A Familiar Taste of Poison

Part 3

Ike was the best medic, but he was more than that to most. His loss was a burden to everyone in the tribe. He had saved many lives of the tribe, including shados. And it was everyone's time to return the favor. But the search for Ike had been futile. The commander sent Zelda and Lana, the best trackers within the tribe, out as search unit leaders.
And as Zelda stepped into her tent, she knew the results before any words were spoken.
"The mountain," Nex said, her eyes straight at Zelda as her arms stood against her sides.
Zelda only nodded, and nex continued, he voice softer than she wished it to be, "What about the ice nation?"
"If the ice nation was involved within this Ike would already be dead, and we'd know," Zelda spoke, her tone unflattering as she watched Nex look away in thought, "there would be no point to go to the ice nation for nothing but a body."
Nex stood silent for a second, taking in what she had learned and used it to fuel her voice, she responded with power,
"I will send a group to the mountain at dawn tomorrow. If nothing is found or if anyone is harmed, there will be no continued search."
Zelda blinked slowly before bringing up her chin, "Lana and I will choose attendants and be ready at dawn."
She turned away from the commander, taking a deep breath before stepping back out into the village, her head down as she turned the corner of the tent and rammed her body against another. Zelda looked up in anger, about to scold the ignorance or whomever ran into her when she recognized the face.
"Shado, what are you doing?"
"I will be one of you and Lana's attendants," shado spoke, her voice as smooth as a razors edge. Different than moments before, when she had spoken as if she was on a bed of nails.
"No." Zelda responded with her voice nothing but cold as she moved to get past shado.
"Zelda-"
Zelda turned, her eyes striking daggers as she looked back as shado, "I said no. I cannot risk the lives of both you and Lana."
And with that Shado let her go.