Ivy was the last one to climb out of the canyon. Lingering at the edge, she turned, looking back at where they left Ceda. "Wow, that guy was really strong. I wonder…" she thought out loud, "How many mud floods have there been? Looking at the statues and what was inside the canyon, I bet there was a whole civilization that was flooded by mud." Her eyes flickered with curiosity, tracing the ancient structures half-submerged in the muck.
Justin nervously shuffled towards Kaly, his expression uncertain. In his outstretched hand was a small, glowing stone, casting a soft green light. The gem looked like a meld of melted jade and obsidian, with colors shifting across its surface. Veins of dark green and black twisted together, forming intricate patterns that seemed to depict several landmasses—like a natural map forged into the stone's core.
Kaly's eyes widened as she took it carefully. "Where did you find this?"
Justin shrugged, his gaze flicking nervously toward Ivy and then back to Kaly. "It's an artifact from someone who was in our group. They're down there," he gestured into the canyon. "I just…thanks for saving me back there."
Kaly examined the gem, turning it slowly in her hands. "Oh…you're thanking me?" She looked at him suspiciously, before mumbling a thanks and walking off towards Ivy, holding her artifact in the air.
While everyone else was regrouping, and figuring out what to do, Taber walked over to Pearson, "So what happened?"
"Well," Pearson took a deep breath, "It's my fault. I know we were only supposed to scout out and see what The Wall was, but we got locked inside. Jake and Marilyn, the other two…uh, they didn't make it, but that's when I found those two," he nodded toward Ivy and Kaly.
"Did you know them? Jake and Marilyn. You guys are all from the same colony right?"
Pearson nodded, "Yeah, I knew them. Not well, or anything. I've only really said a handful of words to either of them, but I grew up with them."
Taber shook his head, "Well, I'm sorry."
Pearson looked up, a bit shocked. "T-thanks." He was expecting Taber to scream at him, but he just looked more worn out than angry. 'We're probably all tired. Hell, it's almost night, and in a few hours, Scathach should arrive.'
"So, do you know what's up with those two?" Taber pointed at Ivy and Kaly. "I was put in a group with them earlier…They're both very strong, and Ivy seems pretty disciplined, but…" He trailed off.
"Yeah, I get what you're saying. She used to be in our colony, actually."
"Who? Ivy?"
"Honestly, dude. It was so weird. We had a prophecy--like, I literally read it myself, that she was going to destroy our colony. But they let her in for some reason."
"What happened?"
"Well," Pearson glanced over, making sure Ivy and Kaly were out of earshot. "There's this girl who's the daughter of one of our leaders. Ivy just flips out one day, and almost kills her and they kicked her out."
Taber's eyes widened, "Dang."
"Yeah…and now she's with her. Kaly is a literal demon if I've ever seen one. I mean, just look at her."
"She isn't human, that's for sure." Taber agreed.
Pearson noted the artifacts in the hands of Ivy and Kaly, realizing that he had been forgotten as he watched the two talking and laughing as they walked off. "Hey, Taber," Pearson extended the word, "so…How many artifacts have you guys found?"
Ivy broke through the tree line, seeing the beach in front of them.
She had arrived just in time to see Scathach's boat slam into the sandwith a low, ominous creak. The vessel's dark, towering hull cast a shadow over the shoreline, and for a moment, everyone stilled, feeling the weight of Scathach's presence before they even saw her. The trainees converged on the shoreline, each one eager to get back on the boat.
The silence was finally broken as Scathach's unmistakable silhouette emerged at the front of the vessel, her piercing gaze scanning the crowd before her. Without a word, she leapt down, landing gracefully on the sand, her aura radiating strength and discipline that pressed against everyone's senses.
"Congratulations," she said, her voice carrying effortlessly over the quiet beach. "You survived. Well, some of you did…eleven of you."
A murmur rippled through the group, a mix of shock and grim acceptance as the full weight of her words sank in. Those who remained looked around, noting the absent faces that would never return. Some glanced at the artifacts they'd fought for, clutching them tightly.
Scathach's gaze sharpened. "Those of you who hold artifacts have earned your place back on my ship. The rest…" she trailed off.
Everyone began lining up as Scathach examined each of their artifacts before letting the trainee on her boat.
Kaly's eyes fluttered open, sunlight filtering through the dense canopy overhead. She squinted, adjusting to the brightness. She sat up slowly, rubbing the sleep from her eyes as a sense of urgency prickled through her. A ways away, she began to feel flickers of familiar energy signatures—Taber's group, Ivy…and Scathach?!
She shot to her feet, looking around, seeing nothing but the naked forest around her. 'Did she leave me?' she thought.
Ivy approached Scathach, holding out the artifact that was shaped like a woodland flute.
She took it from Ivy, feeling its energy in her hands. "Alright, Ivy. Good job."
"What're you gonna do with it?" Ivy asked.
Scathach smirked, "I do other things besides training. By the way, your friend didn't make it?" Scathach asked. "Kinda surprised, and I don't say that often."
Ivy blinked, and her face turned pale, "Oh, man! I was distracted! I felt everyone's energy and got curious. I totally forgot about her! She's still asleep!"
Scathach arched a brow, amusement flickering in her steely gaze. "Forgot about her, did you?" she murmured, a hint of a smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth.
"Man. Geez, Kaly's gonna kill me!" Ivy paused, "Or eat me," a shadow passed over her face, "she really might too."
"Eat you?" Scathach's face looked at her in confusion "In what way…oh, Nevermind, I don't need to know." Scathach tried not to smile, shaking her head as if dismissing whatever had crossed her mind.
Ivy let out a hasty laugh, edging back toward the trees. "Yeah, I'll go get her, and-"
Scathach looked at Ivy, confused about why she had abruptly stopped talking.
Ivy's eyes were almost impossibly wide, staring past her looking at something in the sky. In the reflection of her eyeball, Scathach saw something massive. She turned to face the sky. A massive, smoldering metal object tumbled through the air, trailing smoke and debris as it hurtled toward the island, casting a dark shadow over the beach. Every trainee who had been on the shoreline froze, their attention stuck on the descending wreck.
Scathach stepped forward, pulling Ivy back firmly by the shoulder as her gaze tracked the object's trajectory. "It doesn't look like it's gonna land near us."
Ivy watched the meteor descend for a few more seconds. "That's over where Kaly is!"
Kaly activated her energy and braced herself.
The air grew hotter as the metal chunk roared closer, crashing through several trees, slamming into the ground with a deafening impact that sent out a shackwave. Grass, dirt, and chunks of wood erupted into the air. It seemed like the whole island trembled from the impact.
As the debris settled, Kaly regained her footing, her eyes locked on the smoldering hunk of metal.
Ivy and Scathach sprinted toward the forest, followed closely by a handful of trainees.
Kaly stared, breathless, at the house-sized wreckage half-buried in the forest floor. The metal was still red-hot, glowing ominously as smoke curled from its twisted edges. Then, with a hiss of releasing steam, a portion of the metal hull began to shift, gears grinding as it slowly slid open. Kaly took a step back, bracing herself as a deep hum resonated from within the ship, like a heartbeat echoing through the metal.