The lake drew us in. The cold breeze swept as, as we approached. Hiding in the bushes we spotted a band of 12 soldiers inspecting the area. Two of them searched and rummaged through the Carriage.

Ussu worried grabbing Yannu, scared for her life.

Kairui peeked through the bushes, her face was unfazed.

"You all. Stay here am going to listen in".

"Don't start. Something we can't win" Quine reminded.

She had taken up the mantle of the leader.

The Representative spokesperson for the friends on this mission.

Kairui looked at her with a smug look on her face.

"These kids…" she thought to herself. Sneaking out the bush, crawling to the next and the next.

Gaining distance to the band of men. She listened out hearing them discuss their plans and motive.

Some of the men, raced back into the gorge. Leaving the two to stay inspecting the wagon as two lay protecting the gorge entrance.

Lookouts., damn this won't be easy. We'll have to heed danger ahead.

Kairui looked around. Examining the terrain while she listened to the duo of men.

Then she turned back around, looking at the forest and the small mountain cliff. A waterfall sat beside them.

The sound of the water gushing and racing past her drew her thoughts again.

"Up!" she concluded.

"Hey, what do you think's happening??" Ussu whispered over to Aya.

"I don't know let's stay calm and collected okay" I replied while grasping her hands.

"Listen… keep It down. We're good okay. Like Aya said we'll be fine, if we stay calm" Quine butted in, making her way crouching towards us.

"But… but they have our food. Our weapons we left in the carriage and what not?" Ussu said in fear, Shaking.

Yannu grasped her shoulder. Petting her head.

Ussu glanced back at him, calming down.

Yannu made eye contact with Quine and Aya. Nodding at Quine.

"We're good…" he thought in his mind. "We're good!"

Kairui made her way to the group, slithering like a snake. Keeping the sound of the rustling bush to a minimal.

The soldiers in the wagon made their way to the narrow chasm entrance. A tight passageway that sat between two mountains. The group had used an alternative route. Using both their surveillance and knowledge of the area to reach the lake in the wagon.

They continued probing it for clues.

Dashing aside a broken box from the wagon.

"Look!" Ussu shouted out.

The soldiers froze turning in their direction.

The group hugged the ground. Everyone freezing in their steps.

A long pause met the group.

Kairui commanded with small gestures, they retreat back into the forest.

"Okay, what was that??" Kairui commanded! Her mood shifting, her voice had never reached this tone before.

Ussu shook scared, she gripped Yannu as Shassii rubbed her back.

Yannu stuck his arms out defending her.

"She's scared… she's scared, it won't happen again".

"She nearly got us killed or figured out at best!!".

"Please, she's worried" Shassii defended her friend adamantly, refusing to back down..

"Still, she should've kept her composure there. It could've got us all killed" Quine stepped in. Pointing fingers.

"Whose side are you on Quine??" I refuted.

Quine turned to me, confused.

"It's not about sides. It's about us nearly dying back there!" she fired back at me.

"Well, we all know she's not exactly the most confident of us all. Lay off of her. She didn't mean it!" I argued.

"Listen, I get that. But we have to set some rules if we make this journey together from now on. We can't be scared!".

"We didn't need rules in the raid! We made it out together as a group. Every one of us! This was a mistake, let's just let it go okay!" Yannu chipped in, as he pet Ussu who was now bawling in tears.

"I… I didn't mean to" she uttered out weeping.

"I got us out. I made us reach the blacksmith shop. Did you forget? She was piss head drunk and you were scared shitless!" Quine shot back angrily.

Yannu fell silent.

"Just, let this all go guys. We've got other stuff to worry about" Shassii tried to cool the atmosphere.

Kairui stroked her hair, seeing the teens play out.

"Quine, your way out of line! Yes, she made a mistake. It's Ussu for Śeingtt sake, she isn't you. She isn't used to all this" I tried reasoning with her.

"WHAT'S THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN? EXACTLY!" Quine asked her face ablazed. Facing back to me heated.

I was taken aback. I knew my next words needed to be innocent and clear or it would cause a fight.

"Well, I didn't mean….. I didn't mean anything by it!".

"No, I think you did Aya. Was that a cheap jab at my past misfortune… fuck you!"

"Guys!!" Shassii yelled out.

I took her response in.

"First of all…."

"Nope actually. Fuck you!!!... Quine" I fired back.

"Guys…."

"Fuck Me!! After all, I've done for us all. Am merely trying to look out for you!!

"Fuckin useless twigs....." Quine ferociously dismissed lashing out insults at everyone.

Ussu shook at the scene erupting.

The boiling point had erupted. A catfight was soon to sprawl, bursting between the two.

"Useless twigs! Quine, don't push me. Not today and not at this time!" Aya urged her, furiously pacing back and forth.

"Or what?!?" Quine taunted following after her.

"Am warning you! Don't make this bigger than it has to be!"

"Or what!!" She mocked laughing in Aya's face.

"Quine back off! Or I'll beat your face in and show you who's the useless twig.....".

"No, you won't bitch! I bet you fuckin won't!" She teased hopping back and forth, Circling around Me hissing and jeering.

"HMPH"

Aya revealed a serious punch that cut through the air.

Quine stood in suspension as she festered around, mocking her . Unsuspecting of the assault about to reach her.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOO" Shassii cried out.

Kairui caught the punch, twisting Aya's wrist.

"Ahhhhhhhhhhh" she wept out falling to the ground.

Quine awoke to see her on the floor, she burst into tears laughing.

Kairui swept her off the ground, as well, she fell landing on her backside.

"Both of you! No the bunch of you!"

"SHUT THE FUCK UP!!!"

"This is why I hate fucking kids!"

"TEENS!!" Aya and Quine roared out simultaneously.

"WHATEVER!" she opposed.

"Now girly…. UMMM Ussu was it".

"Yeah…" Ussu answered.

Kairui breathed in and out. Letting all the anger and frustration leave her immediately before she apologized.

"Am sorry for shouting at you. Yes, it wasn't your fault. You were taken by surprise…. We are going to encounter more of these soldiers. If you have a fear, I strongly suggest you head back to camp with Sannu!"

Ussu was glad at her apology. She thought about her request for a moment before replying back solemly.

"Thank you first!"

"I refuse your request. I want to help out. I lost my composure there and endangered you all but I promise it won't happen again. Please let me continue" she pleaded.

Kairui held her arm out before wiping her face.

Looking up at the trees and the fading moon.

"Okay, it's agreed".

"All in favor say A'si"

"A'SI!" Yannu, Ussu, Kairui, and even a sprained wrist Aya all voiced out their opinion.

Kairui let go of Aya's wrist warning her, before kicking and turnover over Qquine.

Resting her boot on her.

Quine was stubborn, she didn't like to lose arguments or fights. She held a scornful bitter look in her eyes. Her rivalry with Aya went back to ages. The two could never see eye to eye on most things. Sharing the same group of friends made it worse because each would act as a leader of the click. Spending too much time together would boil over into a fight eventually.

Being friends since the academy the group had managed to keep both separate at best. While engaging with each other for the most part it worked. Even up until college before the Invasion.

Quine gasped fighting for air as she fought Kairui's heavy foot.

"All in favor…..!" Kairui teased, pressing her foot down inch by inch.

"haa…. A'siiiii" moaned out Quine.

Irritated and annoyed.

She sulked in the corner as her anger was still in her.

The rest of the group ignored her.

Kai let her go, before bringing the group in once again.

"What were they saying? Did you pick up on it?" Yannu interrogated her, reluctant to hear an answer.

"I did!" Kairui responded.

"They plan on informing the rest of their unit back at the village. How quick we move will determine our chances to avoid them".

"What do you mean?" I asked Stepping back closer to the group.

"We have around…"

Kairui looked at the moon and the tint of the sky.

"Around forty five shinns to sun rise. I say. We need to ransack and get my gear then head out quickly" she responded planning it all out in the dirt beneath us.

"The narrow chasm will buy us time if they come chasing after us. Since this scout of ours will spot them from across the lake and warn us".

"What's this cute thingy? Here" Ussu chimed in, cheered up.

"Which one?"

"This circle figure that looks like a chubby bunny" she pointed out.

"Ohh, that's you. We need you to be the look out. The scout for when the soldiers are coming. While we gather the gear from the carriage" Kairui explained.

"Am not that chubby" Ussu murmured frowning her face.

The group chuckled.

Hopping from one individual to the other. Before loud hooting and howling encompassed them all. Even Kairui the most serious burst out hysterically crying.

Yannu fell to the floor in a fit. As Ussu banged on his chest and pulled his gown to save face. Kicking him slightly in frustration. His laughter caught and prompted everyone to carry on. It was contagious laughter even Ussu eased up and started giggling.

"Don't hehe… laugh guys…. It's true.."

Quine fought off the urge to laugh… at the weight remarks.

Aya turned back to her, seeing her smirk slightly. Quine swayed away, pretending to be fascinated by the leaves. She was a sore loser at times.

"Ahh ok back on track now" Kairui came back to her senses. Wiping the tears from her eyes.

"We need to get my equipment as fast as possible, then race to the forest again. Make our way around here, onto the mountain edge and zipline across to the top of the gorge".

The group followed along with her plan sequence.

A voice spoke out.

"What happens if they spot us??" Quine spoke out, it was her muffled voice.

It was the voice of someone who was dying deep down of laughter but tried to mask It. She stumbled over her words as she tried to maintain a serious manner and tone.

"…. I mean… for us to climb across would take around seven to ten full shinns. If we rush. Is that even possible?? ….." she doubted.

"It is, we would've had more time if the two of you didn't want to rip eachothers heads off. In your childish outbursts!"

"YOUTH!!" the two replied again. Spotting eachother before looking away again.

"Tough characters these two. Real drama queens!" Kairui thought to herself.

"Quine's right. Won't they spot us as we climb across. Can we all climb across at once to cut the time in half…" Shassii asked.

Kairui rubbed her chin.

"It won't work. Someone has to make it across the other end to secure the line" .

"Plus, all the mass on the rope could make it ...snap" she ended. Clapping her hands while peeking at Ussu.

Ussu blushed flicking her hair to the side.

Yannu let out a soft giggle.

He was met with a hard jab of her elbow to his ribs.

"Ahh"

"Well anyway we have the cover of darkness and plenty of time till sunrise. We have to do this before the rest return with torches and more men. Let's move A'siiii".

"A'sii!!" the click cheered in response.