The Girl from the Ground - Season 1

Episode Seven, Part 1:

Episode Seven, Part 1: 
The Garden of Eden 

Veer arrived back at camp, finding Harlow and Izzy lingering near the front gates as they waited for her. The apologetic look on their faces mirrored her own, and Veer felt her insides crushed together in guilt.

Harlow set his hand on Veer's shoulder, trying to offer her some comfort even though it felt in vain. "At least not finding him has confirmed one thing," he said. "That he's at New Riders."

"I'm not sure that's a silver lining," Izzy sighed. "It definitely won't be to Eden."

"Has anyone told her?" Veer asked.

Izzy shook her head. "Uncle Wynn returned alone a little while ago, and so did Harlow and I. None of the guards have found him. I think Eden knows, even if she can't admit it to herself, that New Riders have him."

"I need to talk to her," Veer announced, beginning to push through the small gap between them, but Izzy caught onto her arm.

"Veer," she said cautiously. "We can't tell Eden the weight of the situation."

Veer knew. Immediately, she knew. You can't tell Eden about the ever-approaching-reality of losing Elijah. She gulped, then nodded.

"She can't think she's going to lose him," Izzy continued. "But if she does...she's going to need you more than anyone."

In any other circumstance, Izzy's words would have felt like a comfort to Veer. There was something about knowing how much she meant to Eden that felt as though she was fulfilling her purpose in life, but it came at a price no one wanted to pay.

"I understand," Veer told her. "I'll try and get her to focus on something else. Maybe we can get to moving our people into the Bunkers."

Izzy mustered up a smile as Veer turned and headed for the Quarters, but it was faint and fragile. Once she was out of earshot, she faced Harlow, feeling as though she didn't have to try and hide as much.

"I think it's time," she said.

Harlow drew in a sharp breath, not entirely having expected Izzy to be the one to say it.

"If we wait any longer, New Riders will hit us first, or something will happen to Elijah and I don't think Eden will care enough about anything else to focus on all of our people. We move our families into the Bunkers, we get our people into place, then we initiate the war. No more waiting. We take charge."

"Good call," Harlow said, his hand resting on her lower back. "Hopefully Eden will be able to organise everyone into the Bunkers. In the meantime, I'll send some guards out to lay traps in the forest."

Izzy nodded as Harlow stepped away, heading to the guard tower beside the medic tent. Alone, she glanced around camp, savouring the sight of all of her people safe and alive for another night. She knew she wouldn't be as lucky tomorrow.

////

Izzy and Veer stood in the Bunker, sharing a breath of relief as they sealed the door behind them and knew for certain that their families were safe. Whatever happened in the war, their siblings and parents, for the most part, were guaranteed to survive.

"It's instant," Veer said, "the weight off my shoulders. I feel like I can already breathe so much easier."

Izzy smiled at her side but wasn't as able to relate to her as she wished.

"The hard part will be leaving them. Even though I know they'll all be okay," Veer said.

"I didn't even think about that," Izzy laughed, but it was nervous and full of hesitation. "At least we've got a little time to kill before we have to get back to camp; might as well make it count."