The Phoenix Colony

"Lets see, so far my lives have been, the little girl dreaming of going into space, the ruthless rebel, and now a hated leader. I think some of us just weren't meant to be truely happy, but I guess we need to press on, cause we have no other choice. We should get the fire wood and return to the cave soon, Diane." says Fox, as she stands up, "Oh and by the way, Fox was the name given to me by the leader of the Warriors for Ares, Lonan. The name my parents gave me was Xare Aldrich."

 

"Xare." Chrys nods, "Um, can I stay Chrys, I just like it. But you can call me Diane, just not everyone else." She winks, reaching her full stoop. "Off we go." She winces.

 

"Yeah, and I've always kinda preferred Fox." says Fox as her and Kat get some wood. Fox walks back to the cave, with Kat limping at her side. They walk past Dereck and through the woven door. "Um..hey guys, we got some more wood for the fire." says Fox.

 

Chrys drops the bundle she was holdong, and stalks over to Chad, hoping not to attack him.

Instead of the person shes looking for, she sees a red rock that resemlbles a human form. She prods at it with one of her hands, "What are you?"

Still confused, she sniff the air, Okaaay? You're Chad, but your not Chaad? WHat the freak is happenin here?

 

"What are you?" Chrys asked. Smith smirked to his half asleep self. He was facing the wall, and still had some of his hair in his hand.

"Good question." He said sarcasticly. Joey wakeing up and chirping angerly at him for being to loud. He knew Chrys would tell him the truth, she didn't have the same censor others had. She spoke what she thought. "Let me know when you figure that out." He snapped.

 

Catching the meaning, Chrys took a deeper whiff of the rock thing, just taking in the air, "Well, you smell less human than thew last time I remember your scent, and well, you feel like a rock, can I kick you really hard?" She asked excitedly, Joey chirping in disdain.

 

"Sure." Smith said and moved Joey a little bit back so he didn't squish her while being kicked. "Have at it." He said calmly, reaching up and pulling out a few more hairs efforlessly, and looking at them.

 

Chrys looiked, surprised, "Well, I would if I could, but I just got thrown around by a monster that I couldn't see. Which is odd, because I can see in the dark now."

 

Fox decided it was time to make an announcement. She walks over by the fire. Its sight and warmth made it hard not to concentrate on the memory of Britney's death. "Everyone, please give me your attention. Britney is...is dead." tears starting to flow from her eyes again, "She was killed by that invisible monster. Since it was hunting at night, it must be a nocturnal predator. So, if you value your life, no more going out at night. Understand?" She could barely get the words out of her mouth.

 

"Congradulations, if I stay still enough I can be confused for a vary interesting looking rock formation." He said sarcasticly, and scratched Joeys head. She chirped angerly still wanting to be asleep. Smith actually wished she would just go ahead and kick him, it would of at least gave him a laugh.

 

"You!" Chrys snaped, punching Chad in the back. "MothaFlipper!"

I cannot believe this...I have never felt this much pain at once!

"Great," Chrys hissed, throwing hersellf against the cave wall, "I've now got a bum leg, a swollen hand, and that darn ankle still feels funny! Why did I have to live this life?"

 

Smith felt the impact, but didn't feel any real pain due to it. He had to smile at Chrys's reaction. "Great," Chrys hissed, throwing hersellf against the cave wall, "I've now got a bum leg, a swollen hand, and that darn ankle still feels funny! Why did I have to live this life?"

"You're a cat you have to live nine lives, ain't got a choice in the matter." He said grumpily. At least he got to smirk at more of Chrys's antics because of this. He plucked some more hair out of his scalp. "I should really stop doing that." He said but it was like a scab he just had to pick at it.

 

"Why are you sheding? Aren't you the one that likes to point out that I'm the cat here?" She asked, watching Chad pull yet another clump of hair from his head.

He reached for his scapl again, but Chrys swiped at his hand with her own. "No!" She growled.

Chrys stood up, and ambled over to Fox, "DO you want to talk? I bet we could, if you wanted." Chrys offered, not quite sure anymore.

 

"Everyone, please give me your attention. Britney is...is dead." tears starting to flow from her eyes again, "She was killed by that invisible monster. Since it was hunting at night, it must be a nocturnal predator. So, if you value your life, no more going out at night. Understand?"

Reva stood up and put her hands on Fox's shoulders, not just comforting but pushing down. The message was clear. SIT!

"First of all," Reva said quietly, "I am really sorry for your loss. I know that Britney was your special friend."

Reva held Fox's eyes, the woman had to understand the next part, even if she was in extremis. She said the next part very quietly but very clearly, just for Fox's ears.

"But you aren't going to issue edicts to this tribe. It's not your job. I agree it is dangerous to go out but you do not order my tribe," Reva stared at Fox, willing her to understand this, "to go or to stay. Understand me?"

 

The darkness has become Raylene's friend. In the dark, no one can see her struggle against the chorus of voices in her head. When she is with a lot of people, it is overwhelming. She has to force her mind to stop listening. It's exhasting and Raylene barely has the strength to grieve for her friend.

 

Fox stood up towering over Reva. She leans in and whispers to her, "First off, I wasn't ordering them I was just giving them information that they needed to be safe. Secondly, didn't you get upset at me for being a bit of a dictator. We'll look at what you're doing right now, your trying to filter what they hear and don't hear. That is the kind of stuff that the government that threw you into prison, does. If you expect me and the rest of them to follow you, then I would suggest that you let people give the rest of the tribe whatever info that want. As leader you can do whatever you want with it."

She turns to Kat. "Um...fine, we'll talk." says Fox.

 

Reva grabbed Fox's arm and turned her away from Chrys.

"I am not finished speaking with you. Don't you say what you just said and blow me off. Talk to me now or leave this cave."

 

Chrys was stunned at what she just heard from Fox, "Okay...Let's talk, over..there." She said, pointing at an unoccupied alcove in the cave.

 

Reva turned to Chrys.

"No. I am not finished with her yet. Please wait one minute."

 

Smith moved for the first time since his sulking. No matter what he was becomeing he was on Reva's side till she dicided she was tired of the job. He stood up and watched the events unfold. He brought out his knight stick slowly and held it in his hand. The rifle felt heavy on his back again, as he contemplated having to use it. He frowned as he thought of how he most look, red, with most of the hair from the front of his head gone.

 

Raylene sat shivering in the dark, staring at the scene unfolding before her. She'd had the chills ever since returning with the boar, but even sitting almost on top of the fire hadn't warmed her up. Reva and Fox were now the center of everyone's attention. She sees Chad pull his night stick out and hold it at his side. Raylene finally stood, but stayed in the shadows. Her teeth chattered as her back touched the cold walls of the cave.

She wasn't sure what was about to happen, but every sense in her body was waiting for a war to begin.

 

"Well look who is suddenly miss bossy. If I would have grabbed someone's arm and turned them while I was leader, I'm sure you would have objected to it. Fine hypocrite, if you want to talk, then lets talk." says Fox.

 

"And you are acting exactly as I expected," Reva replied, "my point is don't tell my tribe what to do unless you've been deputized to do that. There will be times when I need someone to take over or lead something. That's fine. But what you did was disrespectful and I can't let you do it or there will be chaos. We've had enough of that.

Now settle down, I understand you're grieving, but I won't take guff from you. If you're going to live in this cave you'll get along with us and that includes me."

Reva had never once raised her voice although she was ready, balanced lightly on the balls of her feet in case Fox did something stupid. She saw Chad standing ready and hoped that nothing bad would happen.

"I am not sure how you can't understand a simple point of leadership like this after all of your vaunted 'leadership' but now is the time to learn."

Reva finally flicked a look at Chrys.

"She's all yours." Reva told Chrys, "Maybe you can help her."

 

"Mrow." Chrys blurted, taken aback by what just happened. There's that gusto I knew she had...But...Confuzzled much?

Chrys laid a hand on Fox's shoulder, let's go talk over there," she said, grasping Fox's wrist and limping toward the alcove she'd noticed earlier.

 

Raylene sunk back down the wall, chills encasing her body. She clutched at her cloak, trying to suck all of it's warmth into her body. Her chattering teeth couldn't be hidden any longer and the sound bounced off the cave walls. She slumped over sideways and her head hit the floor of the cave and the chattering stopped.