Mark Of The Raven

Chapter Nine: The Plan and The Drive

The drive was predominantly quiet. I suppose I could have spoken up at any point but I chose not too. Instead I just sat in the back seat, Much like Astrid, Who didn't seem to have any commentary or opinions about me confronting Emery.

Isaac occasionally made a small joke or two to try to break the silence but Noone really said anything. It was a long drive. A long peaceful drive where for once, we weren't being attacked. After several hours, I assumed we had finally made it over the state line and were that much closer to the resistance. I tried to not think about what was awaiting us there though. They could be hostile, they could be friendly, they could be overan with the Cult by now. But we had to at least try. This was our last hope. Even with these powers, I couldn't do things on my own. Issac and Emery kept me alive this long, helping me and making sure I had food and I don't feel I had done even a small portion of payback for their help. They wouldn't ask for it anyway, but I didn't like owing debts. Even debts that I put on myself.

" The last I had heard, the resistance had held up in a fort. Well, it use to be a fort before they made additions and turned into a thriving city " Emery finally spoke. " Thriving is something I find hard to believe in these days, but everything I've heard points to it being true. So when we get there, we have to do all we can to learn what they know. We need to know their plans before we make any moves" She added which perked Issacs attention finally.

" I had heard that some were gathering ships so they could all leave whist others were making plans to fight back. If they are that divided, then, I think they are probably not to far ahead of where we are on plans of action".

I sighed and chimed in " Yeah. But they have man power. Even if some of them do leave, the ones that stay would be a great benefit. They have to know there is no way to just avoid the cult forever by now. It will eventually catch up to them. So I would assume the ones making a stand know full well that there is a huge chance that many of them won't make it out of this alive"

" And, since we are coming from the east, they are more than likely going to want all the information we have on the cult so they can make the best plan. The problem is, we only know a small portion of how much control they have In the east. And, this is excluding the fact that we are on the run from them. So we are basically leading the cult to them" I added and Astrid glanced over at me almost shocked that I had the brain capacity to figure that out.

" However, I'm hoping we can convince them to push east. If we all fight, and we take inch by inch back from the cult, eventually they will be cornered. But right now it's battle of perseverance. And we have to keep them pushing no matter what the cost is" This made Emery turn to me, her eyes blazing with intensity. " And if they don't help, we will push them back ourselves" She c****d a half smile as she griped the seat tightly with her hands.

" Yeah..." I answered, not being quite sure what to say to her. There was no convincing her when she looked like that.

" That would be a foolish plan" Astrid finally spoke which made Emery turn her attention to him. " Oh yeah? I've seen what you can do, and you have no idea what we are capable of. We can do it if we want to " Emery growled proudly to which Astrid rolled his eyes. " If you try to push them back by yourself, you will die. It does not matter how good you are at fighting. Their numbers will catch up with you and you will die. It would be better to seek aid from this resistance you speak of. Though, I have a feeling they won't be of much help either" this caught all of us off guard. " Why do you say that? " I asked, turning in my seat to face Astrid.

" Because, they are fighting with forces they have no understanding of. The people using the vision are chaotic and do not care for human life. They won't hesitate to destroy rather than to confront. And they have the power to make that happen. Even I could fight them off, but eventually, their numbers will overwhelm me. Without a proper plan, there is nothing that will stop the cult completely. Hinder it, maybe, but stopping it, no. " this gave us a lot to think about.

We had obviously all seen how skilled Astrid is in combat. If he doesn't feel as though he could take on the Cult's numbers, It is in perhaps we have more to worry about than we originally realized. But something has to be done. Plan or no plan something has to be done.. Action has to be taken.

" Well I'm not going to let them win " Emery scoffed as she sat back down in her seat. " If I have to die fighting limbs and I will.. But I will not let them cause any more destruction. Too much has been lost.." She added.

" You feel as though you have something to prove. You feel as though by being strong, that you are unstoppable. That somehow your strength will inspire others to fight alongside of you and make a true difference.. And whilst that is true for some, many will not join you. Because the fight and drives that you have was in you, whilst noble, is also foolish" Astrid points out which practically makes Emerys blood begin to boil.

" Will not all of us have magical powers or some stupid vision to help us. Not all of us have some supernatural power that allows us to take out thirty people like they're nothing. And whilst having that would be nice, it's not needed for my bravery. It's not needed for me to overcome the odds" Emery snapped at Astrid who leaned forward a little in his seat, closer to Emery's seat. " If that were true, then why do you have Val with you? Is she not a weapon you plan to use? " he asks, which made me finally step in. " I am with them because we all want the same thing. We all want to stop the cult and are willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish that" I knew I shouldn't have been so cross with Astrid but he needed to understand that the bond that we three share was deeper than just the strife and pain that we have endured.

" Yes. That much is clear.." Astrid leans back in his chair and begins peering out the window.

" For f***s sake" I muttered under my breath as I also looked out my window, hoping for an escape from the awkwardness of this ride.