Inherently Innocent

But We Won't Let Ourselves Be Omitted

Liliac saw Thyme run across the plains the second he saw his mother, and she saw him hug her so tight that new shoes would be impressed.

That was something Thyme had a lot of. Hugs. He was quick to open his arms and pull you in, to trust his weight on someone else, or trust himself enough to raise the other person.

Liliac smiled, holding her own arm, and walked behind to meet the army. Golshan walked by her side, subtly taking a look at Lee's arm. He raised his own, showing its clear uniform colour. There were no bruises, no broken veins. They smiled at each other, assuring themselves that was what they were fighting for, and Golshan kept walking with that smile. Lee stayed slightly behind, pondering the day that would come, and whether their bodies would be as healthy when night came over.

Liliac arrived in time to see Thyme let go of his hug with his mother, and Aloe and Golshan joyfully shake hands in the middle of the dozens of serious-looking ishine that prepared on the grass. Some were clothed, some even had armours, and what appeared to be bows or spears.

"How did you get here so fast?"
"What can I say," The ishine brushed their red flowers over their shoulders, "I'm a fast walker. In other news, Peony and Xochitl are safe. I'm confident I convinced them to take care of them. And, you know, else we go and destroy the mountain range."

Liliac walked past the reuniting friends and closer to the reuniting family.

"Miss Heseltine," She asked with a smile.

"Oh please, call me Onix," The woman took Liliac's hands into hers and stared at her eyes. Lee could sense hers had landed on her own right, which put her off, but she still smiled. "What did you need?"

"Ah, nothing really. I just wanted to listen," Lee looked at Thyme and smiled with a frown.

"Yes, Mum, we have to listen. Is the fire,"

"Coming from the forest atop the hill, yes. And there are human scouts there," The ishine woman spoke in complete calm, as if they weren't surrounded by people ready to attack a population. "But we've got it under control. We'll restrain the scouts and go round the settlement to attack the program directly. Aloe told us of its location," She placed her hands on the ground. The grass parted to the side, a chunk of earth rose like a table, Onix stood by its side. On the surface, the circular settlement appeared, with its smaller northeastern circumference in full detail. Program Imaginaria was at the conjecture. "We'll try to protect ourselves firstly, but then we'll breach the prison's walls and free the nymphs. Your friend told me you have someone on the inside trying to fix things diplomatically, but considering she's an eighteen years old girl, I prefer to take matters into my own hands. Once they're free, I'll talk to representatives. And talking about teenaged girls, I assume you know you kids are staying here."

"Wait, what?" Thyme spoke over Liliac's audible reaction.

"I'm sorry Miss Onix, but we've come this far. We want to take part."

"Do you also want to end up dead?" The woman placed both her hands on the table and lowered it back into the earth. "This isn't a joke. Take a good look around you, because some of the people you see here may never return. And I don't want that for you bunch."

"I didn't survive this much so you can tell me where to risk my life," Liliac took a step forward. Thyme hurried to put a hand between her and his mother. Faint betrayal tainted the girl's eyes. "I'm willing to risk it if I just get to see the Host bleed."

Onix took a deep breath and Liliac felt every pound of deception in it.

"How old are you?"

"Sixteen."