Trying to Survive Sucks: A Tiana KOTLC adventure.

Rex loves it, so it'll be fine

Tam's POV

We leapt to Alluveterre in the nick of time. I could hear huge explosions somewhere off in the distance close to our house, and clouds of smoke gathering in the horizon.

The humans were ripping the world apart.

And there's virtually nothing we can do.

It's an enemy we can't beat.

An enemy who can't see us. I couldn't help but try brainstorming what the heck to do. Biana, Rex, and I were the last to arrive at Aluveterre. Flori and several gnomes from Havenfield had come too. I even saw Rose, one of the gnomes that lived with Tiergan.

She recognized me and waved. I felt a smile creep up my face as I waved back.

It was like seeing an old friend.

Dex caught my eye, holding onto a backpack with one hand and a stressed looking Nissa in the other. He shook his head the tiniest bit, like 'This sucks.'

I grimly nodded, understanding.

Sophie sighed and cleared her throat. She was carrying Eliza one one hip and balancing a backpack on the other. Keefe was holding two bags too.

"Hey, guys. I...I know it's been a while since we've been all together like this, but I think we can make this work." She paused, shifting Eliza's weight from one hip to another. "If... if we can find a way to infiltrate the humans somehow, and make them stop fighting, maybe we can all go home sometime soon."

She shot a glance at Keefe, who gave her a reassuring nod.

"So... Yeah. Um, Grady, Edaline, Juline, Kesler, and Linh are coming to stay here too. They should be here soon, so, everyone pick rooms."

Dex led everyone up into the tree houses of Aluveterre, glancing around nostalgically. I couldn't help but look around too. I hadn't realized how much I missed this place.

Sophie gently set Eliza down and took her hand, guiding her over to where Biana and I were standing by the river.

"U, since there's going to be a lot of people staying here, is it okay if Rex and Eliza share a room? Maybe just until the gnomes can build a few more?"

Sophie gestured to Flori and Rose, who were already discussing among themselves and a few other gnomes.

Biana spoke up. "Of course. Rex might not want to be alone anyway."

She tried to smile, but I could still tell she would rather be at home, baking.

Biana really, really loves baking.

Sophie smiled. We climbed the steps that led into the tree house and tried not to let every single memory that we had of this place re-surface.

It was really, really hard, i'm not going to lie.

I could see the little dent in the wall from when Keefe had punched it.

The shelf full of dog-eared books Linh had read the heck out of.

The bean-bag chairs in the boys tree house that looked like rocks.

The pavilion where i'd eaten so much good food.

So many memories.

Biana was squeezing Rex's hand so tight it must have hurt, but Rex was too busy looking around in awe.

"Wow, that's a cool waterfall!"

"Hey, check out this flower! It's huge!"

"Where does that go?"

I was honestly just glad he liked it here. It made me feel a bit better about things.

Sophie and Eliza picked the room for Rex and Eliza. Sophie had held Eliza's little hand and walked past every unoccupied room, asking, "Do you want to stay in this one?" Every time.

Finally, Eliza stopped at a small room with a window that over looked the river.

"This one!" Eliza said excitedly. Sophie glanced back at us to make sure it would be okay. Biana nodded again, so Rex let go of her hand and instantly claimed the top bunk.

Sophie helped Eliza unpack her pink backpack, but Biana and I knew Rex was a 'my way or the highway' kind of kid, so we let him unpack by himself.

Biana chose one of the last rooms, right next to Bex on the left and an empty room on the right.

Biana sat down on the bed with a defeated sigh, tracing circles on the soft blankets with her finger.

"Tam?"

"Yeah?" I set down the half-opened backpack.

"What if we can't leave this place? What if we can never go home?"

I strode over and sat down next to her, my weight making her slide closer to me. She leaned her head on my shoulder.

"Then at least we're all together. It would not be okay, however, if you and Rex weren't here with me."

Biana rewarded my weak joke with a semi smile.

"I love you Tammy."

"I love you too, Bi."