It's been close to six months since I rescued Ronnie and started mentoring Star, her sister never came back and when we raided the temple in hopes of rescuing more of our lost family (as I have come to call them), she wasn't there. In fact, not a lot of the family was there, only ones left was the broken ones. The ones who were so broken they died before we could get them our current location; it was about a week after we returned to camp when I started blaming myself and this time instead of a black fog surrounding me and those around me, the ground started to shake. It was like we were having an Earthquake, and it scared Star so bad that she ran to get Mystic. He of course grabbed Ronnie who was able to walk without a crutch, they both ran to where I was sitting.
It took them a few minutes to get close to me with the ground shaking around me, and when they finally reached me, it was getting worse. Of course, I wasn't blaming myself anymore at that time; no, I was blaming the Leader of F.E.A.R, I was getting increasingly pissed at the fact he took his anger out on them. It made me so mad I wanted to bring his Temple down to the ground and destroy it, like he did to those families who had to bury their loved ones. I didn't care about my family anymore, they supported what that false leader said; they cared more about their self-image then they did their missing daughter.
Yet again it was Ronnie's voice that brought me back to reality, "So Peyton, I don't think that was an anxiety attack, that seemed more like you were angry either at yourself or someone else." Suddenly the ground stopped shaking and I was broken out of my rage. Looking around I could tell that Star was standing behind Mystic and just to the left, she had a frightened look on her face. "Sorry Star, I was blaming myself and then started realizing that the blame lays with F.E.A.R and my anger got out of control. At least we know what my second little gift is, now I must get this one under control or whenever I get mad at someone, we will have an earthquake." I said with a hint of laughter in my voice.
"There must be a way to find out what all exactly I have instead of finding out when something happens, first that panic attack and the black fog, which I finally feel like I have under control and now this. What's next, when I cry it rains or when I am extremely happy flowers pop up, ugh it almost feels like am a giant mood ring and we are just waiting to see the happens around me to see what kind of mood I am in." Mystic just shook his head and said "I think it's time you collaborate with Destroyer, he should be able to help you get a handle on this and we can also talk to Prophet to see if he thinks your ready for a vision quest. It helps to see if you have more coming and how to control them before the just appear, we don't want to scare Star or anyone else in camp."
He was right, I really needed to get a handle on everything including my emotions, luckily there isn't anything popping up around Ronnie or everyone would know I was falling for him. That was the last thing any of us needed, I didn't know if there were couples in camp or not, I hadn't seen anything that showed it and I really didn't want to take the chance of being asked to leave because of a silly crush. Yes, that what it was, just a silly crush nothing major; that's why I hadn't had anything show up when I think of or near him. I had to thank God that my secret was safe and I wasn't going to be separated from Star, when the time came that I found some who genuinely loved me and I loved them back, then I will approach Andy as the Prophet and speak to him about it, until I will just keep my crush to myself.
I couldn't let it consume me, I will not let anything consume me to the point of hurting Star or others. Starting today I was going to get my emotions in check, I will be better and I will show my former family that I am a better person then them. Just as I was about to say something, Fenix popped up out of nowhere and made me jump. "Fenix, I need to get you bells or something, that way people can hear you when your coming around." Ronnie said to break the ice and make us all laugh. Fenix or Lonny. as I call him when I can pin him down to have a one-sided conversation, just gave Ronnie a look of 'What.'
He then handed a piece of paper to Mystic, who then handed it to me, ~Peyton if your reading this, your camp needs to move. I overheard father speaking to his Priests about knowing where your current location is, all of you need to go underground. There is an abandoned Army Base about one weeks walk from your location, father says that The Wild Ones won't use it and that there is no point in putting Priests there. So far, I have been lucky that Father hasn't realized that I helped in the escape, and he has yet to find me a new bride. He says I don't need a new bride when I have a perfectly good one being held hostage. We both no more a hostage then I am my father's son, this may be the very last message I can get out to Fenix for quite a while. I am afraid I am being watched; I implore you not to come after the others that were left in basement. Father has moved them and has started their brainwashing; I fear they will be used against your new family.
I just wish I had half the courage you showed that night you left with Ronnie, you made the correct choice and even before you knew a good friend in him. Once when I was on guard duty down there at night alone, we would speak; he told me that you showed immense courage in trying to help in anyway you can. Fenix has kept me in the loop of your training and everything, I always knew that you were special and now you can use your talents to help others. In case I am found out, I am doing a massive system wipe and destroying this computer. Please as one last favor to me, go to the Base and train; and when the time is right fight, fight my father and his Priests. Don't let them win, no matter what happens to me, it has been an honor helping all of you in any way that I could. Thomas~
Looking up at Jinxx and Ronnie with tears in my eyes "I need to speak with the Prophet, we need to move camp and its need to be done yesterday. We are exposed and F.E.A.R is closing in on us, this letter was a message warning us; we need to take his advice. Star I want you to go back to our tent and start packing our things, then move them to Dragon's tent okay. After that I want to wait outside Prophet's command center for me okay, don't tell anyone what your doing. We don't need them to panic, Dragon I need to go with her please and make sure no one sees her entering your tent." I said as I wiped the tears out of my eyes.
I wasn't going to waste my tears on Thomas, he might have been chosen by his father to be my husband but he wasn't anything to me anymore and neither was my family. Centering myself I walked away and towards Prophet's command center, it wasn't until I heard Jinxx's footsteps and Ronnie's voice that I knew I wasn't alone. Holding my head up high, I walked right through camp and straight into the command center. "Prophet, I need to speak to you, Fenix gave me this letter; it is from the one that was chosen to be my husband. The one who risked all our lives to help me bring Dragon home to his family, he has Father knows where we are and is planning a raid on us. He is hoping to 'rescue' me and I will be grateful enough to go through with my marriage to his son, but he is wrong. My heart doesn't lie with him or my family, my lies in this camp with everyone that I have made friends with. With Star who I adore, Fenix who is a confidant, with Mystic who is a wonderful mentor and an unruly older brother. It lies with Destroyer who pokes fun at my bedhead when I get woken at 3 am to help heal the wounded, with Mourner who lets me cry on his shoulder when the ones I try to heal don't make it. Finally, with you and Dragon, you because you accepted me into your camp and family, you who lets me beat him five time out twenty. Dragon, who holds a piece of me I really don't want to discuss because I know it wont ever happen.
"We need to go to the Abandon Army Base he is speaking of; he says his Father thinks you wont want to use it. His Father thinks you will keep your camp out in the open and he feels it will be your downfall, I have a better idea. There is two Bases nearby, the one he speaks of and the one nobody will ever think of because nobody knows it exists anymore. My grandfather on my father's side used to speak of it in his stories he told me as a child before he died, it just a longer trip to the east then it is to the other one." I said in a rush.
Of course, Andy had his Prophet look on his face, as if he had a vision of this very conversation and to be honest, I would believe it, if he had. As I stood Fenix, Mystic, Destroyer, Mourner and Dragon all came in and stood beside me as if I were one of them, one of his Lieutenants. "Peyton is right, Destroyer I want you to go speak with our Older Ladies and help them tear down, let them know they can either join us at the base or go to one of other camps until it's safe. Mystic let the guards know that they need to help anyone with packing their things, Fenix get word out to the other camps to except some of our people at least the ones who can't travel extended periods of time.
Mourner, help tear down the main tents that will need to placed in the main wagons including Peyton's tent. Dragon, go and speak to our teachers, find out which of the children can go with us besides of course Star, I don't think Peyton will let her out of her sight for long. The ones who can't travel will go to one of the other camps and when we reach the base, we will send for them and anyone who wishes to come. Peyton will stay here and show me on the map where this base is at and help me plan the route. We will leave under the cover of darkness; they will be excepting us to leave during the day that way they can ambush us. We will also plan to hide during the day at any burned out cities we find along the day. We are not running; we are retreating to come back stronger; now go and hurry back to learn our route." He said as he stood to pace the floor.
"I think it's about time we give you a new name, if your going to be collaborating with me and my Lieutenants more often. You name when collaborating with us and out in the camp will now be Metis, she was the Titan Goddess of Wisdom; it is your wisdom that keeps us from being captured. Let it be known from here on out that Peyton is now a Sargent and shall forever be known as Metis, Fenix get word out to the other camps as well. Get to work, and please send in Star so she knows what is going on." He said as he finally stopped and looked at the six of us.
Well, that was unexpected, I wasn't excepting to be made a Sargent or be given a new name as well. As Dragon was leaving, he gave me a quick hug and so did the others; when Star came in, she was told of what just happened that girl was happy. That meant she had more chances to advance when she got older, it was now her dream to take my place when I retire (I just started and she was already planning my retirement ugh). I instantly sent her after Dragon and told her stick by him or one of the others and not to let anyone tell she must leave with the ones who don't want to travel with us.
"Alright boss man," I said jokingly "Where do we start?" Andy just glared at me with his Prophet look and said "Show me on the map where this base is at, I need to know the best routes to take without drawing attention. I also need to know the best ways to gain entry with alerting F.E.A.R just in case they are monitoring it; not that I believe they will be, it just a precaution." He said as rolled out the map.