A/N
Heyo! What, me? Posting twice in the same amount of days? That's unheard of! But, for real, I'm exited to see where this will take me. Hell, I don't even know what I'm planning for the Master Chief and Tai, but I know damn well it's gonna be good. I just hope it turns out well, and that I don't give up on this fic. Once I get ahead enough for this fic, I swear I'll update both my other ones. When? I've got no clue, but it'll get done. I've already got half the next chapters done anyway, I'm just having a massive brain block at the moment. But, hopefully it'll pass. Anyway, enough of me rambling, onto the second chapter.
Two
It took the pair about two hours to make it back to Tai's camp, the smoke from the long dead fires drifting to them. They're exhausted by the time they get into the camp in its entirety and Tai's limp had gotten worse. Even the Master Chief was feeling it, having been awake for who knew how long.
Once they finally got inside the camp, Tai's legs gave out, forcing her to collapse. The Master Chief went down on his knee next to her, calling out for anybody still awake in the camp. Three people came out at the same time, coming from the same structure. Likely a family if he had to guess, given their similar looks.
The woman gasped in horror when her cobalt blue eyes widening as she took in the pair's appearance. She quickly ran up to Tai, taking the taller girl into her arms, looking at her wounds first, given that she was slowly losing conscience. The older of the two males that had been behind the woman came up to the Chief, assessing his wounds and asking questions.
About half an hour later, the Chief had his armor repaired and his wounds sewn up. Tai had been laid down on a cot, her own wounds having to be sealed via fire, the residue of the plasma practically melting the sewing string and burning the metal hook. When Tai next came to, it was to the rising suns over the forests and surrounding mountainside. Her normally bright blue eyes were murky and there were dark purple circles under her eyes.
Slowly, the teen sat up, wincing when something pulled her skin taught on her stomach. Glancing down, she took note of the many bandages wrapped around her torso. She must've gotten more hurt than she realized. Shaking her head, Tai stood, glancing around the makeshift camp, looking for the injured Spartan she'd brought with her.
Finally, she found him standing next to Derrick and Ryner, over by the river. He looks much better than when she'd found him, meaning he'd gotten his wounds treated as well. Tai couldn't help but wonder if that massive bulk of his was even seen by those in the camp. With a grunt, Tai got to her feet, placing her entire weight on her legs, gauging how she'd hold on her own.
With near perfect balance, she made her way towards the river, watching as the two men of the camp conversed easily with the Master Chief. As she got closer to the small group, she could actually make out what they were discussing. Plans to fight back and get in contact with the Chief's Marines.
Once she was near the men, she let out a dramatic huff and threw an arm around Ryner, pulling the older boy to her. She told herself it was to bother him, but she knew that her legs were about to give out.
"Well, look who decided to join the land of the living." Derrick stated, crossing his arms and rolling his eyes good-naturedly.
Tai stuck out her tongue and flipped her the bird, a shark-like grin on her face. "Oh, bug off, old man. 'S not my fault I was brutally attacked, y'know." She stated, sarcasm lacing her voice.
Both Ryner and Derrick laughed, turning to include her more into the conversation. Given that she was the second oldest female in the camp, and the one with the most experience in this war, they took her opinions in and considered them carefully. No matter what the rest of the camp said about her, everyone knew the Woods and her were their best bet to survival.
"We're tryna plan a way to the next city over, Master Chief here says that they have some form of a communications ray that he can use to get in contact with his Spartans and Marines. Have anything to input?" Derrick states.
"Well, have we got a plan, or are we bullshitting our way out?" Tai replied, crossing her arms over her torso, matching the Spartan's position. Her position got slightly more serious, more defensive. She could be serious when it was needed.
"So far? Bullshitting it. But, with the Spartan, we should be alright. I mean, with his training, your weird ability to "tell the future", and the rest of the camp's will, I think we'll manage, even without a brilliant plan." Ryner says, facing the redhead. His silver eyes had gone dark. The true color to his iris had long since gone cold, the truth of battle overtaking him.
Tai hummed, turning slightly to take in the scenery of their encampment. The people under their protection weren't fighters. They didn't even truly carry weapons, only the main family and Tai did. The people were farmers, miners, and the occasional professional. But, much like Ryner said, they had a strong will. Hell, they had to, to survive this gods' forsaken war.
But their half-assed plan wasn't enough to keep even half the camp alive. So, they planned. They created and remade plan and plan, strategy after strategy. And, sooner or later, they finally had something they could maybe work with. It would have to be better defined, more put together, but that would have to wait. Right now, they needed to get the rest of the camp on board, and introduce them to the giant Spartan looming over their firecracker of a teen.
It took a couple days, more than the Master Chief wanted, but when it was finally completed, everyone in the encampment could breathe easier. While the major family, Tai and the Chief were collecting their thoughts and planning out an escape, the rest of the camp was directed by the ever mature Anya, the youngest of the Woods' family, sitting comfortably at sixteen-years.
The small auburn haired girl had gotten the supplies needed by the camp for the plan. The little ones were sent to collect any type of bandages or med kits from their tents. The teens were sent to get any rope or fabric they could find, then weave it into strong and sturdy ropes. And, lastly, the adults were made to gather any food they could, the more elderly sent to get anything non perishable from the small town, not even five-hundred klicks from their camp, the younger adults sent out hunting and gathered what they could for nutrients.
Master Chief watched this all stoically, surprised by the efficiency of the camp. Other civilians he'd had the… pleasure of meeting hadn't ever managed to come together like this, let alone did they manage to set up some type of hierarchy. Hell, the camp didn't even really need him to do much of the planning, the Scottish teen, Tai, did most of that herself, with the help of the black male, Ryner. Really, he was just sent with the teen for protection, seeing as she was the one who went far from the camp practically every day.
Because of his past, and his training as a Spartan, Chief often wondered where humanity would be if they communicated effectively. That's the only way he and his Spartan's had made it as far as they had. There had been several near death experiences for all of his Spartan's, and it was only their communication and quick thinking that got them through it all. Their teamwork is what kept them alive in this war.
As he looked out over this small militia working together, taking orders and not questioning those they trusted, even some of the younger children, he might've gotten his answer. If only those others he'd helped to rescue and evacuate could work like this, more of them might've survived. But, those were wishes that could no longer come true, and wishes didn't get anyone anywhere. Work did, plans did. And these people were doing what they could to both get out of this sinking hell hole, and get him back to his own, back to those who could actually help the people.
When the time finally came, Derrick called the rest of the camp to the center, giving a final rally cry, a final check to see if everyone was ready. Those who had doubts (which were few and far between) could stay back, behind the line of fighters, but he refused to leave them here to perish. But, those who believed in the plan, most of their people, were ready to roll. They weren't gonna take anymore shit from the Covenant, no matter how much it cost them.
They'd already lost so much to this damned war, it was time to get back what was rightfully theirs. Freedom, safety and security. And so, everything checked, double checked and triple checked, the camp packed their things into bags, slung any weapons they had, and marched out in pairs. The last of the small militia, the Woods' and Tai went after the sun was down. Well after the last of the people had left. They were done taking chances, they were done losing people.
The four of the family split up, the husband and wife and the son and daughter and walked out from their makeshift home for the last time. Finally, Tai signaled to the Master Chief to move out, the teen taking point, knowing the land better than the Spartan. The Chief could appreciate the way the girl held herself, held her sniper rifle in hand, the energy sword buzzing at her hip. This wasn't her first rodeo. If he ever saw her again, he'd have to ask after it.
But, for now, with the shadows long and dark, they walked on, keeping an eye out at the shadows that used to be their allies in this war. Every step they took, took them closer to the city, closer to the soon-to-be bloodbath. Chief watched as the girl's nerves steeled themselves.
No matter where this took them, everyone was ready for a fight. And the entire camp believed in their fiercest to protect them, get them off of this gods forsaken planet. The people trusted that they'd make it out alive. Tai could only hope that their trust wasn't for naught.