Faethe strolled up to the gates and stopped just short of the exit, her eyes darting between each of the men standing in her way.  Already, she could see the twisted amusement glinting within the eyes of the guards as two of them sauntered up to her like they owned the place. Their chests puffed out as if they were attempting to make themselves bigger than what they already were, military grade assault rifles held in their hands used as an intimidation factor, hoping that it would work on her. It was something that Faethe has dealt with quite frequently, and she was getting extremely tired of them trying to intimidate her at every turn. 

"I don't know if we should, especially as often as you've been going out as of late." 

A brawny man with more muscle mass than absolutely necessary approached her with a smaller man, only the shorter of the two had just about as much body mass as his buddy did, making him look like a bulked up monkey. 

"Yeah, you should really think about taking a break. Relax for the day and enjoy yourself." 

"Let me guess, you two want me to spend the entire day relaxing with you? Sorry boys, it ain't going to happen." 

Faethe reached up and patted both males on the shoulder, adding the half-assed apology that she had already given them. She had no plans on keeping these two company when she could be outside the wall where she could resign herself to anything that came her way and find the treasures that managed to hide themselves within the world. 

As she attempted to push herself passed the two men in her way so she could leave and get outside the gates, her scavenging trip was quickly interrupted again and prolonged against her will. She was beginning to realize it wasn't going to be that easy to get out, not when her words had come to insult two men standing in her way like a hulking wall of muscles. 

"Whoa, wait a moment. Where do you get off talking to us like that?" 

The bigger of the two men snagged her wrist as if he had all the authority in the world, yanking Faethe back into her original spot and to a direct halt. It was so hard, she thought the guy was going to rip her arm out of the socket and she'd get stuck at home doing nothing while healing. 

After stumbling back and regaining her footing, Faethe turned her ice blue gaze onto the tightening gasp upon her wrist. She held back from wincing, not wanting to give these men any pleasure in showing any form of weakness in front of them. She knew the moment she did so, the two burley soldiers would take advantage of that show of weakness and she refused to let that happen to her. . . ever.

"I think you owe us since we risk our lives protecting this wall. If it wasn't for us, those things out there could be in here wreaking havoc on everyone inside. If not that, you could be out there living with those things without the safety we offer everyone." 

"Well, while you're here protecting us -and I am grateful- I'm out there searching for anything that could be of use for us in here. Now, if you'll let go of me and let me through, I'll be on my way." 

Faethe tried to stay calm because she had dealt with many men like these two militants throughout her unnaturally long life. However, she had never had fear and anxiety take grasp of her like it had in that moment. The larger of the two men tugged her forward, causing her to stumble right up against his chest and into his arms. His hold was restricting and like a vice wrapped around her, making it absolutely impossible for her to wiggle free from his hold. She could hear the smaller one now behind her, stepping closer and minimizing any space she might have had to attempt an escape from her captor's grasp. 

Her struggle began, wiggling and twisting within the soldier's hulking arms. Frustration beginning to grow within her, mingling with the anxiety that already took hold of her almost instantly. Panic swirled within her sunlit blue orbs despite her trying not to show the soldier he was beginning to frighten her in every way he possibly could. There was nothing more terrifying than being caught and used by someone for their own amusement or gain, which was exactly what these two men were doing as she felt the smaller man's bulking mass press against her back and his hands come to rest upon her hips. 

Faethe was about to give up her struggle and just attempt to give the man holding her captive a good shiner when a welcoming voice worked its way towards the trio. She could hear the audible groan from both the soldiers messing with her, knowing the fun they had planned was quickly interrupted by whoever was coming to their current position. 

"Soldier's, I'm not going to ask again. What is going on over here!?" 

Tall, fit and the military's ace soldier, sergeant and commanding officer of the military squadron on the wall, Callen Reiner walked up to the three of them. With his thick black hair and eyes that reminded her of melted chocolate, Callen was quite the spectacle to look at. He was fit, but not overly amassed with muscles like some of the soldiers and he stood just a little over six foot tall. It was a surprise that the man had remained single all this time, even during the fall of the world. Not only did he have the looks, but he had the personality that every woman would have died to have in a man to go with them. 

Callen was a strong individual with a caring heart and a smile that lit up the entire area. He was nothing more than a walking teddy bear in military garb, but that didn't mean he didn't have some sort of bite to him. 

Not one to let the wicked go unpunished, Callen would defend the defenseless at the risk of his own life. His fighting prowess was top notch and when push came to shove, his anger was unmatched by anyone else's that Faethe had ever seen. That being said, the man wasn't one to choose violence if it could be helped. He was a gentle soul in the body of a hardass soldier, contradicting the appearance he tried to give off. 

"N-Nothing, sir." 

The shorter of the two soldiers stammered out, backing away immediately and finally giving some much needed room at Faethe's back. The other more taller soldier, he had let go of her as if nothing had been happening between the three of them. Faethe, however, made quick work of stepping away from the two harassing her and turned towards the man addressing the situation. 

"It didn't look like nothing, soldier. You wouldn't be lying to me now, would you?" 

"It is. . . well. . . you see-" 

"We were just saying goodbye and hoping our favorite scavenger would come back home safely. It was nothing more than a group hug goodbye between all of us." 

The taller of the two soldiers had quickly cut in, trying to cover up what they were doing. . . or what they had planned to do if Callen hadn't shown up when he did. Faethe could only look on in disgust, her arms crossed over her chest in an attempt to cover herself from the two handsy militants in any way she could possibly find. Annoyance and frustration swiftly began taking hold of her, making her stomach twist and turn in the most uncomfortable way, she thought she was going to be sick right there on the spot. 

"Is that what happened?" 

Faethe's disgusted gaze slowly drifted over to Callen, her mind processing the question he directed towards her. 

On one hand, she could tell the truth of what was transpiring and get stuck sitting around putting in a report against her would have been abusers. On the other hand, she could give a little white lie and avoid angering two soldiers in the process, saving her the future sufferings of having to run into them each time she wanted to cross the wall. She may also get out of there quicker, not wanting to stick around any longer than she absolutely had to. She was already uncomfortable enough with each second she stood there adding onto that unbearable feeling knotting up her stomach. 

Opting for the second option, Faeth only wanted to get beyond the walls and as far away from there. She nodded her head slowly before responding; 

"Yeah, just saying goodbye." 

Faethe tried to keep her voice steady, not wanting to show how irritated she truly was over the situation playing out before her. She was already behind schedule, burning what daylight there was she could have been using to traverse The Wastelands. At this rate, she was going to have to find shelter far sooner and start out fresh come the following day. 

"Alright, since you've already said your goodbyes then, you two. . ."

Callen began, jutting his chin towards his two comrades in arms in order to get their attention.

". . . get that gate open and back to your posts, on the double!" 

"Sir!" 

Watching the two overly handsy and entitled soldiers skitter off to do sas they were commanded, Faethe let a slow breath out through slightly parted lips. Her body was able to finally relax now that her harassers were finally away from her, but she felt as if she needed another bath and maybe a full skin sterilization. Her skin tingled as if she could still feel the soldier's hands all over her, touching and holding her in place instead of just letting her go like they should have. It didn't help her already twisting stomach, knots forming and causing her to become even more uncomfortable than she had already been. 

"You didn't have to lie for those two creeps." 

Faethe's attention was diverted, shifting over to Callen as he made his way closer to where she stood. 

With a raised eyebrow, curiosity flowed through Faethe as if she had just been insulted by the sergeant with his simple statement. Though, he was correct, she didn't have to lie for them. In fact, the two soldiers could have done with a good scolding and a decent punishment for what they wanted to do. 

It was surprising what the end of the world could do to people. 

"Who said I was lying?" 

"The expression on your face when you looked at them. You can be so expressive at times, it gives away what you're trying to hide." 

A soft laugh bubbled up out of Callen, forcing Faethe to glance away in near embarrassment for the way he called her out on her own lie. 

Refusing to submit to the embarrassment Callen forced out of her, Faethe willed her feet to move and put some distance between herself and the soldier watching her. However, as she started for the large metallic gate door, Callen decided he was going to follow her. If there was one thing she didn't need right now, it was someone protecting her like a helpless child and making her look weak in the eyes of the military surrounding them on the wall. Faethe knew she could handle herself just fine in any situation, today had only been a fluke that was getting out of hand. SHe was a bit off an that was why she had been caught off her guard like she had been. 

"I don't need a babysitter, Cal. You can go back to whatever it was you were doing and I can be on my way out of here." 

"A babysitter? Who said anything about me babysitting? I'm just acting as your personal escort to the gates so those two pricks don't come back. Thought I'd see you out anyways, be a gentleman and all." 

Faethe groaned in frustration, making certain she was loud enough for Callen to hear her. She wanted to make certain he knew exactly how frustrated she truly was with him following her. 

"Gentleman? Well Mr. Gentleman, I don't need an escort either. So if you'll just excuse me, I'll be on my way." 

A sarcastic smile jumped onto her lips, her eyes making a quick dart towards the black haired male following a short distance behind her. She looked away just as quickly, her sunlit blue eyes landing on the gate as the two approached it, but it seemed Callen had far more to say than she actually wanted; 

"I beg to differ, especially after what just transpired with my two subordinates. I believe an escort is necessary." 

"Callen, go away." 

Finally in front of the gate, Faethe believed she was finally free of all the guards on the wall. Her thoughts were very wrong though, especially when Callen came into her peripheral and he rested a strong yet gentle hand upon her shoulder. It distracted her enough from the loud screeching the gate made as multiple men worked to push it open for her. The hand on her shoulder also had her attention shifting back towards Callen, an unamused look upon her delicate features as she shook his hand away. Too many people had tried stopping her from going out or halting her from leaving, she didn't need him doing so either. 

Faethe knew a couple of those people's intentions were good, but she also felt she needed to go out to help those that had survived The Fall. 

Someone had to do it anyways. 

"Hey, a little gratitude or thanks for the help would be nice in this situation. What if I-" 

"I am thankful, but the babysitter following me around is going to make me look weak and I can't have that. Not in today's world when weakness could get you killed or taken advantage of." 

The disbelief that hovered in Callen's chocolate gaze was more than obvious to her, but it was mingling with that of a look that stated he had been insulted by her snappy remark. 

"Okay, can we drop all the babysitter crap? I'm only trying to help you out so you can get to where you're going without issue. I don't think the attitude is really necessary." 

"Attitude!? I have an attitude!? Well, I'm sorry your men tried to have their way with me and all I want to do is get out there where I know I can be useful." 

Faethe jabbed her finger in the direction of the now wide open gate, the multiple men holding the heavy metal slab struggling to keep it open while they eyed their commanding officer and her as they fought. 

"And if I wouldn't have come by when I did, they probably-" 

"No, this would have never happened if you would discipline your men a little more and maybe taught them how to treat women. . . hell, maybe teach them how to treat the people around the city. I don't think it would hurt them any." 

Faethe snapped at Callen, done with him trying to guilt her into letting him explain what he thought was going on. 

"Look, I'll be back in a day or two. Just keep your eyes on the horizon and I'll see you then." 

Without giving Callen another chance to speak, Faethe turned and made for the gate as quickly as she could. Her footsteps kicked up soot and little pieces of debris that had been left over from the destructive force of The Fall. To her, it felt like running through thick sand, only this sand was black and breathing it in could potentially make one very sick. 

"Faethe!" 

Stopping right outside the gate, its doors screeching shut as her sunlit blue orbs found Callen's chocolate brown ones. The man was standing in front of the gate on the opposite side with a very serious look upon his face, hardening the once soft planes of his face. Her own silent gaze was enough to prompt him forward with what he wanted to tell her, whatever was so important to him that she must know now. 

"This conversation isn't over! We'll have a proper sit down when you get back! So, you better come back like you said!" 

Callen's demands for her to returned echoed over the slam of the only gated doorway in or out of the small surviving city. She was now separated from any form of civilization, relief washing over her and mixing with the rush of sudden anxiety. Faethe's guard immediately went up, uncertain of what exactly it was was she would find out there on this solo scavenging trip of hers. Be it living or dead, she was on high alert as she took the first steps out into the burnt wasteland stretching out far before her.