Finally I think most of the camp is asleep. A least my guards aren't, but that isn't new or an obstacle this is my nightly trip. I have had a lot of trouble sleeping since Costia was tortured and killed by the Ice Nation's queen. Every time I go to sleep I see her dismembered head pleading for my help that would never come. My generals had advised me against retaliation against the Ice Nation, since their queen had disappeared shortly after the incident. My fury was the only thing that kept sobs from forming. Still every time I wake up my pillow is soaking in sweat and tears. "Love is weakness." I prefer taking a walk outside and drowning my thoughts in war strategies and trade routes that the coalition can use without being attacked by the reapers.

I need to get out of this tent the air is to thick I can't breathe. I have to put on my war paint so that I can disappear and become the night. I slip out the back of my tent after carefully doing my nightly ritual of wishing my guards a good night, blowing out my candles and waiting for my guard to do his walk around the tent... Ugh, He's taking longer tonight.

I dash quietly into the forest a few meters away from my tent. The air is fresh, spring is upon us. My feet are careful not to sink into mud patches that could leave a trail, but I need to get far away as possible before any of my people spot their commander running away.

Now in the safety of the forest the wind stop chilling my face as I slow down my pace to a walk. I love admiring the stars. I feel they are the resting spirits of the innocents. I approach my favorite tree. Over the past two months, after my return to Polis from our borders with the Ice Nation, this tree has become my bed. I know every branch and could easily climb it with my eyes closed, which isn't far from the truth since I usually gaze up at the stars.

My spot in the tree gives me a full view of the night sky; all the stars illuminate it and make the nights much more bearable.

Tonight is a full moon, those are my favorite nights because the animals are as restless as me, and I don't feel as lonely.

The moon is hypnotising me as I study its shape. Someone once told me that the moon is actually getting further away from the earth because of the sun's pull on it. I can't help but feel that it represents my life has I'm feeling more detached from my people then when I first took command. Even after creating a coalition with the twelve clans after the death of Costia, I still have to worry about the attacks by the mountain men and the reapers. This constant edge that war has given me, forces me to endanger lives. I have to find a way to give the tree people what they deserve that is peace and safety from dangers...

'Heda' I look down at Gustus my personal guard looking up at me with a worried look on his face. Crap I wasn't careful enough with my tracks.

'Gustus' I reply giving him a solemn nod like he didn't just surprise me doing something reckless.

'Heda should know better than leaving camp without an armed escort.' He says in a disapproving way.

'I do not wish to disturb my guards sleep with my leisure walks.' I answer playfully. I can't let him know that I do this every night or it might be perceived as weakness at my still mourning my lost lover. Still he is one of the few that knows my past with Costia and has advised me well when I had trouble concentrating.

Then I look back at the night sky, taking its beauty in one more time before I am escorted back to camp. I see a shooting star 'Beautiful isn't it.'

Gustus looks up and says: 'My mother used to say if you wished on a shooting star the spirits will grant it to you...'

I wish I could finally find get a peaceful nights rest.

'What do you wish for Gu...' I started but stopped noticing that the star was not fading away, but was burning closer to the ground.

Gustus and I watched as the burning ball of fire was heading closer to the ground while the sun started to rise.

He looks at me in panic and states 'I think it has landed near Ton DC!'

I nod in approval of his concern; 'I shall send a scout to evaluate the damage the comet has caused.'

I get down from the tree in a matter of seconds, and Gustus and I start to walk towards Polis where my responsibilities await.

Upon my arrival I notice that the birds have started to sing and people were already voicing their concerns about the comet.

Great, this is going to be a full day.

I send one of my fastest riders to Ton DC to my general Anya. I was her second before I was called as Commander. I spent most of my childhood with her and hope that no harm has come to her.

The next day

My rider comes back and states that there were no casualties and that it wasn't a comet but a ship containing outsiders that had landed a few miles from town. These outsiders had already started to head towards mount Weather. A guard of the border had shot one of them to prevent them from reaching the mountain. Anya wants to know if we should attack.

After he takes his leave, I ponder at the idea of a ship landing. Where had it come from? Were those outsiders from the mountain? No, it couldn't have been, I saw it come from space not mount Weather.

Indra, one of my most loyal generals, and Gustus shall help me make a decision.

After long debate between Indra who wants the outsiders dead before they attack her village and Gustus who insist on knowing if those outsiders actually pose as a threat, I side with Gustus and send the rider with orders to spy on the Sky people while creating a perimeter around their camp as to not be caught off guard.