The Girl from the Ground - Season 1

Episode Four, Part 2:

Episode Four, Part 2: 
A Boy Named Theo 

Everyone was left stumped by the question, most of all, Izzy. She had never seen this woman before and, as she glanced around at the immediate guards and officials around her, she sensed they were feeling the same weight of confusion as her.

"What's she talking about?" Harlow muttered at her side.

"I... I don't know," Izzy answered. "Auntie Riv? Do you know who she is?"

Sol took a deep breath and stared down the woman, trying to find some recognition, but she kept coming up empty. "I have no clue... Maybe someone from The City," she said, feeling her whole body tense at the words and a sharp pain run up her spine. Even Izzy felt a shiver reach her.

"I need to go out and speak to them-"

"No," both Harlow and Sol said at the same time.

Izzy tried her hardest not to roll her eyes. "I can't hide here. What will that make me look like to them? I have to show them that they can't scare us."

"They could take the opportunity to kill you, for all we know," Harlow said. "It's not like they haven't tried before. Who's to say that's not what they came for?"

"Well, I have to do something," Izzy insisted. "All of our people are here... I'm at least going to open the gate - so we can have a conversation."

"You're not going out there, Izzy," Harlow said, grabbing onto her wrist in desperation.

"A foot outside. The guards can stand with me and have their shields up if that helps. But if they came here to fight, then someone's going to get killed no matter what. Why should my people die for me? I'm the one who has to fight for them."

Harlow tried to argue, but he knew Izzy wasn't going to let him win. He looked to Sol for help, but she was powerless to the Noble's command.

"Fine," Harlow managed the words through gritted teeth. "But I'm right there at your side."

At his compromise, Izzy understood how nervous he had felt at her being out of reach, but she couldn't protest. She nodded at the guards in front of her to open the gates, watching as they hesitantly agreed, and stepped outside with Harlow.

Several guards followed them - holding up their shields to protect the Sovereigns, but unable to do much else.

"Who are you?" Izzy called out.

The man from the opposing clan took another step forward. "I'm Zach," he said, confidence heavy behind his smug look. "This is Maya. We're here to reclaim our land."

Izzy and Harlow looked to each other; Basilisk had been on the campgrounds for longer than they had been in the clan, and even longer than the former Sovereigns had been alive. If anyone had previously occupied the land, it would have been at least a hundred years ago.

Izzy glanced over her shoulder as if to ask Sol if she had heard what was said, but the look on her face - however wounded and ghastly it was - confirmed to Izzy that she had. To further the blow, Sol looked down the line to Kodiak, Dreea, and Wynn - each of them sharing the same expression and a realisation of a truth that hadn't reached Izzy or Harlow quite yet.

"Let's see if this sparks a memory," Zach said, well aware that neither Sovereign had figured it out. "Allow me to introduce the clan Maya and I have founded: New Riders."

Harlow's hand latched onto Izzy's at her side as the truth resounded in his gut. Izzy squeezed back, soft but firm, glad that the shields were covering their act of affection form the others.