"Bav!" I run to my husband and quickly inform him, "Sin is lost in the halls according to your will-o-the-wisps. I'm going to go help her get here."
Bav has been busy readying and planning with the leaders of our new allies armies, leaving me to help out where ever I can offer assistance. There was a third of the amount of women down here in the cave systems then there was in the remodeled, habitable, section of this underground fortress, even less I could have a normal conversation with. So the chance to go find Sin was music to my ears and sanity.
Bav waved me off, "Of course, my dear. You'll be bringing her here, correct?"
I nod, turning to leave and confirming over my shoulder, "Naturally." I take off in the direction of the labyrinth that Bav had built according to ways I had informed him that the Bloody Cogs had designed their secret hideouts. I feel the corners of the walls, feeling the words written in Jakeshan that were used. Reading with my finger tips the words and numbers, I make my way section seven where I will find her. Some areas you had to be informed of which doors would lead you to important areas, or were the way to go to the next section. I couldn't believe that they had not given Sin the information to get around.
I quickly arrive in section seven, calling out, "Sin! It's Rakara!" I pause to listen and hear my voice echo for a moment, but no response. I quickly make my way down some of the halls calling out and pausing to listen as my echo fades. I hear nothing, so I make my way to section eight doing the same.
"SIN!" I call out louder and listen, hearing a faint response finally.
"here!"
The echo is faint, so I know she's farther away then I assumed she would go. I rush forward calling out to her again after a few halls, and listen.
"I'm here!"
Her voice is growing louder, so I instruct her, "STAY! I'LL FIND YOU!"
"YES!" She calls back to me, louder than before.
"Keep calling out!" I inform her so I can find her quicker. It doesn't take much longer till I find her, looking sheepishly with her head down, as I briskly make my way to her.
I throw my arms around her, squeezing her tightly, but release her as soon as I feel her tense up. I know she doesn't care for excessive contact, so I step back and smile at her amused.
"How did you know I was here, lost?" She scratches the back of her neck, giving an embarrassed, breathy, chuckle.
I wave it off, "One of the will-o-the-wisps caught sight of you and didn't know who you were, showed up to inform us. How did you get lost? Did you forget where in the areas and halls you needed to go? The directions are on the corners of the walls?"
She laughs, "Yeah, but I can't make hide nor hair of what any of it means." She shrugs and I realize, she doesn't understand Jakeshan, just like I could not read Earth's languages except for English and even that I had trouble with.
"Do you want me to help you learn the language? It's Jakeshan." I offer.
"A quick lesson wouldn't hurt as we head back to where B is." She smiles warmly at me and I nod, returning the smile.
"Well let's get to it." We head back and I show her the numbers of the sections, drawing them in the loose soil on the floors and she draws the numbers in English. As we go along, I found out she's only been informed on how to make it from the barracks to the work rooms and the kitchen. Any other time, she followed or Bav had snapped them to where they needed to be.
We chat a little about John, her husband's, progress. I felt a of joy for her experiencing a slight reprieve and relief in that department. However, I could see her shoulders were still heavy with a burdened heart.
"So how has everything been going here?" Sin inquires as we head to the next section.
"Busy. Making sure each army from different planets is in their own section of the larger cave structures that can accommodate and house the soldiers and supplies that they come with has been hectic. We have had some issues with a few of the leaders when it comes to the ones who require daylight, plants or the space to fly." I inform her, coming up on the next section change.
We go over the markings, and then continue on.
She sighs, "So how have the issues been resolved or was a compromise reached?"
I pause and think of how we solved the issues, desiring to be as precise and accurate as possible.
"Bav has left the portals to their worlds open for a few hours each day, allowing supplies to come through and messages or their people to go through and visit with their loved ones that are able to. It also allows the fliers and people with special requirements for their health to get the things they require while we are still gathering everyone together. Bav has been immersed in making sure we gather as many allies as possible. Their numbers as of right now total close to ..... I believe a quarter of a million, that are able to live in the caves. We have another hundred thousand that are camped on the other side of their portals, merely waiting to be updated or called to arms." We continue on arriving at the double doors to the cave systems and I notice she's deep in thought.
"What has your mind occupied so suddenly?" I nudge her arm with my elbow to grab her attention and she gives me a half hearted grin that quickly falls.
"You mean other than the obvious of all this?" She motions around and I understand what she means.
She sighs and grips her forehead briefly, before dropping her hand to her side. "Refugees are starving in most areas, crime is becoming out of hand in the camps, our factories are being blown up that help supply major products that we need, and we've been fighting for so long now... I just feel... " She trails off and I place a hand on her shoulder.
"Overwhelmed." I finish her sentence for her.
She nods, "Yes. Guilty too. I feel like this whole situation is partially my fault and all the suffering and death is sitting heavy on my shoulders at the moment." With trembling bottom lip, she gives me a sad smile that quickly strengthens in her eyes as determination sets in. "That is the reason that I am not giving up though. I will not let any one's death be in vain."
I give her a nod and a knowing, half-cocked smile, "I understand that sentiment and sympathize with your plague of guilt filled thoughts. The fact that your resolve is still strong in the presence of despairing thoughts and circumstances is a relief. I've heard so many stories about you from many here that I thought I was going to have to prepare myself for disappointment. Thank the Elements that you've proven my assumptions wrong."
She gives me an awkward blush, avoiding my eyes as she clears her throat, "Thanks, I think." She furrows her brows in thought, causing laughter to bubble up in me.
"Ha ha! Yes, it was a compliment." I reassure her.
Still looking puzzled, she cocks her head in question, "Why did you say 'Thank the Elements'?"
My eyes widen in surprise for a moment before realization hits me. "Well, ... on Jakesha..."