Us and Them

Wonderful, Wonderful

   "Well, well, well, look who came back." Andy remarked, the two missing men standing before him. Dallon looked about ready to pass out, sweat beading down the side of his pale face. Josh looked exhausted, the antlers he had been gifted by the NEDs pointing outward from where they were secured to his pack.

   "This had to be done in secret, Andy. I had no other choice." Josh murmured, meeting the other's eyes.

   "Last I checked, nothing was to be hidden from the leadership of this army. There are no side quests, especially when we go to war in three days. What you did was reckless and left the camp open to attack at night. You're lucky I had someone to step in for night watch while you and your pal here went to frolic in the woods."

   "There were too many Watchers around the camp to have a whole conversation. If Nico caught wind of where I was going he would've killed the NEDs and we would be left with no chance in this fight! You're here to help me. Remember."

   The Prophet scoffed. "Without me, you would've died in that tower in Vegas! Without me, you wouldn't even stand a chance against the Bishops! Not even your own kind were strong enough to stand against them. Clancy had all the power you went to receive and you still lost."

   "How about you both just stop?" Dallon interrupted, the other two looking at him. "You two used to be the most cohesive leaders of this Army and now you're at each other's throats for what? Pull your heads out of your asses and figure out how we're gonna win this thing. I'll be in medical if you need me."

Dallon turned and exited the tent, leaving the two to sort out their differences by themselves. By dusk, a meeting was called for battle preparations, ensuring weapons were up to standard and final plans were made for each company. As soon as the moon was high in the night sky, the camp was dark and the energy of anticipation made it hard for most to sleep.

•••

Neon gravestones lit up the perimeter of DEMA's inner wall. The city was silent inside the wall, windows shuttered and the Bishops' statues looming in the darkness with unwavering authority. It was as if the Bishops were ever present, almost god-like to DEMA's citizens. Clancy stood on the Glorious Vista, looking over the walls and over into the valley where the Army camp resided. A Watcher sat beside him on the balcony railing, preening its feathers with its dark beak. Nico stood in the background, acting more of a servant than an equal to the other.

"Is there something you've been meaning to tell me, Nico? You've been awful quiet these past few days." Clancy asked, Nico stepping out of the shadows and into the moonlight.

"Someone visited Voldstoy three days ago. One of the NEDs was missing its antlers. Keon's NED, to be exact."

Clancy turned to face him, dark brown eyes showing slight annoyance. "Now, why was this information not divulged sooner? You know how I feel about secrets."

"The Watchers had poor vision on the situation. It wasn't until this morning when I went to Voldstoy that this was discovered. But, I can assure you that whoever has those antlers does not know how to use them. Even if they did, they would not have the will to use them for long."

"True as that may be, I prefer to not have the opposition to have access to something this city relies on to survive. Something I rely on to keep order. How do you suppose things would be if the citizens of DEMA had access to our means to control?"

   Silence. Clancy scoffed, approaching the older man. He did not flinch. "Find out who has those antlers. I don't care how you do it. I'm sure we still have that blood contract in that group still."

   "Whoever has them has broken our ties to Urie's contract and reassigned it to themselves. I will send Watchers to observe the camp."

   Clancy started to reply, but then rethought it. He nodded to Nico before informing the other that he was taking his leave for the night. Things were not going quite as planned, but Clancy was confident that a small hiccup would not mean DEMA's fall. He had remembered how the last rebellion had ended up, which led to the Banditos being disbanded and him rising to Keon's place as a Bishop. He had been faithful to DEMA for as long as he could remember and he was not going to let another rebellion spark hope for the people that lived there. Once the identity of the antler thief was brought to light, he would simply make that person a target of his own and handle it. Nobody could stand against him and Nico, it was proven even to the other Bishops. Success was the only option.

                                          •••

   Josh sat in the meeting tent alone once the meeting was dismissed, mending his weathered green jacket and replacing any of the faded yellow tape that decorated it with brand new strips. His fingers ached by the time he was finished and he threw the jacket back on over his black shirt. He pulled a yellow bandana he had tucked inside up over his nose and flipped the hood over his head. The sound of rustling feathers from the entrance warned him that his next moves were being tracked. Grabbing the antlers with one hand, he exited the tent and faced the Watcher that was perched on the deer skull that was attached to the outermost support post. The eyes glowed yellow. He raised the antlers up as if to show the bird, its feathers ruffling at the sight. It hissed at him as it spread its wings.

   "A little dramatic, don't you think? Sahlo Folina."

   The bird then took flight, scattering loose feathers into the air as it headed East toward the walls. Nico must feel threatened if Watchers were still being sent out. But he remembered what the NED had told him, that Clancy was a threat as well. He didn't know if he had the heart to kill his old best friend and that's where the hesitation in starting this war remained. It gnawed on his conscious now more than ever as the day approached. He shuddered and turned toward his tent, figuring the lack of sleep was just getting to him.