No place like Home (Bailey/Leon)

[Bailey Oleander]

It was the first time he'd shown any anger towards her, anything beyond the irritation and frustration they brought to the training field. The times he told her she was wrong, lazy, spoiled. Just like now. She felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment and anger as she strode forward and slightly in front of him, challenge in her eyes.

"It should matter what you think!" It didn't matter what he thought of her; death was not the answer. "You call me lazy? Spoiled? Don't take the easy way out. If you can't stand by them like you wanted, then one final service can only do so much. Find another way to protect them!"

[Blake Oleander]

"There isn't another way. These are the people mine are at war with. We fight over water and food. If I strike and destroy them, then my people can live without the fear of not having water tomorrow, or starving to death."

[Bailey Oleander]

"Until the next threat comes. Until another territory tries to take the same well, the same food. You'll be gone, and that sacrifice could end up not being enough. There may be honor in what you do, but you only prolong the fight before stepping aside. Why not find a way to bring change or more resources?"

[Blake Oleander]

"I can't bring more resources. I cannot create water out of thin air. And I can not suddenly make game more plentiful. I'm a soldier. I kill. That's what I do."

[Bailey Oleander]

"Maybe not, but maybe my hometown could." She wasn't sure if she was digging her hole deeper or not, but she had to try. The welling sense of dread was growing stronger with each step they took towards the other territory, and every option she offered shut down.

"We may not be able to make game more plentiful, but there has to be something to help with it. We could look into tech that could detect ground water, maybe find a way to provide more wells. You could keep some extra livestock with it, too."

[Blake Oleander]

"Then you go home and discuss trade with them. I will go destroy our enemies."

[Bailey Oleander]

That was the exact opposite of what she wanted, though Bailey felt she should have expected it in hindsight.

With no other course of action she could think of, she would follow after Blake, trying to think of some other way of turning this around.

[Blake Oleander]

When she didn't change course to head home and talk trade he debating on if he should mock her for it. Clearly it was a ploy to divert him from his path. But he thought better of it. She was trying, he knew that. But it was a wasted effort. She didn't understand. He was already dead, his home didn't want him. His people feared and reviled him. Everything he once was now gone. His past had forsaken him and taken his future.

She could not fathom the pain that tore his heart asunder. And he could not bring himself to show it. He was a weapon, and it was his to strike and endure. Nothing more.

"I warn you. If you try to stop me, I will kill you. Cabal's barriers are not active here."

[Bailey Oleander]

What else could she do? Bailey felt the bitter tinge of desperation in her mouth, the sense of despair as she watched the person she'd spent the most time with and who showed he had cared, even without saying it, continue his path towards death and destruction. Her heart hurt, knowing what she had seen and heard at his home, but she knew her own limits. She knew she was weak. If he drew his blade against her, he would kill her. But what about the people of the next territory, or the one after that? They would be just as defenseless. Their blood would be on her hands.

She had made a vow to stop the darkness however she could, but dying would not accomplish that. Her shoulders slumped, knowing that, as things were now - as she was now - there was nothing she could do for him. Not for the people he would destroy. Not here. Not now. She was the only one who knew.

As he had said, a few lives for those of many. Those to protect the ones you cared about at home. What destruction would he wreak, now unchecked? Not that she did much for that, either. How long until the heartbreak tore him apart? She was leaving him to that. No home, no friends, and no turning back. She knew he wouldn't come back to Cabal. He hated it, and everyone there, even her. She was still surprised she was allowed to come this far with him. She couldn't help him, couldn't convince him to turn back.

She was too weak to help anyone. She was leaving them to die.

"I'm sorry," she said quietly. "I can't do this. I can't watch you destroy people and yourself." She swallowed against the knot in her throat. "Goodbye, Blake."

[Blake Oleander]

His finger flicked the blade at his hip. Loosening it in his sheath as she bid him goodbye. That was it then. His path was clear, there was no turning back now. His last chance to be something else was saying goodbye to him. And he would be well and truly alone... Well, almost alone. He could feel the beast within spreading its jaws in a large toothy smile. This was what it wanted. This is how it had to be.

Cabal was not an option. He couldn't imagine himself settling down and living a peaceful life either. He couldn't see himself with a bunch of little blake's running around his land while he tended to the animals or crops. That life was no longer an option. Going home was his last desperate attempt to cling to his humanity. To anchor himself to what he loved. But the love was unrequited.

Part of him was relieved that he would not need to strike her down. She had been the best thing in that whole Academy. He hoped she took his advice and returned home. It was likely their next meeting would not be pleasant.

"Intent matters Bailey. Intent to Subdue will overpower intent to flee. Intent to Kill will overpower intent to Subdue. Know yourself, then know your enemy. And never take your eyes off your attacker. Forget that, and you will die..."

He would let out a long deep breath and resume his walk toward territory 64 to meet his destiny.

"May you be worthy of your hopes and dreams. May your people prosper."

His way of saying goodbye, with a final reminder for her life. Perhaps it would save her one day.

[Bailey Oleander]

She watched him move forward without her, his eyes on the distance, the target of his wrath and heartbreak. His parting words stayed with her, wrapping around her with the reminder of the past lessons she had taken from him in the past. Her hands clutched at her sides, arms wrapping around her torso as her fingers gripped the fabric of her coat.

"Thank you, Blake. I'll remember." Her intent to subdue was dominated by his intent to kill. She coudln't match that. But then, if he could all but take on a Dragon, who could.

Part of her wanted to go after him, but what? What else could she do?

She was turning her back on her partner. She was going to lose him, if she hadn't already.  She was weak, and she didn't need her tree companion to tell her that.

"I'm sorry."

It was going to be a three day walk back to Cabal. Still sore from the way she'd been mopped with the floor by David, it didn't compare to the ache in her chest. Knowing she had failed. Accepting it.

One step forward.

She would grow stronger.

One more step. Swallow the hurt. The pride.

She had to.

Keep going, keep going, keep going.

[Leon]

Blake would see black smoke in the distance! Isn't that Territory sixty four?

[Blake Oleander]

He runs to try and get there quicker!

[Leon]

Blake would come across the town on fire! Bodies lay strewn about arrows, gashes in the earth and buildings. Warriors lay in puddles of defeat. Amongst the piles of rubble and bodies stood this man. His blade drenched in blood, he stood staring as the last of whatever meager resistance sixty four could muster against whatever assault this was. At the base of the pile were two more guys. Having finished off the last of every man, woman, and child of territory 64, standing in victory over the town burning to ash.

Blake would recognize not only them, but their blades, even covered in blood they were made in 63, and these were other warriors from sixty three. When he left they were nobodies, now they were capable of bringing the entire territory of sixty four, the long time rivals and enemies of sixty three down, by themselves.

[Blake Oleander]

He had a mixture of emotion at the sight. Pride at seeing fellow warriors having grown to become so formidable. But anguish, they had unwittingly taken his path from him. His final gesture to his people of destroying their enemy was now a feat accomplished by someone else, and he had nothing left to prove his worth by. He just stood there, dumbfounded, staring at them and the burning village in shock.

For the first time in his life, Blake was at a loss as to what he was supposed to do.