Implored

This is following story after Wanda's second insertion and the Humans are about to go on the raid where they meet Nate and the rest.

Told from Wanderer's POV.

Disclaimer: I own nothing except the characters I imagine.

The days were dragging on with most uncertainty. Rational order prevailed over the caves. No new discoveries, no new threats, and no sight of a upcoming mutiny seemed in sight. The last human resistance lived at peace. Ever since I came to this place, I took all the fun out of our most entertaining activity, raiding.

But today was different than any other day; today we were leaving for a raid. Nervousness creped into me like a plague. I sat at the bar in the kitchen with Ian and Jamie, and jittered over all my worries and concerns about the upcoming weeks. While enjoying the meager breakfast of soup and break, they were debating over whether Jamie should ask Melanie if he could go on the raid or not. I had lost track of the conversation with my own deluded daydreams about the raid to come.

"Why bother kid, she's going to say no," Ian smugly replied. "I know her well enough to say that." As I stared at the counter I could image his expression of false grief. I knew that would be Melanie's answer as well, that was my answer. Mel and I were sisters, and we protected Jamie with equal assertion. I just lacked the authority that comes with Mel's attitude. She can be so fierce.

I could feel Ian's eyes on me as I pondered. I knew he wished he had the authority to tell me no. I was the Soul among humans. Almost unique. Sunny was the other exception to that rule but refused to leave the caves in fear of losing what she has gained. Renewed love. I felt the same but I had give what I could to this…. Family.

"Wanda, what do you think," Jamie asked credulously.

I turned to him but not before making eye contact with Ian. His crystal blue eyes gazed at me questioning. Jamie wasn't the only one curious.

I looked into Jamie's face and admired how he had grown in past few weeks. He was now closer to Brandt's height now. His hair had grown down to his shoulders like a wild mane. He had been proud of himself lately because of the growth of his first chin hair. It was a day of celebration among the men until Mel pulled it out after many hours of annoyance. Through the mask of upcoming manhood, I could still see the child inside.

"No, Jamie," I said, "Its just not safe enough."

I gave him a true look of despair. His face fell and he retorted, "Oh come on! Kyle tells me all the time that ever since you started going on the raids all everybody else does is sit in the van and wait for you. That doesn't sound too dangerous." He gave his best puppy face to soften me. It made me feel guilty and my checks flushed with color.

Ian replied back, "Jamie, what you see as dangerous and what Kyle sees as dangerous are two different things." He gave the room a quick glance and whispered, "Anyway, you'll probably get to beat up on Kyle playing soccer while were gone." He winked. I gave Ian an awkward glance. Inside I felt disapproval for putting that thought in Jamie's head. Jamie 'beating up' on Kyle, Improbable.

Jamie solemnly replied, accepting defeat, " Yeah, maybe." He slipped off the stool and said, "Well, I'm going to find Jared and see what he thinks." He gave us an uncertain shrug.

Ian smiled and asked, "Didn't you ask him last week?" He had a smile creep across his face.

"Yeah, but maybe he changed his mind," Jamie laughed.

He gave me one last wave then quickly exited. Ian stared at the doorway for a moment, as if he expected someone to walk in, then turned his attention to my tray. He looked at the half eaten piece of bread and a sigh escaped him.

"Wanda, you don't have to do this," he asserted.

He didn't look up. He played at the guilt card and it worked. My face grew a few shades darker and I began to recede behind my golden locks.

I let my head hang low when I answered, "Ian…." I looked up at him and stared at his features. "I want to do this, I'm not doing this against my will, I…" I choked up on my quickly collapsing bravery, "I want to help."

He now took his turn to look at the floor searching for a response, but never said anything. He always thought through what he was going to say. That was always his difficulty. That was always his downfall. He thought too much. It took him several minutes before he responded, "Wanda, I…."

I cut across him before he could prove his point, "Ian, my decision is already made. I just want you believe I'm doing this for myself." I reached across the table, took his hand and I smiled at him.

He looked to respond but quick footsteps outside the kitchen took both our attention.

Mel came busting into kitchen, furious. Her nostrils flared and her hands were clenched into deadly looking weapons. In my time as her body's occupant, I knew the way she could allow her rage to grow.

Me and Ian exchanged a look as she strutted up to the counter to grab a tray. Jared and Jamie soon came busting in the kitchen behind her both carrying faces of regret and anxiety. Both Ian and I knew the reason for this up spur of anger. She pour herself a bowl of soup and grabbed a clump of bread and hastily sat down next to me. She force out a quick greeting, "Hello."

Jamie and Jared stood in the doorway wondering what they should do next, then both, in unison, turned and swiftly exited.

We then turned to look at each other again as Mel began to pick apart her bread with much maliciousness. She looked up collected herself, "I'm sorry, Jamie was asking the impossible." She glance at the both of us and realized surprise hadn't touched our faces.

She took a deep breath and continued, "Let me guess, he already asked you?" She glared at both of us then returned her eyes to her soup. I found myself unable answer her when Ian sighed, " We told him that we knew that you would disapprove, but he insisted…" He trailed off as if he was afraid to say anymore.

She looked at me as if she expected me to answer. I just looked past her, at the wall. When I didn't say anything she looked back to Ian an inquired, "And do you think he should go?" There was allot of contempt in her voice.

Ian squared his shoulders and took a deep breath and replied, "I think he's old enough to make his own decisions."

He looked to me for support and received none and continued, "Anyway, Jeb trusts him with the rifle."

She looked up from her soup after finishing the last morsels with smoldering eyes. She replied, "Yes, that mistake won't happen again." She gave us a defiant look, picked up her tray and walked away. She slung her tray on to the increasing pile and marched out into the hall.

I looked at Ian, "Why do you always make her mad?" I met his eyes and matched Melanie's intensity. He thought about the question and said, "I guess, I like to speak my mind." He smiled at me and then laughed, "I tend to get myself in trouble alot by doing that."

I smiled and looked down at my tray, "I think I'm done." My soup was cold and my bread was picked to pieces. He smiled at me and said, "I guess we can go and get ready." He accepted my will as I wanted it. He would always be with me to protect me. He gazed at me and I smiled, "Lets go!"