Survival Of The Fittest- A Fourth Wing Fan Fiction

Chapter 5

The next few weeks are a blur. Remi still won't talk to me, but Xaden has convinced her to apologize. Xaden and I sit on the roof together for either sunrise or sunset, sometimes both. We are fed the same lies in Battle Brief as normal. Nothing ever changes.

Dragon Kind lectures are my favorite. We are taught the different ways to approach each breed. After, our squad has sparring. My match was quick and easy, as always. “Are we good?” I hear Liam ask Remi from their place on the sidelines.

“Yes, I told you that this morning, didn't I?” Her voice is clipped.

"'You should talk to Rylee.”

“And why would I do that?”

“She is your best friend, and–"

“And she didn't have my back when I needed it. She didn't stand up for me when she should have.”

"Did you ever consider that maybe she needed you?”

Remi is called to challenge Imogen. Remi was doing a great job winding her up. Imogen's attacks start looking like she is wading through smoke. And Remi has poisoned yet another opponent. It seems to be her strategy. Remi yields after earning a favor from Xaden.

That evening, Remi was the one who joined me on the rooftop. Today, for once, was okay. “Hey,” I hold her outstretched hand.

“I have been thinking about something Liam had said,” her voice is soft. “Are you okay?”

I am shocked at how rarely I am asked that question. “It has been rough.” I move, and her eyes catch on the cut in my pants. I have yet to replace the pants since that night with Liam on the roof.

“Oh, Rylee.” She hugs me, “I am so sorry.”

I had been invited to train on the Gauntlet with Sage, Remi, Violet, Liam, and Bodhi. The next time we were in the gym, Remi's opponent didn't show, and Xaden stepped up. He lost to her, and then he lost to me.

After training on the Gauntlet one evening, Xaden and two other marked ones seemed to decide that going for a late-night flight to make a weapons drop would be a good idea. “You don’t know a damn thing about me.” Remi raised her chin.

“I know more than you think.” He says. “I know you’ve been practicing the Gauntlet at night, but you still can’t make it halfway up. I know you’re miserable here and that you half hope you don’t make it up at all.” Violet gasps behind him. “I know you cry so much over your sketchbook your eyes swell shut and that you feel more alone than ever, even when you’re
surrounded by people. How am I doing so far?”

He turns to me. “And I don't even want to pretend I can come anywhere close to understanding how you feel. There is no place you truly feel safe.” He moves back to face the twins. “You both should treat her better.” I shrink back slightly. “She gave up her life to protect you both.” His eyes focus on Remi, “She chose to live and protect the only people who still matter in her life, and you treat her like crap. Fix it.”

– –

The day before Presentation, I am shaken awake by Remi. “Ry, Xade has something to show us.” I quickly get dressed and find Xaden waiting for us.

"Are both of you ready?" he asks us.

“Do I look okay?" Since when has she been worried about how she looks?

“You're worried about how you look to meet a dragon?”

I pause and feel Xaden's hand graze my back. “Wait, where are we going?”

“You didn't tell her she was going to meet Sgaeyl?”

“No,” Remi just smiled, “I wanted it to be a surprise. Is she okay with this? We don't have to do it if she doesn't want to.” We continue walking to the flight field.