Flying By on Ikran

"Alma? Whats happening?" Teylan asks quietly, shifting from foot to foot.

"Im finishing what Aha'ri started." She said firmly "We are getting out of here."

"But we cant! It didnt work the first time! Aha'ri died because we tried to leave!" Teylan cries loudly. Alma shushes him harshly. But bends down when he flinches at the sound. "We have to Teylan... its no longer safe here. Aha'ri should still be will with us... it was never supposed to happen. It was wrong. Mercer was wrong." Teylan sniffles and looks up at Alma again. She strokes his head. "Be brave. Let's go"

---

The forest glows in the moonlight. You cant stop yourself from staring at eveything. You hold onto Yefti and Telisi's hands to ensure you dont get lost or wander off too far.

"Alma? Where are we going? How long are going to walk? Its scary out here..." Teylan whimpers jumping as a bug flies past his face. He shrieks again and covers his ears. Ri'nela comes up to him and rubs his back as you keep walking, ensuring he does trip.

"He is such a wimp... dont coddle him too much Rinela, you'll only make it worse" you hear Nor mutter quietly. He, seemingly the most bold and unafraid of the outside. Ri'nela glares at him, before turning back and soothing Teylan whose ears were now uncovered.

After what feels like hours wandering aimlessly in whatever direction your teacher chose you reach a rather large clearing. In it sport a decently sized body of water with a little patch of land sitting in the middle. You and a couple others start to make your way to the waters edge when your ears perk at a sound of pattering seemingly headed your way. Alma gasps loudly. "Hide! Children this way! Hurry!"

She ushers toward an opening in the clifface on nearest to the waters edge. You scamper to her side as she herds you all in. Hudled at the back of the cave - or as far back as you can manage - you hear voices next to you begin to whisper.

"Is it mercer?"

"Has he found us already?! What are we going to do?!"

"Everyone be quiet! They will hear us!"

The sounds of what you now know as a RDA Samson flies overhead. A bright light beaming down on the onto the ground; searching. You listen as the scared sounds of your peers ripple quietly across the stone walls. Once... Twice... Three times the metal machine circles the clearing before it leaves. You can hear Alma heave a relieved sigh as she huddles closer to the group "i think it will be best if stay here for the night. We cant risk being spoted now." She says softly.

"Will we be safe here?" Onki murmurs cautiously, her fingers twisting together in anxiety.

"For now. We will move as soon as it is light outside. So try not to worry and get some rest. Goodnight" she yawns and lays down. Falling asleep almost instantly.

"Alma is right. We will need a lot of rest." Ri'nela agrees. She follows Alma's lead and curls up next to her. Soon, all of you at in a massive cuddle pile, wishing each goodnight. Hands and tails holding each other tight.

---

"Alma! Wake up! Wake up this isnt funny!" You hear the harsh whispers of Yefti as you are jostled awake from a dreamless sleep. They, along with Onki are shaking the Older lady aggressively, eyes wild and stressed. Light streams through the cave and you realise that is already morning.

"Yefti? Onki? Whats wrong? Why isnt Alma awake yet?"

"I dont know! But there are humans outside and we dont know what to do! They have a Samson out there and they are really close to the cave!" Yefti amswers quietly the tail behind them lashing violently.

You look over their shoulder and see Yuayt near the cave entrance; watching the humans. You sneak up cautiously and yank him back harshly. He yelps but you smack his hand over his mouth. "Do you want to get caught Yuayt?" You scold. He shakes his head "then stay away from there. They couldve seen you!"

"But the Samson had markings on it! Ones i dont recognise" He mutters, wiggling out of your grasp. But before you can go and check it out you hear a voice outside

"Is that a cave over there?"

Oh no.

You smack Yuayt on the forehead mouthing "you are an idiot and now we're going to die" scrambling over with him to hide behind Alma.

Just as the voices begin to get closer Alma starts to wake up. Groggily she notices your scared faces.

"Humans. Outside" Teylan whimpers

Her eyes widen and she motions to stay put. Slowly, she begins to go outside. However when she sees who it is, she seemingly relaxes. The unknown voice pipes up again.

"That you Alma? Damn, i almost didnt recognise you! We heard over RDA radio chatter that you spirited away those kids of yours in the middle of the night and figured this was the only way you could go. Pretty ballsy if you ask me, from the sounds of it your lucky we found you when we did!"

"And you must be Anqa Salaam the resistance's pilot. Yeah... it is fortunate you found us first. I dont know how i wouldve talked my way out if the RDA found us first..." she sighs. As she turns to the group she smiles. "Its ok everyone. They are friends"

Nor scoffs "humans? Didn't we just run away from them? How are they friends?"

Ri'nela hisses at him and swats his shoulder lightly.

"Come we should get moving again before the RDA find this place."

She leads you out to where the RDA Machine is. There, stands a lady in a tank top with another lady next to her. "Hey there everybody" the voice; Anqa, says "my name is Anqa, and this here is Dani"

Dani waves and gives a warm smile as well "hey kiddos, lets get you someplace safe huh? We will make sure you dont have to worry about the RDA ever again." Slowly, with the help of Dani and Anqa all of you get into the large metal contraption. As the doors close the whiring of the propellers launches the Samson into the air. Teylan yelps and grabs onto almas arm. She laughs a little and rubs his shoulder. Soon yoir steady in the air and high above the trees. You watch in awe at the view.

"So where are we going now?" Onki asks

"To the resistance HQ" Dani's voice answers "There are a lot of people who will be thrilled to know your safe."

You listen as Dani and Anqa tell you about the resistance, and what they doing to stop the rda as you fly over the forest. The more they talk about it the more excited and nervous you get.

Your mind wanders back to your sister. Aha'ri. You wonder if she would want this too, what she would do. A hand places itself on your shoulder and you see Alma smiling sadly

"I miss her too. But dont worry, we can start again at resistance HQ. Youll be where you belong, living and breathing pandora. As you should. We will take down the RDA and make sure this never has to happen to anyone ever again." By the time Alma has finished her eyes burn with passion and fury. Soon yours do to, a spark burning bright in your chest.

The Samson then lands and you are surrounded by what looks like a run-down makeshift base. The doors open and you see the proud faces of Dani and Anqa again.

"Welcome kids, to Resistance HQ"

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