Day 14

All the bodies were placed as they prepared to light the fires. It was sunset and the sky looked grey as they gathered.

Drake stood with Tẽra.

Joe, Nikki and Zazo also stood with Tẽra.

Yair stood with Drake. They watched as the fires were lit. The sun set and the light of the fire was all that remained.

“There has been too much loss.” Tẽra said out loud to herself.

There were about eighty bodies, so many had died.

Hodge recorded everything as he did. He knew Tẽra was not Tiffany. But he couldn’t say anything.

Viola sat with Lakisha and James. Saying nothing. Rachael and Keimoni stood watching the flames consume everything.

Kerri stood alone by the door. Captain Kumi saw her and went over.

“Gosling times will get better.” He said.

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Kerri looked away from him and tried to hide her tears.

“Friends stay in our hearts.” He comforted.

Captain Kumi knew that there was not much more he could do. He stood next to her saying nothing.

Rachael was well enough to walk. But she was still not looking so good. Most of her hair was gone and she had scars. But Keimoni had been nice to her. Brought her good food and never looked at her like she was ugly or unsightly. Even when she felt like she was.

She took Keimoni’s hand. He just smiled, not looking at her or saying anything.

Fiona stood with Ranger. He had received a lot of looks about having Fiona on his arm. It was not accepted to bond outside of your tribe and if one wanted to try someone in another tribe, it was in a brothel and it was kept a shameful secret.

Ranger had healed Rider from his wounds which Viola inflicted upon him.

Rider stood with his family, Xoma his mother, Viv his sister and Jacob his little brother.

“Is this how people feel when you do your job?” Jacob asked.

“No, we only kill bad people, people no one cries for. We do not hurt people just because we can. We help the world. Bad people kill good people and make people cry like now. We stop this from happening.” Xoma told Jacob.

“So, are you going to kill the people who killed these people?” Jacob asked.

“It has already been done.” Xoma replied.

Rider wanted to talk with Viola before the family moved out. They were going home. Griffith was dead and the reward, was no long available. Xoma’s children were no longer in danger. Having already sold the harvest in Point there was no reason for them not to return home.

Xoma, Viv and Jacob really liked Viola. They found her funny and entertaining as well as good natured. They had hoped that Viola would bond with Rider and their family would grow. But Rider and Viola just didn’t play along.

General Nathan watched from the window in the castle. He was personally guarding the Skiopia royalty.

Shane West watched from the recovery room. It was worse coming to the castle. Life was tough before but while they were with the Skiopia prince at the palace it was better for them. Now Pragya was dead, Jessica was missing and probably dead and all he gained from the move to the castle was heartache. He had seen more death in the past two weeks that he had in all the years before. Canada was a great place to live. People didn’t kill each other in the streets.

“Today the peace talks were meant to continue. But today we have lost much again.” Tẽra said.

Drake wanted to say something nice. But he didn’t know what to say. How was there a nice thing to say after everything that had happened?