Part I
Raven
*
It had been five years since her arrival.
Three since her ascension. Since her greatest trial.
One since she landed in this desert.
Raven caught the side eyed glance her companion sent into the distant sands.
She nudged him with an elbow, giving him a narrow-eyed look.
Darian only smiled, turning his gaze to the distant desert with a wistful expression.
Raven knew what he wanted, she wished she understood it...
The open desert offered a great many opportunity for those daring enough to venture into its great expanse. One of those opportunities was Death Worm hunting, Darian's expertise and the reason the two travel companions were this close to the deserts edge.
Most survivors didn't travel this close to the edge unless they had a good reason. Darian loved the thrill of the open desert and traveled it a good amount of the time. He rarely let it out of his sight and thrived in its shadow.
Raven, contrary to her friend, preferred to keep her distance from the great emptiness of the desert. She had grown up in a much different environment than Darian, a nomadic hunter who never stayed in one place for very long.
For as long as she could remember, Raven had been in the company of other people, always surrounded by like minded survivors who appreciated her for her work ethic and abilities.
If only that were the case right now...
"Will you be coming with me on the hunt?" Darian questioned.
Raven glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, poking at their dwindling fire, bringing it back to life with an merry crackle.
"No." She replied.
Darian nodded, accepting her decision with grace. He knew her opinion of Death Worm hunting and knew better than to push her for help in that regard.
"I assume you'll be gone in the morning?" Raven inquired.
Darian nodded, eyes on the distant expanse of sand. He trailed his fingers through the gritty sand beneath his hands, gripping it in his hand and letting it fall through his fingers.
"When will you get back?"
Darian glanced at his companion before replying.
"A week, maybe two." He said.
"Hm." Raven hummed, gazing out at the desert.
"You should get some rest, prepare yourself." She said, standing and brushing sandy earth off herself.
"Alright," Darian huffed, "I suppose there's no way to change your mind about coming?"
"No, there isn't."
Darian chuffed, amused, banking the fire and making his way to their tent, settling into the wolf pelt bedding, and drifting off into sleep, dreams of the hunt entertaining his mind.
Raven stayed awake for a while longer, gazing up at the stars far above her, questions running through her mind. Would this be the time her companion didn't return from his journey into the desert? Would this be the time he left her alone? What would she do if he didn't come back?
Raven grabbed a fistful of sandy earth and threw it, breathing ragged as she thought about all the things that could go wrong. She hated it every time Darian went into the desert. Hated the stress it caused her when she thought about the horrors that could befall him in such a dangerous place.
Sighing, she made her way to their tent, settling in beside Darian, watching his shoulders rise and fall with his steady breathing.
If only... if only...
*
Kane
It had been months since her banishment.
Months since he had seen her.
Now the Supreme Leader wanted her back, wanted her for his own twisted reasons.
Kane had almost hoped he wouldn't find her.
She was free of the tribe, freer than he was.
Yet, as he watched her gazing up at the stars, he could see the sadness and frustration in her eyes.
She always had such beautiful eyes.
Kane watched her until she got up and went into the tent, then returned to his tribemates. Their camp was not far from the two nomads, yet far enough away to not cause suspicion.
"We're ready," He said, "we'll bring her in tomorrow, once the other one leaves."
"Should we get the wolves?" One of his tribemates questioned.
"No," Kane said, "that won't be necessary."
His group exchanged a look.
"Sir... with all due respect this girl is dangerous," One said, "it would be wise to get the wolves."
"If necessary, we will use tranq grenades, nothing more." Kane said, turning away from his tribemates and heading for his tent.
Entering his tent, Kane made his way over to his work bench, brushing a hand almost reverently over one of the narcotic grenades on the bench.
"I truly hope you come easy," He murmured, "Raven."
*
Raven
Darians warmth was indeed gone when she awoke. Disappointing, yet unsurprising.
Raven got up from the bed, ate some dried jug bug jerky, downed some precious water, and tended to her equus who she had lovingly named Thunder for his awful attitude.
The equus in question seemed more feisty than usual, giving Raven cause for concern.
Perhaps a raptor passed through. She assured herself.
The morning passed without incident as Raven worked around the camp, organizing items and making sure everything was in order for her departure. Packing up camp was usually a mundane task. Today would be quite difficult.
As she was working, Thunder snorted, tossed his head, and was in general actively agitated.
What is with this equus...
The trickle of sand from above had her stiffening, realization hitting her in the same moment she heard the scrape of a boot in the sand.
Turning her head to look up at the top of the rise, she shaded her eyes against the sun.
An object glinted in the sunlight, growing brighter as it came closer.
The object thudded in the sand not a foot away, glinting dangerously in the light.
Thunder screamed at the same time Raven's eyes widened as the object imploded, releasing green gas.
Jerking away from the gas, Raven tore across the sand, Gripping Thunder's mane and mounting him. The equus didn't need an incentive to run and surged forward, hooves thundering as he tore across the sand.
Raven clung to the equus' mane as he made a headlong dash for the open desert. The sound of curses and shouts echoed from the abandoned camp behind her and she buried her face in Thunder's mane, fighting a fierce cough.
The hair raising sound of dire wolves sent Thunder tearing across the desert, but he was no match for the speed of the wolves. The wolves closed in, snapping at Thunders flank, sides, legs, their riders trying to rope the equus before he got too far into the desert.
Raven drew a knife from the sheath at her hip, slashing at snarling muzzles and gleaming teeth, resulting in the wolves retreating a little. She bared her teeth at the wolves rider's in fury as she and Thunder fled across the desert.
Out of nowhere a bola sliced through the open air, twining around her and pinning her arms to her side. Screaming, rage and fear boiling through her, Raven slid sideways, losing her balance and crashing to the ground. Thunder tore off, leaving her trussed on the sand, his fear winning over his loyalty.
Raven panted as she whipped her gaze around, scanning for a way out. Spotting her knife not far from her, she made an awkward move for it.
A pair of boots thudded to the ground in front of her, the individual bent down, picking up her knife and twirling it between their fingers, flicking it up into the air and catching it with a practiced hand.
Raven rolled onto her side, turning her head to look at the person, heart almost stopping as she recognized him.
"Kane?!" She snarled, spitting in rage.
The young man in question knelt down before her, running his hands along her knife. His calm exterior only enraged his captive further and she spat at him, struggling to free herself from the bola.
"Easy there," Kane said, "it's been a while, hasn't it Raven."
"I'll KILL you!" Raven roared, thrashing on the ground, kicking at the people and wolves who had moved to surround the two. She hit a wolf in the muzzle when it made the mistake of getting too close and it jumped away, whimpering.
"Back off!" Kane ordered, glowering at his tribemates. "Raven, please calm down, I never meant for this to happen this way."
Raven froze, quivering in rage as her old friend placed a firm hand on her shoulder, leaning over her to cut the bola off her with her knife. Once free, she recoiled, glaring at him, daring him to come closer.
Kane settled back on his heels, watching her, a wary yet confident look in his eye. He was just as she remembered him. She wished she had never met him.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Raven demanded, hands curling in the sand, clenching it hard.
"We want you back." Kane said, his tone matter-of-fact.
Raven snorted a bitter laugh.
"Too bad." She sneered, standing and brushing sand off herself.
Kane stood as well, disappointment in his eyes as he gazed at his old friend.
"That's too bad," He said, "I was hoping that we wouldn't need that narc grenade, it only takes a little gas to put down a person after all, I designed it to be more potent myself."
Raven stared at him, the gravity of his words hitting her as the edges of her vision fogged and her legs began to wobble.
Kane gave her a sad smile, moving to catch her as she slumped ground-ward.
"Time to go!" He ordered as Raven watched him, the world around her dimming into nothingness.
The last thing she saw before fading completely was Kane's affectionate gaze...