Erudite was always her home, following her mother around in constant agitation, but when she had the chance to leave, to escape the control, Ashlyn took the chance and now she is Dauntless. She dares to dream of adventure and freedom but what if tha...
A small smile was sent in the direction of Jeanine Matthews as Ashlyn walked passed her, out of her seat, not receiving a smile in return. Short and sweet, the teenager took a breath of air, thinking of her mother's words to another as she walked down the stairs and towards the choosing bowls. "I want you to choose who you truly are, and where you truly belong. Not on a whim, not because you wish you were someone you're not, but because you honestly know yourself. I want you to choose wisely and I know you will." Now, it was clear to Ashlyn that the words were not directed towards her, as she knew her mother wished for her to become the second Erudite leader, but as the girl stopped in front of the bowls, she knew that would never happen.
There was a bowl of water for Erudite, Ashlyn's hazel eyes looked back at her for a while as she stared into the bowl before closing them and glancing at the others. Glass for Candor, because they hid nothing and always showed the truth, Ashlyn rolled her eyes at the bowl before stilling her nerves and thinking of her options, although she knew where she was going, she was just delaying her choice to keep her mother on edge. Dirt for Amity, the sight was refreshing for the girl, reminding her of late-night runs and days of adventure with her father, Edward Matthews, who had been lost to them. Smooth, grey pebbled for Abnegation looked up at her, the enemy of her mother before her eyes finally settled on the bowl she held such a strong connection to. The smoking coals of Dauntless, a slight heat radiating from them and warming the soul of the adventurous girl in a blue suit.
With a slight nod from Marcus Eaton, she lifted the short dagger from the table and pressed it against her palm, breath hitching slightly as a cut formed and blood pooled. Forming a cup with her hand, she gently moved to hover over the bowl, before tilting her arm and clenching her fist watching as the red liquid dripped down into the warmth and sizzled before the room was informed of her choice, "Dauntless" called Marcus, before the air was filled with quiet gasps, all the Erudite eyes falling on Jeanine and drifting between the mother and daughter. Ashlyn's eyes met her mother's, a smirk filling her face as she moved towards the cheering group of Dauntless members, feeling at home in the chaos.
As she sat down, the eyes of her mother drifted away, the eyes of the others in Erudite, her old faction, drifted away and she was left alone. She was free. It felt like she could fly. Like she had wings that were burning to run away and explore, but the ceremony still hadn't finished and as the boy next to her turned with a smile on his face and his hand out in greeting, reality came back in a storm. "Hi, I'm Harley Hermes Poulter, transfer from Amity," he tells her, voice soft and gentle. "I can see that" Ashlyn chuckles slightly looking down at the orange outfit he was wearing before shaking his hand, a smile on her face. "Ashlyn Athena Matthews". With that, the two were introduced and began talking about their lives before the transfer in hushed voices until a girl sat next to Ashlyn, a girl she knew from her many night runs. Beatrice Prior.
Before long, the girl was attaching a bandaid to her palm, smoothing it along her cut before all of the Dauntless members stood, and with multiple whoops and shouts, slid down the stairs toward the road, where they ran. Hair blowing the ribbon out of Ashlyn's hair, she grinned looking back at her friend and holding her hand out, a wink directed towards the girl and Harley as she pulled him and Beatrice along to the supports for the train track before they all began to climb. Ashlyn knew what was about to happen, she had watched the dauntless born from afar many times as they journeyed around the city, The other two, however, had no idea and as Ashlyn, Harley and the others started to run she stayed stuck to her place before a singular shout directed her to follow. "Come on Prior, hurry up!"
With Beatrice finally on the train, Ashlyn relaxed slightly, sitting next to the door, leaning against Harley's side slightly and looking out as the world soared by, before she turned away when her friend tapped her on the shoulder. "Ashlyn, Harley, this is Christina, Christina this is Ashlyn and Harley". Christina was a transfer from Candor, the white jacket she wore gave her away to Ashlyn instantly. Dark hair framed her face as brown eyes blinked towards the blonde before a slender hand was brought forward causing Ashlyn to look down at it and connect her hand, "it's nice to meet you, now I suggest we all get ready". With that being said, the train neared a single rooftop and the dauntless members got ready to jump. Ashlyn stood, holding her hands out for Harley and Tris to take, Christina taking Tris's free hand as they all looked at each other chuckling slightly, "together?"
"On three. One...Two...Three!"
~~~
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