A Fateful Summoning – Episode 6: The Burden of Care (Extended)
Morning Light
The first rays of dawn broke over the horizon, casting a soft glow across the camp. Octavia stirred awake to the sounds of rustling leaves and hushed voices. She blinked against the light, momentarily disoriented as the memories of the previous night flooded back.
Jasper was still unconscious, and the urgency to find the seaweed antibiotics weighed heavily on everyone's minds. She quickly got up, looking around to see Clarke, Wells, and Finn gathered, their expressions serious as they prepared to leave for the coast.
"Are you sure we can find it?" Octavia asked, stepping closer.
Clarke nodded, determination set in her features. "We have to. It's the only thing that can save Jasper."
Monty joined them, his expression equally grim. "The seaweed grows near the shoreline. We'll be quick, I promise."
Bellamy approached, surveying the scene. "Everyone else, stay here and keep watch. We can't afford to be caught off guard." His protective nature shone through as he turned to Charlotte, who was fidgeting nervously. "You're staying here, too."
"But I want to help!" she protested, her voice rising.
"It's too dangerous," Bellamy insisted, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You need to stay safe."
After a moment of hesitation, Charlotte nodded, though disappointment was evident in her eyes.
"Let's move!" Clarke called, rallying the group. The search party set out, leaving Octavia behind with the rest of the camp.
--
A Tense Atmosphere
With the search party gone, Octavia's worry grew. The night before had been chaotic, and she couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. She walked over to where the others were gathered, her eyes searching for Naruto.
"Have you seen Naruto?" she asked Monty, who was busy checking their supplies.
"Not since yesterday," Monty replied, glancing around. "I'm worried about him. He hasn't been acting like himself."
Octavia's heart sank. The last time she had seen him, he had been overwhelmed, his eyes glowing with that strange energy. "I hope he's okay," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
--
Jasper's Agony
As the sun climbed higher, the camp's atmosphere grew increasingly tense. From inside the ship, Jasper's cries of agony pierced through the air, causing Octavia to flinch.
"Someone needs to do something about him!" Murphy shouted, his irritation mounting. "He's just screaming for attention."
"We can't just leave him like this!" Octavia shot back, unable to contain her frustration. She couldn't understand why they were arguing instead of trying to help Jasper.
"Maybe putting him out of his misery is the kindest option," Atom chimed in, his voice cold.
Octavia's eyes widened in disbelief. "That's not kind! That's just cruel!" she retorted, stepping forward, anger bubbling inside her.
Monty stepped in, trying to defuse the situation. "Let's focus on getting the cure for Jasper. He needs us," he urged.
But the tension in the air was palpable, and Octavia could feel it weighing her down.
--
Naruto's Journey
Meanwhile, deep in the forest, Naruto remained unconscious, lost to the world. His hand, which bore Octavia's name, glowed with an intense red light, the power within him surging. Suddenly, he shot upright, his red eyes wide open, revealing the familiar yet terrifying presence of the Nine-Tails' chakra.
"What happened?" he mumbled to himself, feeling the pain in his hand. He wanted to escape this overwhelming feeling, to run far away from the chaos and confusion surrounding him. But the energy pulsing through him wouldn't let him go. It was as if Octavia's name on his hand was a tether, pulling him back.
He tried to shake off the sensation but found himself falling back into unconsciousness, unable to resist the pull of her name. With a burst of energy, he disappeared from the forest, leaving only the rustling leaves behind.
--
Back at the Camp
As night began to fall, Octavia anxiously awaited the return of the search party. The camp felt eerily quiet without Jasper's screams, and she felt the weight of her worries pressing heavily on her chest. Just then, the ship's door swung open, and the search party returned.
Clarke, Wells, and Finn rushed in, their expressions frantic. "We got the seaweed!" Clarke exclaimed, holding up the bundles triumphantly.
"Where's the antidote?" Monty asked, his eyes darting around.
"I have it," Clarke replied, a determined look in her eyes. "But we need to prepare it immediately."
The group quickly set to work, and Octavia helped where she could. However, her mind was elsewhere. She couldn't shake the feeling that Naruto was in trouble.
--
Chaos Ensues
As they worked, the camp's atmosphere shifted. Jasper had begun to scream again, this time more intensely, his cries echoing through the night.
"Shut him up!" Murphy shouted again, annoyance creeping into his tone.
Octavia felt her heart race. "We need to keep him calm! He's in pain!"
Atom shot her a glance. "Why do you care so much? He's just a liability."
"Stop it!" Octavia shouted back, her voice breaking. "You don't understand what it's like to lose someone!"
Atom raised an eyebrow, smirking. "You're still just a little girl. You don't get it," he said, dismissively.
Tears of frustration threatened to spill from her eyes, and she pulled away, her chest tightening with anger. "I may be younger than you, but I know right from wrong!" she exclaimed.
Monty stepped in again, trying to calm everyone. "Let's focus on getting the cure for Jasper. He needs us," he urged.
But the tension in the air was thick, making it hard for Octavia to breathe.
--
Naruto's Return
Suddenly, a familiar figure appeared at the edge of the camp. Naruto materialized, but something about him was different. His eyes were still red, and his hand glowed with a pulsing red light. He looked disheveled, as if he had just fought a battle.
"Naruto!" Octavia exclaimed, her heart leaping at the sight of him. She rushed toward him, but he took a step back, retreating to the corner of the ship. He sank down, his back against the wall, clearly distressed.
"Are you alright?" she asked, concern etched on her face.
He avoided her gaze, clenching his glowing hand, and a wince crossed his features. The pain was evident, but he didn't respond to her question, and that hurt more than anything.
"Why are you ignoring me?" Octavia pressed, her frustration boiling over.
"I can't…" he muttered, his voice strained as he pressed his back against the wall, as if trying to create distance between them.
"Can't what?" Octavia pleaded, her voice rising with urgency. "I need you to talk to me!"
Naruto closed his eyes, the red hue of his eyes shimmering with unspoken emotion. The pain in his hand throbbed more intensely, as if reflecting the turmoil inside him.
"Why do you care?" he finally spat out, though his tone was softer than his words suggested. "I'm just a summon. I shouldn't be here."
"That's not true!" Octavia shot back, her heart aching at the thought of losing him. "You're more than that! You matter to me!"
His eyes flickered, caught between the darkness that clouded his mind and the warmth of her words. But instead of acknowledging her, he dropped his gaze, feeling the weight of guilt for ignoring her questions.
"I'm sorry," he murmured, barely audible, but it was lost in the chaos around them.
--
Jasper's Suffering
In the background, Jasper's screams became increasingly desperate, breaking the moment of tension. The group turned their attention back to him, scrambling to prepare the antidote.
Octavia took a deep breath, torn between her concern for Jasper and the pain of Naruto's silence. "We have to help him!" she shouted, trying to rally everyone.
But even as she spoke, she could feel Naruto's turmoil—the bond they shared was palpable, and it pained her to see him struggling so intensely.
As they continued working on the antidote, Octavia glanced back at Naruto. He had sunk deeper into the corner, the glowing red light from his hand illuminating the shadows around him.
"I'll be back," she promised quietly, moving toward Jasper.
--
The Calm Before the Storm
The chaos of the camp persisted, but Octavia couldn't shake the feeling that something darker was lurking just beneath the surface. She kept glancing back at Naruto, who remained in the corner, the glow from his hand pulsing with his heartache.
"Just hang in there, Jasper," she whispered to herself, determination filling her voice. "We're going to save you."
But even as she spoke those words, she felt a storm brewing within Naruto, and she knew they would have to face whatever was coming together.
As the night wore on, Octavia couldn't help but worry. The bond she felt with Naruto was more than just a summon—it was a connection that transcended their worlds. And as he sat in the corner, his red eyes still shining with pain, she resolved to find a way to break through his barriers and help him find peace.
But the storm was far from over
Outside the ship, the camp was quiet, a stark contrast to the chaos that had unfolded earlier. Octavia took a deep breath, trying to shake off the heavy feelings that had settled in her chest. She spotted Atom lingering near the edge of the camp, a look of uncertainty on his face. He had assumed that the earlier confrontation was behind them.
"Octavia!" he called, a smile creeping onto his face as she approached.
But instead of welcoming him, she felt a surge of anger rise within her. "We're done," she said firmly, her voice cutting through the night air. "I can't be with someone who thinks it's okay to hurt others."
Atom's smile faltered, confusion etched across his features. "What do you mean? I thought we could work things out…"
Without hesitation, Octavia slapped him hard across the face, the sound echoing in the stillness. "We are over!" she declared, her eyes blazing with determination. She turned on her heel, walking away, leaving Atom stunned and hurt.
Bellamy, having witnessed the entire exchange, stormed up to Atom, rage boiling in his veins. "You think you can treat my sister like that?" he shouted, fists clenched. Without waiting for a response, he threw a powerful punch, sending Atom sprawling to the ground.
"Stay away from her!" Bellamy growled, glaring down at Atom, who struggled to regain his composure.
With that, Bellamy turned and made his way back to the ship, his protective instincts flaring up. He didn't care about Atom; he just wanted to make sure Octavia was alright.
--
Inside the ship, the atmosphere was heavy. Naruto sat in the corner, his red eyes still glowing, his hand pulsating with an ominous light. Octavia stepped inside, her heart aching at the sight of him so distressed.
"Hey," she said softly, moving closer. "I'm back."
She knelt beside him, gently lifting his chin to make him face her. "You need to calm down," she whispered, concern filling her voice. She put her shoulder against his, encouraging him to rest his head there. To her relief, he leaned in, and she felt his breathing begin to steady.
As he settled, Octavia got up, her eyes glancing around the small space. "I'll be right back. Just stay here," she told him, her tone reassuring. She swayed her hips slightly as she walked away, a soft smile creeping onto her lips as she noticed the faint blush on Naruto's cheeks. To her surprise, as she moved, the glow of his hand began to dim, the redness slowly fading.
--
Octavia returned a few moments later with a cover, carefully draping it over them both as she settled back down beside Naruto. She could feel the warmth radiating from him, and despite the chaos outside, there was a sense of peace that enveloped them in that moment.
"Let's get some rest," she murmured, resting her head against his. As she began to hum a soft melody, the gentle sound wrapped around them like a warm embrace. Naruto's breathing became deeper, and gradually, the red in his eyes softened until they finally closed.
Bellamy, watching from a distance, felt a swell of pride and relief as he saw his sister's influence on Naruto. "You're the only one who can calm him down," he remarked softly, stepping back so as not to disturb them.
Octavia smiled at her brother's words, her heart swelling with affection for both Naruto and her brother. "Goodnight, Bellamy," she whispered as she settled in beside Naruto, allowing the rhythm of her song to lull them both into a peaceful slumber.
--
As the night wore on, the camp remained tense, but within the confines of the ship, there was a sanctuary of calm. The world outside faded, and for the first time in a long while, Octavia felt safe, cradling the sleeping Naruto beside her, both of them enveloped in a fragile peace amidst the chaos of their lives.