To The End of Time

Chapter 6: A Step-Forward

Making his way down the purple coast, the warming magnesium sand left detailed prints behind. Where gray waves crashed against the coast, it left behind a grayish-purple rich quicksand.

"There you are." His voice cut through the crashing waves as he eased himself beside his sister. "How did your first training mission go?" Vashti turned her head away from him, before she buried them into her arms.

"Vashti?" He frowned. "Are you alright?" He pressed his head against her forehead. "You don't feel cold," he muttered. She smacked his hand away. "Stop it," She huffed. Her green eyes turned toward him, scanning his face as if she could see him. As they narrowed, she turned back away with a huff. "Is there really nothing that can restore my vision?" She whispered.

"Not without significant risk no," Ursus sighed. "Your optic nerves never developed properly, remember? To try and use the serum to recreate neurons could..." He sighed. "It could have devastating effects."

"We can't try?"

"We don't know how it would affect you, Vashti. No one but the higher levels know how the healing serum works." He gave her a small nudge. "What's this about anyways? You never wanted to have your vision restored before."

"No one wants to go with me on my first mission."

"I can go with you."

Her hands clenched. "I don't want you to go with me." Vashti pushed herself up. Ursus watched her make her way down the coast, using the roar of the waves and the level of water brushing against her legs to tell its depths. Her eyes stared out across the water, seeing nothing and yet, somehow seeing everything.

To people, she was a helpless, blind, defendess rebel. To Ursus, she was more agile and capable than anyone ever gave her credit for. As her head turned toward him, Ursus released a gentle hum.

He watched Vashti make her way back up and beside him. "Everyone thinks I'm a defect. They don't want to be with me because I'm a liability. They think it would be better if I had just never..." She trailed off.

Ursus shook his head. "You are not a defect. The last thing you are is a defect, Vashti." He pulled her into a small hug. "I know you don't want to work with me, but I know how both you and your suit work. I know you're more skilled than all of them combined." His gaze looked out across the gray sea. "We'll show them all."

Now instead of gray seas, Ursus stared at a giant dark wood door. His hands hovered over the wood. You can do this. The knocks echoed. You can do this.

"Etta, the leaders are here."

Silence followed his words. After one minute then another, he knocked against the doors again. "It's time for you to come out."

Still nothing.

His hands ran through his hair. "Etta, I know it's tough but..." He trailed off. Closing his eyes, he ran a hand down his face. "No, there is no but. It sucks. It sucks so badly that you'll probably want to stay there forever. You want to cry and scream and wonder why. What could I have done differently? What was wrong with me for them to leave me? It should have been me. You're probably wondering all that right?"

A tired laugh left his lips. "I wish I can say it gets better. I wish I could tell you that everything will be fine and one day you won't feel the pain anymore. It doesn't get better. There are days where you feel normal, days where you can breathe and actually work, but then those bad days....those bad days are the worst.

Because you thought you were normal. You thought you were finally healing, finally feeling better only to start right back down again. It doesn't get easier, Etta. I'm not going to be one of those people that lie to your face, but I am one of the people you can yell at, punch, kick, do whatever you need to do to release this pressure inside of you. To even take that first step of being normal again. I'm here, Etta."

He placed his palm against the door. "So please just open the door." His voice fell off into the silence. Holding his breath, he waited. One second then two. Just as he was about to turn away, there was a small click.

The door creaked open. Those teal eyes glanced up at Ursus, dull and lifeless, while dark bags hung underneath. For a minute, neither of them said anything. Finally, after what felt like forever, Etta spoke. "Can we release a few glow lilies?"

"We can." Ursus nodded. "Are you ready to come out now? I'll make sure to protect you from the leaders' questions."

"Really?"

He nodded again.

Etta hesitated before she pushed the door even wider. A glance into her hut revealed no signs of life except a messed up bed. Trays remained on the wooden dining table, untouched by her.

"Have you been eating?"

Etta frowned. "You said no questions."

Right, I did. Ursus grimace. "Ah, then ignore that." I'll just have to make sure she gets something on the way back. "They should be in the meeting room now." The meeting room sat near the canopy layer, the highest the rebels dared to go for fear of being spotted.

The simple room held a large table with chairs, leaving much to be desired for technological advancements. Then again, from the leaders' pleased looks, maybe technology would have ruined it all.

"Well, at least there's some semblance of order here." Ravia spoke up. Her eyes flickered to Etta. "And this is the new chefian I presume?" Ursus didn't miss the slight disapproval in her words.

"Easy, Ravia." Beryl spoke now. "We don't we go a little easy on her? Especially after all that's happened with Lumanora."

At Etta's grimace, Ursus cleared his throat. "Perhaps we should sit first before we go right into busniess." With murmurs of approval, they sat in the woven chairs. A map of the swamp laid out in front of them.

"Now you know the tradition." The elderly woman, Samia, spoke up. "Three challenges from the chosen leaders to help you gain their respect and favor." She glanced toward Beryl and Ravia. "After some talking, we have all agreed to let my challenge be first."

She turned back to Etta. "In our culture, it is traditional for those of age to take their first flight. They capture their first raptor and build a trust bond so that no harm will come to the rider on the raptor's watch."

Ursus glanced at Etta.

Her hands clenched into fists.

"You will have three days to take with you all the supplies you'll need. You won't be allowed back here until the end of the third day or before with your raptor. You may also take one other person you trust." Samia raised her chin. Her eyes didn't hold any previous kindness as her voice became firm. "Etta, do you accept this challenge to prove your worth to my people?"

Another glanced back at Etta. Her hands clenched as she released a silent breath. Closing her eyes, she raised her head and met Samia's gaze. "Yes, I accept your challenge."

"And who will you take with you..."

"Ursus."

What? Ursus nearly doubled over.

"A hybrid can't go with her!" Ravia's hand slammed against the table. "They're not one of us!"

"It's Samia's challenge," Beryl countered. "She should choose if it's accepted or not." As all eyes turned to her, Samia nodded. "I will allow the help of Ursus."

Ravia's jaw clenched before she turned away. Beryl simply smiled, as some of the other leaders looked upon the pair with unease.

Seeing the doubt in their gaze, determination burned in Ursus' chest as his own hands clenched. Raising his head, he smirked. "I accept the challenge."

And we'll prove why you shouldn't count us out just yet.