Astataine

Chapter Twenty

"Avery we need to get out of-"

"We move we're dead."

The sun has risen well and truly into the morning sky as our army marches to the brink of the gorge. Still, the eerie feeling hasn't been shaken. My heart thrums wildly with anticipation. I've always hated this part of the war. The silence before the guns go off or the swords are drawn. The part where you don't know who's going to make the first move. I march up the front with Octavia, Gaia, Miller, and Indra amongst Octavia's elite warriors. My black armored jacket is a stark contrast to the limestone rock surrounding us.

Feeling a nudge on my shoulder, I peer over to give Miller a skeptical glance. His expression is a far softer than what he's watched me with over the past few days. Despite this, his head is still held stubbornly high when he assures me "I've got your six."

Ignoring the abrasive tone he uses I can still see the gesture behind it. Neither of us wants to admit we've been in the wrong. I shouldn't have been keeping secrets from Miller or gone around him to take Octavia down but I did. Although I'd expected Miller to have put up more of a fight against Octavia when she threw me into the fighting pit. I don't bring this up when I watch Miller carefully. Instead, I sincerely state, nudging his shoulder back "I've got yours."

With a curt nod our attention falls back to where Octavia's peering around the corner of the gorge. Silently I weasel past a few men with Miller to stand with Indra and Gaia as Bellamy takes a look through his scope. "Two pillboxes", Bellamy recognises "Just like Echo said."

My head snaps away at the sound of gunfire in the cliffs. It rattles off loudly in burst to draw in the attention of Diyoza's men. Just as planned our inside crew are taking on the other pillboxes to draw their fire away. "That's our signal", I murmur to Octavia who's stood not a few feet from me.

Confirming our plan, Bellamy tells us slightly stunned "It's working. They're moving out." Glancing back to his sister, Bellamy gives her a curt nod.

It's time.

Recognising this Octavia stands a little taller glancing over her shoulder to the rest of us. Then in a snap movement Octavia draws her sword, silently ordering her army to march on. Feeling my instincts beginning to take over as I fall into a warrior mindset I stalk closely to Octavia with Bellamy and Miller. As we move further into the gorge I warily gaze along the ledges. I can't help but wonder if this is how Roan felt when I cornered him in his attempt to march on Arkadia. Did he feel this trapped and uneasy or is it just my nerves?