Smoke and Ferns

Clashing Conflicts

Fern barely acknowledged the sounds of scraping metal around her, the girl only thought about how her friend came to be here, at this exact point in time. The world around seemed to fade as the teen began to plot how to get the two of them out of the current scenario, she could ask questions later.

Using the distraction of the ongoing brawl, Fern slipped through the shadows of the cavern to reach the other side undetected. The girl's path was abruptly blocked as two wrestling machines crashed down only meters in front of her. Crouching low, the young girl quickly tumbles to the wall, then dives for the cover of the stalagmites. Slipping by without notice, Fern manoeuvres herself into a small crack in the wall by her side. Stopping briefly to observe her surroundings, the girl note's the large outcrop above her friend, who she now notices is with his two other allies, Jack and Miko. Quickly glancing up, Fern sees that her minuscule hiding space reaches all the way up to the large, concealed outcrop. Gathering up what little courage she had within her, Fern pulls her body up through the jagged rocks and onto the rough platform.

Panting lightly, Fern takes cover and slightly peaks over the edge to see the three friends she saw together not more than five hours ago. The three of them were huddled together, clearly attempting to formulate a plan of escape. Fern could not decipher this, the roaring sound of metal crashing into rock was overwhelming.

Suddenly, the Japanese girl leapt from her cover and dived to the opposite side of the barrier. Fern observes with keen eyes as Miko slid behind the fallen corpse of a dark drone. What the reckless girl didn't notice, was how the drone had yet to fully pass.

Fern saw the twitch the drone made.

She saw how Miko was unaware.

She saw only one way to help.

Sprinting over to loose rocks, Fern wedges herself between the large boulders and pushes against them with all her might. The edge of the platform crumbled and chipped under the weight. Just as the drone rose up to swat away the teen like an insect, the large boulder fell, crushing the head of the metallic monster instead.

Miko's startled yell was heard by the girl on the ledge, as well as the large green metal fighter.

"Miko!?"

Fern turned to the green droid, seeing it sprint over to the Japanese girl and scoop her up into their hand. Fern watched it shield her from the purple drones, as well as the other two children who huddled by its feet.

Fern's attention was ripped away from the sight below as she began to become aware of the chipped ledge crumbling closer. Lunging back, Fern avoids falling with the stone and scurries back to the wall. Just as she is about to formulate a plan to escape with her friend, the whole cavern shook with an almighty boom.

Fern slips down off the outcrop and lands harshly on her side. She watches as the droids suddenly contorted into the vehicles her friends enter every day. Before she can right herself, the floor tilts beneath her and sends her sliding down a dark and narrow tunnel. A faint blue glow was seen around the bend.

Finally, Fern came to a halt and the world around her quieted. Groaning in pain, she opens her eyes to see the stars above, and the crescent moon in high among them. Sitting up, Fern notices her pack was still secure to her back. She stands and sees the faint lights of Jasper in the distance. Deciding that was enough for one day, Fern knew she was going to have questions for her friend in the morning. She spoke not a word as she begin walking back towards the town.

Raf was worried.

Fern wasn't at school by the time he got there with Bumblebee, which she usually was. Fern never missed a day, to the point that she would come in even if she was sick. 

The girl only appeared in the middle of Biology, much to the confusion of Miss Conifer. Fern handed in the late slip and moved silently to the back, sitting next to Raf. She said not a word, only handing her friend a folded note.

I need to have a word with you. Not now, later in private. It's important.

Fern

Raf was confused.

Fern stood still near the entrance of the school, waiting for her friend to arrive. It would only be the two of them, Miko and Jack were preoccupied with detention and monitoring duties. She side-eyes the vehicles, noting how the wing mirrors had changed position throughout her time waiting. 

She was on to them, and they were on to her.

Finally, Fern's gaze shifted to the doors opening, and the small boy stepping through. Glancing at the vehicles one last time, Fern moves her attention to Raf.

"Where were you this morning? You're never late to school." The boy questioned first, worry in his tone as he looked up at his friend.

Fern sighed, lifting one side of her shirt. "Had a bit of trouble rock climbing last night." The bruising had come through, a dark purple spreading across her entire left torso. "Miss Darby caught me wrapping them and forced me to the hospital." That wasn't a total lie, only that Fern was crouched over in pain passing by her house while she was getting ready to go to work.

Raf was about to speak again, but Fern decided it was her turn to question him. "Where were you last night?" She had to know what he would say.

"Um, I was at a, uh, club with Jack and Miko. Why?"

Lair. Why did he do that? Why would he do that?

Fern sighed, disappointed with her friend's result. She turns to walk away, to leave her friend behind. A small hand on her wrist stopped her in her tracks. With a dark expression, she turned to Raf, who looked confused.

One word left the girl's mouth, "Lair."

"What?"

"LAIR!" Fern's outburst startled the boy. Fern regained her composure, "You were at no club last night."

Raf stuttered, nervous. "What do you mean?!" Fern turns her back to the boy, "You should keep a closer eye on your friends," She tilts her head to face the boy, "Miko could have died last night."

With that, Fern leaves with an expressionless face, not seeing the look on the boy, or knowing the thoughts of the others listening to their exchange.

[[Edited]]