"You have no idea what loss is."

"May you guide me through the storm."

Hey...long time no see...what's up....aha....

Tris made me post this 🙏

Also the first part is basically just me infodumping about the Seraphites im ngl

———

Seraphites. A religious group that had formed near Seattle. They were kind, worshipping a woman they called the 'Prophet'. The Prophet was there during the initial outbreak, and following the spread of the cordyceps, had reportedly had a vision. This vision inspired her, as she began to strive for humanity to detach themselves from physical pleasure and technology. Nobody listened to her. Not at first.

Her sermons soon caught people's attention, making them believe that the infection had come from humanity's sin. Eventually, a community would form, people joining as the Prophet's teachings spread. They would close themselves off, protect themselves. They fought the infected without guns, the Prophet deeming them as 'old world' and claimed they were 'nested with sin'. These people became the Seraphites.

Seraphites were strict. They were all to dress in specific ways, act in specific ways and pray every day. The men were to shave their heads and the women to braid their hair. All Seraphites would have scars cut into their face, near their mouth. This was to show humanity's imperfections.

After the initial defeat of FEDRA, the Prophet moved to preach to the people they had left behind. Her teachings won some over, but in turn it made others scared. The WLF took notice. They began to fight against the Seraphites, executing their people in retaliation. The Prophet saw no other choice than to form a group of soldiers. Around five hundred men and women who would fight for the Seraphites against the WLF.

However, after a war had broken out between the Seraphites and the WLF, the Prophet was captured. She was imprisoned in a WLF base, where while being held she was able to talk and befriend some of her guards. She tried to convince them that war was pointless, and they were fighting for nothing. Isaac Dixon, the leader of the WLF soon found out about this. He deemed her too dangerous to be kept alive and soon arranged for her execution.

After the death of their Prophet, the Seraphites were angry. They were scared. They wanted revenge. A council of elders that the Prophet had created soon took control in her absence, continuing on the war. Her death had only served to fuel the fighting, as she became a martyr for the cause.

Scars and Wolves. Seraphites and the WLF. The fighting seemed to never stop. As the young members of the community grew older, they would be resigned to roles. The men were fighters, and the women would be split between two choices. A warrior, or a wife. The elders would decide their fate when they came of age.

Yara was a warrior. It had been decided. She was to fight. To defend. To hold up the Prophet's honour and to bring her justice. She was trained. Seraphites didn't use guns. She used bows, axes and hatchets. Her mother was a very devout follower. She was strict on her children. Yara understood. It was here she sat, beneath a mural that had been painted of the Prophet, ready to pray. She was required to do this every day, before every fight, to prepare for anything.

"The world is not in balance."

She began, her eyes closed as she whispered her prayer.

"But I have done my part to right it."

Yara thought about her fellow soldiers, the sacrifices she had seen them make.

"You have led me through the storm."

Yara thought about her elders, and the hard decisions they had to make in order to keep them alive.

"Now I must rest."

Yara thought about the Prophet. Of the amazing things she had done for them.

"May the current be calm."

Yara thought about her mother, and all the things she did to keep her strong and healthy.

"May you guide me home."

Yara thought about her sister.

"May she guide me through the storm. May she keep me calm."

Yara slowly opened her eyes, keeping them trained down on the ground. She was to go into battle soon. Her and a group of other soldiers would leave in a couple of days to a reported WLF outpost north of their island. Yara wasn't scared, but she was worried.

"Must have been an insightful prayer. You seem to be lost in thought." A voice broke her out of her thoughts, a voice she knew all too well. Yara smiled slightly. "You know better than to interrupt a warrior in prayer." She stood  up slowly, sighing as she turned around. Lily.

"You weren't in prayer anymore. I heard you finish it." Lily always stood out for some reason. Whether that was good or bad, Yara could never tell. Lately, she could sense something was wrong with her sister. Almost as if she was becoming distant. "Well, I suppose there's a reason you came to talk to me? You could have always just found me when I came back to the Haven."

As Yara pointed this out, she saw Lily go a little stiff, looking off to the side and making sure not to meet her eyes when she shrugged. "I...I wanted to tell you something." Yara was worried. "Tell me what?"

For a long while there was silence. Yara standing, confused and worried. Lily standing, anxious and scared. Then she spoke out. "Yara...I want to be a warrior. Like you. Not a wife." Yara sighed in relief. At least that was the only thing Lily was worried about. "I'm sure you'll be fine. You're strong, and your aim with your bow is great. You won't have to worry about a thing, okay? And even if you are to become a wife, I'm sure it'll be fine."

Yara stepped forward, putting a comforting hand on Lily's shoulder as she smiled. "No - Yara, I don't want to become a wife. At all. I...I don't want to be a girl. I want to be like one of the men, I want to shave my head and fight with you but as your brother."

"..."

"....Yara?"

"...What?"

Yara's hand was still on Lily's shoulder. "Are you stupid?" She asked, looking into Lily's eyes with anger. "Why would you even think that? You're going against the laws, against tradition. That's not right - why would you even question that?" Lily stood still, trapped under his sisters gaze. "I'm..I'm sorry, but I -"
"No."

Yara's voice was firm. "You do not tell anyone else about this. You do not do anything about this. You will keep this to yourself. Do you understand?" A few moments of silence before she was met with a slow nod. "Good." Yara stood away from Lily, shaking her head. "Now go pray." She instructed, sighing.

"May the Prophet guide you back on the right path."

Months later, when Lily was assigned a wife instead of a warrior, he would refuse. He would shave his head, and in doing so, set a target on his back. Yara would find him. She would scream at him, hit him, curse him for what he has done. But soon she would understand. Lev would run from the Seraphites and his sister would follow. They go into hiding, running from the people who they once called their own.

Yara would be found. Her arms shattered. She would be saved. And they would meet Abby. Yara would later die, saving a wolf who saved a scar. Yara would die with the Prophet's words in her head. She would die praying that her brother would be protected. She would die, and let the Prophet guide her home.