Where she'd once felt strong and brave, even amidst fear, she now felt hollow. They were all filthy. Their skin was sallow, and they were all far too thin.
After a few days and nights of wonder, of fear, she'd given up. She didn't care. There was nothing they could do. They'd left the only home they'd ever known. Maybe they'd never see that home again. In fact, she was sure they wouldn’t. They were supposed to go above the ground and then report back. Their people needed to know that the Earth was safe. They were almost out of food. They had known it would happen eventually, but not so soon. Aria and her friends were their only hope. But Aria knew it didn’t matter now. She had no idea where they were anymore. Any hope her people had of surviving was in their own hands now.
Eventually, they reached their destination, or so she assumed because the person in front of her was slowing their steps. And though it had only been a handful of days (she’d tried to keep track with the sun), time had felt endless. She was so exhausted both physically and mentally, it felt as if she was moving through molasses. Her brain trying to tell her body that it could finally stop moving, but her body was reluctant to stop lest she draw the wrath of their captors.
Being at the front of the group, Aria ran right into the leader who had stopped at the edge of the forest. She couldn't believe her eyes.
Chapter 2
They had reached a large open plain. It went on and on as far as she could see. Aria and the others were so busy looking at the horizon that, at first, they didn't notice the small group of people on their left.
Someone in their own group pointed them out, and everyone else turned to look, finally noticing them.
The group who had been waiting there started to make their way towards them, slowly. Behind them, Aria saw horses. A few dozen horses.
The little part of her that was still curious studied the horses. They were big and beautiful. She'd only ever seen them in pictures. This must be how they were getting to their final destination.
There were only a few people in the group that came to meet them. Still, Aria could see another group of people waiting farther out, all atop horses. A part of her actually felt relieved. No matter where they were going, at least they wouldn't have to walk there.
"What the hell kept you? You were supposed to have been here days ago," a girl from the waiting group snapped.
Aria felt taken aback. The girl couldn't have been any older than she was. In fact, she looked even younger than Aria. But she spoke with a tone of authority in her voice.
"Well, as you can see, this group isn't in the best shape. They slowed us down," the leader’s voice was clipped and irritated.
The group was close enough to study now. They didn't look that different from the other people around them. However, these new people looked more put together. Their clothes were nicer, made of a material that Aria was more familiar with. Like cotton instead of the tougher fabrics, the Terra seemed to favor.
They each had knives in their belts, swords, or bows across their backs.
"These people look pathetic," the girl exclaimed, studying Aria and her friends. "Your letter claimed they were strong. That they were dangerous people. They don't look dangerous at all."
"They had weapons with which we were not familiar. And they could have brought serious harm to our people,” he snapped, his patience clearly wearing thin. “But we did keep them detained for quite some time, and the journey here was tough for them."
The girl laughed, and a few of her companions joined her.
Aria watched the exchange with interest. It was true that she and her friends had guns when they first arrived above ground, in case they needed to protect themselves. But they had never fired those weapons at the Terra, though they’d used them for hunting the first few days. Right up until they were captured.
Aria wondered now if they would have been captured at all had it not been for those guns. Would the Terra still have seen them as a threat? Or just left them alone?
"Our job is done. They were delivered, as promised. They are your problem now," he hissed.
"Well, I don't really know what to say. I mean, just look at them," the girl said, looking to her group and back at Aria's people.
Aria kept her mouth shut. She didn't like being talked about like she wasn't there. But there wasn't much she could do at this point. And the others seemed to feel the same because though they looked angry, they remained silent.
"Well, what are you waiting for? Untie them," the girl said, looking at the man. "Unless you're afraid of them or something," she asked, smirking.
Slowly Aria and her friends were freed from their bindings.
Who is this girl? Aria wondered. How is she brave enough to speak to this man that way?
After she was untied, Aria rubbed her wrists. She was sure that she'd have scars. She was grateful that the cuts made by the restraints weren't too deep. Scarring, she could deal with.
"Let's go," the girl said, nodding towards the horses.
A few of Aria's friends looked at her, waiting for her to make the first move.
"You're the leader," the girl asked, looking at Aria.
Aria nodded.
"Well, after you," the girl said, smirking at her.
Aria glared at the man who had been their captor for a few seconds before taking a few steps in the direction of the plain. As soon as she did, the others followed.
When they got to where most of the horses were, they were told by the girl to pick one and get on.
