless now." Tris made a comment about him being so approachable after he asked her what made her think she had the right to talk to him, and I let out a small chuckle which earned me a glare for Four. I just winked at him knowing that in reality he was impressed with Tris and her comment. Four was two years older than us but I had gotten to know him and we had gotten close in a way no Abnegation members were supposed to. I knew how to read him and he had not forgotten that despite the fact that I had grown up in the last two years. When dinner ended the head leader Max stood to welcome us and recited the faction manifesto for us transfers.

"We believe that cowardice is to blame for the world's injustices. We believe that peace is hard-won, that sometimes it is necessary to fight for peace. We believe that justice is more important than peace. We believe in freedom from fear, in denying fear the power to influence our decisions. We believe in ordinary acts of bravery, in the courage that drives one person to stand up for another. We believe in acknowledging fear and the extent to which it rules us. We believe in facing that fear no matter what the cost to our comfort, our happiness, or even our sanity. We believe in shouting for those who can only whisper, in defending those who cannot defend themselves. We believe, not just in bold words but in bold deeds to match them. We believe that pain and death are better than cowardice and inaction because we believe in action. We do not believe in living comfortable lives. We do not believe that silence is useful. We do not believe in good manners. We do not believe in empty heads, empty mouths, or empty hands. We do not believe that learning to master violence encourages unnecessary violence. We do not believe that we should be allowed to stand idly by. We do not believe that any other virtue is more important than bravery."

The sound of the Dauntless faction reciting the manifesto was powerful but was more powerful to me were the line "we believe in ordinary acts of bravery, in the courage that drives one person to stand up for another. We believe in shouting for those who can only whisper, in defending those who cannot defend themselves." I knew those words would ring true for me until the day I died. I felt shivers run down my spine and a sense of determination spread through me as we were led from the mess hall and to the dormitories. 

The rest of the group complained about them being coed and having no privacy. I was stuck in my own little world. I slipped off my pants and switched them with the black ones that were left on the bed for us. I faced a corner and let my back face the group as I let my dress drop and quickly pulled on a black tank top that was also sitting on the bed. I tucked the ring into the low collar of the shirt and folded my old clothes. They were disposed of and we were encouraged to get some sleep before our training started. 

The next morning I woke to the sound of someone entering the room, I sat up and found Four making his way over to a pipe with a cup ready to bang on it. He met my eyes, mouthed "get ready" to me and as I pulled a shirt on he began banging to wake up the rest of the group. The group struggled to get ready but I followed Four to the mess hall to grab a light breakfast before we began training. 

"Keep it up Dristen, your light sleeping will do you good." He called when he realized I was behind him. He motioned to some fruit and a muffin when we got there and told me to eat quickly. I finished before him and gulped down some water before I followed behind him yet again to the training room as some of the transfers began to trickle into the mess hall to grab some food.

"Looks like you have a little shadow number boy." called a deep voice as we entered the room. Four ignored it but I turned to find the cold eyed Eric. I shot him a smile and followed Four as he began to stretch. I copied him and realized that this was his way of helping me. He couldn't play favorites but if I followed his exact movements there was no way he could get in trouble. I did the same thing as he began to throw punches at a punching bag. By the time the rest of the transfers had all arrived I had warmed up and gotten a pretty good idea of what they were going to have us do. Four had us start running. I kept pace with him which was a surprise for everyone who was around to witness it including Eric. I was in better shape then they had assumed and while I was short I was fast. When that was done we went back to the punching bags.