Revolutions

124 - Legido

Landera stares at you wide eyed, stunned at the news she received.

"A mutiny?" she asks, baffled. "But, why?"

"They believe he's leading us to our deaths," you reply, just as startled about this development as she is. "Gartzen tried to defend Captain Lema, but we both know how he struggles with interacting with people."

"That's an understatement," Landera remark. You chuckle half-heartedly in solemn agreement.

"The others weren't having it, and the pushback was immediate," you continue. "Captain Lema tried to dismiss their concerns as being exhausted from a trying day, but I don't think that's the reason they're upset."

Concern consumes Landera, biting her nails and fixing her gaze to the ground while she thinks. As she does this, you notice that several of her nails are ragged and uneven, the edges chewed down to the quick. At first, you assume the dried, reddish marks around her cuticles are from the rough work of sailing or intense manual labored at Aitzabal. But on closer inspection, it's clear her raw and tender fingertips are the result of excessive nail biting.

She grimaces, sucking air through her teeth. "We can't just sit back and do nothing," she determines. "But if we go straight to Captain Lema, the others might target us too."

You feel the pit forming in your stomach. Though you haven't expressed your undying loyalty to Captain Lema, it's possible that any attempt at alerting him to the unrest that boils beneath the surface could be misconstrued. And not just by the mutineers; while they could see you as an informer and ally to their perceived enemy, Captain Lema could believe you're just stirring up trouble. It's dancing on a knife's edge, and you don't like the feeling of impending disaster that threatens to send everything crashing down.

"We need to be smart about this," you say, thinking quickly. "We can try to gather more information and maybe warn some of the more loyal officers once we determine who's involved."

Landera nods. "Agreed. We'll have to be subtle. Let's start by talking to Gartzen. He's loyal to Lema and might know who we can trust."

The settlers somberly move about the campsite. Fires are snuffed out, tents are taken down and rolled up, and tools and cooking utensils are hastily cleaned and stowed away. Everyone wordlessly gathers their belongings, while those with horses, like Captain Lema, pack their supplies onto the animals and prepare for the journey ahead.

Wet conditions remain from the previous day's rain. One of the few positives is that it has turned the vegetation a lush, vibrant green, as if you're swimming in an emerald sea. Much like the mood of the settlers, the sky overhead is gloomy and gray, and you sense a chill in the air. Whether that's from the weather or the state of everyone's morale, you can't determine.

The settlers move with an excessive, yet understandable, amount of caution. The memory of the recent rockslide lingers in the forefront of everyone's minds, grimly reminding you of nature's unforgiving wrath. Each step is taken with care as you all navigate the rough and rugged terrain of this strange, new land. The ground beneath your feet is uneven, strewn with jagged rocks and hidden crevices that threaten to ensnare the unwary. Every rustle of the wind or distant call of a bird or unfamiliar creature causes heads to turn sharply, eyes seeking any sign of danger.

The path ahead winds upward, a blend of steep inclines and narrow passes that compel the group to move in single file. Each step requires careful attention as the ground beneath shifts and crumbles, sending the occasional stone skittering down the slope. The dense foliage and rocky outcrops provide little visibility, adding to the sense of unease that permeates the group. Despite the slow pace, the steady rise of the sun guides you onward.