Aelburn (WATTY'S 2020)

.five.°°

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

Margaret Mead

December 3rd, 2199

LUCAS

Getting to know the Diangen was surprisingly easy and I had actually been intrigued by each of them. Willow especially, the way her pale eyebrows furrowed when she spoke of the man who saved her making me only more intrigued.

In the morning, after Jai had teased me for close to an hour, Yarrow busied himself cooking, having found a few rabbits to become victims of our hunger. Willow had bags under her eyes though she smiled at Jai as he spoke, gesturing flamboyantly with his hands as Aeraf sharpened his knife on a rock.

Jai raised his eyes to me, raising his eyebrow. "What's up, pretty boy?" He asked and I furrowed my eyebrows.

"N-Nothing." I scoffed and Jai snorted.

"You were just gawking at us like a weirdo." He shrugged. "I mean, I know I'm gorgeous but jeez, Lucas. You're making me bashful."

I wrapped my fingers around the snow behind me and hurled a fist-sized mass at him. Dodging with ease, Jai beamed at me and Willow sighed, shaking her head.

"I see you're a morning person." Yarrow said, turning his head to look at Jai and the man shrugged, his sweater rustling as he adjusted his seating.

"I'm an all-day person. At night I turn into a salamander and then I'm an all night salamander."

Aeraf dropped the stone in his hands, looking to his adoptive brother with an unamused look. "That was bad, even for you." He frowned and Jai laughed, shoving Aeraf's shoulder.

"I know. Not my finest joke."

"So is this your plan for getting Lavender back?" I asked, causing Willow to lift her eyes to mine. "Having Jai joke around until the guards die of second-hand embarrassment?"

"Well, no..."

"My jokes aren't that bad."

"Will you shut up?" Aeraf grumbled at Jai and the latter rolled his eyes, sighing.

"We need to come up with a plan," I said, standing and brushing the dirt from my pants. "Yarrow knows the ins and outs of the border wall, where to sneak in and sneak out. I know a way to get into the Science Ward through my home. The only problem is, my home and the entrance are heavily monitored. We'll have to take out cameras and guards if we want to have any chance of getting to Lavender."

Willow and Aeraf looked at me in confusion, Jai nodding along with my words.

"What the look for?" I asked and Willow rubbed the back of her neck.

"What...what's a camera?" She asked and Aeraf nodded to confirm his confusion.

"A camera," Yarrow started, removing the rabbit parts from the fire and moving to hand it out. "Is a device used to watch people without seeing them face to face. Aelburnian cities are littered with them and the guards use them to make sure everything is in order and that no Diangen got in."