The Girl from the Ground - Season 1

Episode Four, Part 5:

Episode Four, Part 5: 
A Boy Named Theo 

Veer led the group of her guards through the forest, unable to admit to any of them that she was disappointed they hadn't run into someone from New Riders; she wanted a fight; she wanted to return to her family and make them all proud with a story about how she had faced the enemy alone out of camp and conquered them.

Still, she knew it was a blessing that they were safe, and when they reached their other group of guards who were coming off their shift, Veer was relieved to see them all unscathed.

"Sovereign Veer," one of guards greeted her, reaching a hand out and patting her on the back. "Good to see you."

Surely it said something that she was so approachable; that everyone talked to as if an old friend, and not just one of their superiors.

"Hi Jordan," she smiled. "How's everything out here? Any movement?"

Jordan, the head guard in his group, shook his head. "Not from what we could see. But we think they have their suspicions that we're around as they have a couple of their own on lookout."

"A lookout outside of camp?"

"No, just at their perimetres. They're also building up fences around their campgrounds, so it seems they're planning on staying."

Veer sighed, then shook her head quickly to rid of the bad feeling. "We're not going to let that happen," she assured them. "You guys get back to Basilisk, we've got things covered out here."

"Are you coming back with us?"

"I've got some things I need to take care of. Why? Don't think you can get back to camp in one piece?"

Jordan laughed. "I was actually going to offer to stay back. The new team of guards is strong, and well-rested, but if you need protection, I'm your best bet."

"It's appreciated, but I'll be fine. Thank you, Jordan. And I am a Sovereign, so I do have some skills to handle myself out here," Veer teased.

"My apologies. I didn't mean it to come across that way. Sovereign. Your dad asked me to keep a close eye on you out here, that's all."

Though she hated to know she made her parents worry, Veer felt warmed by her parents protection over her. "You get back to camp and tell my dad I'm just fine."

Jordan nodded, confident in his Sovereign's capabilities, and whistled for his portion of the group to follow his lead home.

"Where do you want us, Sovereign?" One of the remaining guards asked.

Veer thought for a moment; she'd already came up with a plan of action before leaving camp, but upon hearing the update from Jordan, she debated if there was a better way for her to utilise her guards.

"You two, head to New Riders and keep an eye on their camp. You, you, and you," she pointed the next three out, "scan the forest for any changes; check if our traps our still set up, and if New Riders have put any up. And you three, check all of our shacks in the forest and make sure they're still loaded with everything: emergency weapons, first aid, you know the drill."

All the guards nodded, following Veer's orders without complaint, until she was left alone in the open. Where others might have felt fear, Veer couldn't have been more excited to be by herself in the face of such danger; to prove that her bravery was hers, and hers alone - not dependant on anything but herself.

In what felt like minutes, Veer had navigated herself to the nearby perimetres of New Riders' campgrounds.

Jordan was right; they had built up some sort of fence around themselves, not only making it harder for them to face the brunt of an attack should it come their way, but making it harder for Veer to see inside. Luckily for her, Veer loved any excuse to climb a tree, and was quick to latch her hands onto the nearest branch, pulling herself further and further up until she was at least two stories high.