The Girl from the Ground - Season 1

Episode Two, Part 4:

Episode Two, Part 4: 
Young Blood 

Veer laced up her shoes in a double knot then zipped up her dark hoodie, trying to be as quiet as possible. She glanced down at her watch and upon seeing that it had just gone 5 AM, she felt relived to know that she was on time. She tiptoed over to her door, grabbing the bag that she had prepared the night before, and carefully crept down the hallway and up the stairs of the Quarters. Once she was on the ground floor, she knew that the pressure to be quiet was more crucial than ever; her parents and all the former Sovereigns slept on that level of the Quarters, so if they were going to hear her, it would be at any given moment.

Holding her breath, Veer inched past Harlow's door, then turned the corner until she was in the living sector of the building. She had a clear line to the door and was halfway out of the building when she stopped, startled to the point of almost shrieking.

"Atlas!?" Her voice was a whisper-yell, drenched in panic and confusion.

Her brother looked up, just as startled as her to have seen someone else awake at that time, but greatly relieved. Before he could get a word out, Veer had made her way over and was crouched down next to him on the ground.

"What happened?" She asked, noticing that his walker was right beside him. "Did you fall?"

"Yeah," Atlas groaned, feeling the bruises on his body as Veer lifted him up, using all of her strength to set him on the couch behind him. "My walker broke - probably from my training in the forest. I tried to stand up, but I couldn't. I got so close, though."

Veer frowned. "Are you hurt?"

"Just bruised. And tied," he laughed.

"You should have called out for someone."

"I didn't want to wake anyone. It's fine, Veer."

"I'll go get Mom-"

"Veer, I'm okay," Atlas insisted. "And I don't want to make Mom worry. I don't want her blaming herself because she let me practice in the forest. My walker is really old now, that's all."

"Let me go get your crutches," she said, refusing to let him argue as she hurried down the hall, no longer so worried about waking anyone. She grabbed them from his room then made her way back to her brother, still feeling upset to know that he had been stranded on the floor, even though he was okay.

"You should get back to bed," she said.

"Is that a Sovereign order? Or just you being bossy?"

Veer pushed on his arm, though, she made sure not to be rough on him.

"What are you doing up, anyway?" Atlas asked, suddenly causing Veer to gulp.

"I, uh, have a Sovereign task."

"At five in the morning?" He glanced down at his watch.

"I just wanted to get a head start-"

"We don't keep secrets from each other," he cut her off. "I won't tell Mom and Dad..."

Veer caved. "I know," she said. "I'm just excited because it's my first solo mission. I'm exploring the forest - probably on the far side of The Garden of Eden."

"Why?"

"Well, one of the reasons is because Izzy wants to get a more detailed map of the area, and everyone else was busy today. Be happy for me!" She said. "Just, don't tell Mom and Dad where I am."

"Veer..."

"What? They'd only worry because I'm still new to the job and, well, they're both natural worriers. I'll be fine, I promise. I know those woods like the back of my hand."