I ran over to Eclipse, he opened his arms and grabbed me in a hug.
"Where have you been?" I laughed as I playfully pinched his arm.
"Ow!" He laughed, "I've been taking care of your new child and exploring, she's been telling me an awful lot of stories about you."
"I knew her mom," I told him, "I want to get geared up to go to Lionsville, I want our people to mix in with these people."
"As you wish Hena," Jasper said from behind me.
I turned and gave him a quick hug.
"The trip should be short and sweet since everyone here knows I'm the last Hena," I explained.
Jasper nodded and asked respectfully, "May I come?"
I nodded, "I wanna bring Kaida too, I want everyone to meet her."
Kaida was hugging my leg tightly.
"Hannah's gonna love you," I told her as I ran my finger over her head.
Jasper looked at me, puzzled.
I tilted my head at him, I was confused about why he was confused.
"Hasn't Hannah met her already?" Jasper asked.
Crap. He didn't know.
I shook my head, "I'll tell you later."
He nodded and smiled, "I'm going to go get some food packed and then we can go."
I nodded and him and turned to Eclipse where we exchanged a stupid conversation about whether I was going to paint the castle walls.
--
"Hena!" Donte called out as he ran to me, we were geared up and starting to walk out the outer gates when Donte interrupted our trek.
I turned and Eclipse immediately shoved me behind him and shifted. He let out a heart shaking snarl towards Donte.
"Omigosh I'm not going to hurt her mutt," Donte growled as he walked past Eclipse to me.
"Where are you going?" Donte asked.
"Home, I'm going to bring my people here," I explained with a smile, "Minus the six that your younger brother murdered."
Donte looked shocked and worried, "Don't go, the people- the people here need you."
"What do they need me for? They've been without me for twenty years, they can wait another two years."
Donte looked down and then looked back up at me, it seemed urgent, "Please just stay here Hena."
I was confused on why he was pleading for me to stay here.
"She gave you an answer," Jasper growled as he escorted me out the gates and into the forest. Kaida held my pinky and ring finger as we walked. Eclipse stayed in wolf form and walked beside Kaida and Jasper walked beside me.
We walked for miles and miles, Kaida ended up riding on Eclipse. She thought it was fun.
We walked for a few more miles until it got dark and then we camped out for the night. Eclipse slept in wolf form: curled in a ball with Kaida in the center keeping her warm.
I stayed up to keep watch and Jasper stayed up to keep me company.
"Can you please sleep," I urged him as I sharpened my knife on a rock.
"Why do you think Donte was so concerned?" Jasper asked.
"Way to change the subject."
"This is serious," Jasper urged, "Donte never worries about anything."
I shrugged, "It's probably nothing, he probably feels bad about this." I stretched my neck so Jasper could see the still very open wound on my neck.
"I just have a bad feeling," Jasper said as he rubbed his arms. He was cold.
I placed my hand infront of my face and blew into it which shot fire into the little fire between us. The fire got bigger and Jasper reached his hands out towards the fire to warm them.
"What other cool tricks can you do?" Jasper asked as he rubbed his hands together and put them back towards the fire.
I put my hand into the fire. And just as I did, the form of a king appeared, he looked down among his six men, three of which were soldiers, three wore crosses around their necks. The king threw his arm to the side and the soldiers forced the men into the deepest parts of the fire. The soldiers perished from the heat, while the three men disappeared. The king stood to his feet as the three men and a lamb emerged and walked upon the flames.
The scene disintegrated.
"What was that?" Jasper asked.
"The bible," I answered, "The book of Daniel, Chapter 3. Four men in a fire."
"It was three and a lamb," Jasper corrected.
"The lamb is Jesus, he sacrificed himself."
"I know the story."
"It's not just a story."
"I know Hena, I didn't mean for you to misunderstand me."
I nodded, "It's fine Jasper."
"Why don't you fall asleep, I'll keep watch," Jasper explained.
I nodded, "Thank you."
I shifted, causing Jasper to scramble backwards. I forgot he hadn't seen any of my powers. I walked over to Kaida and picked her up by the back of her unzipped jacket. I curled up next to the fire and set Kaida down against me. Still asleep, she curled up close and buried her face.
Jasper had since then relaxed to the fact I could shift into another animal, but before he could say anything, I curled into myself and fell asleep.
--
I was awoken by the loss of heat I was feeling my myself due to the fire. The sun was starting to peak through the trees. I looked to the fire to see Jasper stomping it out.
"Did Eclipse not switch off with you?" I asked.
Jasper jumped from the spook and started panting dramatically, "Maybe nexttime you tell me you can talk in that form."
I could feel that Kaida wasn't with me and Eclipse was no longer near us.
"Wondering where the wolf went with your kid?" Jasper stated the obvious.
"I trust him," I responded as I shifted down.
"He's getting water, there were flowers growing in the stuff we have," Jasper explained.
I must've looked like I'd just seen a monster because Japser grabbed the canteen and handed it to me. "See for yourself."
A little pink flower was growing out of roots in the canteen. Roots stretched all throughout it like it had lived there for years.
Kaida.
I handed the canteen back and shrugged, "You must not have checked that one."
"Yeah maybe not."
"We outta get going, the creek is in the same direction we're going." I picked up the bookbag of gear and put it on my back.
We headed in the direction of the creek and caught Eclipse and Kaida on their way back. Kaida immediately switched to holding my hand instead of Eclipse's and we walked back home.
Eclipse, Jasper, and I talked about everyone's powers back at home. Jasper seemed to be amazed by everything he'd heard, but to him the most astonishing power didn't phase him.
"So you wouldn't want superspeed?" Eclispe asked with a light chuckle.
"What if I fly into a moth, I'd have a moth sized hole in my head or chest," Jasper explained.
"Well-" I started. I stopped. My whole body stopped. We were fifty feet from the outer walls. And. And. Blood.
The smell of blood ripped through the air. It was the only thing I could smell. The smell of the pines and maples was masked by the cold red liquid. I held onto Kaida's hand tighter as I used my power to open an area in the wall. We walked through the forest a little bit until we walked onto the scene. Blood was everywhere. I let go of Kaida and took off running towards the Cabin.
"Please be alive, please be alive," I cried as I ran. I stopped in my tracks as I looked down. Nathan. He was missing limbs. To his left: Hannah, suffered the same fate. The two of them still holding hands, even in a lifeless state.
Tears ran down my face as I just walked towards the cabin now.
Cleo.
Daisy.
Sage and Sarah.
Gray and Clay never stood a chance.
Axel's dead body strung up on a light pole. His body was riddled with holes. They tortured him for fun.
My sadness turned to anger as I pulled Axel off the light pole and laid him gently on the ground.
Henry.
My child from another timeline laid on the front steps.
My heart plummeted as I grabbed Henry and pulled him close.
"Please wake up," I cried, "Please."
"Please."
I broke down.
It's over.
I set him down gently and walked in the house. Rachel and Gena laid on opposite sides of the living room. Rachel: lifeless by the couch and Gena: by the kitchen.
I walked over to Rachel and closed her lifeless eyes.
I stood up to check Gena when the sound of a creaking floorboard came from upstairs. I pushed the end table over and it crashed onto the ground. I wanted this punk to come downstairs so I could rip him limb from limb.
Someone came barreling down the stairs but when they rounded the corner I put my powers away.
"You're alive."
"Your brother is outside," I gently told him.
"Gena is clinging on for dear life, you need to heal her."
"What happened Joey?" I asked.
He looked to the ground and then back up, "They started from the back door and made their way through town. Everyone is dead."
"The kids?" I asked.
Joey slowly nodded.
I covered my mouth with one hand as I healed Gena.
"She's only alive because of Rachel," Joey explained.
My eyes got wide. "Baby Rachel!" I exclaimed, "She's with Lydia is she-"
Joey shook his head.
"They killed the kids infront of their parents Carla. Axel tried to divert their attention and they tortured him."
"Who did this," I growled.
"Carla-"
"No!" I screamed, "Who did this!"
"An Oklahoma Cachion group. Led by my brother," Joey explained, "Jason must've challenged their Alpha."
"The Oklahoma pack didn't have an Alpha," Jasper explained as he leant against the doorframe, "We were going to form our two packs together in a few weeks. Their Alphas all went missing."
"Jasper!" Joey exclaimed happily as he embraced his brother.
"Wait but if you're here that means they let you go," Joey added as he looked at me.
I shook my head.
"She challenged the Alpha," Jasper explained.
Joey nodded, "Donte needed to be taken off that pedestal."
"What are you guys talking about," Gena laughed as she started to sit up, "Wow I feel awesome what did you do?"
I stood up and put my hands on Joey and Jasper's shoulders.
They both looked at me weirdly and then I walked out the door.
Eclipse and Kaida were sitting in the middle of town by a fountain. The rain that had started to pour made me question why they were out there. It didn't matter to me that much though.
Eclipse whispered something to Kaida and then got up and walked over to me.
"You okay?" Eclipse asked.
"Am I okay?" I sneered, "Am I okay? What the heck does it look like Eclipse! I've lost all my original friends! I have you and Gena and Joey! That's it!"
"Calm down-"
"Don't tell to calm down pony-boy!" I yelled, "I have every right to be upset."
"I didn't murder them Carla, this isn't on me, and yet you're yelling at me. You're a leader, the leader. Show this new enemy that you can take this loss to make you stronger. You're smart, you're kind, don't let a terrorist attack make you a monster."
"It's vicious cycle, you see? There's a line between insanity and heroism and I jump-rope with it. I'm a mess, I'm always standing on the verge if giving up or seeing how much more I can take. Look at me! This isn't my blood! You know what this is Eclipse? This is Cleo's blood, this is Axel's blood, Henry's, Charlotte's, Nathan's, Hannah's, this is the blood of all my friends! All but you, Kaida, and Gena! And you're calling me a leader? No Eclipse, I'm a monster; I always have been and always will be the bad guy, I'm not a leader."
"If you're not a leader then why did you challenge an Alpha Carla!" Eclipse screamed, "You are the leader, the leader of an entire kingdom, can you stop your pity party for one second to realize you're not the only one in this group who lost someone!"
"You lost Aspen, I lost everyone!" I growled.
"Yeah I lost Aspen, and I have a feeling I lost the Carla that I used to know." Eclipse turned to walk away
"You haven't lost me, you've just severely angered me."
He spun back around to face me. "You're not angry with me Carla." Eclipse took a step closer and pulled me into a hug. "Please, Carla, you need to break down before you build yourself back up, you can't hide pain behind your anger. I know you're hurting. And I know you dont mean to hurt my feelings."
A tear ran down my face as I held him tighter. "I lost everyone." The phrase repeated over and over as I crashed. For the first time in a while, I openly cried infront of everyone.
I calmed myself down after who knows how long and pulled away from the hug.
"Are you okay?" Eclipse asked.
I looked him in the eyes, "It doesn't matter Eclipse. Here we stand, soaked in the blood of our friends because it didn't matter how broken we were or how okay we were, we still did everything in our power to save them, and they all died anyway."
I took a deep breath, "We need to go."
Jasper walked over to me, Joey was behind him helping Gena walk.
"He's going to pay for what he did," I growled.
Jasper looked shocked, "What about what you said about killing him won't bring them back?"
"Screw it," I growled, "He's going to feel the pain he's caused. I've got an Alpha at home to talk to."
When I was hugging Eclipse, it didn't help. The person I wanted a hug from was the first to die. And the only thing that ran through my head during that hug was Donte telling me "don't go."
I had figured out why, now all I needed to do was find out how he knew.