Troubled Waters

…

Ren glared at Amara from across the fire as they waited for the canister of water to boil. His attitude was really starting to get annoying. It was one thing to have a problem with her and Whyley, it was another to constantly make a show of it.

And all the time Ren glared at her, Whyley glared back at him. Forced to play peacekeeper, he at least kept his mouth shut. It was a monumental feat considering Ren only opened his mouth to mock his relationship with her, or to bad mouth Godzilla.

The only thing preventing a fight was that they needed Ren to fly the HEAV, and Ren knew it.

He's not worth it.

That's only because she was keeping who exactly Ren was from him. You're right.

After the water finally began to boil, they poured it into their dehydrated food and ate.

It was awkward without the others to make conversation with. Now with just the three of them, everything seemed too private to talk about. There wasn't a thing she wanted to talk about with Whyley that she wanted Ren to hear.

It was just so intimate now, being stuck with someone who hated her and Godzilla without the others for distraction.

"Do you have something you want to say, Ren?"

Whyley's question broke the silence.

"I have nothing to say," he replied bitterly, "To either of you."

And with that, he threw his garbage in the fire and stalked off to his sleeping bag. He laid down facing away from them.

Amara and Whyley looked at each other then finished their food.

Amara got into her sleeping bag while Whyley rifled through his backpack, pulling out his sketchbook. He laid down next to her and began to write.

"Godzilla and crystal?" She could barely read his chicken scratch. Surprising really, for an artist.

Amara took the pencil and Whyley placed the book down between them.

"I just have to touch it and he'll be able to find it."

"Far away. Jia ask Kong to bring?"

"I don't want Kong to lead H. Godzilla to Iwi."

"Fair. So fly back then call Big G. How Kong get crystal?"

That was a good question. Kong needed the pickaxe to stand a chance against Hollow Godzilla if they left him or not. Jia wasn't going to call him to the cave until Godzilla came and absorbed the radiation from it. Then what?

You do not believe me to be a distraction?

You think you'd be strong enough to fight?

No, but it will give Kong time.

I don't want you getting hurt.

Even now, being back with Godzilla, her leg ached from his last battle with Kong.

We must set things right.

Amara let out a breath. "Goji will distract him while Kong gets the crystal," she wrote.

"Then fight or leave?"

Fight.

She wrote the word down.

"G will work with Kong?"

He has proven himself to be a capable ally.

"Yes."

Whyley grinned at her. She smiled back.

Amara. Godzilla's tone was that of a parent scolding a child.

What?

Don't get distracted.

Distracted by what?

Yet she still looked into Whyley's eyes.

Now is not the time.

She looked away and Whyley began to write.

"HEAVs tomorrow. Follow river back to T-Zone then to campsite. Six hours my guess."

Amara nodded.

Whyley closed the sketchbook, leaving it where it was between them. He laid down on his back and rested his helmet over his eyes.

Amara pulled the covers over her eyes to block out the light. At least with Godzilla around, they didn't have to worry about anything while they slept.

…

"Wake up!"

Amara opened her eyes at Ren's sharp voice. It felt like it'd only been a few minutes since she had fallen asleep.

"What is this?" Ren shoved paper in front of her face, but it was too close to read.

"Ren, get away from her!"

"Not until one of you tells me what's going on!" Ren turned, shoving the paper towards Whyley.

Oh no.

It was his sketchbook.

"You're going through our stuff while we sleep, now?" Whyley shot back as he stood.

Ren stepped away, holding the page up. "I just have to touch it and he'll be able to find it," he read loudly. "What does that mean? You really do think you're special, don't you?"

She sat up. "I have no idea what you're talking about, Ren. It's nothing."

"'G. will work with Kong'. 'Yes,'" he read aloud again. "You really think you know Gojira that well don't you?"

Amara threw the cover off and got up. "I've spent five years working with him, maybe I do know him better than you think!"

I will silence this man.

No you won't.

"Back off, Ren. What Amara and I talk about is none of your—"

I will not let him speak to you in—

"Stay out of this!" Amara yelled. "What's your problem, huh Ren? Why do you hate me so much?

"I thought you were self-entitled before—but now I know you're completely delusional. You defend—grovel at the feet of the monster who has killed millions of people."

"And saved billions!"

"You really think he cares about humans?" he spat, waving an arm. "He could care less if any of us died. But you wouldn't believe that because you're oh so special thinking you know him so well and that he cares about you. You've lost it just like my father! My father who cared more for that monster than his own son!"

Amara opened her mouth but any words that came to mind died before they could reach her lips.

All this time…

"Ren—"

"Don't try to change the subject," he snapped. "Gojira has destroyed cities, killed millions and displaced millions more. Yet people like you revere him like he wouldn't step on you without a second thought. My father died for that monster and in return he destroyed my city—my home! Then I see a girl on the TV, petting Gojira like a good dog. A girl who I now know is you."

"Godzilla kept Destroyer from entering the city. He minimized the damage as much as he could—We evacuated the city in time!"

"My home was rubble and ash! If Gojira cared so much, he should have led Destroyer away. But he didn't. And why's that? Because he's a senseless animal."

Amara stepped towards him. "If you speak about him like that again, you're going to regret it."

"Hey—" Whyley tried to cut in.

Ren never took his eyes off Amara. "You think I'm scared of you? You're just some little girl with a god complex."

Amara closed the distance, arm out to grab his shirt. Whyley jumped towards them. Godzilla stirred from beneath the water.

But just as her hand grazed Ren's shirt, something sharp grazed her shoulders and she was pulled into the air.

"Amara!" Whyley hollered from below.

Hell Hawks swarmed the skies. The one that carried her gripped tightly onto her sleeves. She struggled to free herself, but the fabric was too tight around her arms to slip out of her shirt.

Gunshots rang out. Whyley was yelling something, but there was too much wind in her ears to hear what. More hawks flew below trying to grab him and Ren.

The ground was getting farther and farther away. If it were to drop her now and she missed the lake, it would be the end.

She stopped struggling and instead grabbed at its leg to hold on.

The Hell Hawk suddenly veered direction when another was shot down in front of them.

Then the sound of rushing water.

The lake churned and parted into a void of foam and teeth. Godzilla rocketed up towards her, roaring.

A screech pierced her ears as Godzilla's open jaws rose from under them. Hawks scattered in every direction.

Her shirt loosened around her arms and her stomach lurched. She was falling. Darkness consumed her surroundings. Godzilla's teeth clamped shut above her. She landed on something soft and wet.

There on Godzilla's tongue, she caught her breath. Thank god he was there or else she would have been bird food. Where did they even come from?

You should have been paying more attention to your surroundings instead of wasting time on that human.

"Well he keeps calling you a mindless animal and me a little girl."

I told you I would silence him.

"You have your fights, I have mine."

You do not need to prove your strength to anyone.

"Why, because I have you?"

Because you are strong.

A rush of affection joined his feeling of relief.

…And now is not the time to waste energy.

His jaws parted around her as everything began to tilt forward. Without warning, she tumbled out of Godzilla's mouth and into the water.

Whyley ran up to the shore, extending out a hand for her. She swam over and took it. He helped pull her out.

"Are you okay?" he asked, checking her over. His eyes landed on her shoulders. "You're bleeding."

While Whyley pulled at the neck of her shirt to see the damage, her eyes found Ren.

He was sitting there, unmoving. Staring at Godzilla.

Following her gaze, Godzilla turned his head and looked at Ren.

Whyley's fingers brushed against her stinging shoulder. As she flinched at the sharp pain, so too did Godzilla.

"Ow," she said pointedly.

Whyley's eyes shot up to Godzilla. He swallowed.

Tell him to be more mindful.

He's trying to help.

Whyley stepped back from her. "I'll go get the first aid kit."

"You knew he was here the whole time. That's why you stopped."

Whyley paused his search for the kit when Ren spoke.

"So that dumb story then…" Ren let out a bitter laugh. "I spent ten years of my life creating a weapon powerful enough to kill him." As he spoke, Whyley slowly stood. "And all this time all I had to do was find some girl and I could have ended it all."

From the corner of her eye, Whyley moved towards his rifle that lay on the ground behind them.

Godzilla's anger rose sharply within her. This is the man who created the metal Titan?

The very same.

And now he speaks of killing you.

Godzilla leaned forward. The ground quaked as his claws sunk into the ground. Lower he leaned until his head was meters off the ground behind her. Air puffed from his flared nostrils from either side of her, blowing back Ren's hair. His growl was deep enough to reverberate through her chest.

"Did you not hear the story properly, or are you willing to take that chance anyway knowing that Godzilla will destroy everything and everyone in his path until you're dead?"

Ren turned away, walking towards the trees before giving Godzilla one final look. "You speak as if he hasn't already," he said.

Whyley went to go after him.

"Just leave him," she called.

He stopped. "Leave him? Amara, he knows about the connection. We don't know what he'll do now."

He's right. We must watch him from now on.

Great. Another thing to worry about. In retrospect, learning the story of Hollow Godzilla caused more harm than good. Before, she could write things off as coincidence or that Godzilla was used to her presence. But now? Now it looked like the most obvious thing in the world.

She let out a frustrated groan. "Stupid birds. Stupid story. May as well announce it to Nathan and Ilene so everyone can know!"

Whyley took a minute before speaking. "Are you implying—"

"Yeah, Jia knows too, thanks to you." She marched over to her backpack and pulled out the folded piece of paper. Unfolding it, she thrust it into Whyley's face. "You drew this and left it in your sketchbook that everyone can see."

Whyley took it. "But you can't tell it's you. I left out any detail…"

"You think Jia needs detail? She's not dumb. She sees a picture you drew of Godzilla with a girl in a sketchbook you only started using in the Hollow Earth. Who's she going to think it is? Ilene? Of course she's going to know it's me!"

"'Mara, I'm sorry. I figured she's just a kid and wouldn't think anything of it."

She glared at the trees. "That was before Ilene told that story."

"Well we know Jia won't tell and Ren…well I don't think anyone's going to believe him in prison." Whyley went back to his bag and brought over the first aid kit. "And we all signed confidentiality agreements." He sat on a log, motioning for her to do the same.

"And what, they add even more time to his prison sentence? Hardly seems like a threat," she said, sitting down.

Whyley helped her take off her shirt when she winced again. Godzilla let out a growl, watching him closely.

Whyley swallowed.

Amara gave Godzilla a look. He's just trying to help.

He's doing a poor job of protecting you.

He's trying his best.

Don't let your feelings cloud your judgment. He should know this place is dangerous.

An offended scoff escaped her lips. We were under the impression that you would keep threats away. And what feelings?

Whyley looked between her and Godzilla. "I just have to disinfect…might sting."

Godzilla's eyes shifted towards him, baring his teeth.

"Ignore him," Amara said, closing her eyes in preparation. "Just do it."

She winced as he dabbed on the antiseptic solution to the cuts. They weren't terribly deep, but not minor scratches either. She dropped her other shoulder to look. Three cuts in the front and one in the back. At least its talons didn't puncture her skin and caught on her shirt instead.

"Is he mad at me?" Whyley asked.

"No."

Yes.

"I'll do better," he said as if he heard Godzilla rather than her.

"You're already doing more than enough."

Whyley looked up from what he was doing and into her eyes. Blue and Brown. Perfectly imperfect.

And there they were.

I told you, Amara.

So what if I have feelings or whatever. It's not like it changes anything.

"We'll have to take shifts to watch Ren," Whyley said, returning to the unfinished topic.

"You think he'd actually try something?"

"Neither of us knows him well enough to know for sure. But he's established that he hates Godzilla and will go the mile to…" He glanced at Godzilla. "You know."

"Well as long as he doesn't have any weapons, I can take him in a fight."

"Amara, we have to be serious here." Whyley pulled out some bandages and began applying them.

"I am being serious. I'm more concerned with him saying something about the connection."

"We claim he's insane. We can convince Nathan and Ilene to keep the story to themselves for Jia's protection."

"Insane seems like a strong word."

"Delusional?" Whyley offered. "He likes that one."

There is an easier way to end this.

She shook her head at Godzilla's thoughts of crushing him.

We need him to get out of here.

"What's Godzilla saying?"

Amara just held her thumb across her throat.

"Yeah, not the best option."

I did not ask for his opinion.

It's not an opinion. We do need him.

So be it.

Whyley finished bandaging the cuts on her back and packed up the first aid kit. "We should probably get going. I'll go find Ren if you want to…" he looked around. "…Get the birds."

Sure enough, they were nowhere to be seen. The Hell Hawk attack probably spooked them into the trees. The Iwi never did give them a way to call them back.

The human is there. Godzilla lifted his head, facing the direction Ren went. The birds aren't far. I will call them back.

A small guttural noise left his throat. Not a minute later, the birds came out of the tree line. Blood coated their bills, likely from eating a fallen Hell Hawk.

"Did G just do that?"

"Yeah," Amara said, walking up to the birds and taking their reins.

When she turned back, Whyley was looking up at Godzilla who regarded him in return.

Whyley shook his head. "Huh."

…