Thud.

Thepa landed hard on her back, assaulted by the light which penetrated her irises. She had not expected the sudden appearance of the sun's rays after spending so much time in the dark temple. As a result, it had left her temporarily blinded. She turned her head from the sun to get a clear view of her surroundings and inhaled the musky earth with a slight hint of petrichor. Her face rubbed up against the shard covered ground stabbing her cheeks in the process.

Reflexively, she sat up. She could feel every ache and pain in her bones adjusting to the movements of her joints. The massive beating her body had just taken only moments before made her stiff. She flexed her hand, still clinging to the bow she had expertly wielded in combat, as the memory of what she had just done assaulted her brain. She had shot Rory.

Carefully, she opened her eyes as they adjusted to the light. She took in her surroundings and found herself to be in an oddly familiar clearing. The jungle seemed to have opened up in one small space, and for some reason she had been laying in the middle of it. She made it to her hooves feeling the crunch beneath her them as clear shards of glass were crushed under her weight. Upon closer inspection, she found the glass were tiny crystal shards. She was at the ionic crystal.

I did it again, she thought, as the memory of the first time she lost Rory came back to her. At least there was no Zelphina to punish her for her iniquity now. Just her, all alone, in the middle of the Esha jungle.

"Wilran?" she yelled as her voice echoed around and back to her. Silence.

"Zuna?"

Still no response.

"Tash? Julius? Yenry?"

The jungle refused to answer.

She was truly alone. All the promises she had made, the lifetime of friendship, and when it had all come down to it, she had failed to stand by and protect her friend. She looked down at the bow and again saw the well familiar words engraved on its frame:

To my one True Sister, may you always find your mark.

She had found her mark alright: the mark of a traitor. She wasn't worthy of the title friend, let alone sister.

Still, Thepa slung the bow. If it could no longer be her pride, it would be her shame. She knew when people saw her with it, they would know what she had done to a friend. She was too much of a coward to disappear, but even if she had wanted to, there was nowhere for her to hide.

Now, everyone will know what a failure I am.

She took one last look in the direction of a temple she couldn't see, towards a friend she no longer had, and began her walk of shame back home.

She hoped fate would smile on her. She hoped a wild animal would find its way to her and treat her as its next feast. It wasn't unheard of. Occasionally, some of the less experienced Matrons would be mauled by a hungry tiger or irrepressible boar. It was the reason Matrons were told not to go into the jungle by themselves and here she was a feast ready for the taking. But it seemed that fate had other plans for her. From the silence of the jungle, she would not be so fortunate. The only thing that would be joining her on the somber journey would be the memories of what had happened and what she had done.

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

Rory and Claudia. From the beginning, the four of them had been friends, but now both were gone leaving only her and Einkidi who was already joined to Draco and a soon to be newborn. In reality, she was truly alone.

Sadness plagued her, refusing her allow her to think clearly. She knew that there were questions she should have been asking herself.

What happened to Rory, and who was Adreanna? How did Claudia find them? How did they escape, and where was Elite Team One now?

There was time to consider the answers to these in the future. Instead, right now all she could think about was shooting Rory, and letting Rory killing Claudia.

But it wasn't Rory that killed Claudia, Thepa told herself. It's my fault Claudia's dead. I'm to blame. Not Wilran, not Zuna, not, Tash, not Yenry, not Julius, I did. Me, me, me, me, me, me! When she couldn't take it anymore, fell to her knees, releasing a soul shattering scream of anguish, but she wasn't done. Sobs welled up from deep inside her heaving her to the ground. She curled up into the fetal position, willing death upon her body and soul. She was defeated in more ways than one.

Just let me die please. Rory, Claudia; forgive me. Let me come to you and beg for clemency.

Minutes passed, but still she lay there. The sun had started to set, the temperature had started to cool, but she still did not move. It wasn't until hours later when she saw the moon's first light reflect off her pendant, that she finally stirred from her position. She clasped the pendent as tight as she could, bits of metal cutting into the palm of her hand, but she didn't care. Pain was the only thing she would allow herself to feel.

Still clutching the pendent, Thepa reached into her back pocket and pulled out a well-worn letter. It was the same letter she received from Rory that day in the rocky field. As she once more read its words, she silently prayed to her friend for comfort for her self-tortured soul.

My Darling Sister Thepa,

I know if you're reading this I'm gone. If things had not gone the way the prophetess told me they would go, I would have stopped you from reading the letter, but seeing as you are, the worst has happened.

First and foremost, I owe you an apology. I have been downright horrible to you these past few months and every step of the way killed me. I wanted to spend my last few moments on Sainta with you, but Gamma was right. I was a coward. If I tried to be with you, I would never let go. I could tell you that it was necessary and that you must not stop me, and knowing you, you would have tried, but that does not excuse my actions and for that, I'm sorry. It's not fair to ask you for what I don't deserve. You would be just to condemn me, but selfishly and in finality I ask one more favor for you. Grant me clemency, for I can not bear a future with Her without your love.

I would like you to give the second letter to Gamma. Find her and tell her I'm sorry. For as awful as I was to you, I was even worse to her. I pray that she may one day find the strength to understand that what happened was for the betterment of Sainta. Still, my action was the thorn I had to bear. Many times, I asked the Goddess to take that away from me, because Gamma has been nothing but the embodiment of love and devotion; to Chandeidra and to me. She would make a wonderful High Priestess and the divine has indicated that if Gamma wants it (after all, we have a right to choose), she may have my place. By standing up to me, she proved what it means to have heart over duty.

Finally, I don't want you to suffer because of me. Chandeidra tells me your time is not up and the fate of Sainta may depend on you. I don't know when, but all answers will be revealed in due time. Move on my beloved sister and don't grieve for me. For now, I am free of this mortal coil and have gone to be with the Goddess. It is the greatest gift one can receive, the second being with you. I hope that someday, you will be able to join me too, as we both can be protected in her loving arms free from all iniquity. Until that day comes, take this pendent as a token of our friendship and sisterhood. May it offer you the protection I can no longer give when you most need it.

Give the others my love and watch over them. Some of them are good at hiding it, but they will need your strength and bow for what is to come.

Forever your sister and best friend,

Rory

The letter gave Thepa something she desperately needed: Hope. In that moment, she wasn't sure what the future held, but at least for now things didn't seem bleak. As long as there was a chance, albeit a small one, she would push forward. If she was lucky, she might even find clemency along the way.

Wordlessly, Thepa got back on her hooves and continued her journey home.