Fated to be Together

Let's Do This

Chapter 5

Let's Do This

Zara stood eagerly with her squad as the last of the names were read off the Death Roll. It was Presentation Day. Finally the last name was read.

"Second and third years, unless you're on Gauntlet Duty, head to class. First-years, it's time to show us what you've got." Dain forces a smile and skips right over to Violet as he looks at the Squad.

"Good luck today." Imogen said, tucking her hair behind her ear. "Hopefully you won't fall short."

"See you later." Violet said. Imogen walks off with Quinn and Cianna.

"Best of luck." Heaton said. Zara felt eyes on her. Zara turned and saw Bodhi watching her from his spot. Zara looked away and didn't notice Garrick was watching as well. Both hadn't seen her on the Gauntlet and heard she was one of the good ones of her squad.

"Back into formation." Dain orders.

"Are you going with us?" Violet asked. Dain nods as the nine of them fall into lines of four with Zara being the last and only one in the back. Zara didn't mind. Zara's hair was braided up into a crown on top of her head that Violet did for her. It'll keep the hair out of her face when she climbs up the Gauntlet.

"We're the biggest squad." Ridoc notes as First Wing file out through the Western gate.

"What are we down to? Hundred and eighty?" Tynan asked.

"Hundred and seventy-one." Dain answers as Second Wing begin to move.

"For a hundred dragons? But what will we..." Trina asked.

"Stop letting fear leach into your voice." Luca snaps. "If the dragons think you're a coward, you'll be nothing but a name tomorrow."

"She says including more fear." Ridoc narrates.

"Shut up. You know it's true." Luca said.

"Will you stop bickering like children." Zara said as Third Wing begins to march for the gate. Zara clsoed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"Fourth Wing!" Zara opened her eyes at Xaden's voice. "Move out!" Fourth Wing files out. Zara's fingers brush the dagger that Halden gave her that was on her hip. It brought comfort and she promised him that she wouldn't fail where Alic did.

'I made it this far. I can continue.' Zara thought.

An hour later. Zara was second to the last to head up. Bodhi had been watching on the bottom with the others. She reached the ramp.

"Let's go, Zara!" Ridoc yelled as Zara bolts towards the ramp. She reached up as she started to fall and gripped the side of the ramp. Zara grunted as she pulled herself up onto the cliff where her squad, but Luca were waiting. Rhiannon and Ridoc hugged her. Luca soon joined them. Zara turned and saw Garrick watching her as he stood next to Xaden and Amber. He smiled at her and gave an approving nod. Zara blushed lightly. Their whole squad had made it. Violet told her about using the ropes and the dagger as they waited.

"Wished you would of told me." Zara said.

"I didn't want to bring you down if I got in trouble. Amber Mavis tried to disqualify me." Violet said.

"But Riorson overrid her." Ridoc said.

"Garrick's watching you." Rhiannon whispered. Zara could feel his eyes on her. "Have you talked to him and Bodhi since that day?" Zara shook her head.

"They been avoiding me." Zara said. Rhiannon didn't miss the look as Zara looked towards Garrick, who looked away.

There are 169 Cadets by the time the morning is done. Even with Violet's penalty for the rope, Zara's squad placed 11th out of the thirty-six squads for Presentation. The fastest up the Gauntlet was Liam Mairi, earning the Gauntlet patch. Zara was one of the top five.