The Argument
Amel was sitting down, going over plans in his head, trying to find the best course of action for victory. Now that Illon was out of the way, everything should and was going smoothly according to his plans. It’d been around a week since Illon was captured, and quite honestly? Amel couldn’t be more happy about it. He knew, don’t think he didn’t, how highly Illon thought of everyone. There was no way any information would be taken from them. Even better, Amel doubted the idiot had any information that they could share.
--
Isabella was pacing while Ambrose watched silently, his expression worried. Illon had been taken, and if they didn't do something soon, he'd probably end up dead. Not only that, but he was most likely being tortured right now. Illon should be their top priority, they could figure out how to deal with the rest of the Vipers later, right now they just need to focus on saving them. The only problem was, Amel didn't seem to actually care very much, or even at all that Illon was gone, which made Isabella angrier.
What kind of leader didn't care if a teammate was taken?
--
When Amel decided that he had a good enough plan to share with the others, he stepped out of his tent only to see Isabella pacing outside it and Ambrose standing nearby. “Where is everyone? Ambrose, go get them. I have the plan ready, if we’re lucky then we’ll be able to attack the headquarters of Vipers tomorrow and completely take them out. With only one casualty the whole time, I’d count this as a win.”
--
Isabella whipped around and marched right up to Amel, no longer able to contain her anger. "What the hell, Amel?!" She shouted, causing Ambrose to flinch.
"Isabella-"
"No, I've had enough of this! We can't leave Illon behind, we can't! They're a part of this team, whether you like it or not, and I'm not just going to leave them to die!" Ambrose clenched his jaw, not happy about the yelling, and slipped away to gather the others. He knew there was no point, once Isabella got like this, there wasn't a good way to stop her. "You're stupider than I thought if you think leaving someone to die is a win!”
--
Amel’s eyes narrowed but other than that, he didn’t react. “Look, Isa, it’s their own fault they got captured. They threw themselves in the line of fire, so they finally got shot. It’s what happens to insubordinate people. We aren’t going after them, if they’re worth the effort then they’ll escape on their own. Until then? Shut up and take orders, they escape then they escape. If they don’t? Oh well, so sad. Most wars end up with millions dead, so one compared to all is a pretty good deal to me. I’d rather have one die than five, let them take the fall for their actions.”
Salen looked out from her tent, stepping out and watching as Ambrose went off to get the rest of them. She hated to see the two fighting, but this was obviously needed; there'd been too much tension between all of them since Illon was taken. She slipped back into her tent slowly.
--
"Forgive me if I'm not willing to take orders from a liar, it just doesn't suit me too well. I'm not willing to leave someone I care about behind! And you know what? If I die saving them, then so be it! At least I'm dying doing something good rather than knowing I gave up on someone that I could have saved!"
Esta stepped quietly from her tent when the shouting started, she had dark circles under her eyes and her face, which was usually lit up with a smile, looked strained and exhausted. She'd been worried sick since Illon was taken, and it was rather obvious that she'd been crying. She hated losing people, and Illon was her best friend.
Ambrose quietly walked over to Agnar's tent, finding it empty. When he looked around, however, he found that the youngest member of the group had his bow and quiver slung over his shoulder and a determined look on his face as he marched over to stand just behind Isabella. Wonderful, that would certainly end well. Sighing, Ambrose walked over to Eni's tent and called his name softly. "U-Um, Eni? There's something going on. Amel wants you."
--
Amel looked at Isabella and Agnar, eyes narrowing. “Look, I understand how you feel. Truly, I do. But we can’t risk the mission just for one person. If we lose? The whole world is going to fall, and I’m not going to risk everything for one person that never even contributed to anything more than using up supplies.”
Eni stepped out, thanking Ambrose quietly before looking over at all of the commotion. “What’s happening? Are we talking about Illon? It’s been a week, they’re probably already dead. No one survives torture for that long, not even Illon.”
--
"Illon did much more than that!" Agnar snapped before Isabella even had time to retort. "We can't just leave them, it's not fair!'
Isabella's head whipped around when Eni spoke, eyes turning dark, besides her, Agnar's eyes widened and a look of pain and betrayal flashed across his face. Esta gasped quietly and covered her mouth, tears rising in her eyes.
"Don't say that, Eni, please don't!"
"Of course he's alive!" Isabella added, taking a few steps to wrap an arm around Esta's shoulder. "You can't be serious, Eni."
Agnar clenched his jaw and looked away from his father figure, unable to speak for the time being. Meanwhile, Karma approached from where they'd silently been watching in the shadows and shrugged. "I really don't see the problem, Eni's right. Illon's gone. Deal with it and move on."
"Shut up. SHUT UP!" Agnar shouted, losing it, while Esta broke down and started crying and Isabella held her tightly.
"We're not giving up on, Illon. I don't care what you three say. I'm saving them. With or without you.”
--
Amel rolled his eyes, “You three can’t be serious. They’re dead. Honestly? I’m surprised they didn’t kick the bucket sooner. So either you three can suck it up, or Ambrose can escort you three back to the city. Because I don’t know about Eni, or Karma, or Ambrose. But I can do all of this by myself. I don’t need any of you to do this job, but I’m not letting more people die that don’t need to. Illon’s gone, accept it already.”
Eni nodded, “It’s just impossible that anyone would live through a week of torture at the hands of people like Vipers. Much less likely for Illon to do so.” They sighed and looked at Agnar, face softening. “Come on Agni, you know I cared about them. But you have to accept that no one lives through torture without being trained to do so. Illon didn’t have that training.”
--
Esta was sobbing too hard to respond at this point and Isabella tightened her grip on her friend's shoulders, glaring at Amel. Ambrose flinched slightly when Amel suggested that he escort his friends back to the city. He was on Isabella's side, honestly, he didn't like the idea of leaving Illon. It didn't sit right with him, but he didn't want to jump into this argument either, it scared him to see this group arguing like this.
"They aren't dead. Nothing you say can make me leave them." Isabella hissed, eyes dark with anger.
Agnar looked away from Eni, trying to hide the tears that were rising in his eyes. "I don't believe you. I'm sorry, Eni, but I can't. I can't just give up. Not even for you."
Karma scoffed. "How dull are you guys? Just forget them and let's get this over with."
--
Eni went over to Agnar, putting a hand on his shoulder. “I know you haven’t been in as many situations like this as I have. But I’ve dealt with something similar before. Someone trained to survive an interrogation and torture had been captured during my first mission. A week after they were captured, if they didn’t escape, then we were supposed to go after them. They were dead when we found them. Illon’s been gone the same amount of time but they didn’t have training. They’re long gone at this point, and we’re just risking ourselves by going after them.”
Amel stared at Isabella. “How about you listen to your superior? You want to challenge my authority then we can go at it and see who ends up winning. I can assure you that your little flames won’t be able to beat me. But I won’t stand for your insubordination, Finley.”
--
Agnar shook his head, still refusing to make eye contact with his mentor. "Maybe I'm young, Eni, maybe I'm stupid, but I can't leave Illon behind. I don't care if they're dead, because what if they aren't? I could never forgive myself for not trying, even if it's hopeless. If we get there and they are dead, then at least I know I couldn't save them, but if I don't try, if I don't know, for a fact, that they're dead, then there's always a chance that I could have saved Illon and chose not to." The ranger took a deep breath and looked up at Eni, eyes teary. "I'm sorry, Eni, I don't want to disobey you, but I have to do this. If I don't I won't ever be able to forgive myself again."
Ambrose walked over quietly and pulled Esta into his arms, nodding quietly in response to the grateful look that Isabella shot him. He didn't want to get too involved, but he didn't want to leave his friend like this either. Besides, he really did want Illon back. "I-I don't think Illon's dead." He said quietly, voice shaking. He refused to look at Amel or Karma, scared they might yell at him.
"Thank you, Ambrose." Isabella said, giving him a comforting smile. "You aren't my superior, Amel. You never were. I do what I do because I think it's right, and you know what? I think you're a selfish bitch. You and Karma both. You just want to win. That's all. You want power and glory, you don't care, you never cared. You just do what you do for yourselves. Selfish." Karma curled their lip but said nothing, waiting for Amel to respond instead.
--
Eni looked at Agnar, eyes soft and sympathetic. “I understand that, Agni. But the chances of us being able to even get to them aren’t high either. You have to think about the probabilities. It’s most probable that Illon is dead, and it’s most probable that if we go to rescue them that we’ll die too. Illon wouldn’t want us to do that, right? You know them, they wouldn’t.”
Amel clenched his fists and glared at Isabella. “Look, I am doing what needs to be done for the majority to survive. Protecting everyone would be nice, sure. But it's impossible. We aren’t going after them. And if you have a problem with that? Either you suck it up and follow me, or you can go up against me in combat and we can see who wins there. How’s that?”
--
Agnar clenched his jaw and stepped back. That kind, soft expression hurt more than anything. How could someone be so calm while they were talking about leaving someone to die? Without giving them a chance?! "I know, I know that Eni. Please... I-I know, but I can't leave them. I can't." He looked away, hating how his voice shook and tears gleamed in his eyes. He hated every second of this. "I can't leave them. I'm sorry. Please understand, Eni, I don't want-" He swallowed hard as tears threatened to spill. "I don't want to disappoint you, I don't want to leave you. Never. But, I can't just leave Illon without knowing for sure. I'm sorry. I'm really sorry."
"Fine then! I have more than half the group on my side, Amel. I'm willing to fight for Illon, and I'm willing to fight for them. Unlike you, I'm not a coward." Isabella clenched her fists, summoning fire. Ambrose gasped and stepped back, dragging Esta with him. Karma tensed, unsure of what to do.
This was not good for anyone.
--
Amel stared Isabella down, his signature look of sizing someone up on his face. And then electricity crackled at his fingers, the voltage high enough to knock someone out on the first hit. For days. As if he’d step down now.
Salen stepped out as she heard the sounds of an actual fight starting up, looking between Isabella and Amel. She walked between the two and threw out her own hands, stopping them when they were in the position to be shaked. “Stop fighting. Now. How about this? We try to find them first, see if they’re alive. If Amel is right then we no longer argue with him. Ever. If Isabella is right then we get Illon out of there.”
Amel looked at Salen’s outstretched hand to make a binding swear and then glared back at Isabella, waiting to see if she was going to step down first.
--
Isabella quickly got into her fighting stance, glaring at Amel, and then froze when Salen stepped between them, she didn't want to accidentally hurt her. Hearing Salen's suggestion, Isabella hesitated, locking eyes with Amel across from her. Neither wanted to be the first to step down, but if there was a compromise...
"Isabella, please!" Bella broke eye contact with Amel to look over at Esta, who had pulled away from Ambrose and was watching her with tears still streaming down her cheeks, voice thick with pain. "Try this, I know you don't like losing, but if there's any way this can work-" She shook her head and Isabella sighed. She knew there was no way she could deny Esta when she looked like this, so broken, tired, and sad. "Please?"
Bella stepped down, extinguishing her flames. "Fine. I'm willing to give this a try, Salen."
Ambrose let out a quiet sigh of relief and closed his eyes for a moment, grateful a full-on fight hadn't broken out. Karma stood to the side, crossing their arms and eyeing Salen with annoyance. Truthfully, they weren't sure how to feel.
--
Salen sighed as Isabella stepped down, and Eni looked at the three. Amel slowly stepped down as well and then went to turn around.
“No, you don’t get to walk off yet. You both need to shake my hand first. To make sure neither of you break this. Agree to the terms I’ve already set up and shake my hands. Alright?”
Amel stopped and looked back at them. He tsked and then walked back over, taking one of Salen’s hands. “Fine, whatever. This just means that once you all know that I’m right, I don’t want to hear any complaining.”
--
Isabella nodded and took Salen's hand without hesitation. She was still very upset with Amel, but this was a solution that she could approve of.
Esta ran over once both Amel and Isabella had stepped back and threw her arms around Salen's neck. "Thank you." She breathed. "Thank you so much."
Karma scoffed and turned away, walking off. Ambrose took a deep breath in and let it out slowly, a grateful smile touching his lips. At least for now, the fight was over.
Agnar dipped his head respectfully to Salen, his sign of thanks, and then turned and walked silently to his tent, determined not to cry until he was out of everyone's sight, especially Eni's.
--
Amel scoffed as the people who’d been trying to convince him to save Illon celebrated. Oh well, they wanted to get Illon back? If they were somehow alive then he’d be making sure personally that they pull their weight.
Salen blushed at the thanks and dipped her head self-consciously. Amel had actually done that, she honestly hadn’t expected him to shake her hand. She supposed that that was how confident he was though.
Eni watched as Agnar walked off, and then sighed. Their wings came out and in seconds they were in the sky, deciding to take a breather for a bit. They doubted Illon was alive, but the compromise was fine with them.