I'm so sorry, I forgot to post the chapter again.
A long silence greeted Cassie's story.
The young woman had spoken calmly, detached from the situation, only repeating what she had said to the Commander and Anya. She gave her a few glares as Cassie wandered off into her story and launched into a long tirade about her life, bringing her back to her main subject. All she did was relate the facts, as one explains to children the rules of life in Ark's society.
When she fell silent, her mouth was dry and she was thirsty. And hungry. And, as the generals exchanged glances in silence, she couldn't help but ask aloud:
"What's a Mountain Man?"
The man that seemed to hate her -Cassie had decided to call him Hulk- straightened up, his gaze burning.
"You dare? You dare to speak to our Heda?"
"Leave it, Magnus," replied the Commander.
"With all your respect, Heda," Cassie replied before turning to Hulk, "I wasn't talking to you. I was talking to Anya."
She turned to exchange a look with Anya who was looking at her strangely, silent. Finally, after a few seconds, Anya spoke:
"They are not men and women like us. They stay inside a mountain named Mount Weather, which is inaccessible because of the Wamplei's fog, the fog's death. It burns you alive and kills you if you get too close to the mountain. It is a cursed place. No one can enter it and those who are captured never leave. "
Cassie blinked.
"Okay, that's new. I didn't know the Gods had decided to go play with ordinary people."
This time the Hulk jumped to his feet.
"They are no Gods, Skaigada! How dare you name those who took our families from us?"
Cassie pursed her lips.
"Stop it, Magnus," the Commander interjected.
"Why are you afraid I could be like them? There's nothing mystical about me," she added, brandishing her shackled wrists.
"I disagree," another woman broke in a deep voice. "Look at her. She doesn't have any colors. She is a witch."
"Damn, I wish," Cassie sighed. "I'm a Slytherin, by the way. But I don't have any powers, except if being absolutely alluring counts, of course."
Anya pinched the bridge of her nose as she took a deep breath under the Commander's amused gaze.
"No, seriously, it would be so cool to have magical powers, like super-force like Captain America, or be able to time travel like Five, or even read minds like that moron Edward or to always look badass like Lena Lu- "
"Cassiopea?" Anya intervened.
"Yes, bestie?"
"Shut up."
"Okay."
Anya took a deep breath.
"She doesn't have any power, except being incredibly annoying." -Cassie bowed- "And she is not a witch. She is as human as we are, except her body doesn't have any color. She is totally ordinary."
Cassie opened her mouth to protest, but decided not to test Anya's nerves.
"Good, so we can kill her," Magnus declared.
Anya rolled her eyes and Cassie gave her a small wave.
"We are not killing the Skaigada," the Commander replied. "Not until we know everything about the Sky people. We have to be prepared for when they will come down. In the meantime," she said standing up, "she is under my protection. Attacking her is attacking me. Do I make myself clear?"
She looked at the generals sitting at the table, one after the other. None dared to protest or oppose her. Cassie, on the other hand, raised her hand as best as she could to voice her opinion on the matter aloud, but another glare from Anya silenced her.
With a nod, the Commander dismissed the council. The woman sitting across from Anya took her time to glare at Cassie who grinned with all her teeth before leaving the room. Anya remained seated next to the Commander and Cassie didn't move an inch.
"They're not happy with your decision, Leksa."
"Let them live with it," the Commander replied. "We don't know anything about the Sky People. If we understand them, we may be able to learn more about the Mountain Men."
"Yeah, about that," Cassie interjected. "First of all, I wouldn't mind a small assassination, you know, that would be pretty stylish. Anyway, that's not the point. Your Mountain Men, what do they look like?"
"They're all covered in green, in strange suits," Lexa replied. "They have weapons that pierce holes in the strongest armor from a great distance. And if you get too close to the Mountain, the yellow fog devours everything in its path."
"Uh-uh, I see. Their weapons, what are they like? Are they heavy?"
"We can't pick them up," Anya replied. "Or else the fog devours us."
"Okay, but like, do they make noise? Like, big-ass booms?"
"Yes," Lexa replied.
"Do they hold them like this?" Cassie asked, pointing her hands in front of her, mimicking a gun. "Or like this?" She hardly brought an arm back to her, painfully held out the other.
Anya and Lexa exchanged a look.
"The second one."
Cassie dropped her tied arms.
"What do you know, Skaigada?"
"I think they have guns. Big black ugly stuff. We got some in the Ark, I mean the guard, got some."
"So they are indeed like you," Lexa observed.
"Ish. We can't control some fog or whatever it is you're talking about. We don't have super-power and we certainly don't dress with these weird suits. We are poor, but we still have some sense of fashion, "she added, snorting.
A slight smile lit up Lexa's face, who turned to Anya.
"Ai yu op? Yu beda kep em in."
She gave a quick glance in Cassie's direction.
"Yu beda hit em of."
In response, Anya let her head fall on the table with a growl of annoyance.
Cassie followed Anya as she walked into the bedroom. The Grounder immediately walked over to the bed and dropped to the side of the window with a sigh.
Cassie sat down peacefully, her back resting against the mattress. She bent her legs, patted her knees with the tips of her fingers.
"Don't you have any family?"
Anya only groaned, obviously not wishing to respond.
"I mean, I'm always with you, and you're always with me. So far, I've only saw you speak to the Commander. Don't you have a mother? A father? Brother, sister? Hell, do you even have friends? "
Anya threw a pillow at her, but that didn't stop Cassie.
"Come on, tell me! You have a boyfriend? Or a girlfriend?"
"Shut up," Anya grumbled.
"Answer meeeeeee!"
"I don't, okay? I don't have a family anymore. And I'm a warrior. I don't have time for relationships. Or friendship."
"That's pretty lonely."
Cassie settled the pillow behind her neck.
"I don't have anyone either, you know. No family, no real friends. Well, except for the kids. My students. And my Raven. I hope she's okay."
She looked up at the ceiling.
"She's smart, you know, my Raven. She's going to become the youngest Zero-G mechanic in fifty-two years. I know she will. She's funny, and totally crazy when we are together."
She considered a crack in the ceiling.
"I kinda miss her."
Ai yu op? Yu beda kep em in: You see? You should keep her.
Yu beda hit em of: You should befriend her.