The day before the annual graduation for the new recruits of the Scottish Mafia
"How many are there this year?" Alistair asked one of her capos who are in charge of the new recruits.
"Only 12. I spoke with the other mafias and their numbers are more or less the same." The Flair said with a disappointed sigh. Each year the numbers get lower as more people decide to rather live on their own camps or as more people refuse to reproduce, sparing their future offspring of this wretched world.
Each Flair must attend training from ages five up until 16, where they have the choice to continue with training up until 18 and have a chance to be recruited into a mafia. If they choose to end their training, they are free to join the camps outside of the main cities. Only Flairs in training or those already a part of the mafias live in the cities. All services, food and water supplies and any other requirements are available for anyone inside and outside of the city. Hence the number of security of Flairs are on duty throughout these cities. There's always trouble no matter where you are. Nowhere is 100% safe, but the people outside the mafias do not need to know that.
"Donna, these numbers are getting lower and lower each year. Eventually no more Flairs will partake in the training and initiation for the mafias." The capo spoke again. It was a rare occasion for Flairs to use each other's names outside of their squads. Only titles were used, especially on duty. Of course, the donnas always knew the names of the members.
"That is not a matter we need to discuss right now. We focus on the present. Besides, it is not your duty to worry yourself of these kinds of matters." Alistair spoke gently and put her hand on her capos shoulder as she spoke. "It is mine and the rest of the donnas." She gave the capo a small smile.
"Yes donna." The girl in front of the donna cast her eyes down and resumed her work on her screen.
Alistair stared at the screens in front of her. She was in the control room of the city where they can see everyone and keep watch over the people. Alistair spots a group of campers just outside the city walls. Of course, there were no gates since everyone, both Mars and Flairs, were welcome to make use of the facilities. The donna noticed that the group had a few younglings with them, she counted at least five. This was a lot for a camping group and incredibly dangerous. The group was busy packing everything they got from the city and prepared to leave to their site. Camp groups usually travelled together instead of leaving anyone behind. Thieving was not a common occurrence since there were Flairs watching their assigned campers at all times. Usually if the campers travelled, the squad would split so that there was an eye kept on the group and the campsite.
Alistair slightly frowned when she noticed that the group seemed on edge, seemingly aware of the danger of having so many younglings in their group. Although, even if they were aware of it, they should not be worrying since they had a squad watching over them.
"Has anyone heard or been notified about the camp moving at the South entrance of the city?" Alistair asked.
"There is no notification made from the squad about the move and the last time they made a log in was this morning." The capo that spoke frowned at her screen and started searching for something.
Alistair sees the concern on the Flairs face and her brows furrowed.
"What do you see? I mean surely they would have made their second log in by now?" Alistair asked, concern laced in her words.
"Their coms are completely offline and their last known location was a few kilometres from the camp their situated at." The capo says confused. The whole room is silent and either staring at the capo that spoke or their donna. This is not something that happened before.
"Give me the coordinates of the group and I will keep you updated." Alistair spoke and started gathering her equipment.
"Yes donna."
Alistair made her way to the teleporter and left her building. She appeared slightly behind the group and walked up to them. Vehicles are only used by associates in need of transport of goods and campers when moving and storing their belongings. This group was particularly large and consists out of seven Flairs and twelve Mars. The men were all carrying ordinary weapons with self-made armour and the women had their suits on with those of them using weapons in their holsters.
Another difference between the two governments is that the Flairs ensure that all women have suits to wear for protection and future disputes, even if they are not part of the mafias. The cities contain facilities available for upgrades and restorations of the weapons and the suits. The Mars government believes that if a male cannot make his own armour and gather his own weapons, they do not deserve to be called man. This is why most Mars men found in camps are well built and mostly have armour and weapons made from scavenged materials. They are also responsible for their own upgrades and restorations. The facilities available for the Flairs cannot help with much but occasionally give their scrap materials for the men to use to their advantage. If the Mars government were to find out the Flairs government tries to aid the males, it could cause altercations.
Having so many younglings in a group means more vulnerability. It means the group would rather protect their offspring than themselves. Rebel groups use this to their advantage, resulting in more lives lost. The rebels especially dislike merged groups and would no doubt threaten the younglings to succeed in their mission to kill the rest.
"You seem to be missing your squad. Any reason why we weren't notified of your move or have any log ins from them?" Alistair asked as she comes up to the group.
An older Flair approaches her while the rest of the group continues their packing for their travels. Each one of the younglings have a member of the camp guarding them. They all seemingly unaware of the danger they are truly in, only the adults know.
"Donna. It is nice to see you again. It has been a while." The older Flair spoke, her kind smile quickly fading from her face as she spoke up again. "We have not heard from them since last night. Haven't seen them either. Two of them came to say they are retrieving for the night and switching their watch, but the other two that was supposed to arrive never did.
We assumed they were up in the trees as they sometimes do, but this morning they did not come to say that they are switching. No one came back and we could not venture too far without having to be too vulnerable." The woman sighs as she continues. "We had to pack as soon as we realised they were gone. There was no way for us to contact you so we headed to the city in hopes of you spotting us.
We needed supplies anyways. We are leaving to locate towards a different area. We do not feel safe in that location anymore, especially if who or whatever is out there knows where the squad was."
As the woman finished, Alistair was in deep thought. This is the first time something like this has happened. If the squad was in danger, they would have sent a signal through their coms. They would have been able to do so without needing to talk or move.
"You did the right thing heading this way. Try going up towards the Western side, there is enough space and resources for a new camp. Try camping closer to the city, the younglings will be safer. I'll walk with you until your new squad arrives."
"Thank you, donna. I do not know what we would do without all you girls' help." The older woman smiled and turned back, walking towards her group.
Alistair headed towards the children who suddenly had an interest at the donna standing before them. She crouched down and smiled at them.
"Have you girls started your training yet?" Alistair asked the two Flair younglings before her.
A small blonde girl gave her a smile that had a missing tooth in the middle and spoke up first, "Mhm, my mommy says that we have to, but I can only move my pencil so far." The smaller brunette shook her head, her age still too young for training it seems.
"And you boys? Are you strong?" Alistair asked and all three of them nodded their heads in excitement. "Well, I cannot believe it! You are still too young. I do not believe you are strong yet." Alistair teased.
Suddenly offended the boys suddenly started wrestling and showing off their muscles. Alistair and the two girls only laughed and shook their heads at the playful banter before them.
"What can you do donna? My mommy says you are very strong in your gift." The small brunette girl spoke up. Her voice reminding Alistair of that of a mouse, a rodent long but extinct. The donna only laughed at the small girl mispronouncing her title.
The boys all but stopped their parading and stand before the donna again. All five younglings very interested in what gift their donna poses.
Alistair turned to the brunette youngling and spoke, "What is your most favourite animal in the whole forest?" The girl thought hard for a moment, her forefinger on her chin as she stared concentration.
"Teese!" The girl jumped with excitement.
A Twese is a small creature that resembles what used to be Rabbits, Pikas and Kangaroo's. Their ears long and full of fur with small cotton tails and long back legs for jumping rocks. Their front paws hanging loose in front of their small chests. Two long front teeth hang just past their chins and their backs differentiating from different colours of nature. Depending on where Twese are found their colouring will mimic their surroundings.
These creatures barely stand at half a metre in total. Their elongated noses twitching as they use their advanced sense of scent. Their only defence used in habitat along with their legs for kicking predators. These creatures are usually hunted for their fur and flavourful meat. Although they are not easily caught because of their speed and their fur blending with their surroundings. These creatures as well as Lemas are also an obvious choice of prey for the Orikari. Alistair's eyes quickly turned sapphire, a similar contrast with her usual diamond gaze. As her body is ingulfed in her blue gift, she stands before the younglings as a Twese herself within a few seconds. Her eyes shining brighter than the usual dull colouring the creatures are known to poses.
The younglings gasp at the creature now sitting before them and start shouting for more entertainment. Alistair's gift surrounds her once again and she stands before them as a Lema, who seems to be another favourite amongst them. Standing tall, Alistair allows the small figures to stare and gaze in amazement for a moment before returning to her former self. Seemingly disappointed at the move, Alistair quickly brings her hand up before the younglings start their protest.
"My gift does not revolve around just creatures' young ones." She said smiling, by now some of the adults have gathered to bare witness to their donnas' abilities. Alistair quickly engulfs herself with her gift again and stands before the group as the older Flair she spoke with mere minutes ago.
A soft gasp escapes from the group and before they can grasp what Alistair did, she returns to her herself. Her forearm and hand, surrounded by her sapphire blue, starts shifting into a different substance. From the very tip of her fingers up until her elbow, what was once her skin is now a forearm consisting out of water. Her hair, starting from the roots, engulfs in flames. The flames mimicking a mixture of colours from her ginger hair and sapphire gift. Her left hand starts sprouting moss, transforming to a bright green and a few flowers and twigs along her veins. Her clothes moving, her hair waving and flaming around her as she conjures a small gust of wind through her nervous system. Her eyes swirling with colour as it blows along with it. Small scales on her upper arm make their way onto her skin as the water drips from the front. Her skin cracking and shifting to earth on her left upper arm. Her moss skin and plant veins reaching through it like a tree rooting itself to the ground. The side of her face and upper part of her forehead now small streams of lava seeping from the cracks of rock.
The faces of the group are not in fear of their donna who shifts before them, but in amazement. Alistair always appreciated her gifts, especially when she mimics nature itself. Her smile widens as she smiles towards the people in front of her and she slowly levitates as her transformation for air levitates her from the ground. Flying might not be a possibility for the donna, but levitation is all she needs.
"Alright now, showtime is over. We should head towards the new location before it gets too late for travel." Alistair says as she descends from her position and her shifting long but returned to her former self.