I tried really hard not to make this chapter as boring and suckish as the other ones. Oh so wonderful exams start up again next week so I'll try really hard to make my next chapter as long as possible before I start cramming. Doing well on these exams are very important to me because I'm hoping I can get into honors classes next year. I should be in them this year but there wasn't room because instead of picking me they picked this guy who's grading average was lower than mine (this also happened to a lot of my other friends) so either the people that look over the student records are sexist or just have no freaking idea what their doing. Sorry, just needed to vent that little issue out ^^;; Anyways enjoy as always.
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Miria stood at the front of the group, waiting "patiently" for them to calm down. Helen and Noel had a small disagreement that had turned into a screaming fit which caused a riot. Galatea cast Miria a sympathetic glance. "Well at least a few of them aren't involved." Miria grunted in reply. Deneve was sitting in a corner paying no attention to the screaming rebels. Uma sat close to her looking scared. Clare and Teresa stood off to the side watching. Teresa's mouth hung open slightly as she tried to fathom how stupid it was to start a fight at a time like this.
5…4…3…2…1… "SHUT UP!!!" screamed Helen. The group quieted down slightly. Yes she was the one that started the fights but she was also most likely going to be the one to stop them. "Just because monkey brain over here was being stupid doesn't mean all of you have to get involved."
"I was being stupid?! What about you?"
"I'll say it again, SHUT UP!"
"Don't tell me to shut up, fag!"
"Call me a fag again and I'll cut you a new pair of eye sockets!"
Once again the two went at it. Miria sighed and shook her head. "I would think you would have more control over them." said Teresa, who had wandered over to her with Clare at her side. "Well then you try to whip them into shape." Miria replied with a hint of a challenge in her voice. "No problem." Teresa looked back at the crowd but then froze up slightly realizing it was getting more physical than verbal.
"Can't do it?" said Miria. Teresa gulped. "Well I couldn't do anything at this point."
"See."
"Well someone has to do something." said Galatea with her arms crossed. It's just like back then. Clare thought, remembering the riot Deneve and Undine had started before the war. She remembered how quickly Flora got them settled down when she used the wind cutter. Clare sighed and drew her sword. "Stand back." she ordered. The three of them shuffled backward to avoid the barrage of slashes that escaped Clare's blade. The noise was enough to quiet the group down.
"W-why didn't you do that earlier!" whimpered Uma from across the room. Clare smiled sheepishly and put away her sword. "Now that I have your attention." said Miria. "I think it would be wise to discuss our options on where we'll retreat too."
"There aren't as many strong Claymores in the southern regions." replied Chelsea. "We'll have a better chance of surviving there than anywhere else."
"I was thinking the same thing. But the problem is the awakened is coming from the southern direction. The best thing to do is go back north."
"What!" A majority of the rebels shouted. "There is no way in hell I'm going back there!" growled Helen. She was soon followed by numerous complaints and threatening statements from the others. Miria raised her hand, signaling them to keep quiet. "I promise you we won't be there was long as we were the last time, you have my word on that. We know the landscape better than anyone else so if anyone pursues us we know the best hiding places."
"I guess that's true." said Clare. "But don't you remember how often we had to move around to avoid warriors surveying the area?"
"That's exactly why we're going north." The warriors became uneasy with confusion. "Let me explain, if the awakened being is trying to pursue us it will obviously follow us north. Since there are plenty of Claymores on awakened being hunts, a group will most likely go after the one following us."
"So you're saying we want to come across a group of Claymores?" said Teresa raising and eyebrow.
"Well if we're on suppressants than maybe they won't-"
"Don't you realize how stupid you sound?" Teresa interrupted. Miria opened her mouth to say something, but was quickly cut off. "Look, the most logical thing to do is too spilt up into small groups. We all head off into different directions so it's trapped in one area. It'll go after one group at a time, or get bored with us and retreat. Either way it's better than going north."
Miria refused to admit it, but that was a good idea. "What do you suppose we'll do if it targets one specific group? Just let that group get killed?"
"No, because there will be at least one single digit per group and they'll all be evenly matched as far as strength goes." Miria bit her tongue. Teresa did have more experience in battle than she did, that didn't surprise Miria one bit. If she had more time to think she probably would have come up with a similar plan. Now wasn't the time to argue though. No matter how much it hurt her pride, she had to agree. "That… does sound like it would… be a better plan." she forced out the words threw her clenched jaw.
The others relaxed a little bit; glad they most likely wouldn't have to go north. Teresa looked somewhat satisfied she had won this little disagreement. "Alright, just give me a moment alone to figure out the groups." Miria said, turning around to leave the room.
Miria walked until she came across the spiral staircase. She plopped herself down on the top stair and buried her face in her hands. She wanted to scream, hit something, anything that would vent out her frustration. "Damn it!" she hissed, balling up her fists and slamming one of them into the floor. There will be plenty of time to be pissed off at yourself later. Miria told herself. For now, just focus on getting us out of this mess.
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"Alright, since there are an odd number of people here I'm splitting us into partners with one group of three." Miria said a few minutes later and was thankfully in a much better mood.
"Oooo!! Miria can we pick our own partners?" asked Helen with a hopeful look on her face. Jeez, just when I thought she was actually starting to act like an adult. "No." Helen appeared to fold in on herself out of disappointment.
"Okay, group one will be Galatea and Tabatha. Group two, Clarice and Miatia. Group three, Teresa and-" A not so casual cough interrupted Miria and she looked to her right to see Teresa clutching Clare's shoulder and casting Miria a threatening look. I can't believe I'm doing this. She swallowed and continued to list off the groups. "Group three, Teresa and Clare."
Teresa let out a sigh of relief and loosened her death grip on Clare. "Group four, Chelsea and Cynthia. Group five, Noel and Deneve. Leaving me with Helen and Uma." Helen was actually the last person Miria wanted to be in a group with, but considering she was the trouble maker she had a better chance of being laid back around the captain. Uma was one of their weakest links so it was a good idea to put her in a group of three.
"I trust that I won't have to tell you which direction to head off in, seeing as your all smart enough to know that all you really have to do is keep away from other pairs. Our goal is to keep moving in separate directions until it either flees, or attacks one of us. If that happens do your best to fight it off until another pair arrives. Is that clear?" The others nodded in agreement. "Good, when this is all over we'll meet back here." Miria paused and drew her sword. She held it out toward the other warriors. The rest drew their swords and placed their blades on top of Miria's. "Good luck to all of you, and don't die."
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"I say we go… that way." said Noel, pointing to a random spot in the horizon. "Now that was a well educated decision." Deneve said sarcastically. "Oh shut up." muttered Noel.
"Well I say we head west."
"Isn't that way west?"
"No that's east, the sun sets in the west." Deneve said impatiently. She had a lot of patience, but she had a feeling Noel was going to push her to the limits. "I'm the single digit and I say we go east." Noel said, crossing her arms. "Fine whatever." Deneve shook her head and trailed behind the tomboy.
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They know I'm coming. Priscilla thought with a smirk on her face. They were stupid, splitting up and hoping it would distract her. But no, she knew what she wanted. Raki had tried to convince her not to, but he couldn't make her change her mind. Priscilla would have Teresa's head, and nothing was going to stop her.
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"Are you sure going straight towards the awakened being is a good idea?" asked Clare. Teresa continued to smile as always. "There's nothing to worry about, I'm sure we can handle it ourselves. I don't think she could have gotten that much stronger anyway." Clare stopped in her tracks and turn to face the smiling blond. "What?"
"Oh, I didn't tell you?" Teresa stopped next to Clare. "No, the only thing you told me is that you thought the awakened being seemed familiar."
"Is that so? I'm guessing you want to know who it is then."
"Yes I do."
"Isn't it a bit obvious? After all, I have killed every awakened being in my presence except one."
"You mean… the awakened being is…"
"Yes Clare, its Priscilla."
A strange feeling crept over her. She wanted to go charging at Priscilla whether she was ready for a fight or not. But at the same time every cell in her body screamed at her, telling her to run as far away from Pricilla as possible.
"Clare? Are you alright?" Teresa's voice pulled Clare out of her daze. "Huh? Y-yeah, I'm f-fine."
"Okay, we should get moving then." Teresa took a step forward, but Clare pulled her back. "Teresa, I spent seven years with these lunatics, so it's saying a lot when I say you're completely insane." She cocked her head to the side in confusion. "Don't you value your life at all? You haven't even slain a single youma since you've been reincarnated. How do you know you're ready to go all out and fight an awakened being?"
"I thought you wanted to fight Priscilla."
"I do, but I'm not ready. Neither are you Teresa. Remember what happened the last time?"
Teresa took in a deep breath and rubbed her forehead. "I was tricked Clare. I made a really stupid mistake; I should have killed Priscilla when I had the chance. It's my fault that monster is out there and I should be the one to put an end to her rampage."
Clare wrapped her arms around Teresa and held her tightly. "I watched you die once and moved on, but I don't think I could live with myself if I watched it again. Please Teresa, if we're going to fight Priscilla can we at least wait until another group comes?"
"Clare…" Teresa looked down at her with a look of surprise planted on her face. She sighed and put her arm loosely around Clare's shoulders. "Alright, we'll wait. Just don't get all emotional on me okay?" Clare looked up at Teresa and smiled.
"Alright if we're not going to fight Priscilla then where are we going to go?" Teresa asked. Clare thought for a moment before answering. "How about we head towards the western areas? Priscilla wouldn't dare going there since that's Riful's territory."
"True, but then wouldn't we have to deal with avoiding Riful herself?"
"It's better than going face to face with Pricilla. Besides, Riful is a bit lazy and doesn't have very good stamina."
"How do you know all this?"
"I fought Riful's "boyfriend" once." Teresa laughed. "Seriously? How did you get yourself into that mess?"
"It's a long story. I almost got myself killed but Riful decided she would wait until we got stronger, then she would make us awaken."
"How nice of her." Teresa said with a smirk on her face. "We should get going; I would like to find a nice place to camp out for the night before it gets dark."