hiraeth | c.g. |

xxi

Whispers all around sounded upon seeing the Commander walk out of the Big House, her head held high but her eyes speaking of so many lows. They spoke of her cut hair, knowing that it meant that the people of Solaris, and the Coalition, were now at war. Carl knew this as well as he followed, the rough chop being memorable when she had done so for the war against the Saviors.

Making her way to where Daryl and Tris stood, the two looked to her with somber eyes as they saw she donned shorter hair and the dressing of the Angel of Death. It was an image they had seen before but not one they had ever wanted to see again. Not her.

"Everything's cleared. We should head to Alexandria," Clary said sharply. The two nodded their heads, Daryl making his way to his bike while Carl made his way to his own horse.

After a moment, Clary heard Tris sigh. "So this is it?" With a soft nod, Clary looked to her Second. "For now," she began, Tris' eyes meeting hers. "I'm sorry," the young woman spoke softly. "For losing this. For losing him. For not being stronger."

Tris' heart broke as she saw Clary look farther from her commander and closer to who she had been almost a decade ago. She had been 15, with the world thrust upon her shoulders, and she still held that weight. While it was very easy for Tris to blame Clary, the woman only shook her head. "The only people that have to be sorry are the Whisperers. And they will be."

As Tris looked away, Clary could only feel gratefulness at her Second's unwavering loyalty. The thought wandered as Tris held out her hand, which was occupied by a walkie. "They're waiting for your call."

The only two to know who "they" were was the two Commanders, the younger woman nodding before grabbing the device from Tris. Clary brought the walkie to her lips before pressing the button. "Let it burn."

After a few moments, Clary saw hues of orange and yellow dance from across the community. The farmland that Solaris had cultivated, anything it had grown being stored in wagons, began to burn.

"Our farmhands said the coming rain will stop the fire from spreading too much. If—" Tris stopped herself with a deep breath. "When we return, they'll be able to reuse the land. But the Whisperers won't be able to use anything we left behind."

With a nod from Clary, she handed the walkie back to Tris, pushing away the clenching in her heart as she saw the burning. "We should go."

With a nod from Tris, the two made their way over to their horses. Throwing her leg over Montu's saddle, Clary gripped at the reins as she looked back to her community.

This community that created her, housed her, had been built up from the ashes... gone. This community that had seen the very worst of her, and some of her better moments, would no longer be hers when she stepped foot out of the gates. This community, where her sister and niece were buried, their husband and father now joining them, would be gone.

"Jo!"

Clary's head sharply turned to see the opening gates, Daryl looking towards her before cocking his head towards the exit. Immediately, Clary pushed her calves against Montu's side, making her way to the man to see what his eyes had fallen upon.

Along the road that they would take as they left their home, the Whisperers were lined up along it, Alpha and Beta staring down the two at the front of the caravan.

With a clenched jaw, keeping her eyes on the skin-wearers, Clary nodded. "Start scouting ahead. Tris will lead them to Alexandria." Daryl looked to her with widening eyes as she removed herself from atop her horse. "Jo, what the hell are you—" she shook her head. "Just go, I'll handle this." Daryl looked at her with a fierce gaze but her attention wasn't on the frustrated man but rather at the smiling woman just feet away.