The Girl from the Ground - Season 1

Episode Three, Part 6:

Episode Three, Part 6: 
Way Down We Go 

The Sovereigns lingered in the Quarters, anxiety causing them to pace around the couches or sit with their knees bouncing up and down. Izzy was sure she felt the worst of it with her chest tight, and her skin hot, and breaths fast and narrow.

"Everyone's gathered," Dreea announced, poking her head in through the doors, addressing both the current and former Sovereigns. "It's time to start."

They all glanced around - Eden and Veer sharing nervous looks with each other, but they followed Harlow's lead out of the building. As the others joined their path, Izzy moved towards Sol, catching her before disappeared out of the building.

"River," she said, hesitant that Sol's true feelings would come out and Izzy would realise she was right about what she had said to Harlow the night before. "Can I ask you something?"

But Sol smiled and nodded earnestly, offering her full attention to the young girl.

"...Do you think I'm making the right decision?" Izzy let out a sharp breath, finding it hard to push out of her chest.

"All I know about the situation with the new clan is what you guys told us an hour ago. And that what happened yesterday when the younger kids were out with Veer was enough to leave even Reign a little scared. But I know you," she said. "I know you're making the right decisions and you have the right intentions - which is worth more than you realise."

"It's just... I know how proud you are of building a camp with no fences. I grew up wanting to be like you and I'm the Noble Sovereign, so that shouldn't feel hard to achieve, yet I feel like everything I do is taking me one step further from who I should be."

"You want the truth?"

Izzy nodded, half hopeful, half afraid.

"I watch you and I know I made one of the best decisions of my life by voting you as the Noble."

Sol had always had a soft spot for Izzy, and the feeling was returned. But the young girl couldn't stop from doubting that Sol was only trying to fill her with confidence, rather than give her the cold, honest truth she felt she deserved.

"If I've made a mistake, you need to tell me. Before I go out there and announce this to all of my people. So I can fix this. If I shouldn't put the fences up-"

"You should."

Izzy took a breath, searching Sol's face for any sign of deceit, but there wasn't any.

"I would be making the same call if I was still the Noble. And, if you guys hadn't come to this decision, best believe Wynn, Dreea, your dad, and I would be doing it for you. We've got your back, Izzy."

The young girl dropped her head, shaking it in disappointment. "It's a little pathetic that I'm asking for so much reassurance when I'm the Noble."

"Not at all," Sol replied. "You have the most important role in all of Basilisk. And you haven't exactly had much practice dealing with outsiders and enemy clans since you were little. It's good that you're taking it so seriously."

"Did you always ask for help, too, or is that just me?"

"All the time, it felt like," Sol laughed. "Mine and Atlantis' father was the Noble Sovereign before me. As...cruel as he was, he was smart when it came to decisions for camp. And then there was Joren - perhaps more of a father-figure to me than my dad ever was; I turned to him more times than I liked to admit. But, at the end of the day, it was Dreea, Kodiak, and Wynn that I leaned on. There's a reason why Basilisk have multiple Sovereigns, and not just one."