The Last of Us

Chapter 15

Blake sat in a tree in the forest surrounding the White Fang camp, she had her shadows wrapped around her, hiding her in plain sight, allowing her to watch without worry of being seen.

When she first arrived, she overheard some people mention that Adam was away, having gone to meet some 'friends' in Vale, they didn't say where, not that it mattered to Blake since all she cared about was doing to Adam what he failed to do to her.

Blake swung her legs, causing the shadows to ripple as they protected her from the sunlight.

She turned toward the camp and noticed a familiar brunette leaving a tent and moving toward a man she didn't recognise.

"Is he coming back?" Blake heard Ilia ask.

"Soon, just be patient Ilia," he said.

"But there's been no sign of Blake for months now, he must know something." Ilia snapped.

"Perhaps, but like I said, you need to be patient, she probably just went to visit her family." the man suggested.

Blake frowned. No one knows?

"Maybe, I'm sorry, I'm just worried." Ilia admitted, slumping.

The man's eyes softened.

"We are all worried Ilia, she's just as much a leader to us as Adam." he reassured.

Ilia nodded. "I'm going for a walk, I'll be back soon." she turned toward the treeline where Blake was.

"Don't stay out too long, we don't know when Adam will return and we need to be ready when he does." the man ordered.

"I know, I'll stay near the camp." Ilia promised.

The man nodded and walked away.

Blake bit her lip and wondered if she should thicken her shadows so Ilia wouldn't see her, run, or talk to her, but as the brunette reached the forest, she suddenly got an idea.

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Ilia walked casually through the forest, going deeper until she was just out of sight of the camp, but not too far, in case she was needed.

As she walked, she sensed someone nearby, like she was being watched, she tensed and glanced around, for early evening it was awfully dark.

"Is someone there?" Ilia called.

The shadows seemed to ripple and shift, as though they had a life of their own, and slowly dissipated, revealing a familiar girl sat in a tree, swinging her legs.

"B-Blake?" Ilia asked in shock.

Blake smiled at her, but didn't say anything.

"Wait, is this one of your shadows? Where's the real Blake?" Ilia demanded, as though the Blake in front of her was an imposter who kidnapped her rather than just a clone.

"I'm real Ilia, and I can't use clones anymore." Blake explained.

Ilia frowned in confusion.

"What do you mean you can't use them anymore?" Ilia asked, slowly walking closer.

"Something happened," Blake answered vaguely.

"Be honest with me Blake, you always have before." Ilia ordered.

Blake sighed and jumped down, landing lightly in front of her.

"I... got badly hurt in battle, and my partner at Beacon is a vampire, so she turned me." Blake explained.

Ilia just stared at her.

"Ilia?" Blake asked hesitantly.

"My best friend's a vampire now..." she breathed.

"Look, I'll explain everything, I promise, but I need your help." Blake begged with a pleaful look.

"Alright, just one question first." Ilia said. "When you became a vampire, your Semblance changes, so what is it now?"

Blake blinked in surprise, not expecting that.

"I can control shadows," she answered, flicking her wrist and shadows swirled around them, hiding them both from view and making it dark again.

"Cool," Ilia said.

Blake hummed in agreement and jumped in the tree she was sat in earlier, she patted the branch next to her with an inviting smile.

Ilia accepted the invitation and climbed up next to her with a mock stern look.

"Tell me everything, starting from when you and Adam left." Ilia ordered.