The Ashen Rebellion

29 | A Reunion

ON THE TWELFTH DAY, Nyssa woke with a sense of urgency. They couldn't continue like this. They needed a new plan, a new strategy to survive.

She gathered everyone together, her voice steady but filled with resolve. "We can't keep living like this. We need to find a more sustainable source of food and supplies. We need to keep searching for other survivors, other allies."

The group nodded, their eyes filled with determination. They were in this together, and they would fight with everything they had to survive.

The twelfth day dawned heavy with the weight of hunger. The house was filled with restless bodies and rumbling stomachs. The designated hunters for the week, Nyssa and Tarry, prepared to venture into the wild in search of food. Finn gave Nyssa a hug, his eyes filled with worry. "Be careful out there."

Nyssa nodded, giving his hand a reassuring squeeze. "We'll be back soon."

She and Tarry set off into the forest, the silence between them thick and awkward. They moved cautiously, their eyes scanning for any signs of edible berries or small game. After several minutes of strained quiet, Nyssa could feel Tarry's gaze flickering toward her, only to dart away when she turned to meet it.

Finally, unable to bear the tension, Nyssa sighed. "What?"

Tarry hesitated, fiddling with his fingers. "Look," He started nervously, "I just wanted to apologize for the last time we talked."

Nyssa's face remained impassive. "It's alright. I barely remembered it," She lied. The memory was as sharp as a knife, but she kept that to herself.

Tarry continued to ramble, his words a jumble of apologies and explanations. Nyssa's heart began to pound in unease, and she shushed him, straining to hear a faint rustle in the distance. Tarry, oblivious, kept talking. Did he not hear that?

Grabbing a long stick, Nyssa dragged him into the bushes with her. "Stay quiet," She whispered fiercely.

Low voices floated through the trees, close enough for Nyssa to catch snippets of their conversation but not enough to make out distinct words. Tarry shifted uncomfortably in the bushes, and Nyssa shot him a warning glance.

"Shh," One of the unfamiliar voices said, and then silence fell over the forest. Nyssa held her breath, her ears straining for any sign of movement. After a few tense moments, she whispered to Tarry, "Wait here. Don't move."

She crept out of the bushes, her eyes scanning the area for any signs of the voices. Just as she was about to give up, she felt a blade press against her back.

"Hands up!" Commanded a masked man with a buzzcut and a comically low voice.

Nyssa didn't waste a second. She twisted her body, jerking her elbow back into his gut and snatching his sword. She swung her leg out, tripping him and sending him sprawling to the ground. With a quick, fluid motion, she raised the sword above him.

But before she could strike, another masked figure attacked from behind. They clashed swords, the metallic clang echoing through the forest. Her opponent was skilled, and their blades danced in a deadly rhythm. Her sword was eventually knocked from her grasp, skidding out of reach.

Without hesitation, Nyssa switched to hand-to-hand combat. Anger flared within her as she launched two quick strikes, both of which the man dodged with ease. She threw a punch, but he grabbed her by the waist and flipped her over his shoulder. She crashed to the ground with a groan but scrambled back to her feet, adopting a defensive stance.

The man moved with lethal precision, deflecting her attacks and landing several hits of his own. Eventually, he managed to pin her to a tree, her hands locked above her head.

A spark of heat ignited in her palm, but the man's sharp voice halted her. "No powers."

Defeated, Nyssa struggled to free herself from his grip. "You give up?" The man asked, his eyes gleaming with an unreadable emotion.

Wait... She knew those eyes.

He took off his mask, revealing the face and heterochromia eyes she had longed to see. "Kael..." she choked, wasting no second as she flung herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck.

Kael hoisted her up, burying his face in the crook of her neck. 

"Wait," Arjun groaned from the ground, "Were you about to stab me?"

They ignored him, hugging each other harder as if afraid to let go. When Nyssa finally released Kael and took a step back, she called out, "Tarry, it's safe! You can come out now."

The sheepish boy emerged from the bushes, adjusting his glasses. "Tarry!" Arjun exclaimed, running over to tightly hug the boy. They embraced for a while, tears of relief in their eyes.

"You've gotten better at combat," Kael stated, his eyes never leaving Nyssa's face.

"I never stopped training," Nyssa replied, her gaze locked onto his.

Kael nodded approvingly. "We've found a new base of operations—an abandoned fortress. It's secure, and we planned to check it out tomorrow."

Tarry chimed in, "We have a small group with us. We were staying with Finn, but we can all move to the fortress."

Kael and Arjun exchanged glances before Kael spoke, "We'll come back with you. Safety in numbers."

As they made their way back, the sun began to set. Nyssa felt a sense of urgency. "We need to hurry. The Enforcers make their rounds at dusk."

Just as the words left her mouth, they were ambushed by a group of Enforcers. The forest erupted into chaos as Nyssa and her friends fought for their lives. Nyssa shouted to Tarry, "Lead the others back home. I'll hold them off!"

With a fierce determination, Nyssa fought the Enforcers, her movements a blur of speed and precision. She took most down with basic combat, her fists and feet moving in a deadly rhythm. Her powers flared to life, and she unleashed a wave of light that sent the remaining Enforcers fleeing.

As the last of them fell, Nyssa stood above a pile of bodies, her chest heaving with exertion. She wiped the sweat from her brow and turned to see Kael and the others watching her with awe.

"Let's go," She said, her voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through her veins.

They moved quickly, the forest growing darker with each passing moment. Nyssa felt a sense of hope for the first time in weeks. They had found allies, and together, they would survive.