Quiet Moments

35 - Find Orion

The council meeting drags on in the dimly lit chamber, the air heavy with tension as the members of Wonkru argue over food rationing schedules and water conservation. Octavia, seated at the head of the table, maintains a stern and unreadable expression, though the weight of leadership presses heavily on her shoulders. Her eyes are tired, and her posture is rigid, but she refuses to let it show. She's Blodreina—unyielding, unbreakable.

The voices around her rise and fall in heated debate, but suddenly, something cuts through the monotony. A muffled giggle, a whisper just outside the door. Octavia's head snaps up, and the room falls silent, all eyes turning towards the source of the sound.

The door creaks open, just a crack, and a small head peeks in. It's one of the children, a boy of about eight years old with bright eyes and a look of sheer terror on his face. He's quickly joined by two other kids, all of them nervously pushing the door wider, curiosity and fear warring on their faces.

"What's this?" Indra demands, her voice sharp, but there's a faint hint of amusement in her eyes.

"We... we're sorry," stammers the first child, his voice barely more than a whisper. "We're playing Find Orion... and... he came in here..."

The adults exchange puzzled glances. Orion, the bunker's elusive cat, has become something of a legend among the kids—a mysterious creature who appears and disappears at will, offering a rare source of entertainment in an otherwise bleak existence.

Octavia's expression remains stony, though inside, she feels a pang of something softer. She keeps her voice firm, her eyes locked on the kids. "This is a council meeting," she says, her tone low and commanding. "You are not to interrupt."

The kids nod frantically, shuffling their feet, clearly embarrassed and afraid they've overstepped. One of the younger girls speaks up, her voice trembling. "We're sorry, Blodreina... We'll leave now..."

Octavia holds her gaze, her expression unwavering. She lets the silence hang heavy for a moment, making sure they understand the gravity of the situation. Then, with a single word, she says, "Go."

The children don't wait to be told twice. They turn on their heels and scamper out, closing the door behind them with a soft click. The silence that follows is almost comical.

For a moment, no one speaks. The council members look around, unsure how to proceed after such an unexpected interruption. Octavia maintains her severe look, but her lips twitch, ever so slightly, with the hint of a smile she's trying desperately to suppress.

And then, slowly, one of the older council members lets out a chuckle. It's quiet at first, almost stifled, but it spreads quickly, a ripple of laughter moving through the room. Even Indra, who is usually the first to enforce discipline, lets out a low, amused snort.

Octavia's stern facade finally breaks, and she allows herself a small smile. "Find Orion," she repeats softly, shaking her head. "Of course."

The laughter grows louder, a rare moment of levity that cuts through the usual grim atmosphere of their meetings. For just a moment, they're not the council of Wonkru deciding the fate of their people—they're just humans, trying to find something, anything, to laugh about.

"They're not wrong, you know," says Jackson, his eyes twinkling. "That cat's harder to track down than you are, Blodreina."

Octavia rolls her eyes but doesn't deny it. Orion has a way of disappearing when you need him most, only to reappear at the most inconvenient moments. It's a skill she both admires and envies.

"Maybe we should all take a break and join the hunt," Indra suggests with a rare grin, leaning back in her chair.

Octavia shakes her head, but there's a genuine smile now, brightening her usually stern face. "Only if you think you can catch him," she says, a lightness in her voice that hasn't been heard in a while.

"Maybe," Indra replies, "but I doubt we'd be any better at it than the kids."

The council shares another laugh, the tension that had filled the room just moments before dissipating like smoke in the wind. Even the most serious of faces are softened, if only briefly. The reality of their situation still looms large, the weight of their decisions still heavy on their minds, but for now, there is a moment of shared amusement, of camaraderie.

The laughter fades slowly, and Octavia clears her throat, signaling that it's time to return to business. But the mood has shifted, if only a little. The council feels lighter, more unified, the bond between them strengthened by the small, unexpected moment of joy.

"We have work to do," Octavia reminds them, though her tone is less harsh than before. "Let's get back to it."

They nod, and the meeting resumes, the discussions flowing more easily now, the sense of dread that usually hangs over them lifted, if only for a while. And somewhere in the bunker, outside these walls, the children continue their game, their laughter echoing faintly through the corridors, reminding everyone that even in the darkest times, there's always a little light to be found.

Octavia glances at the door one last time, a soft smile still playing at the edges of her lips. For all the bleakness of the bunker, moments like these give her hope. And maybe, just maybe, that's enough to keep them going.