When All Else Fails (ON HIATUS)

A New Beginning in the Iceland's

A new chapter is up thank you WildChildMary for lending me Angel

Days passed on by and it was painful to face every day without their friend Zeke. Ville was true to his word though along with Angel, Alexi, Ollie, Jyrki, (who had slowly recovered) Tanny, Noe, and Adda he managed to bring back a sense of order.

Maria though stoic began to take charge again and she was surprised by how quickly her council accepted Ville, he was proving to be resourceful and a source of emotional, and spiritual, support for people.

Angel was willing to help organize the move in case Maria was willing to admit it was the best choice for the moment. Alexi was proud of his queen she was not only brave and fierce but kind and noble.

"I have come to a decision members of the council today Angel and Alexi, join us too," Maria said three days before Angel was to leave with her people. "Are we going with them?" Noe said as a matter of fact. "It is the best option, and our people seem to work well together" Maria added. "I am glad you made this decision sis, it's for the best, as painful as it will be to re-establish and organize your people, my people will welcome them with open arms" Angel added.

"I am glad you finally came to your senses boss," Tanny said. It had taken a lot of time to grieve and let go for the others to understand that they could not let Zeke's sacrifice go to waste and that things did happen for a reason, no matter how painful they were. "Zeke would have come back to haunt me by now if I had not snapped out of it" Maria replied, as Adda smiled, saying, "I am sure he has already boss".

"The people need your guidance more than ever" Ville added. Maria looked at him, he was right after all if she lost it, what could they expect to do?

It took some time to get them organized into groups, marching out at the same time was not a good idea and every time a group headed out via the secret tunnels that would lead to Angel's encampment, Maria prayed silently for their safe arrival. The day finally arrived for the leaders to leave and sadly dispose of the site, after all, they could not leave evidence behind for scavengers of the regulators to find, or even scouts of the eastern kingdom.

"It's gonna be weird not waking up here," Adda said, wistfully as she held Noe's hand. "So many memories" Tanny added. "Memories will fade," Maria said "we have still promises to keep, we have to destroy Anima and Animus" Maria added.

 She only felt him stand close to her and she shivered when he laced his fingers with hers, since their kiss he had respectfully kept his distance, but right now the fire in his green eyes could not make her push him away.

"And we will do so, together, even if we are not guaranteed tomorrow," Ville added. Tanny giggled, this guy was adamant about his feelings, and she hoped that Maria would open her heart, if she had been braver she would have done the same with Zeke.

"We should head out before the surveillance starts," Angel said surprising them as Alexi followed close by. "Indeed," Maria said as they set fire to the past, but lit a torch for the future. The trip through the tunnel was long and exhausting. The place was well kept by Angel's men but it still smelled damp and of sewer, the lack of ventilation made it hot. 

"The tunnel to this side of the city is rarely used," Angel said as Tanny held her breath. "That is why it is worse than the others" Angel added. "How much longer till we get to the city gates" Noe replied. Maria was trying to remain calm and collected, useless chatter was not going to make them walk faster. "About thirty more hours, but I know of places where there are hidden stashes of food and water, and some ventilation, we will make it" Angel replied as they all groaned.

Maria thought this was a fascinating system of keeping her people in order, yes it was dark, damp, and claustrophobic, but it was also safe and well-hidden from the regulators and other enemies. "Shame we had to collapse all of the tunnels back there," Ollie said.