A/N- Sorry for leaving you guys with no chapter last week, my mind and heart weren't in it, with what's been happening with the invasion of Ukraine. I found it hard to write, it feeling wrong to do, living such a comfy life away from the conflict. This chapter was also huge, so have split it in two, which I guess is better for me, seeming I have a good chunk of the next chapter already written. I just want to remind people to always check your news sources, and don't get your news from just one place! I would recomend 'VicDervyshire' on tiktok, she's a British news anchor for the BBC- so theres obvs British news as well but she's really good for sumarising Putin's invasion of Ukraine and what's happening daily. Another good tiktoker is 'girlsplain.inc', she, as is kind of obvious, girl splains what's happeing. She explains things very well, without it coming across insensitive. Also a reminder that not everything you see on social media is always factial, espically on tiktok. I hope everyone is able to have a nice Friday, and that the next week is better for the Ukraine. Bethany x

Chapter 21

"And then he locked you in his room?" Christina repeats, looking like she didn't hear me properly.

"Yes!" I groaned, "And now he's gone and has sent you all up to babysit me." Huffing, I crossed my arms over my chest. "I'm capable of looking after myself."

Christina laughs sharply, "Sure you can." She points to the place my leg should be, hidden under the blankets, "So what's this then? Is this not the third time you've gotten yourself seriously hurt in the two months we've been here?"

I turn to Marlene, spread out at the bottom of Tobias's bed, for support. "Sorry, Tris," she sighs, looking at me sympathetically, "you know Christina's right." Her pretty face turns to Robert, sitting on the chair the boys had occupied. "Do you know where they're going?"

He shrugs, "These two never let me into their planning." He straightens out his rumpled suit, sitting up straighter, "I assume they'll either be going to Erudite, or the lake. Maybe they'll split up."

I nod along, "We had a meeting, earlier this morning." All eyes turn to me, expectantly open. "I was sending Will, Uri and Lynn to Erudite- to look into Arthur and his team. Four was sending the older lot to the lake, to see if there was something we missed." I flex my leg, feeling my toes going cold. "Maybe that's still their plan."

"Wouldn't there be more of a chance for Tori to be in Erudite if they've taken her?" Mar questions, biting a lip.

"They're too smart for that." Robert says, shaking his head. "They wouldn't bring a target into their faction."

I groan, feeling useless. "This is all Four's faut. If he hadn't been so bloody jealous then I wouldn't have this stupid injury." I rip the duvet off, exposing my body. I look down and realise I'm in one of Tobias's t-shirts. My stomach twists.

Ignoring the clothing, I examine my leg. The right one is injured, but it's invisible due to the large bandage. Either the doctor has over compensated, or it was a larger scrape than I realised. "I can't just sit around and do nothing!" I mope, looking helplessly at Christina.

She smiles humorously, rolling her eyes. She shimmies up the bed, filling the spot Tobias left cold. She wraps an arm around my shoulder, pulling me in. "We're all doing nothing, Tris, you're not special." I push an elbow into her side, and she buckles. I grin, and Marlene and Robert chuckle.

I push Christina away, crawling past her and off the bed. "Tris." I hear Malrene say in warning. I ignore her, and try out my leg. It was just a cut, it can't debilitate my leg that much-

As soon as I put an ounce of weight on it, my knee gives out and I crash to the floor. I count through the pulsing pain going through my calf and up my thigh, pressing my elbows to the floor and palms into my eyes. I hear footsteps fast approaching, but I put up one finger. On the count of 40, I breathe easier. I laugh, embarrassed, "I didn't think it was that bad."

I think I hear the door open and close, but am not sure. Marlene's in front of me, and I feel Christina behind me. I lean back onto her, feeling the energy seep out of me. "You're so stupid," Christina mutters in my ear, "I'd hit you myself if you hadn't done it to yourself first."

Marlene, hands hovering frantically, looks less composed. "Do you have any self preservation, Tris? You've already damaged your muscle! Don't make it worse!"

"Sorry, Mum." I joke, letting them pull me back up onto the edge of the bed. Marlene goes to the other side of the bed, and comes back with the medicine bottle.

"Do you know when you took this last?"

I shrug, "Like an hour ago? I thought my nurse was going to stay longer, so I didn't bother looking at the clock." Mar shakes her head, lips pressed together whilst Christina huffs out a laugh. "I'm fine, Mar. The pain's not too bad now."

She looks unconvinced. "Maybe we should get Harriet back in, I don't-"

Marlene cuts herself off as the door slams open. Robert rushes in, pushing a wheelchair. The puppy is led on it, looking comfortable on the plush seat. Seeming to have forgotten her concern, Marlene gushes at the dog.

"Did he jump in there himself?" I laugh, watching Robert close the door quickly. When I look at his alarmed face, my smile vanishes. "What's wrong?"

He grabs the dog, now limp in his arms. My eyes shoot up to his, my heart beginning to pound in my chest, "What happened?" My shaky hands grab for him, my tight throat no match for the sob forcing itself out.

"I don't know-" He says rapidly, shaking his head, "I found him in the hallway, he's unresponsive, I don't know if hes-"

I shake my head in disbelief, holding his already cooling body close to my warm one. My mind goes back to the last time I saw him. It was at breakfast. He was playing under the table, running in and out of the seats. I had chucked him a bit of my toast. Tobias had picked him up to lick the rest of his plate clean. Evelyn had scolded him.

Tears flow out of me in panicked waves. I think I hear Marlene choke on a sob, Christina's hand on my shoulder.

"No," I croak out, "no he's not- he can't be- he's just a baby-" My weak hands hold his heavy body to my chest, pushing my lips to his soft head. No life seeps out of him, no more joy that lights up any room. I rock back and forth, unable to see through my tears, my body crumbling. I haven't even given him a name yet. How could I have not given him a name?

Tears fall harder and faster, the guilt bombarding me. How scared he must have been, all alone in an empty hallway. Was he coming to me? Did he want me to help him?

"I'm sorry," I whisper into his golden coat, "I'm so sorry."

"Bea?" Christina asks. I ignore her, and am about to tell them to leave me alone when she speaks up again. "Are you sure that dog is dead?"

I swing my head around, looking at her sharply, "Is that supposed to be funny?"

"No, honey, look." I take in a shuddery breath, blinking through the tears. I watch his small body, waiting. Nothing happens.

"Do you want me to take him, Tris?" Robert asks quietly. "I think it would be easier for you to-"

In the corner of my eye, I think I see something. I cautiously look down, not trusting my own eyes. I see it again, but this time I know it's a flicker of a paw. I hold my breath. Please don't be some sort of death twitch.

His chest expands, then dispels. I feel the warm breath on my bare arms, and watch as his sleepy eyes peel open.

I choke on a gasp, relieved sobs replacing it.

"Impossible." I hear Robert whisper incredulously. "The dog was dead- I felt it."

I crush him to my chest, breathing in that sweet, addicting smell that only puppies hold. I feel his little head lean up, and I look down on him as he throws up all over Tobias's sheets. I put him hastily down, letting him get everything out. When he finishes, I look over him and see vibrant blue dots specling the sick. "Is that poison?" I slowly say, pulling him away from it before he re-eats it.

"We used to have a rat problem," Robert explains, sounding disappointed, "It must be some old stuff that never got cleaned up."

"And no one thought to just get some cats in?" Christina asks condescendingly. We never had any vermin problems back home, because we used preventative measures. Cats bring a swift and humane end to their kills, not some dragged out burning from the inside out.

"It's never been my call to make." Robert hits back, "I've tried explaining the workings of poison to those who would listen, but even my voice doesn't travel that far."

"Well mine will." I state firmly.

"Can we get back to the bigger issue?" Mar pleads, shifting her weight back and forth.

"Right," I reply, rolling the soiled duvet to the end of the bed. "He needs a name." I can't put it off any longer. It may mean little to him, but it means a great deal to me.

The others look at me, then at each other. No one says anything. Robert looks like he's forgotten what he was about to say.

"Bea, baby." Christina speaks softly, slowly.

I turn to her, shaking my head, laughing. "That's my name. I need something new."

She moves to sit in front of me, and Marlene takes the dog. I reluctantly let go, but watch as he licks Marlene's face. He's fine, he's absolutely fine.

Christina squeezes my upper arms, drawing my attention. "Your dog was dead, Tris." She says it so matter of factly, I almost believe her.

"No, he wasn't." I point at the dog squirming in Mar's arms. "Look at him."

She grabs my chin, and I'm staring into her usually warm brown eyes. They're a lot sharper today. "You brought that dog back, Tris. He was gone."

I shake my head, my eyebrows pulling together. "That isn't possible, he threw up the poison." I laugh lamely.

Her hand goes for my neck, picking up my necklace. "Do you think it could be this?" My chin dips down and I stare at the gem in Christina's hand. Did I really heal him? Did this stone give me the power to bring back the dead?

"This isn't right." I force out, weakly. The Divinity won't like this, not one bit. This is power even they don't have.

"This doesn't leave the room." Christina tells the group, making sure to look pointedly at all of us. I nod slowly, hardly able to think straight. The urge to rip the necklace away from my throat is overwhelming.

"Tris," Mar says, coming to sit at my side, "The Divinity won't care about your bringing back a dog, okay?" She smiles sympathetically, scratching the puppy under his chin. "Just don't try to play God with anything else."

I want to nod, it sounds like an easy task. Don't mess with anyone else's life. Okay. Fine. But I didn't even know I was bringing the puppy back, how am I supposed to control something I don't understand?

The only logical answer is to take the gem off. But when I go to unclasp the necklace, Robert's hand catches my own. He shakes his head. "One has already been lost, we can't chance another."

I rub my hands up and down my face, overwhelmed. I wish my Mum was here, I've never needed her guidance more than now.

"Oh my god."

"What?" Christina asks.

"Natalie. She was deathly sick when I went to visit her, then she wasn't."

"And you think…" Marlene carries on.

"You healed her." Robert finishes. I nod.

"It makes sense." Christina says. She pauses, then grins. "There's only one way to know for sure." She points at my bandaged leg. "Heightened emotions help you use this power?"

"You think it could be healed?" I ask doubtfully.

"Maybe," she shrugs, "healing energy was coursing through you. Don't you think you would have healed yourself without knowing?"

Without replying, I start to pull the bandage away from my leg. I wince at the pull on my skin, grabbing at a stray hair here and there. I slowly peel it back, revealing soft, pink skin in its wake.

"Right, then." Christina smiles tightly at me, "You can heal people."

I flex my leg, not even feeling a slight ache. If only I had done this an hour ago.

"Okay, great!" I go to get off the bed, taking the puppy off of Mar. "Go get your things together." I tell the group. "We're leaving first thing tomorrow." I pause, looking down at the puppy in thought. Think of something now.

"Have you heard of the old folk tale? About the Asher and the Aridam?" Robert asks. I shake my head. "I think it must be an ancient Tosken story. It's said the Asher was the god of blessings and fortune, bringing life and joy to our country. He ruled for millennia, with peace and harmony as his only laws."

"You sure this isn't an Amity story, Robert?" Marlene teases, "I've never heard of it."

He waves her off, "On a stormy eve, his brother, Aridam visited. He had alway been a spiteful spirit, being he was the god of death. He was tired of his monotonous ruling, hoping to find some sense of life above ground. But, as the God of destruction, he was unable to quell the desire to ruin. Cities fell, innocent lives lost, overfilling an ungoverned after life. Asher, being life itself, was able to banish him back, by killing him. The two still rule their two realms, with the Asher bringing back joy and happiness to the world." He ruffles the dog's head, "The story has been lost countless of times, with the Divinity not liking the thought of higher Gods- but I like to reiterate it once in a while, I think the meaning is a good one." I smile at him, my heart expanding. What an absolute present Robert is to the world. He looks away, seeming embarrassed. "I guess animals have always reminded me of the Asher, bringers of good fortune, of happiness and joy."

I look down at the puppy in my arms, the need to hold him outweighing the strain in my muscles. "It's perfect." I hold him high, grinning at his compact body flying in the air. "We'll call you Aridam."

"Uh-"

I laugh at the Amity Prince, finding his confusion amusing. "It was supposed to be a joke," I start, watching his face pinch together, "but now that I think of it, I think Aridam fits him better, I mean, he did nearly destroy me." I plop him down, my arms giving up. "Come on Ari, we've got business to settle." I walked out the door, Ari glued to my hip. I need to find my brother.

Before I make my way to Caleb's room, I bring Ari to the in house vet. I explain that I found him next to some rat poison and am unsure if he ate any of it. She takes him straight away for some bloodwork and an x-ray. I'm able to breathe easier knowing he's in the best hands.

I give Xav a text, making sure they're where I think they are. Within a few seconds, he replies, telling me they're down at the stables. I changed course heading out of the castle. The spring sun is setting in the sky, leaving it a beautiful orangey red hue. The storm has thankfully passed, but there's still a sticky feeling in the air. My shoes slap the wet stone as I hurry down to the stables, and when I look up, Caleb and Xavier are chatting to the stable hand.

"Hi." I awkwardly butt in, joining their small circle.

"Hey," Xav says, smiling warmly at me. I return it, then turn to the hand, embarrassed I don't know his name.

"Liam." He holds out a hand, and I shake it firmly.

"I've been meaning to thank you," I say, turning to look at Snow's stable, "I haven't had much time to work on him, but you've been doing a great job I hear."

His cheeks start to reden at the compliment, a stark contrast against his fair hair. "Oh, it's no worry at all! I know it's my job, but it's also my passion! I really enjoy working with the horses."

"That's great," I reply, "I hope this doesn't come across rude, but can I borrow the boys for a second?"

"Of course!" He exclaims, backing away. "I've still got Bess's stall to muck out!" He hurries off to Tobias's horse. I watch the otherworldly black horse, her dark eyes staring back into mine. I turn away, her eyes seeming too knowing. I wonder if she knows what I'm playing to do, knowing it will lead me away from Tobais.

I bring the boys down to Snow's stable, far enough away from Liam so he doesn't over hear.

"Before you start," Caleb says first, before I can even open my mouth. He's changed into some comfier looking clothing, as have I. I grabbed some staff trousers from a storage room, not having the time to go back to my own. I didn't change Tobias's shirt, just tucking it in instead. No matter how annoyed and resentful I'm feeling with him at the moment, his distinctly woody, mascline smell is still enough to calm my nerves. "I want to apologise for how I reacted earlier." He scratches the back of his neck, looking anywhere but at me. I press my lips together, holding in my smile. Caleb never apologises for anything. "I want to speak with them, with you. And I want us to be on the same side, like we usually are."

I smile now, nodding my head. I see Xav's expression mirroring mine, relief seeping out of him. He pulls us both in for a hug, and I'm squished between their two large chests. "Thank God that's over." He mumbles into my hair. "I can't deal with confrontation."

"That's a fat lie," I remark, pulling back. I look up at Xav, thinning my eyes, "you Dauntless are always in confrontations."

"Doesn't mean I have to like it." He shrugs innocently, his brown eyes humourous.

I pulled back completely, knowing that wasn't all I had to talk about. "There's something else."

"Something good?" Caleb asks, his voice heightening.

I shake my head slowly, and I see their faces fall. "I'm leaving- I don't know how long, but I don't want you here when I'm not." I watch as their faces pull together in confusion. I carry on, hoping they can keep their questions to themselves until I'm finished. "I'm going to tell the Palace I'm going to Erudite to look for another advisor, I'm bringing my ladies with me." Xav opens his mouth, but I put up a finger to stop him. "There's something going on in Erudite that no one knows about, I don't know where it's leading but I know it's not anything good."

"And you won't tell us?" Xav states.

I reluctantly nod, my eyes flickering between them, "I want you to go back home. I don't know what's going to happen, but I want you safe."

They're both skating their heads before I've finished. "We're not leaving you here if you're in danger, Bea." Caleb says frustratedly. "Tell us what's happening and what we can do." He pleads with me.

"I'm going to Erudite tomorrow morning," I repeat slowly, "you'll be leaving at the same time." Without giving them time to answer, I say, "I'm going to talk with Natalie and Andrew now. If you're going to join me, you have to forget what I've just said. Nobody can know about Erudite, it could lead to a faction war."

I see Xav look in worry to Caleb, but my brother's eyes are glued on mine. "Go on then." He finally says. I nod once, and turn around, leading them back to the castle.

A/N- The cat talk between Christina and Robert was kind of a reference to Coraline- mainly the book. If anyone's read it, the cat has some solid things to say lol.