Nikodemus nodded. “I think she’ll do it; I mean, if there’s a chance humanity could be saved, however slim, I think she’s willing to take this small risk to do so. What have we got to lose?”

Hilargi’s muscled relaxed at his words, and she gazed up at the ceiling in wonderment. “Wow… that’s amazing. I wish I could go with the scouts.”

Nikodemus cleared his throat. Hilargi turned her gaze back to him. She rose an eyebrow; he was suddenly looking absolutely miserable again. “Wh-what’s wrong?”

Nikodemus twiddled his fingers, trying to distract himself from whatever was on his mind. Eventually he said, “Hilargi. I have something to tell you, but you have to promise me that you’ll keep it quiet for now.”

Hilargi looked at him expectantly, but stayed quiet, waiting for him to continue.

“Ellia might have us undertake a very difficult journey soon. To the Zironist Church.” Nikodemus informed her.

At his words, Hilargi stood up in apprehension, gazing at him with wide, unblinking eyes. She whispered, “What?”

Nikodemus closed his eyes, unable to look at her for a moment. After that, he turned his gaze toward her and cleared his throat. “She is planning to hand me over to the Church. In exchange, the Zironists have promised her tribe Paradise and baby boys.”

Hilargi swallowed a lump in her throat nervously as she despondently covered her mouth with her hand in disbelief. She wasn’t sure to say to him. She felt if she told him that that was the stupidest, most reckless thing she had ever heard, then he might take offense and tell Ellia, which might lead to Hilargi being beaten or hurt.

A dozen scenarios in which the tribe could be killed entered her thoughts, and she was left to wonder how Ellia could be so foolish. “When is she planning to do this?” Hilargi asked.

“Probably as soon as possible.” Nikodemus answered. “She’s desperate, and I can’t blame her.”

Hilargi felt dizzy with fear. Mutants didn’t live long to begin with, but she knew that if Ellia undertook this task than she would only die all-the-sooner. She expelled a shuddering sigh, rubbing her nose. “Thank you for telling me this. I feel like I should go prepare for any eventuality ahead of time.”

“That’s why I told you.” Nikodemus said with a smile. “You’re brilliant, after all.”

It was strange to think that, even though he had told her news that had sucked her down into the pit of despair, she had still left that room feeling lighter than air. After all, the Last Man himself had taken an interest in her well-being, and considered saving her more important than saving himself.

***

The day after she had visited Nikodemus, Ellia took a small contingent of warriors with her to go to the Tribe of Lionesses. She had the leader of the Lionesses, Nadia, in tow and treated her gently, despite having to keep her bound. After all, she wanted to show the Lionesses that she was not unnecessarily cruel and could treat her enemies with dignity and respect, while still being firm and confident. On her way to the tribe, Ellia consistently wiped sweat from her brow and drank water from her flask.

She watched her surroundings like a hawk, looking for enemy tribes, aqrabuemalu, and any other hostiles that might try to hurt her.

The desert always made her feel like an unimportant speck in the grand scheme of things, and she detested the feeling. It made her feel like mankind was already going quietly into the dark without a fight—like they would all be gone soon, swept under the sand and never to be seen again.

She began to relax when she was just a yard away from the fortress off Lionesses, and she knew she would make it there safely. Her muscles unknotted and she felt a momentary wave of tiredness wash over her as she briefly let her guard down. She felt like she could be less alert for a moment as she took a few steps closer to the fortress.

Ellia looked the enemy fortress up-and-down. It was perhaps big enough to house one-hundred-fifty women, and was about thirty feet tall. It was black as iron, and rectangular in shape. Resembles more of a traditional fortress than our charming little igloo. She thought to herself.

Upon stepping closer, the woman on top of the fortress pointing a gun at Ellia called, “Halt! Who is it?”

Ellia, who had been dragging Nadia along with her the whole time, pressed her gun deeper into the other woman’s neck. “Ellia, leader of the Nymphs. Lower your gun or I’ll blast your leader.”

The other woman immediately did so. She then gazed at Nadia with a wounded expression. Nadia called to her, “Go inside and tell the tribe not to attack the Nymphs. I will be in with you in a moment. I have some news for you all.” Nadia’s voice became choked with emotion, and Ellia couldn’t help but feel bad for her for a moment. Ellia knew that the chances of something like this happening to her and her own tribe were high, and if it did happen, she would probably become a blubbering mess, too. She cared for her tribe deeply, and couldn’t stand the idea of failing them.