Indigo awoke the next day to a rush of bodies and voices. It was incredibly early morning and she quaked at being aware of the cold air enveloping her bare arms and her face. She squinted, saw Liberators rushing about. They weren’t quiet. Something was happening. Just when she was about to force herself out of the warm covers she turned and saw Zo, crouched by her side, ready to wake her. Indigo looked up, blinking away sleep, noticing Zo’s serious expression through blurred vision.

“We need to move, Indigo. Come on.” Zo held out her hand, Indigo took it and was yanked to her feet. She and Zo held each other a moment as Indigo steadied herself. “Sorry this is so sudden.” Indigo held her warmth and her sturdiness, took a deep breath and shook herself off. She was too sleepy to be overly concerned as she felt she should have been. But she was getting there.

“Okay,” Indigo said, her breath visible in the early air. “What happened? Something’s happened hasn’t it?” She moved to roll up her bed roll and Zo knelt down to help her gather her bag.

“We have Royal soldiers on our tail,” Zo said. “A large group. And we’re certain they aren’t the only patrol searching for us.” Zo quickly grabbed hold of Indigo’s arm. Indigo shot a look, panic ensuing within her chest. “It’s not only you they’re after. They’d love to get their hands on us too.”

“Right,” Indigo said. She picked up her sheathed sword and held it tightly. She didn’t fight before. But she would this time. “I’ll be ready.”

“No,” Zo said.

The answer irritated Indigo, making her stand and look down at Zo. “Yes. I’m here, I’m a Liberator just like all of you. And it sounds like we’ll need to fight eventually.” How could she refuse? She better not be trying to protect her now. Not after everything.

Zo smiled, stood up and stepped close to her. Her armor formed her nicely, strong and useful for movement. “We’ve moved as far as we can. But they’re close. We would need to fight eventually. So we’ll fight them now. However, we can’t stop our forward momentum. Some of us will stay behind to hold them off while others continue with the mission.” She grinned and secured Indigo in place with a firm squeeze. “You will be pushing forward with a smaller team. You are a vital piece to our plan.”

Indigo furrowed her brow and shook her head. How could she say this? How could they split up after… after everything that’s happened between them all. “Not a chance! I’m fighting with you all! You need me.” She paused. Oh, was this because of… She lowered her head. “Is this because of how I froze up in the past? I won’t do that again. I swear I will fight.”

Zo gently grabbed Indigo by the chin and made her look up again. Zo smiled and shook her head before kissing her slowly. “No, Usamea, this is because we trust you to complete our mission. You will travel forward with Vivian and a squad of three other soldiers you’ve briefly met before. With all of us against their troop we will be able to put up a good fight.”

Indigo’s heart raced. She couldn’t leave Zo behind. But Zo looked at her, just as she always did, with determination. With a certain belief in her abilities. Zo looked at her. Saw her abilities, her potential. Indigo wanted to protest. But she looked around and saw Liberators brandishing their weapons, securing armor, getting ready to stand off against the Divine Force that stalked them.

“Besides,” Zo spoke up. “I think you deserve to remove the High Priest’s head more than anyone.”

Indigo smiled. Then nodded. Okay. Okay, she will move forward, holding onto the trust of her fellow warriors. “I’ll be ready soon.”

Zo kissed her again. Held her forehead to hers with a hand pressed behind her. They remained there with each other for a while. Indigo breathed and enjoyed her presence for as long as she could. It felt wonderful. But it hurt as well.

Indigo was packed and geared up within moments. Driven by the determination of all around her, she secured herself in armor gifted to her by her fellow Liberators. Armor of firm brown leather and light chainmail beneath for some added protection in her sides and back. The body armor mostly protected her frontside, strapped around her back. Her legs were secured in shin guards and softer leather boots, good for travel in harsh terrain. Where it did protect her it was flawless. The gaps gave her ease of movement. And traveling in such short numbers, her comrades knew the distance at which her Gift would kill — five meters. Indigo wasn’t skilled with her Gift. She, of course, heard stories of the Gifted, especially those in Matrun, practicing with their Gifts and Auras daily -- increasing Aura size and mastering Gift control within its range. Indigo hadn’t focused on much of that. She didn’t know what else could be done with a Gift such as hers. All she knew was that it was an impenetrable fortress. One that killed indiscriminately but, if used carefully, could pave a way forward right up to the High Priest.

It would be a journey full of pain. But she was used to pain. It was nothing more than an inconvenience after all.

Zo stood before the Extreme Liberation Team, looking out over them as they stood between the trees, feeling as tall and sturdy as the whole forest. Next to her was Ryton, hand resting on the hilt of his sword — Indigo noticed it shaking. Nyle stood as a giant as always, strong and dangerous but his gentle face scanned his friends, eventually landing on hers. He nodded. She nodded back. Then, there was Willow, as stoic and patient as ever, but even she held a face of pride, her eyes intent on seeing all before her.

Indigo watched Zo. They were distant now. Everything happened so fast, too urgent for a prolonged goodbye. But this was no goodbye. This was a momentary lapse. They looked at one another for a while. There was no one else for a time. Zo seemed proud of her. Scanning her up and down from time to time before landing back at her gaze. And then, Zo addressed them all.

“My friends. My warriors. We are so close to our final goal. But, as it is with life, we are faced with more obstacles as we get closer to victory. Behind us is a unit of Royal soldiers. Not yet Knights — seemingly those of similar caliber to our battle with the Third Company. Poor, pathetic pawns of the High Priest, being forced to undergo rigorous hardships in the name of repentance.” She paused. Breathed deeply. The forest was so peaceful, as if they weren’t in any danger at all. “Today is a day where we must break apart. Today is a day where we must fight. This will be different from bandits, Boneless and creatures of the night. These are skilled soldiers, armed to the teeth. They will most certainly have Hawks. We’ll be up against a lot. And we will most certainly be outnumbered.”

The Liberators were entirely still. Silent.

Indigo never let her eyes leave Zo’s. Right now, Zo was her commander. At her order, she would fight or she would push onward. She had faith she would uphold her end of the mission. And Indigo would do the same with hers.

Zo continued, increasing the level of her voice. “But we have faced larger obstacles before!” The Liberators cried out in response, an echoing battle cry. They were no longer being stealthy. They would focus the enemy here while the others moved forward. “We have faced death before! We have conquered it before! And we will continue to do so on this day!!” The Liberators cheered again, crashing their blades into shields, whistling, stomping their feet. Together, started by Zo, they chanted. They did not dance. They did not sing. They commanded it. Broke through the world with their words. Indigo shouted the words to the sky, echoing across the forest, their voices forming into one that could rival the Gods themselves:

“The Colors of Greed --

“We Sing To Your Walls --

“Gold and Silvery Laws --”

“Until We Are Free --

“We Fight ‘Til We Fall --

“And Sing Our Merciful Song --”

“Extreme Liberation --

“From Coast to Coast of All of Nadi --

“We Will Shine A Light To Those In Need --

“The Extreme Liberation Team!”

They let the shouts fade away into the breeze, into the birds chirping, into the sounds of leaves brushing against one another.

Zo grinned and drew her sword. “Indigo Scout. You will travel forth with Vivian, Brennan, Lukas and Robyn.” They all stepped forward and nodded to one another. She had met the last three and spoken with them more than a few times but didn’t know them as well as she knew Vivian. She was glad to have her by her side. She was glad to have them all. But there was sadness in her as all but their group moved forward, dozens upon dozens of her fellow Liberators moving to join Zo, Ryton, Willow and Nyle. It would be a while until they all saw each other again.

Zo raised her sword high and was surrounded by a sea of warriors.

“Let’s meet them head on.” She looked to Indigo. “Go complete our mission. Free this land of its tyrant.” And they were off.

Indigo watched them march through the woods for a time. Zo didn’t turn around. She didn’t expect her to. Indigo’s heart burned, watching all she loved leave to face incredible odds… but then Vivian gently touched her arm. Indigo turned, catching the glint in Vivian’s eye. Then, she looked to her team, some of the first people to support her during the Boneless attack. Indigo grinned and faced them all. She noticed she wasn’t the only one sad by these events. She realized she was still with the ones she loved.

So, she faced them and became the leader Zo had trusted she could become. She was a warrior. A Liberator at heart.

“Okay,” Indigo said. “Lift your heads.” Indigo didn’t think of what Zo would say. She thought of what she herself would say. How did Indigo Scout want to be? How did she want to speak? The question came to her -- one that she often asked herself to remind her of her purpose. “What do you all fight for?”

Vivian looked up at her and stood a bit taller.

“I fight for the Goddesshood,” she said. “I fight for their values. I fight for all of you.”

Brennan stepped forward and placed his hand firmly upon the hilt of his sheathed sword. “I fight for the freedom of all people. Regardless of their background or belief system. I fight for my fellow warriors.”

Lukas was shaky, clearly one of the newer members of the Extreme Liberation Team. “I… I’ve always wanted to be a warrior. To fight alongside others. Alongside friends.” He tightened his lips and sniffed in. “I’m honored to be here. To fight for my friends.”

Robyn smiled widely and practically leaped forward. “I have wanted to be a Liberator since the first day I met them. Now that I finally am one, I will use this sword to bring us closer to freedom. I’ll never surrender. I fight for us all.”

Indigo closed her eyes. It had been such a long time hadn’t it? To finally come to this. To finally be this close to the border of the Kingdom. To have a way in, regardless of how difficult and nasty and hellish the journey would be… there was a chance. And she didn’t have to do it alone.

“When I met Zo,” she said, “I was lost. Damaged. I didn’t think I could trust anyone ever again. But now, here I am. I once fought for revenge. But now… now I know I can fight for a greater cause. To relieve others of the suffering I’ve faced. To use my Gift for the greater good. Together we will tear down the Kingdom.”

They all held each other’s hand for a moment. And then, Indigo took charge. Vivian knew the way through these lands so she was the guide. They raced through the trees at a steady, quick pace.

It had finally begun. Their paths toward their chosen destiny opened up before them.

Indigo was terrified. But she was determined. Miles upon miles until they met with the Alchemist by the sea for their additional gear. Miles upon miles until they infiltrated Shieldhome. They would conquer the miles. Indigo led her squad out of the trees. They burst through the treeline into the open air. The sun warmed them and energized them.

They all paused when they heard the clases of metal echoing through the forests. Distant cries of battle. Muffled screeches of Hawks.

For a moment, Indigo hesitated. But another knowing look from Vivian and her team secured her.

“Fight for each other,” Vivian said. “They are strong. We are strong.”

Indigo raised her head, squared her shoulders. And they continued their journey forward. The sounds of fighting dwindled away behind them.