Hello!

Wow, long time no see, right? I am so sorry for that - work has been crazyyyyy busy. And I've had a little bit of a dilemma regarding where this story is going.

So I have an IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: I need help regarding two directions I could take the story! I don't want to give anything away here so if you would like to give me some help figuring out what to do, either review or PM me and I'll PM you my two ideas. (Of course to do this, you must have a fanfic account, sorry about that. I just don't want to have it on the story where everyone can see it if they don't want spoilers)

Okay, let the story continue with this long overdue, extremely angsty chapter!

PS those who asked for Alex angst, I haven't forgotten you, I'll try to bring it in soon!

"Alex! Alex, come quick!"

Kara's voice pierced through the silence of the woods, nearly startling Alex out of the tree she had climbed to try to find a way through the wilderness.

"Hold on!" Senses alight, the agent quickly made her way to the ground, scooping up the branch that doubled as crude weapon. "Kara, are you okay?" When Alex had confirmed that Kara was still propped up against a tree, right where Alex had left her, she shifted to scanning the woods for the threat.

"Shh!" Kara's blue eyes were fixed on something in the distance. "Do you see it?"

"What is it?" Alex desperately wished that she had a real weapon instead of a stick.

"Look!" Kara glanced at her before pointing and when she looked her way, Alex could suddenly see that the young woman's face was awash with wonder rather than fear. "That's a bird, right?"

Alex was torn between laughing and crying as she finally found what Kara was pointing at: a blue jay hopping across the forest floor.

"Kara, I thought you were in danger, that they found us…" Alex slumped against the tree trunk beside Kara, exhaustion seeping in as adrenaline faded.

"I'm sorry," Kara managed to tear herself away from staring at the bird long enough to look properly chagrined. "Isn't it beautiful though?" Her blue eyes were already flitting away; focus back on the feathered creature.

Oh Kara.

The Kryptonian should be like that bird; free to fly wherever it pleased, free to call whatever branch it landed on her home. Instead Kara had been caged then grounded, wings clipped so far that the place of her freedom was soaked with her blood.

Alex sighed, closing her eyes briefly, fighting the pounding exhaustion and panic that was lingering around the edges of her being. Get Kara to safety, get Kara to safety, get Kara to safety… the mantra beat itself into her aching head with every desperate heartbeat. Alex still had no idea where they were, the cloth she had wrapped around Kara's leg was completely saturated with blood, and CADMUS could find them any moment.

Yet here Kara was, marveling at the beauty of a bird sitting on some dead leaves.

"Don't let them take her light…" Alex couldn't help but remember Kara's aunt's final words. At the time she had no idea what the Kryptonian had been talking about but now Alex could see it so clearly.

In the midst of her darkening world, Kara was radiant.

"Oh it's gone." Kara's mournful tone brought Alex back to their present situation and she quickly moved to pull Kara's arm over her shoulders so they could get on their way.

"One bird-watching patch for you, Girl Scout," Alex teased the younger woman as they began to make their way in the direction that Alex was praying would lead to some sort of civilization. She thought she had maybe seen smoke this way when she had peered out over the treetops, but it might have also been some cruel trick of light.

"What…" Kara's breathing was labored. "What is a Girl Scout?"

"It's a club where kids get to learn different skills, including wilderness stuff."

"Ah," Kara breathed. "So an early childhood military training."

"Um…" Alex shook her head. "I don't know how you jumped to that but no."

"Earth is so pretty," Kara let Alex help her over a log, not able to hide the look of pain that overwhelmed her expression as she stumbled slightly.

"Yes. Everything about Earth is wonderful except the people," Alex murmured, noting the Kryptonian's ashen pallor and the thin sheen of sweat on her brow.

"Some are wonderful." Kara's voice was insistent.

Alex was about to respond when she heard it: a faint humming sound.

"Shit." Alex froze for a moment before quickly scanning their surroundings. In the distance to the left, a large tree had fallen somewhat recently, tearing up a huge patch of earth with it. Perfect. "Come on." Alex pulled Kara forward as fast she dared, heart clenching every time the girl stumbled. "I'm so so sorry but we need to get to cover."

"What is that?" Kara's voice was a blend of pain and fear as the humming turned to a faint roar. "They… they found us, didn't they?"

"Come on, almost there, almost there…" Alex just urged her forward. They finally stumbled under the fallen tree, finding refuge beneath the cover of roots still clinging to dirt, the smell of wet earth thick and around them.

"Alex… that's the same noise from when they found Astra and I, it's one of their flying machines…" Kara's breathing was coming faster and faster.

"Shhh." Alex found Kara's hand and squeezed it. "It's going to be okay, this should shield us from sight and also from any heat scanners."

"Alex, I don't want to go back," Kara's eyes were wide with panic. "I don't want to go back."

"Nobody is taking you back there, Kara," Alex whispered.

"I want to die here, among the trees and birds," Kara's trembling escalated to shaking and Alex could see the whites of her eyes in the dim light filtering in. "I want to enter Rao's light in peace. I don't want to die there. But I won't let them hurt you, I won't…"

"Kara, listen to me." Alex pulled the girl close with her good arm.

"Alex…" Kara's voice cracked with desperation, a rising sob choking her. "I won't, I can't let them hurt you…"

"Hey, hey, listen to me. You are not going back there and you're not going to die and they aren't going to hurt me, okay? Alex said as firmly as she could while still whispering, holding Kara's shaking form tightly. "Kara, do you hear me? We are going to be fine, we just need to be really quiet, okay?"

"I'm scared," Kara's voice was muffled, her face buried in Alex's good shoulder.

"I know, me too. But it's going to be okay." Alex stroked Kara's tangled and bloodied locks. The distant roaring was no longer distant. The helicopter was close. "Kara, can you be really quiet for me? Squeeze my hand really tight, but we can't talk for a little bit, okay?"

Alex could feel Kara nod against her as their silence was overtaken by the deafening sound of blades whirring, of braches and leaves beating the air, and the creaking of tree trunks swaying.

Time seemed to stretch on forever as Alex silently held Kara tightly and danger literally hung above their heads.

For a moment Alex gave room to the possibility that they had been found. She imagined CADMUS operatives descending upon them, tried to think of what she could possibly do to keep Kara safe. The options were meager as she was in no condition to fight and Kara could barely even walk.

Just as Alex expected ropes to drop from the sky and agents to surround them, the noise began to move then finally started fading in the distance.

They sat in the silence for a long time.

"We're okay." Once she was more than certain they were out of danger, Alex finally spoke as she hugged Kara closer. "We're okay. They're gone."

Kara didn't react immediately and it was only in the absence of imminent danger that Alex suddenly noticed the heat radiating from the Kryptonian's form.

"They're gone?" Kara's voice was airy, a sharp contrast to the concentrated panic which had resided in her tone earlier.

Alex raised a hand to the Kryptonian's forehead. "Kara, you're burning up."

"Hmm?" Alex could see Kara's brow crease even in the dim lighting of their hiding place. The girl raised her own hand to her forehead, her expression shifting to one of amazement. "Wow. I am really hot!"

Alex would have laughed at that except she was too worried. Instead she moved slightly so that she could examine Kara's leg wound.

Her fears were confirmed as she saw the angry inflamed skin around the location of impalement. The wound was definitely infected.

Shit. Alex cursed herself for not realizing it earlier, even as she realized it had been inevitable. The Kryptonian was literally walking around with a branch in her leg.

"It'll be okay, Alex. Don't look so worried." Kara found her hand and patted it. "They're gone."

"It's not okay," Alex shook her head. "They might be gone but you need medical care, soon. This is serious…"

"Alex." Kara tugged on her hand, blue eyes soft. "I saw a bird today."

"I know you did," Alex assured her absentmindedly, much more preoccupied with pressing matters, such as the setting sun. "I think we need to bunker down here for the night."

"Alex. Alex!" Kara was pulling on her hand again. "Alex, I need to tell you something." She started standing up and Alex almost tackled her in an attempt to keep her down. The last thing they needed was Kara accidentally dislodging the branch in her thigh and bleeding out.

"Okay, what is it Kara?" Alex turned her attention to the Kryptonian, hoping to soothe her feverish insistence. "What do you need to tell me?"

Kara's eyes were wide, the fading light glimmering in the fever-bright orbs. "I must tell you how to send me into Rao's light."

"What?" Alex shook her head. "I don't understand…"

"I need to be sent properly. I need Rao to find me so that I can tell him where to find Astra," Kara clung to Alex's hand. A small smile curved her lips. "Then… then the House of El can finally be at peace." An eerie calm was spreading across the younger woman's countenance.

It took Alex a moment to realize what Kara meant but when she finally figured it out, icy cold fear spread through her veins. "Kara, you're going to be fine," Alex resisted the urge to physically shake the girl, not wanting to hurt her further. "It's not your time yet, okay?"

"Alex," Kara was looking at her with that smile, somehow still able to light up the darkness even as it began to take her way. "I saw a bird today."

"I don't understand, what does that have to do with anything…"

"That's all I wanted; to see the beauty of this planet one more time rather than perish in the that desolate place. I am at peace here," Kara's reply was simple, her speech becoming more formal and Kryptonian accent strengthening. "For the first time in so long, I am not afraid, thanks to you. With my family before me and you behind me…" Kara blinked sleepily. "I am not afraid of my death, Alex Danvers, my Earth sister. There is no need for you to be either. Now, please, let me teach you our burial customs so that Rao can find me and through me, Astra as well."

"Kara, no." Alex finally found her voice. "You need to stop talking so you can save your strength for getting out of here…"

"Alex." Kara gripped her hand tightly. "It's okay. And… there is not a time limit to perform the ceremony. Once you know how, you can leave this place and find safety. And when it is safe enough to do so, you can come back to send me to Rao's light."

"Is it normal in Kryptonian culture to talk so much about your own death?" It was the only thing Alex could manage to choke out as she realized that Kara was asking her to leave her to die and come back later for her body.

"We all have our time." Kara's eyes were fluttering slightly, face flushed with fever. "The wise ones know how to accept that. I know it is unfair to you, Alex Danvers, to ask such a task from you. But please… I must tell Rao where Astra is…" Kara began to move again, agitation clear on her face. "She did not go in peace as I will, she must not suffer so after death as well…" Her frame began to tremble wildly. "What if Rao cannot find her in this distant place because she could not be sent to him? What if she cannot have peace in death as well as life? I have to tell Rao where she is..."

"Shhhh… okay." Alex tightened her grip on Kara, trying to hold her still. "You can tell me what to do," she gave in, her need for Kara to stop moving overcoming her need for Kara to stop talking about her death.

As soon as Alex uttered the words, Kara relaxed, face smoothing with relief. She began to open her mouth but Alex had to say one more thing before listening to what Kara was going to tell her.

"You can tell me whatever you want and if it comes to it, I will make sure you are sent the way you want to be. But I am not giving up on you, Kara Zor-El, okay? Not now or ever."

So...

that happened...

Let me know what you think!

Also, if you didn't see it in the AN above, I have a dilemma! I need help regarding two directions I could take the story! I don't want to give anything away here so if you would like to give me some help figuring out what to do, either review or PM me and I'll PM you my two ideas and see what you think. (Of course to do this, you must have a fanfic account, sorry about that :( I just don't want to have it on the story where everyone can see it if they don't want spoilers) PLEASE HELP MEEEEEEEE so I can get the next chapter out asap!

Until then... I'm sorry lol. Be strong!

~silverliningineachcloud