𝐁𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐃 shot through her veins, as Monet's heart jolted to the ice, cold water that shocked her body back into consciousness. She gasped for air and then immediately coughed when some water got trapped in her throat. She wiped her eyes with her shoulders and looked up at the man staring at her with the bucket in hand.

She didn't say a word. Through Monet's blurred vision, she watched as he placed the bucket onto the ground and rested his arms on the gate. He seemed young, but it didn't seem to take away from his intimidation.

"You passed the border." She was taking the moment to take a good look at the man that she had only met the voice of.

Monet's expression remained unchanged. He pushed the key into the lock and opened the door, stepping in slowly. As he did, Monet gathered all the strength she barely had and lunged for him.

She flew backwards by a chain, she'd failed to even notice it. He didn't flinch, he tilted his head in amusement almost. "You Everwinterians are all so hostile, I'm not surprised that Noah didn't teach you any better," he scoffed.

"Noah didn't teach me anything," Monet muttered lowly. The hoarseness of her voice reminded her of the day she awoke in Everwinter, and the reason she was running. The horde.

"Well, then maybe you're just plain stupid." he retorted. The devised plan all came back to memory and it clicked on her face like an epiphany.

She was gazing upon Angelo.

"I know what you're planning, to send that horde straight for Everwinter. You're not gonna do it."

"I already have. The horde is moving now." Angelo shrugged nonchalantly, "I hope you know that Noah deserves it. I'm sure he didn't tell you that,"

"He doesn't. He just wants to protect his people."

"Aren't I doing the same? Valta has gone through enough," Monet growled. "What's your name, darlin'?" he cocked his head as he smiled.

Monet furrowed her brows, she wasn't going to give in. She dismissed him and crawled back to the wall, sitting back in the wet puddle and staring ahead of her.

Angelo watched her for a moment before he accepted her refusal to cooperate. He walked out of her view. Then he returned with a plastic cup of water. He offered it to her to drink, lifting it to her dry lips.

Her eyes flicked to his, he was patiently waiting for her to drink. "None of that water reached your mouth," he simply replied. She hesitantly drank the water, gradually gulping it all. He pulled the cup away before she choked. She coughed, feeling her throat gaining moisture once more. She wiped her mouth on her shoulder then turned her eyes away from him.

"I'll feed you later," he said as he got up again and went to lock the gate. Monet looked up at him briefly. She inspected his clean dressing, it complimented his physique, which was visibly muscular through his shirt; he certainly looked like a leader.

He met her eyes once more. He scoffed then left with the bucket in hand.

•

   She shivered with her sigh. It felt like it'd been an eternity, but three hours had passed. Angelo hadn't returned.

She was certain she was experiencing hypothermia from her drenched clothes and the unbelievably low temperature in the cellar. Or was she already losing her mind?

   Monet wondered if anyone in Everwinter had noticed her disappearance. The horde had probably reached Everwinter by now and she prayed that everyone was alright. She knew that Noah wouldn't even be able to handle his anger with the information she had; if she made it back alive, that was.

   The door creaked and then slammed closed, Monet stiffened. A girl came around the corner, she faintly smiled, as she leaned on the bars.

   "Hi. I'm not going to hurt you, none of us want to. I just wanted to make sure you were alright. My brother can sometimes be a bit dramatic, hence the water," she awkwardly laughed. Monet stared at her. "I'm Jasmine, I'm also one of the leaders of Valta, but my brother likes to take charge."

   There was a faint streak of sunlight across her fair skin, accenting her cheekbones, as she fixed her hair behind her ears. "Um, you must be hungry, so I brought you some bread." she smiled. "It was made just this morning,"

   Jasmine stood there, expecting Monet to at least move a muscle. She raised her obviously chained hands.

   "Oh right," she opened the cell door with the keys hanging on her fingertip. She slowly walked in and knelt down beside Monet.

   Upon investigating the light skinned girl, appearing to be in her late teens at most, she looked strong, as though she'd been through too much to have to mature so fast. Jasmine reminded Monet of herself.

   She delicately took a slice of bread and lifted it to Monet's lips. She could feel the heat of the freshly-baked good warming her nose. Taking a large bite, she sighed.

   Jasmine continued to talk, Monet listened silently. She talked about the history of Valta. She was one of three of the last leaders of their community, her and Angelo being successors of their mother, and Joseph taking after his father, Jerry.

"We have three neighbourhoods that help us sort out where people are strongest: Arkala is for agriculture, Aerilon is for architecture, and Ascot is for protection. Ascots are the best, by the way, we do everything outside the walls." she explained.

   "We're literally everywhere, so I'm surprised you got past the border without an arrow to the back of your head," Monet slightly choked, causing Jasmine to giggle, "yeah, silent killers, Angelo is our best shooter, but he doesn't really like to leave the walls, so he taught us all."

   Jasmine pulled her legs to her chest, thinking for a moment, "Am I talking too much?" she laughed again. "I'm sorry, I haven't even asked your name and I'm telling you my whole life story,"

   Monet remained silent.

   "It's okay, if you don't want to, I just want you to feel welcome—ignoring the fact that you're chained to the wall, that is. It's just nice speaking to another girl, even though you're not replying. I'm always up and down helping my brother, don't really have time for bredrins,"

   She pouted, as silence filled the air again.

   "You know, I wonder sometimes, but I can ask you since you know him more than me. Do you... Is Noah good? Like, is he nice, caring; he didn't seem to care when he killed my mum but..." she swallowed hard, "you know, you might know him differently,"

   The question partially conflicted her judgement for a moment. She'd never taken a second to comprehend otherwise. His past was terrible, but did it really take away from the harm he'd caused to this neighbouring community?

She didn't even realise that she was already absently answering, "He'll do what's right to protect those he cares for. I know he's done terrible things, but his intention has always been good." In the short time of knowing him, Monet knew that Noah had lost a lot, his silence towards it all proves that enough, she knew that his paranoia was just so that he wouldn't have to go through it all over again.

"Does he regret what he did to Valta two years ago?" Jasmine whispered.

"Yeah," she assured, and the teenager softly smiled, placing her chin onto her knees. She looked mildly content.

In the silence... "Monet." she said, Jasmine raised her gaze, "My name is Monet."

Jasmine's smile widened, "Thank you, Monet," she sighed, allowing her eyes to wonder the cellar before realising that the ground was wet. "Oh gosh, you're wet aren't you?" Monet nodded. "I completely forgot. Angelo really loves to be dramatic. Come on, I'll help you get cleaned up."

She stood up and shimmied a little to get to crumbs off her clothes, before she pulled out the keys, "Can I trust you? Don't do anything when I release you, promise?"

"Promise," she replied.

Jasmine grinned, "Okay," she unlocked her chains and led her out of the cellar.

•

"And you decide to let her go?!"

"Joseph, calm down, for God's sake," Jasmine rolled her eyes with a chuckle, "my brother threw water on her, she's cold and I just want to help her," Joseph didn't break his menacing stare at Monet at all. The curly-haired boy held the body of his bow tightly, ready to draw his string on her.

"She is an Everwinterian, Jas, when have they ever done anything harmless?" he exasperated. Monet shifted her weight uncomfortably. They were at a guard post on the perimeter of the Valtan walls. The vast community could be seen from that height, looking abundant and... happy. Just like Everwinter.

"We've never actually encountered one, so calm your tits," Jasmine clarified.

"How is that any better?" he tutted.

"Just help me, I just need you to watch her while she cleans herself up at my house. Angelo wants me scouting for when the Drifters come back," Joseph pulled a face and Jasmine pouted, "Please?"

Monet watched as his expression gradually softened, he sighed and smiled, giving in like he couldn't stay mad at her. "Fine," he rolled his eyes. She giddily cheered and hugged him.

"Thanks, Joe, I'll be back soon," she turned to Monet, "make his life easy, please. It was nice meeting you though, Monet," she beamed, holding the same smile that Angelo could pull off. She left and didn't look back.

Joseph stared at Monet, gazing at how she shivered in her cold clothes. He tutted, "Don't do no funny shit, or I'll kill you," Monet raised her hands in surrender, "Come on."

   He led her to a down a quiet street to a house off the corner of it. He opened the door and ushered her up the stairs, keeping his weapon close behind her.

   He pushed her down the corridor to Jasmine's bedroom and she was forced to take a seat on the bed.

   "You're gonna shower and I'll find you something dry to wear,"

   "Thank you, Joseph,"

   "Yeah, whatever," He handed her a towel and sent her to the bathroom, locking the door behind her. Once she'd finished, Joseph unlocked the door and led her into the bedroom with a pile of clean clothes and Angelo standing beside them.

"Jasmine is too kind," Angelo sighed, approaching her. She feebly retreated backwards until she was against the wall, clutching the towel at her breasts for dear life. "You can go, Joe, I need you at the eastern post,"

Joseph left and Angelo let his eyes gaze upon all that he could capture. His green eyes were warming every inch of her body that he glanced at. "Get dressed," he instructed lowly, exiting calmly and locking the door.

|𝟏𝟏| 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬:
This took a long while to write, I wasn't entirely sure how I should portray the characters of the opposition. Hopefully I didn't do too bad for a first look at them.

However, question for you lots:
Do you think Noah is good?

Tell me, from what you know about him as of now, I'm curious. Hope you enjoyed this chapter! ;)

~𝐠𝐥𝐝𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐧𝐬.