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@dakota @esmeralda-gramilton @urwen-starial @mayacat @naiya-dyani @kayla-skywriter

Okay this is going to be a long post. I’m gonna post some of the parts Urwen and I have written together over the past who knows how long and haven’t posted yet.

First Cade and Kirat

—

Kirat sank to his knees, one hand still on the wall for support. “Please, sir, trust us to handle this.”

Cade looked so torn, that it made Kirat want to cry. Why did it have to be this way? Why was this the only way they could guarantee the Sparrow’s survival?

Why couldn’t the Outopian government try and see eye to eye with them?

Finally, Cade nodded. “I’ll go.”

Kirat gave him a tired smile. “Good luck, sir.” as Cade’s footsteps retreated down the hall, Kirat closed his eyes.

“I hope this was the right thing to do.”

—

Kirat smiled at Cade and Cade saw the weariness in his face as he said, “Good luck, sir.”

Cade smiled back and rose to his feet. He walked away. Then stopping, turned back and waved, then made the symbol of the sparrow and hurried off into the darkness. He walked along through the tunnels, getting away from Kirat as fast as he could before he changed his mind. With every step, the feeling of doubt in his decision grew. A feeling of guilt tugged harder and harder on his aching heart. And the tears welled up in his eyes.

What if they all get killed while I’m hiding? The nagging question tore his heart. That would be betraying his friends. Running off to hide while they were slaughtered.

He reached the manhole that led up into the street. But somehow, as he stood staring up at the underside of the cover, he didn’t feel strong enough to pull himself up this time. His head spun with a sudden attack of dizziness and he leaned against the wall. The tears were trying harder than ever to push into his eyes. Pain engulfed his heart. Why? Why did things even have to be this way? Why did the city have to be like this? Why did people have to hate and kill? Why couldn’t everyone understand? The sparrows  were just trying to help. Just trying to make the city better. The government had cast them away in it’s suspicion, and now they had to work alone, trusting no one for fear they would be caught and thrown into prison.

And now, in their time of greatest need. The time when they needed the most needed a strong leader to guide them, here he was, running off to hide and too discouraged and weak to even pull himself up through a manhole. What kind of a leader was he? They should have chosen someone else!

He crumpled to his knees on the floor again and let his face drop into one hand. The other hand he pressed over his heart. The pain there was almost unbearable. The guilt was so deep he could hardly breathe. He tried to tell himself to pray, to not give up, to try again, but everything inside of him was hurting too deeply. He breathed in harsh, hollow gasps as he tried to hold back the tears. But his breaking point had come, he couldn’t hold it all inside anymore. He drew his knees up to his chest and lowered his head. For a moment, the outward shell of the unmovable leader was gone. Silent sobs shook him and tears of deep heartache flowed down his cheeks.

—

Kirat leaned against the wall, exhausted. He wanted nothing more than to fall asleep, but he couldn’t. He had to keep going. For Outopia, for Cade and for . . . Chanmi.

He sank to his knees, the side of his face pressed up against the cool gray wall.

Three weeks ago, Kirat had found a little girl on the streets.

She had been crying, her tangled blond curls framing two tear-filled blue eyes. Her tiny hands clasped close to her heart.

Her clothes were torn and dirty and her face was streaked with ashes and tears, but her dazzling eyes remained glowing brightly.

Chanmi had lost her parents to a fire prior. Her mother forcing her into the nearby alleyway before going back to get her brother. The house had erupted in flames while a terrified Chanmi watched.

She had sat in the alleyway for three days waiting for her mother to come get her, for some sign that someone in her family survived, but nothing ever came.

When Kirat had found her, there was something sweet about her, and they immediately bonded.

He had to keep going, for Chanmi.

But as he sat there, he suddenly began to feel drowsy, and a gentle calming sleep enveloped him.