Chapter 3: The Long Journey

"You must remain focused on your journey to greatness."

- Les Brown

They had to walk on foot.

Luckily, the Clippers who had attacked were dead, so Antigone and her Firebirds did not have to flee anymore. They had been walking for hours and had made it far enough away to take a breather, cleaning themselves off at a stream. Phoenix territory had been entirely invaded and no one knew if it was ever going to be safe to return. Antigone was terrified for the citizens of her territory. She could only hope that they had found a way to escape and tried to think of a way to contact them. However, the first order of business was finding out where her and her Firebirds were to settle. Erastos suggested that they go to a refugee camp, but Antigone insisted that they turn to Butterfly territory for help.

Finally, Erastos voiced his concern.

"The Widow has her own motives in this war just like everyone else," he said, phrasing it to seem more like a war strategy and less of an attack on the Butterflies. "It would be safer to find a refugee camp so that we don't get involved in any more trouble. We don't need to draw anymore attention to ourselves and we wouldn't want to burden her with refugees. She's probably not equipped for that right now."

Once again, Erastos had a very valid point, and Antigone was so grateful that he was there for her.

"You're right," she said. "Where do you suggest that we go?"

"We could try a Totemist camp," he said. "They're usually very accepting when it comes to refugees. They take in pretty much anyone."

Totemists were a group of people who were similar to nomads. They did not belong to a barony and they lived together in small settlements that were in the outer territories of the Badlands. Totemists were religious and spiritual people who were opposed to violence. They were known to take in and heal refugees from wars, particularly wars between barons. There was a good chance that if Antigone and her Firebirds found a Totemist camp, then they would be in good hands.

The other Firebirds wholeheartedly agreed.

"But we would only be putting ourselves in more danger and endangering the Totemists," Antigone said. "You know how they feel about violence, and if the Clippers track us there, we'll all be dead meat."

The Firebirds murmured a mixture of agreements and disagreements.

"We don't have to stay there for too long," Erastos reasoned. "Just until we find a place to migrate."

Antigone considered it. "Perhaps we can ask Penrith for help," she suggested.

Penrith was the leader of the Totemists. He was an elderly widower whose daughter Lydia went on to become the Baroness of Armadillo territory. Antigone and her family had met them both once, years ago, when Phoenix territory was suffering from a raging famine. They had run into Lydia, who was a teenager at the time, while they were venturing out to pluck some wild berries. She warned them that the berries were poisonous and suggested some better food options back at the Totemist camp. The family followed her and was welcomed by Penrith, the leader of a group of very kind pacifists who gave them plenty of bounty in exchange for nothing except good will.

"Who's Penrith," one of the Firebirds, a middle-aged woman named Beatrice, asked.

"The leader of the Totemists," Antigone replied. "He and his daughter were kind to my family and I once."

"If you trust him, then I trust him," said another Firebird, an elderly man named Bilal.

The rest of the Firebirds agreed and Erastos looked to Antigone for the final word.

Antigone smiled, "To the Totemists it is."

When Antigone and her Firebirds arrived, Antigone could not help but smile at the sight before her. The Totemists were all gathered around, having dinner together. She watched as children played with their parents and people talked with ease. They were all dressed relatively the same, but had such different and distinct personalities. No person was more important than another. They were all equal in terms of importance and worth. So peaceful. So happy.

She was worried for them though. She knew that they were not equipped for a fight. She considered teaching them how to be prepared should they ever be forced into a situation where violence was required. She knew that it would be difficult to convince them of that, though, for they believed that violence was never necessary and that whatever happened was the will of the Gods. Perhaps, one day, she would get the opportunity to help them be a little more cautious.

Now, however, was not the time for that. They had lasted this long, and hopefully, if they welcomed her and her Firebirds, they would have a means of defending themselves.

The camp was relatively easy to enter. There was no security because the Totemists did not believe in using violence even as a defense mechanism, which made them easy targets.

Antigone leaned in to whisper to Erastos, "I'll go in first so as not to startle them." She was sure that a large group of people bearing armor and weapons would frighten the Totetmists. She wanted them to know that she meant no harm.

Erastos stepped aside and smiled. "After you," he said, cheekily.

She rolled her eyes in a playful manner and nudged him as she stepped inside the camp.

Penrith was the first person to approach her. She almost did not recognize him because he had grown so much older. It seemed as though he did not recognize her at all. He was looking at her as if she was a complete stranger, which was understandable, given that she had been a little girl the last time that he saw her. Still, he watched her with kind eyes, clearly prepared to help her if she was in need.

"You look a fright, my dear," he said, frowning in concern. "Come. Let us help you."

She smiled at him, touched by his kindness. "Thank you, Penrith," she said softly.

He tilted his head. "Do I know you," he asked.

She grinned. "Well, if it weren't for your daughter, my family and I would have been the victims of some very dangerous berries."

His face lit up in realization. "Antigone," he gasped.

She knew that he could tell her apart from Ismene because Ismene always had blonde hair.

Antigone grinned wider. "Hello, Penrith," she said.

"My goodness, you're all grown up," he chirped, opening his arms for a hug.

She gratefully accepted, wrapping her arms politely around his middle. She liked being hugged. Erastos hugged her every now and then, but his hugs were often brief and fleeting because he had to keep things professional most of the time. A hug from Penrith was different. He was a family friend and the closest that she had to a father right now.

She was almost disappointed when he pulled away a few seconds later.

"What brings you here, my friend," he asked. "Has something happened?"

"Unfortunately, yes," she replied. "I'm here with my Firebirds." She swallowed the sob that trapped itself in her throat. "Well, the ones who are left," she clarified.

His face contorted in concern.

"Phoenix territory was invaded by Clippers from Armadillo territory," she admitted. "It was a bloodbath. We're lucky that this many of us made it out alive."

A look of pure horror crossed Penrith's face. "Good heavens," he cried. "You are absolutely more than welcome to stay here. All of you. I insist. Please. Come."

Antigone breathed a sigh of relief. "You are a lifesaver, Mr. Penrith," she said.

"Please," he insisted. "Just call me Penrith."

She smiled and turned around, motioning for her Firebirds to come forward. They did so carefully, concealing their weapons so as not to frighten the Totemists.

Antigone and her Firebirds were welcomed with open arms. They were given adequate medical attention and enough healthy food to keep them going.

When they all sat down to eat, they made conversation. Antigone was curious about Lydia. She wondered if Lydia and Penrith still had good relations after Lydia left to marry a Baron. When Antigone brought up Lydia, Penrith grew sorrowful. He said that Lydia had been strayed from the proper path and that he prayed for her all the time.

Antigone promised to pray as well.

Penrith was impressed to discover that Antigone was the new Baron of Phoenix territory. He wondered why her parents were no longer in power and why she had taken the throne at such a young age. When he asked why and she grew extremely melancholy, he needed no further explanation. He expressed his condolences for her parents' deaths and she thanked him. Before he could ask, she mentioned that Ismene had been missing since then, but Antigone and her Firebirds had not stopped searching for Ismene since.

Penrith offered to help in any way that he could. Thankful for the offer and grateful for the hospitality of the Totemists, Antigone declared that she and her Firebirds should leave, so as not to overstay their welcome. However, after discovering that Antigone and her Firebirds had nowhere else to go, the Totemists offered them sanctuary for as long as they needed.

"Oh," Antigone said, worried about endangering the Totemists. "I dunno. We wouldn't want to burden you."

"Nonsense," Penrith said. "It would be a joy to have you."

Antigone looked at Erastos for advice.

Erastos leaned in and whispered, "We have nowhere else to go. One night wouldn't hurt."

Antigone sighed. She looked at her Firebirds, who were battered and bruised and exhausted. They couldn't handle another long journey on foot, especially when no one knew where they were going. They seemed rather enthusiastic about staying at the camp, even though none of them voiced their thoughts.

She knew that staying at the camp for now would be the best decision.

She turned her head to face Penrith and smiled. "Well," she said. "It would be a joy to stay here. You, my dear Penrith, are a saint."

Penrith was over the moon. He smiled as bright as the stars in the sky before he and the other Totemists helped Antigone and her Firebirds settle down at the camp.

That night, Antigone was restless as usual. She tossed and turned, but to no avail. Finally, she stepped outside of her tent, her bare feet hitting the cool green grass. She raised her head to look at the stars, but the clouds were covering them. The dark night sky was as cloudy as her mind, no stars to light the way or clear things up. Just endless nothingness.

She heard the grass rustle and she lowered her head, her spirits immediately lifting. She smiled to herself. "You know, you're not on security duty anymore," she said. "You don't have to wander around and check things out. How about you get some rest?" She turned around to flash a cheeky grin at Erastos, who had crept out of his tent to check on her.

He chuckled, walking to stand beside her. "Just trying to make sure that you're safe," he teased. "Trouble always seems to find you."

"Ha ha," she said flatly, her voice dripping with sarcasm, before lifting her head to gaze at the stars again.

"Hey," he said, in a serious tone of voice. "Are you okay?"

She turned her head to see him watching her, his eyes shining with adoration but tinted with concern.

"Are you okay," he had asked her. How was she to answer that question? She hadn't really had time to process her emotions or mindset ever since the attack on Phoenix territory. Now that she had the time to do so, she did not quite feel anything. She felt almost numb, like it had not hit her yet.

Just like how she reacted when her parents died.

"I don't know," she answered honestly. "I don't really feel anything. It all happened so fast that I didn't really have time to process it."

He nodded slowly, pursing his lips. "I get it," he said. "It's a lot."

She turned her head to look at the sky again. The clouds were clearing up and she could see the stars twinkling like gemstones across the serene blue blanket that was the night sky. She suddenly felt hopeful again.

"We'll be okay," she said.

We'll be okay.

-

Antigone and her Firebirds set out to leave first thing in the morning. Antigone was almost sad to depart, for she enjoyed being in the company of Penrith and the Totemists. It made her feel safe and closer to her parents. However, she knew that she and her Firebirds could not stay there forever, even if the Totemists insisted. So, when she and her Firebirds were ready to go, supplied with a generous bounty from the Totemists, everyone said their goodbyes.

"Are you sure that you can't stay just a few more days," Penrith asked after Antigone gave him a hug.

"We have to find somewhere to settle, somewhere big enough to rebuild an army," Antigone explained. "I must see if I can contact my people. Besides, the Clippers will come looking for us soon. I wouldn't want to make you and the other Totemists a target."

"But Antigone-", Penrith tried.

"Please," Antigone said. "We wouldn't want to overstay our welcome. You've helped us plenty. We greatly appreciate you." She looked ahead at the other Totemists. "All of you," she clarified.

Eventually, Penrith and the Totemists caved, bidding Antigone and her Firebirds goodbye.

"May the Gods watch over you and bless you all," Penrith said.

Antigone smiled and gave him one last hug. "Thank you, Penrith," she whispered.

He returned the hug, tenderly, smiling against her shoulder. "No need to thank us, dear," he said softly. "We are always happy to help."

People like Penrith and the Totemists were people who made Antigone still have faith in humanity.

She pulled away, smiling, and said her last goodbyes to the Totemists before she and her Firebirds began the journey on foot again.

"We have to see if we can contact a territory that's willing to take us in," Antigone said, once she and her Firebirds had made it a few miles away from the Totemist camp. "A territory with an army and proper defense. Not Armadillo territory."

"Not Butterfly territory either," Erastos said sternly, before Antigone could bring up the subject.

Antigone sighed heavily. "Erastos," she said. "Think about it. Out of all the territories, we have the best relations with the Butterflies. I understand that they have their own motives like everyone else, but they're our only hope at this point. Where else can we go?"

The other Firebirds chimed in to agree and Erastos caved.

"All right," he said. "To Butterfly territory it is."

"Can we buy a carriage or something," asked one of the Firebirds, a young woman named Willow. "I don't think that any of us can handle walking all the way to Butterfly territory on foot."

"That would be a great solution," said one of the other Firebirds, a young man named Florian. His tone was so enthusiastically sarcastic that Antigone could not help but chuckle.

"If we had any money," Florian added. Then he scoffed, "Airhead."

"Asshat," Willow retorted.

"All right, guys, let's try not to kill each other before the Clippers even get a chance to try," Antigone joked, trying to defuse the argument. "I hate to say it, but Florian is right. Everything that we had was at the castle."

"Dammit," Willow muttered.

Antigone chuckled again.

"Looks like we're footing it all the way to Butterfly territory," Erastos sighed. "This is gonna be a long few days."

And a long few days it was.

They were lucky that the Totemists had provided them with enough bounty to keep them going. By the time that they were near Butterfly territory, they almost could not walk another step.

"We made it," Antigone breathed.

"Not quite," Erastos said. "A few more miles and we'll be there. Once we see the flag."

"Always so pessimistic," Antigone said, frustrated.

He grinned, "I'm just a realist."

"The closer that we get to another territory, there's bound to be nomads popping up here and there," said one of the Firebirds, an elderly woman named Yamka. "Or even assassins."

"She's right," Erastos said. "Butterfly territory is known for their sneak attacks. They're very stealthy. You of all people should know that."

"Yes," Antigone said. "But that's a risk that we're gonna have to take."

"I have a bad feeling about this," Willow said.

"You have a bad feeling about everything," Florian retorted.

Before they could start arguing, a distinctive butterfly-shaped shuriken whizzed past Antigone's ear, barely grazing the skin on her earlobe before it landed in the tree bark of the tree behind her.

She gasped and her entire team of Firebirds prepared to fight, drawing their weapons immediately.

Antigone did not move, nor did her Firebirds, and they all listened for sounds of footsteps or weapons or bombs.

Nothing. Pure silence.

Suddenly, a girl in a Butterfly uniform leapt down, as if she had been hanging from the trees.

She smirked at them. "Surprise," she said menacingly. "We found you."