Chapter 7

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We finally reach the Dauntless compound and I feel my eyelids getting heavier with every step I take. A lot of the Dauntless that were present during Jeanine's and mine interrogation already reached Dauntless, but I feel like I have no energy left to even keep my eyes open. Tobias slowed down his pace in order for me to keep up. He offered to carry me, but I refused. He is as tired as I am.

We enter the Pit and everyone there starts cheering and stomping their feet. The noise wakes me up and I look around to find a clue as to why they are cheering. And then they chant our names. Four. Tris. Four. Tris. Four. Tris.

Those who rushed back to Dauntless told the others who chose to stay at the compound during the interrogations what happened, including the revelation of my divergence and the fact that those present at Candor chose me and Tobias to be the new Dauntless leaders. By the looks of it those who stayed home are not only okay with this new development, they actually embrace it. I realize that we need to say something. Both of us. I grab Tobias' hand and we walk to the same spot he gave his speeches the other two times, only this time I stand right next to him on the rock. He grabs the microphone and starts addressing the whole of Dauntless.

"My fellow Dauntless, it is an honor for both Tris and me to be your new leaders. We thank you for your faith and trust in us and we promise to do the best we can for our faction. It might be rough sometimes, mistakes will be made. But we will learn. Together. I realize you have many questions, but give us a few days to settle in and then we will have a meeting with all of you, back here," he says. He looks down at me and silently asks me if I want to say something. I shake my head no, but then grab the microphone from his hand.

"I'm sure you all know by now that I'm divergent," many of them nod. "Are you afraid of me? Or do you harbor any kind of negative feeling?" The majority shake their heads. "If you still have questions about divergence and those who are divergent ask us now. Let's get this over with. There is no hard feeling, I swear. I rather have all out in the open than have anyone feel uncomfortable."

"I have a question," a young blond girl not older than maybe eighteen or nineteen says.

"Yes, please," I say.

"I think I speak for a lot of people when I say that we all grew up believing certain things about divergents. Most of those things are lies and rumors. It would be nice if we would have some actual information on the subject. Is there anything written down on divergents?"

"I honestly don't know. Erudite might have something, but I wouldn't trust it though, considering recent events." And then a thought crosses my mind. "I think I have an idea. I'm going to present it to the council as soon as possible, but I'm going to tell you now anyways. I think it would be better if we gather this information first hand. Meaning I want those of you who are not divergent to write down questions or concerns regarding divergents and I want the divergent to help me answer them as best as we can. You can choose to ask me directly or leave a written note in a special designed box, signed or not, and we can answer them and at some point we can gather here and answer them out loud. I'm going to ask the other factions to do something similar, so that we all have a better picture on the matter. What I really want is that we all work together, divergent or not, we are all Dauntless because we all chose Dauntless. I think I can speak for Four as well when I say that we want a better Dauntless. I've learned over the past weeks since I came here that things used to be different here. That people worked together and helped each other. But because of the malicious influence of some people our former leaders chose to advertise rivalry and cowardice. The first night here Max said that we believe in small acts of bravery. The faction manifesto says that. And he is right. Only he and the other leaders never encouraged it. Instead vicious and reckless behavior was encouraged. I don't know how many of you know this but one of my fellow initiates was stabbed in the eye and was forced to leave the compound, being unable to finish his training. He was good, really good. Also, Four told me that when a Dauntless reaches a certain age he or she is asked to leave. I find this outrageous. These are a few topics I would like that we all discuss freely at our next meeting. Think about more topics and let me and Four know. Also, think of solutions. Things need to change here and we can only do that if we work together, as a team. What do you say?" The loud stomping and clapping answers my question. Good.

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