Isabel's heavy eyes slowly opened. She felt the warmth of a small fire coming to her left. It was just enough to cause her to stir and awaken from her deep slumber. As she tried to roll to her side, she heard a faint murmur nearby. Her body froze as she tried to compose herself and remember what happened before she passed out. When she moved too quickly, she hissed in pain.

''Be still,'' a gentle voice said. ''You were in a bad way when we found you.''

Isabel didn't recognize the voice. Her blurred vision improved with every passing second, but it was still difficult to see the person who was speaking to her. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see a person kneeling beside her. Isabel's hand touched the ground, feeling a bed of straw that had been carefully placed beneath her.

''Where am I?'' Isabel asked before coughing roughly. The taste of metal and ash still lingered in her mouth.

''Our home,'' the person replied. ''We found you unconscious when our people when to inspect the strange noises we've been hearing on the surface.''

Isabel's heart pounded in her chest. She blindly turned to her host with panic written on her expression. ''Please tell me that no one went up to the surface.'' With all the nuclear fallout from the bomb, Isabel feared for the safety of anyone that got too close to the action. As much as she hated her father, it was a ghastly sight to see him disintegrate before her very eyes.

''We haven't been able to. There is too much debris.''

Isabel sighed with relief. ''Good.''

There was a long pause before either of them spoke. ''Pardon me for being forward, but, may I ask what happened up there? Are there others who were with you?''

Isabel sat up and hugged her knees. She wanted to put on a brave face, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. The uncertainty of her mother's fate and the pain from watching Jess's life fade away was too heavy for her. ''There were others. I don't know where they are. I don't even know if they're still alive.''

''Well, we found you, didn't we? I'm sure we'll find the rest.''

There was a whole colony that was counting on Isabel. And with Jess's death, Isabel felt like she had failed. She couldn't protect the people dearest to her hurt. Even with all her strength, she still felt powerless. She wanted to dig herself out of this rut and stop beating herself, but she couldn't shake away the blame and pity. It was clawing at her body, making her bleed and leaving her to drown in sorrow.

When it was clear that Isabel was not going to say more, her host cleared their throat. ''You have nothing to fear. Miss?''

''Isabel. Mr?''

''Oh, I'm not a mister. Nakotah will suffice.''

''Nakotah…'' Isabel gazed at her surroundings. It almost resembled the huts from her old home. ''Is this your colony?''

''That's one way of putting it. We are merely survivors. We are not fighters such as yourself, Dragon Slayer.''

Isabel turned sharply. ''How did you know?''

''As I said, you were in a bad way when you found you. Yet, your wounds healed miraculously, and in such a short amount of time. We almost didn't need to do anything. We just made sure you rested comfortably and properly cleaned.''

It was then that Isabel noticed her sight was getting better as she looked at herself and noticed that she was in clothing that was unfamiliar to her. It felt looser, with unique patterns that appealed to her far more than the drab rags from before. Isabel felt a faint smile creep across her face. ''Thank you.''

''Oh, there's no need for that. We had many willing to volunteer to make sure you were looked after.''

''That's a feeling I'm still not used to,'' Isabel admitted before trying to stand up.

As she rose, Nakotah followed, reaching out to help if needed. ''There's no need to rush. You can still rest.''

''I'll be fine. I can't stay long anyway.'' Isabel said, already hurrying through the small opening before Nakotah could protest.

The moment she stepped outside, Isabel could see a stark difference between this place and her old colony. It was a small cavern, with no more than a dozen people gathering around a small fire, trading herbs and passing sticks and straws between each other that would be used to strengthen their small huts spread throughout. The area was so small that Isabel didn't need to get far before she had the attention of everyone in sight. They all gazed at her like some sort of mythical being from legends. Isabel wasn't sure how this made her feel, and she hated that it made her feel like this.

''Why can't you stay?'' Nakotah asked. ''If you're worried about rations, we have enough so that you can rest and…''

''You don't understand how bad things are on the surface,'' Isabel said. ''The Dragons have come. I killed one of their own. Now, they're going to be coming for me. I have to get as far away from here as possible so that I don't put anyone near me in danger.''

Isabel was expecting some kind of shock expression from Nakotah and their people. However, their faces were crestfallen but didn't appear surprised by Isabel's words. Isabel glanced around the place before an older woman stepped out from the crowd. In her hands was a small radio. It looked like it was still running, but only by the thinnest of margins.

''It won't matter,'' the woman said drearily. ''The Dragons are burning everything. They're not just targeting you.''

''She's right,'' Nakotah continued. ''It's been like this for a few days. There's been a few resistance fighters trying to stand their ground but to no avail. They're killing indiscriminately.''

Isabel felt like she was going to be sick. She wanted to feel angry. But, she couldn't. ''This is all my fault. I caused this.''

''Yes, you did,'' Nakotah stated. Isabel glared at him. She wasn't expecting them to be so blunt, especially after the kindness they had offered since she had awoken. However, Nakotah's face was stern as they slowly approached her. ''You took the fight to the Dragons. What did you expect? That they were just going to let you kill them off one-by-one. No, they were going to fight back. That's what happens. They use their power to set an example and prove how superior they are to us. Do you know why?''

''Because I angered them!'' Isabel shouted.

Nakotah didn't flinch. ''No, you made them afraid. They're afraid of you. And now…we no longer fear them.''

Isabel shook her head. ''How can you say that?''

''Because we now have hope. You said so yourself that you killed one of their own. It is possible.''

''I got lucky…''

''Does that matter? Everyone can use a bit of luck. Sometimes that's all a person has when they take a chance. Damn fear. Let hope prevail.''

The small crowd cheered and nodded in approval. The woman with the radio stepped forward and offered it to Isabel. ''Ever since we heard about you, we've been willing to fight with you. Now, we have that chance.''

Isabel wanted to reach out and take the radio. But, fear still held her down. ''People who fight with me…most of them don't…''

There was a small voice inside of Isabel that was crying out and begging her to accept their help. She wanted to be the strong hero she'd always dreamed of being. But, with everything that has happened, she couldn't bear the pain in her heart of getting more people killed. The image of Jess's lifeless face was still etched into her mind, tormenting her and driving her to the verge of tears.

''Not everyone will live to see the future,'' Nakotah said softly. ''The only thing we can control is what we do now so that those born tomorrow will have what they need to live.''

Isabel sighed. ''I want to believe that. But, I…''

''I understand. You need time to think. But, please, rest here for now. You're safe. When the time comes, I know you'll make the right decision.''

''And if it's not the decision that you want to hear?''

Nakotah pondered for a moment. ''I'll live with it.''

Isabel stood in silence. One by one, the people around her returned to their duties. It seemed that many of them weren't as hopeful as Nakotah. There was something about the leader that made Isabel believe they knew what she was going to decide, even if she didn't know herself. The only one left standing beside her other than Nakotah was the woman with the radio, which she handed to Isabel. ''If you're trying to reach your people, maybe they'll hear you.''

Isabel smiled and graciously accepted the device. ''Thank you.''

She took it inside the small hut with her, unable to look Nakotah in the eye as she passed. They didn't seem bothered by Isabel's lack of determination. They seemed to have more confidence in her than Isabel had in herself. She didn't know whether she liked that or loathed it.

Once inside, she set the radio on the floor and started playing with the frequencies. Using what she remembered and was taught, she searched around for what sounded like the right setting and brought the device closer to her trembling lips. ''Mom…if you can hear me…if you're ali-.''

Isabel sobbed before collecting herself. ''I don't know what to do. The Dragons are here. The King of the Dragons might be with them and I don't know how I'm supposed to win. There are so many people counting on me because only I have the power to make a difference. But, I can do this without you. I need you and Jess…''

Isabel stared blankly at the wall as it dawned on her what she had just said. Numbly, she set the radio down and sat quietly. For the first time in her life, she had truly lost the will to fight. And she didn't know what it would take for her to get that fight back.

Suddenly, the radio came to life. There was a loud scream of static before a voice could be heard. ''Isabel?''

Isabel gasped. ''Mom? Mom, is that you?''

''Isabel…don't…'' Helen's voice could barely come through the crackle. Not only that, but it sounded like she was struggling with something or someone.

''Mom? What's going on?''

The frequency settled. However, the next voice that Isabel heard wasn't her mother's. ''You took everything from me…''

Isabel's heart stopped. ''Thane?''

''It's only fair I give you the same treatment.'' He growled. ''I have your colony. And I'm going to kill them all. One-by-one.''

Isabel gritted her teeth as steam poured out of her mouth. ''Where are they?''

XXX

HELLO MY SWEET SUPERSTARS! I'M SORRY THAT I KEEP LEAVING THE STORY ON THESE CLIFFHANGERS, BUT I FIND THEM SO MUCH FUN TO WRITE. THANE IS STILL ALIVE AND HUNGRY FOR REVENGE. DOES ISABEL HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO BEAT HIM GIVEN HER CURRENT MENTAL STATE? CAN SHE FIND THE WILL TO FIGHT AGAIN TO SAVE HER LOVED ONES? THE NEXT CHAPTER IS GOING TO BE THE FINAL SHOWDOWN BETWEEN THESE TWO! I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS A STELLAR BATTLE. I WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL ONCE AGAIN FOR YOUR INCREDIBLE SUPPORT AND PATIENCE WITH ME. I KNOW IT'S FRUSTRATING WAITING FOR CHAPTERS. I WISH THAT I COULD DIG MYSELF OUT OF THIS GUTTER AND WRITE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. I AM IMPROVING AND GETTING BACK INTO THE GROOVE. I HAVE ALL OF YOU TO THANK FOR THAT, SO I WANT TO GIVE YOU THE BEST CHAPTERS THAT I CAN WRITE. IN THE MEANTIME, I WANT YOU ALL TO STAY SAFE AND KEEP SPREADING KINDNESS TO OTHERS. THANK YOU. TA-TA FOR NOW.

A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO MY MILKY WAY GALAXIES & UNIVERSE BUILDERS:

ANONPERS

CASEY INSCOE

CHARMAINE DUONG

KEVIN JACKSON

RATHALOSAZURE

WANHEDA