The Elements of The Archipelago

Chapter 8: Your Fight is Over

Wolf Henderson

The moment that Kodi opened the Havards 'apple shed and Niles insignia registered in my brain, that was when my patience wore thin. The reality of this complete and utter betrayal of our own people, ones that we took in when others rejected them. We made sure that they had a staple home and plenty of acres of land for their growing apple orchard. Sweat was dripped, backs were thrown, hands were reached out to support the young couple and their pursuits. After all the good people of Wenslock has done for the Havards and this is the warm and heartening thank you that they give.

Not only that, the question remains: how long have they been working with Niles Monroe? That's the dangerous concept, because for all we know they've been telling Niles our secrets about our dragon stronghold. Kodi and I step onto the Havards' front porch, Kodi firmly knocks on the door. I notice that he's holding back his pent-up anger, the tension in his shoulders and the scowl expression on his face.

Kron Havard opens the door, he seems surprised with our presence, "Hello General Henderson, Lieutenant Matheson, what brings you here?"

Kodi places the wooden crate of apples in front of Kron, with the Monroe insignia facing him. Kron attempts to hold his poker face, however; he fails tremendously and I can see right through him. Everyone deals with peer pressure differently, and with Kron he has the natural habit of biting his jaw.

"Kron, don't make this harder on yourself, we already know you and your wife are traitors to Wenslock," I reply causally.

"I have no inkling of what you're talking about Wolf." Kron recites firmly, but I can tell he's nervous inside.

"Lying isn't going to help your precarious situation," I scold.

Kron says nothing, he just stands quietly.

"Are you aware that Chief Hiccup's wife is sick?" Kodi asks seriously, "Hana stated that it is mercury poisoning, but we burned all of Monroe's food." He pauses for a moment. "Apparently, we were wrong." He emphasizes on the word wrong.

"So Kron, do you have any idea how this could've happened?" Kodi asks firmly. The lieutenant is slowly losing his patience, but he knows well enough to keep his cool.

"Well, Hana is pretty elderly, perhaps she's lost her medical touch, and she doesn't know what she's talking about." Kron replies. "Perhaps if we had a better healer, the way that we should have a better chief, we wouldn't be in the mess, now would we?"

"Cute Kron, very cute, did Monroe tell you to say that?" I chuckle with amusement. 'Well, if they came from him personally, they would probably work, but since you aren't him."

Before I can react, Kodi is the first to aggressively pin Kron against the wall, "Stop wasting time, our friend has been poisoned and you are clearly the culprit. What did you give her?!" Kodi holds his knife to the man's throat, waiting for a response.

"He-he, you aren't as clever as I thought Lieutenant," Kron chuckles arrogantly. "I simply gave her what I gave everyone, the sweet, golden, and savory victory drink."

Kodi and I exchange looks with each other, and that's when I realize what Kron meant.

"General! Lieutenant!" The sound of my soldier's voices catches our attention, the way his voice trembles with panic, I feel an unsettling sensation in my stomach.

"It's the villagers, almost the entire island has grown severely ill!" the solider addresses worriedly. "Our men, women and children are infected!"

"Kodi, it was the apple cider from the other night. That's how Astrid was poisoned and everyone else who drank it." I announce firmly. "We need to gather everyone who is sick, we need to put them in quarantine!"

"What about Kron and his wife, what do we do with them?" Kodi questions.

"You and Serena will take them, to the arenas, tell the soldiers there to keep them on lock down."

"I'm on it, good luck we're going to need it."

Ryka Henderson

When Clarke, Luka and I reach our destination, we fly to a remote part of the forest, it's well hidden from the rest of Wenslock, aside from my secret cove. The cave is secure with trees surrounding the perimeter, Clarke chose a safe place to protect her dragon.

Clarke escorts us into the comforts of her cave, on the right-side corner lays a magnificent Titan Wing Deadly Nadder, she arrays in beautiful red scales with shiny black stripes completed with her sharp and distinguished spikes head and tail.

The dragon lifts her head when she hears Clarke approach her, "Hey girl, how are you feeling?"

"Rawr," the Deadly Nadder grumbles softly. The dragon notices Luka and me as she lowly growls at us, she protectively wraps her tail around Clarke.

"Hey, Easy Neera, it's okay they're our friends," Clarke soothes comfortingly, "They aren't going to hurt us, I promise."

Neera slowly calms down at Clarke's words and she lowers her guard, I carefully make my way over to the injured dragon with Luka walking closely behind. "Hi Neera, I'm Ryka and this is Luka, we are here to help you."

Luka slowly approaches Neera, he shifts his head curiously at her and then he gently nuzzles his head against hers. "Guru." He purrs comforting his new dragon friend, Neera nuzzles Luka in return with a series of purrs; indicating that she is comfortable."

"Good job, Luka." I smile with pleasure at the display, "Alright let's look at this broken wing of yours."

Neera looks to Clarke with hesitation, she lightly strokes Neera's head with encouragement, "It's going to be okay, Ryka is going to make you feel better."

After a few moments of examination, I am relieved to what I find, I look to Clarke to give her my insight. "Well, the good thing is that her wing isn't broken, just a minor fracture and they only thing is that she's exhausted." I mention. "The best thing for Neera, she needs plenty of rest and she will be fine."

"Oh, thank you, I'm glad that it's not anything worse." Clarke remarks with relief. "Do you hear that Neera, you're going to be okay. Thank Thor."

Luka makes his way over to me as he playfully head buts me, "Ha-ha, I'm proud of you Luka, you did a wonderful job comforting Neera."

"Roo!" Luka purrs as his ears perk up.

The sound of a horn bellows across the entire island, I instantly stand up and run to the end of the cave entrance. The sound of Wenslock distress alarm has been signaled, the pupils in my eyes widen as I begin to realize what's going on.

"What in Thor's name was that?" Clarke questions curiously.

"That was Wenslock's distress signal…" Instantly my entire brain aches as flashing images of the sickly faces of my people enter my mind. "Uhh! No, this can't be happening!"

"Rawr?" Luka rumbles with concern.

"Ryka? What's going on?" Clarke asks. I can sense the worry fixated on me, both Luka and Clarke aren't sure what to do.

"No, please…"

"Ryka, come on snap out of it!" Clarke's voice bounces me back to reality, for a moment I felt as if I was truly going insane, my mind was elsewhere and I couldn't escape the darkness that had swallowed me.

I quickly regain what sanity that I have left, as I mount onto Luka's back, "Clarke, come with me I may need your help."

"What we can't just leave Neera here." Clarke remarks.

"Neera needs to stay here, she'll be safe. The trees around here are thick and will keep her well-hidden." I reply. "If you want your dragon to make a quick recovery, she'll have better chances here than she will in the village right now, we'll come back for her."

Clarke is hesitant at first, she strokes Neera's face with encouragement, "I'll be back for you, I promise."

Neera nestles Clarke as they exchange a quick hug, "Stay strong and rest up while I'm gone."

"She'll be safe, trust me Clarke," I extend my hand to her.

"I do trust you," she replies as she takes my arm and I pull her onto Luka's saddle.

Luka takes off into the sky as he races back to the village, we land in front of my house, where many people were running back and forth. Clarke and I walk into my door where Mala and Hana are taking care of many people.

"Hana, what in Thor's name is going on here?" I question with a hint of worry.

"Ryka, it's spreading like wildfire, people left and right are diagnosed with mercury poisoning," Mala explains, "It's an epidemic and people are in quarantine as we speak."

Hana finishes with one of her patients and then she runs over to me, "Oh Ryka, please tell you didn't drink the apple cider from the other night?" she requests with apprehension in her voice.

"What are you talking about?"

"The Havards' apple cider from the other night, it contained apples from Monroe, that's how Astrid was infected and with many of our people included."

"No, I didn't drink the apple cider, you know that I don't care for apples." I reply.

"Oh, thank the Gods, Hiccup and Dagur will be here soon, with Gothi and the Berserker's healer Bruton. They are going to help us heal our people."

"I also sent for our healer from the Defenders of the Wing, they will be here as soon as they can." Mala mentions.

"Thank you, Mala, I appreciate it." I remark kindly.

"Who is this Ryka?" Hana questions.

"This is Clarke, she's a friend and she can help us." I reply. "I also have the other ingredients with me."

I reach for my saddlebag as I hand the supplies to Hana, "Oh thank goodness, thank you my dear."

Clarke, Luka and I decide to travel the village square, a special section towards the west end is guarded by some of Wolf's men as that must be the quarantined area. The bright side to this rather ill-fated situation is that the poison isn't contagious, so those who didn't drink the apple cider can't get infected.

The quarantine is for safety reasons and to keep track of those who are poisoned, the closer I get to the quarantine the tension in my gut rises and I can't bear the sound of my people moaning in pain and crying with despair.

The ones who aren't infected are standing outside of their homes, with candles burning and their prayers that they chant with high graces. Friends and family members alike, in hopes for the recovery of their beloved people.

It must be the most unsettling sensation that I've experienced, I knew Monroe was insane but I never knew that people can be this cruel. To let people, suffer gravely, to endanger children in means of intimidation. It's simply cowardice, there's nothing bravery about this selfish act, and only a coward will perform such turns.

"Wolf, this is wrong… Monroe he's…" I stammer with my words, simply because I can't begin to wrap my head around this or have the inkling to understand the seriousness of the circumstances.

"I know Ryka, we have everything under control for now," Wolf replies kindly.

"Wolf… I can't believe that he would do something like this… I… I…" My heart is just breaking that I can't seem to say much of anything.

Wolf places his hand on my shoulder, "Hey Ryka look at me, this will not go unjust, we will rise above this and come out stronger than ever." Wolf encourages. "Monroe wants to mess with Wenslock, he'll get what is coming to him."

"Wolf, we have a problem!" Kodi's mother exclaims with a tremble in her voice, it is as if she's about to break into tears.

Wolf, Clarke, Rutless, Luka and I walk into the secluded area, I notice that Kodi is standing by four sickly bodies, one woman, two men and one child. I run into Kodi's arms as I wrap my own around him, "Kodi, thank Thor that you're okay."

Kodi tightly returns the gesture, "I'm thankful that you're okay as well." He presses his lips to my forehead as he gently kisses it.

We pull apart from our embrace, I reluctantly turn to the sickly bodies before me, I notice that the woman and the two men aren't breathing. I feel my heart racing uncontrollably, I don't want to accept what I witness, "Are they…"

"I'm sorry Ryka…" Kodi's mother Pricilla whispers softly with tears filling her eyes.

I make my way to the young child, a little girl who looks familiar to me, that's when I notice her rag doll that she holds in her arms. It is Karissa, the Granger's seven- year- old daughter, I kneel to her and I rest her head on my lap, I gently caress her beautiful blonde hair. "Where are her parents and her brother?" I ask firmly.

"I'm sorry Ryka, they didn't… they didn't make it." Pricilla responds as she lowers her head.

The words stab my heart, I intensely inhale and exhale, I look at Karissa's tiny body as her breathing becomes hard and slow. Clarke walks over to me and Karissa as she kneels to the young girl as well, she examines the girl from head to feet. Clarke hums a soft and soothing melody, I watch as Karissa slowly falls into a deep sleep, as soon as Clarke knows that Karissa is sound in her slumber.

Clarke pulls out a tiny bottle of liquid, she drips the liquid into Karissa's mouth, she gently kisses her forehead and caresses her hair. "Your fight is over."

"Wait, what are you doing?" I ask with a tremble in my voice.

"I'm putting her to rest," Clarke replies as she closes the little girl's eyes.

I witness as Karissa takes her last breath, "Shall we meet again."

Kodi Matheson

A few hours have passed, Gothi, Bruton and many other healers are in the process of curing the sick people of Wenslock. Although we should be rejoicing of our small victory, with Astrid's medicine taking effect and others as well. Many hearts still carry heavy burdens and weights that have crushed they our souls. Everyone remains silent inside the Henderson household, for though we will obtain many victories we have also obtained many losses.

These loses carry heavy burden on Ryka especially, she's been distant ever since Karissa's death and I can tell it's scarred her. She holds anger in her heart, she's not spoken to Clarke since we came back from quarantine.

Hiccup has been by Astrid's side since he's returned to Wenslock and he hasn't moved from his spot, Eret and Heather sit together at the dining room table in silence. Dagur and Mala comfort each other as well, Rutless sits in a nearby corner he hasn't taken his eyes off the folded piece of paper in his hand. Wolf has been keeping Ryka company, lately it seems that they are on good terms and it's a good thing for them to comfort one another. For they may deny it, but they need each other.

After a while Wolf, Dagur and Rutless begin to speak of ways to get back at Monroe, schemes to bring him down for good this time. To put an end to his madness and to take back Wenslock Military once and for all. I notice Ryka, I can read her body language and her facial expression, and her patience is wearing a thin line.

"Enough!" Ryka bellows loudly with her anger rising.

Everyone stops and turn their attention to Ryka as they are surprised by her outburst.

"All of you should be ashamed of yourselves, how can you even think of brewing a plan when our people are out there still sick and possibly dying. Seven of our people just died, and including a little girl shouldn't had to die."

"Now Ryka, I did that for a good reason." Clarke tries to explain.

"No, we could have saved her, she barely got to live her life and we just killed her off!"

"And what would have that done, if we saved her she would've woken up without her family, I put Karissa out of her misery, it was the right thing to do and you know that." Clarke explains.

"None of this would have even happened, and I mean none of it, if I hadn't left my father's side in the first place!" Ryka remarks with heartbreak. "I wasn't meant to be chief, all I seem to do is get the people I love and care about hurt or killed. Who are we fooling, I can't do this, I know this, you this, everyone on Wenslock knows this! I'll never be able to lead our people like my father did, my father is dead because of me, and my people are going to suffer because of it!

Nobody says anything simply because we don't have an idea of how to respond. Luka slowly approaches Ryka with a look of concern expressed on his face, "Roo?" he whimpers softy.

Ryka closes her eyes and for the first-time tears fall from her face, she's never opened her feelings like this before. "I'm a failure to Wenslock, I'm a failure to my friends and I'm a failure to my father…" With that she exits the house and she escapes outside.

The entire household remains in a state of shock, Wolf included.

"Guru?" Luka whimpers with worry for Ryka and after about two minutes he runs after her.

Ryka Henderson

I escaped the Henderson household to be left alone, so much has happened so fast and I have no idea on how to deal with it. I venture to the one place that I know nobody will find me, a place that I haven't visited since in a while and that is the cove.

When I walk down the trail to the bottom of the cove, I make my way to the edge of the lake and I sit with my legs stretched out. My entire body shutters with an array of mixed emotions, anger, devastation and defeat. All seven of my people had died and I couldn't do anything about it, for my hands that have healed it feels that I'm done more harm.

Perhaps Monroe was right all the people I love and care for suffer because of me. I glance at my hands where my father's gloves remain, the wrinkles as old as me if not older, no matter what they still linger of the scent of old wood. Instantly, the faded brown is stained with the unsightly red of blood. "What? No… no… this isn't real."

The blood cover the gloves from top to bottom, I try with everything to rid of my mind's trickery, I throw my hands into the water in hope to rinse the red substance. I quickly remove the gloves from my hands and I toss them to the ground, as soon as they contact the grass the blood vanishes.

"Gruu?" The sound of Luka's grumbles catches my attention, he walks to my left side and he sits next to me. He looks at me with concern growing across his face, he's never seen me get upset like that before, and I had hoped he never would, but of course that didn't work.

"I'm sorry Luka, I shouldn't have yelled like that, I was just…" I sigh with disappointment as more tears begin to build up. Luka nuzzles my face as I rest my head onto his, "I don't know what's going on anymore."

"Ryka?" Kodi's voice enters the scene, and I am a little surprise that he's here but I don't mind it.

"Kodi, what are you doing here?"

"Luka led me, I guess he knew that you'd be here." Kodi walks to my right side as he sits down next to me. "I was going to ask if you're okay, but that might not be necessary."

"Kodi, I don't know what I'm doing anymore, I just can't pretend that I can get over my father's death so quickly. It seems no matter how hard I try to, it never seems to work, I can't do that for everyone."

There's a moment of silence before Kodi responses.

"You know Ryka, nobody expects you to do that." Kodi begins, "Our people understand that you're not just our chief, that you're also human too. You're allowed to have these feelings, you have a right as a person to express your emotions just like everyone else."

"Really?" I reply.

"Yes, you have every right to feel upset at what happened tonight, nobody blames you for being angry."

"I've made so many mistakes Kodi."

"And you'll continue to make mistakes, that's a part of being a leader and being a human being. Not everything we do will come out perfect and not every decision will be a right one, but what matters is what we choose to do after they are made. No matter how badly you may want to at times, you'll never back down as chief, I know it, Wenslock knows it and so do you."

"When did you become so wise?" I ask lightheartedly.

"Well I have spent a lot of time around Hana lately, she starts to rub off on you." He replies with a sense of humor.

"He-he," we both lightly laugh, and Luka purrs with comfort. I tenderly rest my head onto Kodi's shoulder as he wraps his arm around me. "Thank you Kodi, I honestly don't know what I'd do without you."

"That's my job to comfort you and love you no matter what… was that too cheesy?"

"Ha-ha, it was a little but it's still sweet."

I kindly stroke Luka's head as he purrs with content, I turn to look at Kodi and his soft blue eyes; then I sneak in a quick kiss on the lips. Before I can pull away, Kodi returns the gesture and I can feel my cheeks blush pink.

I slowly pull away from our kiss, "I love you Kodi Matheson."

Kodi smiles at my words, "I love you too, Ryka Henderson."