Daven II

She should have returned by now. Daven glanced at the sky anxiously. The glaring midday sun had already reached its zenith and was slowly beginning to descend but there was still no sign of Alysanne. Daven glanced at the southern gate for the hundredth time, wondering why has his friend had not returned yet. She probably found a new castaway somewhere and that's why it's taking so long for her to get back. Daven tried to view the situation optimistically but he always had a habit of assuming the worst. She could have been attacked on her way home. Otto mentioned that the wildlife was getting restless from all the patrols stampeding along the beach, perhaps that's why.

Patches appeared at the foot of the rugged knoll to find him. Daven lowered an arm for the otter to climb and smiled as his pet scampered up the length of his extended limb. Patches chirped in greeting and curled up around his neck. Daven favoured the small mammal with a tired smile but his thoughts rested elsewhere. I'm sure she's fine, he repeated to himself as if the statement would become an objective fact. It was true that the wildlife had become more dangerous recently but Otto had expanded the patrols in response. Whereas before riders would venture into the wilderness alone, now they ranged in pairs or groups of three. The tribe certainly had enough riders and mounts to support the improvement, especially after Otto had trained half a dozen new rangers and tamed as many new megaloceros.

Alys had left the compound earlier in the morning with Lily and Rodrick, along with four direwolves for protection. They had all been mounted on large megaloceros bucks, save for Alys who preferred riding does. She claimed that the female elk were much faster and more sensitive to commands. Daven always urged her to ride the sturdier males but once Alys set her mind on something, it was impossible to convince her otherwise. He just hoped she was safe.

Ahooooooooooooooo. Ahooooooooooooooooooooo.

Two blasts of a horn echoed from one of the watchtowers, signalling the return of riders. Could it be her? Daven prayed that Alys had returned from her patrol safely. Just last week, a rider had been pulled from his mount and mauled to death by a pack of raptors. His megaloceros and one of the wolves accompanying him had been slain in the battle but the other two direwolves managed to fend off the attackers. Another rider had found the corpses on her way home and she reported the findings to Otto. After that, the Wolf Lord had expanded the patrols to ensure the safety of his rangers.

Daven made his way toward the gate nearest the watchtower. Many of the morning patrols returned at around this time but there was a chance that Alys had come home. There was a shout from the other side of the wall and two men ran to open the southern gate. They lifted a log from its hitches and pulled the double doors open with a creaking groan. The wooden gates yawned open and the pair who opened it stepped aside as two riders thundered into the compound, followed by a few direwolves. Both rangers donned dark iron helmets over their heads that made it difficult to distinguish their respective identities. The first rider was unusually large and he rode on a massive buck with a rack of sturdy antlers. It had to be Joseph, Daven knew at once. The large black man spotted him waiting by the side and rode over to greet him. The other rider followed his partner and brought his mount to a halt beside Daven.

"Daven, what brings you here?" Joseph asked as he dismounted.

"I'm w-waiting for Alys to return. You haven't s-seen her by any chance. . . have you?"

"I'm afraid not, my friend." The large man took his helmet off. "The last time I saw her was this morning, when we left the base together."

"Oh, that's unfortunate," Daven remarked with growing dread. "Do you think she's. . ."

"I'm sure she's fine," Joseph interjected. "From what I've seen during sparring practice, Alys is a capable fighter. Hell, she's knocked me flat on my arse more times than I can count. If she can do that much damage with a practice sword, then I shudder to imagine what she'd do with a real weapon."

"It's j-just that she never returns this l-late." Horrible visions were already flashing through Daven's mind. "We should t-tell Otto to send out a s-search party right away! Who knows what could have hap—"

His world suddenly went dark as something attached itself to his face, covering his eyes. His heart skipped a beat at the thought that some monstrous flying beast had swooped into the Den to rake out his eyes. Daven shouted and stumbled around until a friendly voice said, "Guess who!"

His shoulders immediately relaxed and he exhaled in relief. "Alys, you're back. Th-thank the heavens."

"Did you miss me?" She mocked as she swung off her doe. Alysanne grinned at him from beneath her helmet. "Oh, I wasn't gone that long, was I?"

"N-no," Daven managed at last. "Well yes, actually. I thought something h-happened to y-you."

Alys rolled her eyes and took her iron half-helm off. "As if anything could happen to me. We just found a new survivor, that's all."

She motioned at her two patrol partners, who were helping a frightened man off the back of a megaloceros buck. The new castaway was eyeing the direwolves that had accompanied their patrol, flinching whenever one of the creatures looked his way.

Alys turned to Joseph, grinning. "It looks like we beat you again. What's our score now? I believe we've rescued three more survivors than your group."

"Alright, alright," Joseph replied goodnaturedly. "I'll admit my luck hasn't been the best lately."

"Luck?" Alys scoffed. "As I recall, you didn't believe in luck when you were winning."

"That was when I was winning," Joseph retorted. "Regardless, I'll catch up next week. Just wait and watch."

Alys smiled. "Remember, our wager will be over by the new moon. You only have a few days."

"Anything can change in a few days. Perhaps I'll even rescue three castaways tomorrow."

"In your wildest dreams! Only Otto has that sort of luck. Face it Joseph, you've already lost. Prepare to accept your fate in a few days."

"Oh, I'll honour my end of our little wager. But that's only if I lose!" Joseph called over his shoulder as he led his mount away. Joseph's patrol partner followed him to the stable.

Alys smiled and shook her head when Joseph was gone. Daven glanced at her suspiciously. "What was that all about?"

"Oh, just a little deal we made a while ago. If Joseph loses, he has to ride a doe for the rest of his patrols the next week."

Daven couldn't help but laugh at the ridiculous notion of Joseph riding one of the smaller female megaloceros. The poor creature would barely be able to bear his weight. "And if you lose?" Daven asked.

"Don't worry about it. I won't lose," Alys promised. She shifted her iron half-helm to her other hand and shouted at one of her patrol partners, a muscular woman who sat astride a large buck. "Lily! Mind putting this back in the armoury for me?"

Alys threw the helmet at her partner. Lily caught it with one hand and smiled. "Of course not, Alys." She flicked her reins and rode off toward the other corner of the base, the helmet tucked under her arm. Rodrick, the third and final ranger, nodded at Daven and Alys before following Lily to the armoury.

When they were alone, Alys turned back to Daven and grabbed his arm. "Come on, I promised to teach you more riding lessons. There's a great spot for practicing behind that hill over there."

Daven followed Alys to a corner of the base where two stone walls met at a slanted angle. The space afforded them a bit of privacy, since they were shielded behind a hill and there were no watchtowers nearby. Daven spent a fair bit of time reviewing his lessons from the previous week, but he still found it unnerving to be seated so high. Alysanne's personal mount was not particularly large, yet Daven still towered above the rest of the world when he was seated atop the doe's back. He felt vulnerable up there, as if any errant gust of wind would blow him over. Even Patches, who normally enjoyed heights, scampered down his shoulder and watched from a safe distance.

Alys called out encouragingly every time Daven faltered. He found courage just from the sound of her voice, the way it contained an exuberance that revolved solely around him. Listening to her shouts of encouragement, he found the nerve to urge the doe forward a few steps. He swayed unsteadily atop his saddle but dug his legs into the doe's flanks and grabbed the reins tightly. With Alysanne's encouragements ringing in his ears, Daven urged the doe into a light canter. He was amazed to find himself seated after a few seconds. Finally, he worked up the courage to enter a trot and laughed aloud as he circled around Alys.

After the riding lessons were over, they returned to the hill and sat there talking. The afternoon sun beamed down upon the two of them with its gleaming golden rays. There wasn't a cloud in sight and the weather stayed perfect all afternoon. It was a relatively windless day, and only the occasional gust of wind found its way to their isolated hill. A few hardy tufts of coarse green grass sprang up among the nooks and crannies of the rocks. Alysanne's doe shuffled around the base of the hill, picking at the shrubs. A handful of wild blue violets dared to grow atop the hill and Daven twirled their sturdy green stems around as he talked with Alys. They sat there for hours, even as the sun slowly sank in the west. Time did not seem to exist on that hill, that small pocket of peace that shielded them from the outside world. Daven watched his pet otter scamper across the lichens, hunting down bugs with ruthless efficiency and crushing them under his small paws. Patches would bring his most impressive kills back to Daven, including a centipede that the otter dumped on his leg. Daven flinched away at the sight of the revolting insect, to the ringing laughter of Alys. He sat up sheepishly and graced Alys with a smile. When she smiled back, his entire world seemed to light up with the brilliance of a thousand suns.

Daven found himself drawn deeper and deeper into her sparkling sapphire eyes. The way they glimmered like a shifting tropical sea, now blue, now green, and blue again. Daven loved the way her beautiful hair caught the sun, the way it shone like spun gold. For one precious moment, the rest of the world faded away. The crisp blue sky and the glaring sun retreated. Patches slipped away to hunt his bugs somewhere else. The huge stone walls that surrounded the base disappeared from sight until it was just the two of them sitting on the hill, admiring the world together. Daven was so focused on Alys that he didn't hear the crunch of boots on gravel until the two men were within a stone's throw away.

He whirled around, alarmed at the intrusion. Two survivors were standing at the foot of the hill, looking up at them. Daven had never spoken to either of them before. From what he could recall, these two men had arrived at the base together last week. Unlike most of the other rescued survivors, the two men had found their way here by themselves. Daven thought their names were Alexander and Martin but he was not entirely sure.

Upon first glance, he could tell that they were up to no good. Alexander, the taller of the two who Daven pegged as the leader, strolled up the hill confidently. He sported an arrogant grin on his face that Daven wanted to wipe off with a stroke of his fist. Daven tensed up when the two men were standing right in front of them.

"Wh-what do you w-want?" he demanded with an edge to his voice.

"Oh, I couldn't help but notice your lovely friend here," Alex flashed them a charming grin, but his arrogant brown eyes were unsmiling. "I'm Alexander. If I may have the honour of knowing your name, my lady?"

"Alysanne, but please call me Alys," she replied warily.

"What a beautiful name," Alexander remarked. His curly brown hair fell in ringlets around his dark eyes. "Though it truly doesn't do your beauty justice."

"You have my thanks, sir."

Alexander did not take the hint. He persisted relentlessly. "Perhaps one day I could show you around the woods. I know some lovely places where we would be safe from prying eyes." He directed that last part at Daven with a sullen glare.

"I'm afraid I'll have to decline your offer though I mean you no offense. I spend most of my days patrolling the coast to search for new survivors." Alys replied courteously enough but Daven had known his friend long enough to tell that she felt uncomfortable.

"Ah, is that so? Well then perhaps—"

Daven had enough of this stubborn man and his endless arrogance. He stood up abruptly. "B-back off."

Alexander turned to glare at him coldy. "I didn't quite catch that." He turned to his friend Martin. "What did he s-s-s-say?"

Martin burst out laughing and Alexander leered at him. Daven flushed red with anger and embarrassment. He clenched his hands into fists as he sized the other man up. Alys grabbed his arm, silently urging him to sit back down before the situation escalated further.

Daven brushed her arm away and took a step forward. He was trembling with fear but he hoped it wasn't evident to the other men. "I said b-b-back off."

Alexander smiled at him mischievously but his eyes remained stone cold. "Why don't you make me, halfwit." The arrogant intruder shoved Daven harshly.

Daven went stumbling backward and he tripped over a rock. He fell flat on his back with enough force to knock all the breath from his lungs. His ears were ringing from the impact and something sharp dug into his back. Daven gasped and propped himself up on a scraped elbow.

Patches immediately jumped to his defence and hissed at the offender. The otter placed himself protectively in front of Daven but Alys got there first. "Leave him alone," she spat.

Alexander sneered at the display. "Absolutely pathetic. It truly speaks volumes that you need a woman to cower behind."

Daven leapt to his feet. His eyes were smoldering with fury. They could mock him all they wanted but he would not let them insult Alys. In the blink of an eye, he lunged at Alexander and smashed his fist into the other man's temple with all the force he could muster. Alex stumbled back, his hand clutching his head. He seemed more surprised than anything else. Then something about his demeanour changed and the muscles around his neck grew taut.

Alexander hurled himself at Daven and pummeled him in the stomach. Daven doubled over in pain, wheezing from the blow. A fist caught him in the jaw and his world spun around. He tasted blood at the back of his mouth. All he could hear was his own laboured breathing and his heart beating like a drum. Before Daven had a chance to recover, he was jabbed in the eye and half the world went black. Daven grunted and coughed up blood as he went down on one knee. He was distantly aware of Alys screaming at them to stop.

A shadow loomed over him. "Had enough yet, coward?"

That mocking voice only fueled his fury. Daven suddenly found the strength to rise. He spat blood into Alexander's face and threw himself at his opponent with renewed hatred. The curly-haired man wiped the blood away and tried to block Daven's first punch. The second fist caught him in the neck, and the third found his stomach.

Alexander suddenly grabbed Daven's wrist and pulled him forward. He slammed his head into Daven's nose and blood sprayed everywhere. Daven clutched at his own nose and his hand came away slick with blood. He was about to retaliate when Alexander seized his shirt with bloody fists and lifted him into the air, flailing and kicking. Daven kneed Alexander in the groin as he hard as he could, and he suddenly found himself on solid ground again. The other man doubled over, gasping in agony.

In the end, it took five survivors to pull them apart. Alys and two other men restrained Daven, while Martin and a woman pulled Alexander away. Where these other survivors emerged from, Daven did not know. They probably heard all the commotion from the fight. He was told much later on that the skirmish had been audible from the other end of the base.

The next few hours were a blur for Daven. He could not say exactly what had happened, though he did have some vague memories of Willam pressing foul-smelling herbs to his wounds. Daven supposed they had taken him to the healer's house but he could not remember staying there. He vaguely recalled moving around from place to place, until he finally found himself sitting on a cracked pine chair in Otto's chamber.

Alexander was there too, scowling at him from the other corner. Daven noted with satisfaction that a huge purple bruise sprawled across the other man's jaw. The wound reminded Daven of his own injuries and he gently probed his broken nose, wincing from the slightest touch. His sight had returned to normal, but the left side of his face was swollen from his black eye. Pain stabbed his weary limbs whenever he tried to move. He grit his teeth and turned to examine the room.

They were inside the Wolf Lord's castle. Daven surmised as much from the stone walls and vaulted ceilings of the dark grey chamber. From what he could recall, the castle was far from being complete. The fortress currently only consisted of wooden framework and a few dark rooms. It was nothing like the sprawling stronghold that Willam had envisioned, with its great hall and its huge stone towers. Although the two ankylosaurus were constantly gathering stones for the fortress and small teams of survivors laboured on the project every day, much more work was needed before the rising structure could truly be called a castle. The stronghold would take many more moons to complete and it was scarcely ready to house any survivors just yet. However, Otto had claimed the first room as his own. The Wolf Lord still lived and slept in a cabin like everyone else, but he conducted all his affairs from inside the castle.

Otto himself was seated behind a scarred pine desk, glowering at Daven and Alexander. Winter crouched behind the sullen lord, growling irritably and lashing his tail to make his displeasure evident. Daven gulped and averted his gaze from the wolf. He took that opportunity to look around the rest of the room but there was nothing to see apart from monotone brick walls. There were no windows in the room, only a handful of torches that beat back endless waves of inky darkness. Blue-grey whorls of smoke snaked their way upward, pooling in the arched ceiling of the room. Daven suddenly had an urge to fling the reinforced oak door behind him wide open and bolt out of the gloomy warren, but he knew he would not get far before they dragged him back to face his fate.

Daven's eyes were rapidly darting around the room, seeking escape routes, when the Wolf Lord finally spoke. "Words don't do justice to how disappointed I am. The two of you are grown men, not boys; you need to rethink your actions and make amends. We cannot afford to fight amongst ourselves when we have larger problems at hand."

"Save your words for this cunt here," Alexander began to protest. He blundered on until Otto silenced him with a glance. The man kept his mouth shut after that.

Otto turned to look at the two of them in turn. "You're both members of this tribe. Try to remember that. I will not allow us to be divided by petty rivalries, and that includes the enmity between you two. It'll take time to quell your hatred, I know that too well. But before anything else, you two need to learn your lessons. You'll face the consequences for your actions starting tomorrow."

"This is ridiculous!" Alexander blurted out. "It was all his fault, he started the fight. Punish him and leave me be."

Winter snarled suddenly, an explosive sound that resonated off the walls of the gloomy chamber and rang voraciously in Daven's ears. Otto fixed the full intensity of his glare onto Alexander until the other man averted his gaze. Otto's eyes were freezing flakes of ice when he leaned forward. "Don't think your vile habits have gone unnoticed. Alys wasn't the first woman to complain about you."

"Lies," Alexander declared. "I haven't harmed a single woman in my life. Is it a crime to compliment the fair ladies? Is it a sin to set my eyes upon their beauty?"

"Do I look like a fool to you? I imagine you'd like to set more than just your eyes upon them. Anyone can see what you truly desire." Winter snarled and circled behind Alexander's chair, growling low and deep. Otto leaned forward until he was face to face with the arrogant man. "Those women are under my protection. Do I make myself clear? If you lay a hand on any lady, I'll see to it myself that you lose the offending hand."

Alex glared back at Otto, gritting his teeth. Daven could tell that he was about to crack under the pressure of the Wolf Lord's icy glare. After a few seconds of the tense confrontation, Otto finally leaned back and took a swig of ale from his mug.

He slammed the cup down on his desk and wiped his mouth. "I think the ankylosaurus have worked hard enough this week and they deserve a break. Starting tomorrow, you'll take their place. Head to the fields and gather rocks until the sun goes down, or your back breaks from the labour."

"Is that it?" Alexander scoffed. "Picking up pebbles is a task anybody with half a brain could do. Aye, I'll do it. I'll collect your damn rocks."

Otto's face remained expressionless. "Good. You're dismissed."

Alex made a point to push his chair back so the wooden legs scraped harsly against the stone floor. He sauntered out of the room with a slight limp to his step. Daven took pride in the fact that Alexander couldn't walk properly anymore.

Otto called after him once he had reached the door. "One more thing. I expect enough stones to complete the first floor of this castle. You have until the end of the week."

Alex gaped at him. "That's impossible. It'll take more than a week to gather that many bloody rocks."

The Wolf Lord smirked. "Better get started then."

Alexander was about to protest further when Winter suddenly lunged at him, teeth bared. Alex yelped in alarm and slammed the door shut. Daven heard a muffled curse on the other side, followed by the sound of Alexander storming off.

Daven only had a few seconds to savour the small victory, for he turned around to find Otto looking at him with a hint of disappointment in his eyes. "I don't blame you for what you did, Daven. Hell, I would have acted the same way in your position but it was still wrong to attack Alex."

"H-he started it," Daven mumbled under his breath.

"I know and that prick had it coming. Either way, you'll still have to face retribution for your actions." Otto looked mildly uncomfortable. He took another drink from his cup and set the mug down gently. "Pack your bags. I'm sending you to the Lookout Hill. You'll leave on the morrow."

It took Daven a few seconds to process what the other man had just said. He stared at the Wolf Lord blankly until the severity of Otto's command slammed into him like an avalanche. He was expecting forced labour or community service, anything but this. Going to the Lookout Hill would mean being separated from Alys and the few other friends he had made along the way. Daven wanted nothing more than to stay at the Den where he was safe and happy. The Lookout Hill seemed a thousand miles away from this dark room and the icy lord seated in front of him.

Daven gaped like a fish out of water before protesting to Otto. "P-p-please, I'll n-never act out of line again. Please, please let m-m-me stay."

Otto silenced him with a wary look. "I need to separate you and Alexander before this situation escalates any further."

"Then s-send him and not me!"

Otto sighed. "As much as I'd like to, I need to keep him here where I can keep an eye on him. If I let that man loose, who knows what sort of trouble he would cause. Besides, this isn't a punishment so much as a promotion."

Daven was still struggling to comprehend what was going on but Otto elaborated. "The Den is getting cramped with all these new survivors and the wolves are getting tense so I'm sending the bulk of our tribe to the Lookout Hill. It'll mainly be the new arrivals and a handful of veterans in the start, but you can be certain that more survivors will trickle in every day from the patrols. As for you, Daven, you're one of my most trusted friends. I need someone loyal to oversee that base so I'm sending you and Joseph. You'll serve under him of course, but I'm still making you second-in-command."

Daven sank further into his chair, dismayed at the thought of uprooting his life to live in some distant base half a world away. He could tell that Otto had already set his mind on this decision and that there was nothing he could do to convince the Wolf Lord otherwise. Daven thought back to earlier that afternoon, when he had lounged on the sunny hill with Alys, never knowing it would be for the last time.

"W-will Alys be there too?" Daven asked timidly.

Otto shook his head. "With Joseph gone, we're already done a survivor for patrols. I need every capable fighter we have to patrol the coast. The wildlife is getting more dangerous, so I need my best warriors with me to rescue new castaways."

Daven was about to protest further but he realized it was no use. He finally accepted his fate and slumped further into his chair, completely defeated. "F-fine. If there's n-no other choice, I'll go."

Otto nodded and thanked Daven for his cooperation but the praise fell on deaf ears. Daven pushed his chair in and left the dark room without a backwards glance. He closed the door behind him and took a deep breath. He was standing beneath a stone archway which would eventually become a pillar to support the stronghold's great hall. Not like I'll ever get to see the castle when it's complete, Daven thought to himself. The sun was slowly sinking below the horizon and the camp was bustling with activity but Daven did not have the heart to partake in any of the events he usually loved. It would be too painful to enjoy a meal by the bonfire for the last time, knowing that he would never return to the Den and his friends again.

I need to find Alys, he thought to himself. She needs to know. Oh god, why did this have to happen to me? Daven looked around the base desperately, searching for his friend. There was no sign of her glimmering golden hair in the dusky yard. Daven turned around, sinking further and further into despair. It felt as if his world was ending, as if his life was plummeting into a pitch black crater. What if I can't find Alys? Will I ever see her again? Please, please tell me she's here somewhere.

"Need some help, friend?" a voice called out, not unkindly.

It was Willam with Argentum at his side. Daven clutched the old man's forearm frantically, his eyes wild with fear. "Willam, th-thank the g-gods. H-h-have you s-seen Alys? Please, please t-t-tell me you have. Anywhere at all. I need to f-find Alys."

Willam gripped his shoulders and held him still. Daven was surprised at the strength behind the old man's wrinkled arms. "Calm down, Daven. Take a few deep breaths and tell me what happened."

Everything came pouring out all of a sudden, in quick bursts with sobs mixed in. Daven found himself revealing more than he had wanted to share. How he loved Alys more than anything else in the world. How he had been infatuated with Alysanne from the moment they met. How he admired her bravery and her beauty and everything about her. He told Willam about what happened earlier that afternoon, how they had been sitting together on the hill peacefully one minute and how he found himself trading blows with Alex the next. How they had both been drenched with blood, and how Otto had sent him to the outer reaches of the Island to man a base that only half-existed in his mind. Daven had never intended to tell Willam the whole story, but he found himself pouring out all his emotions from the minute he had woken up on the Island. And for his part, Willam listened. Daven felt the tension leave his shoulders, he felt the grief cascading out from him like waves in a storm-heaved sea. For the first time in his life, Daven shared his feelings about Alys, the feelings that he had bottled up to himself for so long. It felt as if a massive weight had been lifted off his back when he finally finished.

Willam led Daven to a secluded corner of the base while he listened. Argentum trailed behind them like a protective shadow, growling at anyone that gave them strange looks. When they were finally alone, Willam put a hand on Daven's shoulder and comforted him with hushed whispers. "Daven, listen to me. I know it might seem like the end of the world but don't give in to despair, no matter how bleak your life might seem right now. Just remember that everything will be alright again. It might take weeks, months, perhaps even years but you'll recover from this and you'll be stronger than ever before."

Willam peeled back his leather glove to reveal a blotchy pink forearm covered in scars from a fire. "I've been there too. I know what it feels like when your life gets thrown into disorder and everything seems lost. Back when it was just Joseph, Otto and myself, our camp got destroyed by a pack of nightmarish monsters. They killed our friends and nearly killed us too. But we never gave up and we kept fighting to the bitter end."

Willam looked him straight in the eyes and Daven realized for the first time that there was a hidden strength in this frail old man. Willam truly cared about his friends. Daven was comforted to know that at least one person in the dark cruel world cared about him, that at least one kind soul was invested enough to aid him in his time of need.

"Keep fighting, Daven. Never give up and remember that I'll always be there for you. I know it doesn't seem like it right now but Otto's there to support you too. Joseph as well and I'm certain that Alys cares about you with all her heart. You have friends in this world. You're not alone, so please don't feel afraid to talk to any of us. We'll always be there for you."

Daven nodded slowly. He turned Willam's advice over in his head and it gradually started to make sense. He felt the darkness recede, if only by a few hairs. He felt his despair slowly diminish until he could finally bear to think about the horrible things that plagued his life. "I n-need to talk to Alys. I need to tell her how I f-f-feel in case I n-never see her again."

Willam nodded and pointed across the base. "I saw her heading back to the cabin a while ago. Come this way, I'll lead you there."

Daven followed Willam across the compound, shivering and turning his thoughts over in his head. He didn't know how he was going to confess his feelings to Alys. What if she doesn't feel the same way about me? What if she doesn't want to be friends anymore?

All too soon, Daven found himself outside the cabin door. He hesitated at the entrance. It was suddenly too much. He wanted to run away, to flee as far as he could from the Den. He was about to turn and run but Argentum blocked his path. The tyrannosaurus growled low and deep, as if ordering him to stay. Willam placed a hand on his shoulder. "Are you afraid, Daven?"

"Wh-what?"

"Are you afraid?" Willam repeated.

Daven nodded, not trusting himself to speak. The old man smiled. "Good. That means you're brave."

"B-brave?" Daven echoed, confused.

"Everybody's been afraid of something at one point or another. Don't let them fool you. I've been scared, Otto's been scared, the man you fought earlier has been scared before. Even Winter, that noble beast, and Argentum right here." The Tyrannosaurus growled in agreement. "The only time anyone can ever be brave is when they're afraid. So go in there and give it your best shot. Don't dwell on what might happen if you fail."

With that, Willam opened the door and shoved Daven inside before he could even protest. The door slammed shut behind him with a resounding thump. Alys was sitting on her cot alone and she glanced up when he entered. A smile of relief rushed onto her face and she jumped up to meet him.

"Daven! Thank goodness you're here, I was worried sick."

Daven smiled nervously. "A-are you alright, Alys?"

She looked confused for a moment. "What? Of course I am! Worry about yourself first! Are you alright? Oh, what happened to your poor nose?"

"It's f-fine," Daven dismissed casually. If truth be told, he could barely even feel his nose from all the adrenaline rushing through his body. "D-d-don't worry about it."

Alys came closer to inspect his face, her eyes shining with concern. "It's broken. Let's go see Willam about this. That bastard Alexander, I swear one day he'll get what's coming to him."

"A-actually, Otto already t-took care of him," Daven said quietly.

They sat down on the cot together and Daven filled her in about what had happened after the fight. He told her about what Otto had said to both of them and what Alexander's punishment entailed. Daven finally finished by telling her about his new assignment to oversee the other base.

"That's great, Daven!" Alys declared upon hearing the news. "I'm so proud of you. You'll do great, I just know it."

Daven shook his head furiously and he felt tears welling in his eyes. "No, no, it's not great! Alys, I've b-b-been meaning. . . It's j-just that. . ." He had imagined this moment hundreds of times in his head but he couldn't find the words. Just three words, he thought to himself. I love you. I love you, I love you. But try as he might, he couldn't choke those three words out. He found himself more afraid than he had ever been in his life. Those three words would change both their lives forever. Their friendship would never be the same again. What if she doesn't feel the same way? What if she hates me for it? What if she doesn't want anything to do with me anymore? We've been friends for months and months, I don't want to ruin that with just three words! He tried to choke them out again but the words caught in his throat. Alys was looking at him with concern the entire time and he felt his face flush bright pink. The room was too hot, the floor was too stiff, his clothes were too itchy.

"It's j-just. . . What if I never see you again!" he finally blurted out. Damn it! He cursed himself at the same time. I missed my chance to tell her.

"Oh Daven, don't worry about that. The Lookout Hill isn't too far. It's only a few hours' ride away. You're my best friend and I promise that we'll still see each other all the time."

She pulled him in for an embrace and Daven sobbed into her shoulder, both relieved and devastated. They stayed like that for a small eternity until Alys eventually fell asleep. Daven tucked her into the cot and retreated to his own bedding. By then, the others were already returning to the cabin but Daven pretended to be asleep. He scarcely slept at all that night, tossing and turning with restless dread.

The next morning dawned foggy and cold. Daven found himself seated on a rickety wagon stocked high with provisions. Joseph was there by his side and Patches was curled up around his neck. Daven blinked away his fatigue, rubbing his bloodshot eyes. His lack of sleep was finally catching up to him, although his eyes were pink from crying into his furs. A bitter sense of defeat loomed over him. I should have told Alys when I had the chance last night, he berated himself for the hundredth time. But there will be other opportunities. . . at least I hope.

The breaths of man and beast fogged the morning air, contributing to the thick mist that enveloped the world. There were fourteen other survivors accompanying Joseph and himself. Daven scarcely knew any of them, for they were almost all new to the tribe. He recognized a few faces here and there but he didn't know most of their names. I'm being shipped off to a foreign base with a horde of strangers, Daven reflected glumly. At least Joseph's with me. The large man was huddled up in furs, looking like a great shaggy bear. Joseph waited patiently for the others to form up around them.

Four outriders created a loose circle around their wagon. They were all experienced rangers mounted on elkback, with their weapons of choice slung over their shoulders. Seven wolves joined them, Shina in the lead. A grumpy ankylosaurus lumbered beside the wagon, being coaxed forward the entire time by a nervous stablehand with a fist full of berries. A second wagon lurched to a halt behind their own, this one filled with survivors instead of supplies. Eight men and women were seated in the back, while two veteran rangers sat behind the reigns. Skyler and Eryk, if he recalled correctly. Daven was comforted by the fact that he knew their names. He had exchanged greetings with them on a few occasions. Maybe this won't be so bad, Daven told himself. I already know three of the men that I'll be living with for the rest of my damned life. I still wish Alys were coming with me though. . .

A small crowd had formed around the caravan and Daven glimpsed Alys in their midst. The onlooking survivors waved and called out farewells to their friends. Otto appeared through the mist with Winter at his side. The Wolf Lord's cloak whirled and flapped about him as he made his way through the crowd. He stopped beside their wagon.

"Do you have everything you need?" he asked Joseph.

"Aye, we're all set," the black man replied.

"And you know the way? Willam drew up a map in case you forgot."

Joseph waved him off. "I remember just fine. Quit worrying, Otto, I know what I'm doing."

The Wolf Lord ignored the jest. "I don't like this fog. I can't see more than a few feet in front of me. Watch the wolves closely, Joseph. They'll be able to smell predators from miles away. Send outriders to scout ahead and make sure you keep a few behind the caravan. Turn around immediately if you see anything larger than a bear. I don't want you taking any risks with so many lives at stake."

Joseph rolled his eyes. "When have I ever taken unnecessary risks? Otto, we'll be fine."

The Wolf Lord nodded but he seemed to have a hard time convincing himself. He scanned the caravan impatiently, frowning with concern. "Maybe I should double your escort," he muttered to himself.

"Otto."

"Yes, yes, just make sure to send a messenger once you've reached the hill," Otto sighed. "Farewell, old friend."

"Farewell brother," Joseph corrected him, clasping the Wolf Lord's hand. The two men smiled at each other but there was a hint of sadness in both their eyes.

Otto nodded at Daven. "Safe journeys, Daven. Remember, I'm counting on you."

"I w-won't let you down," he replied miserably.

The Wolf Lord smiled at them sadly and turned back to join the crowd. Winter barked at them before rejoining his master. It's happening, Daven thought. We're leaving. He almost didn't believe that it was finally happening. He tried to convince himself that this was all a bad dream, that he would wake up at any moment, but then the wagon lurched forward and they were slowly rolling toward the northern gate. Daven scanned the Den desperately, trying to drink everything in one last time. He saw Maron waving from his forge, he saw the vague outline of the castle and the watchtowers along the walls, he saw Clarisse peeking out from the stables, and he saw all the survivors calling farewells from the crowd. Daven saw Alys waving to him and he managed to return the gesture half-heartedly. He turned around and hunched over, blinking back tears. It was too painful to look at her any further. He scrunched his eyes shut and kept them firmly closed until the northern gate groaned shut behind them.

The journey was eerily silent after they left the safety of the Den. The fog seemed to blanket all the sounds around them, muffling the voices of the survivors chatting in the wagon just a few feet behind his own. The strange half-silence was occasionally punctuated by the snorts and bellows of the wooly rhino pulling his wagon, and the clopping hooves of the elk that encircled the caravan. Daven remained tense for the first few hours, flinching at every sound that echoed through the mist. Eventually he grew tired and slept with his head against the back of his seat and patches curled up in his lap.

The fog had receded by the time Daven woke up from his slumber but he still couldn't see very far. Daven was alarmed to discover that half their escort had disappeared but the rangers came galloping back a few minutes later to report that the caravan was approaching the Lookout Hill. Joseph thanked the two men and sent them forward again to screen for predators.

"This place is full of dangerous wildlife," Joseph explained to Daven as he kept his eyes on the distance. "I've had a few unpleasant encounters with sabercats back in the day."

"S-s-sabercats?" Daven stuttered. He wasn't a hunter or a ranger; he preferred to avoid the predators that roamed the north altogether. Daven always took jobs that involved gathering lumber from the forest or stone from the quarry. He was perfectly content working near the safety of the walls

"Aye, saber-toothed tigers. They're larger than direwolves and they blend right into the rocks. They'll tear a man to shreds within seconds."

"That s-sounds horrible," Daven shuddered.

"That's not the worst of it either," Joseph went on. "The Lookout Hill is right next to the mountains. There's all sorts of nasty creatures up there: argentavis, direbears, boars, hyenas, the list just goes on. I'm going to post two sentries to stand on the tall hill and watch for wildlife all times."

"T-two, Joseph? Shouldn't you save more to guard the base?"

"Well, one man would normally be enough but I don't want to take any risks. If I send two sentries up there, they can watch each other as well. Poke the other man if he falls asleep."

Daven found himself chuckling despite himself. He was suddenly glad that Joseph was there with him. He would give anything in the world to have Alys by his side but at least he still had one friend to cheer him up.

Joseph grinned at him. "If you want to be a good commander, you've got to think like your men. For instance, take those fellows back there."

Daven craned his neck around to look at the wagon behind them. The driver was fast asleep and his companion was staring off into the distance, too caught up in his daydreams to notice his friend was dozing.

"Hey Skyler!" Joseph hollered without looking back. "Did you enjoy your beauty sleep?" The driver suddenly bolted awake to the laughter of the survivors in the back of his wagon. He flushed pink with embarrassment.

"See," Joseph said, tapping his head. "Think like the men."

The caravan rolled forward steadily as the midday sun climbed higher into the sky. The journey was peaceful since all the nearest creatures gave the armed survivors a wide berth. They arrived at the Lookout Hill on good time, with hours of daylight to spare. The fog had completely cleared away by then and Daven could see the base from far away.

Though the tall hill gave the camp its namesake, the human base was actually located on its shorter neighbour. The squat second hill was more heavily fortified and offered greater protection from the elements. It was walled by sturdy grey stones and encircled by a ring of tall fire-hardened stakes. A short ditch had been entrenched in front of the barrier, the bottom lined with jagged rocks and sharpened stakes. It took the caravan an hour to enter, for a segment of the wall had to be torn down to get all their animals through. Joseph had helped build the place up and he knew exactly where to go. The survivors dumped all their supplies into the courtyard and immediately began fixing the fortifications that had fallen out of repair. Joseph sent hunting parties into the tundra to restock their half-empty larder and he sent a pair of sentries to the taller hill.

Joseph moved around the base easily, shouting commands and suggestions at everyone he came across. Daven tried to do the same, for he was supposed to be second-in-command. He lost his nerves the first few times and backed away before he embarrassed himself, but realized that most of the survivors were less experienced than him. A few of the new arrivals had no idea how to sharpen stakes or entrench the barricades. He approached them timidly to offer advice, only lone survivors at first but he gradually built up enough confidence to confront the larger teams of workers. Daven even had to demonstrate how to do certain tasks himself, since some of the new survivors seemed completely clueless. He was covered in dust and sweat by the end of the day but there was a certain satisfaction to helping others adapt to the Island. Daven had gotten to know some of their names as he worked alongside them, and he was feeling much better by the time they all gathered around a bonfire to celebrate the first day.

Maybe this isn't so bad after all, Daven thought to himself as he scratched Patches behind the ear. He still missed Alys dearly but Willam had been right; the world wasn't so bleak after all. Daven only had to keep fighting to see that for himself.

Author's Note: This chapter was perhaps the most autobiographical of the bunch. If anything, it was therapeutic to write this one and I enjoyed it. I'm going to keep the real-life details to myself but I know what it feels like to lose someone you deeply care about. There was no Willam around in my life to tell me all those words I needed to hear; my best friend, the person I could always depend on, abandoned me and even though I hate her for it, I still miss her with all my heart. That was months ago and I've finally accepted that she's gone. But that being said, the message of this chapter is one of perseverance. Just keep going and things will get better eventually. If anybody ever needs someone to talk to, please feel free to PM me.

soumilplays03, thanks, I hope you enjoyed the chapter!

The Dweeb 4252, thanks! Unfortunately you won't get to meet every single new tribe member, but I'll try to introduce at least a few new survivors.

GuardianReaper92, thanks for the support! I hope you enjoyed the chapter.

TheRagingNebula, I'm glad that you like Maron! We didn't see much of him this chapter but he'll show up again soon!

J.S.F. Northern Command, I'll leave their stories to the reader's imagination but they weren't particularly interesting so I chose to omit them. Thanks for the feedback about the graveyard! I was actually inspired by someone's suggestion around a year ago. . . can't remember it very much sorry lol

King Endercreeper, thanks! I'll be sure to keep pumping out chapters whenever I get the chance. You are right to assume that the narrative will shift but we won't see many other tribes for a while. First I gotta build this one up. Also thanks for the kind comment about the food lol.

Thanks for taking the time to check out my first fanfiction, I hope you enjoyed the chapter. I will try my best to upload as regularly as possible. Feel free to comment, ask question or criticize my story, review is always welcome. And if you like what you saw, make sure to check out the other ARK: Survival Evolved fanfictions out there. Have a great rest of your day or night.

-DaRumpyBurr