If you missed the last chapter, you can find it [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/218525125/0/0]here[/url], or if you need to find a previous chapter, you can find them all in the [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forums/Post/218618986?sort=0&page=0]Table of Contents[/url]. Enjoy the story and if you like it, a bump would be greatly appreciated! If you have any questions or corrections, comment or message me anytime, I welcome any and all feedback. *** The Fallen dump us unceremoniously on the deck of the ketch. I scowl with indignation as I look up at the collected factions of the House of Exile. The Fallen who serve no Archon or Kell find their home with the Exiles. I’d heard rumors that Skolas had attempted to draft them into his rebellion, but the Exiles didn’t find his delusions of grandeur in keeping with their way of life. These democratic, feudal nomads prefer to keep their individual traditions. This strength is also their weakness, though, given the reports of their constant infighting and rivalries. The only thing that unites these disparate tribes, unfortunately for us, are outsiders, and as I look up at the Exiles, I see them all single-mindedly focused on us, perfectly unified. One of the faction’s Barons points to Solis and rasps, growls and howls angrily – I struggle to recall any of the names of this House that I’d learned from the reports Seren gave me, but I can’t remember any. The Exiles are constantly shifting, realigning, too chaotic to understand unless you’re completely immersed in their world. Since I don’t have that kind of time, I get by with giving them nicknames. The angry Exile shouting about Solis I call Grumpy. The Exile Baron answering calmly back in Eliksni I call Doc. The Captain who captured me I can only name Happy given his jubilance at presenting us. [i]He must win a prize or something[/i], I smirk to myself, unable to help it even here. Happy growls something to Grumpy, who rasps orders back to him. The Vandals holding Solis suddenly kick her legs out, forcing her to her knees as they draw their weapons. “NO!!” I scream as Happy cuffs me, hard, knocking me to the ground. Doc regards me curiously as Happy sneers down at me. “[i]Beloks says Rogue Wolf must die[/i].” “She’s worth a lot more to you alive than dead,” I respond, forcing myself back up. The Fallen kicks me again, his cold, black eyes smirking at me. Doc gestures for my attention as he rasps, “[i]I agree, Awoken. Far more wise to sell back to Wolves.[/i]” Another Fallen, an old Dreg whom I nickname Sleepy for his droopy eyes, answers, “[i]Wolves won’t pay.[/i]” There’s growling argument from the rest of the gathered. “Wait!” I cry out, standing back up – Happy goes to kick my legs out again, but this time I’m ready. I spin as I dodge his kick and sweep my leg under his, dropping him. “You try to sucker kick me again and I’ll do a lot more than just trip you.” Happy makes an eerie sound as he stands back up, almost like he’s laughing. It sends a shiver down my spine, but I don’t show it. I bury it, always bury it. Doc gestures to me again as he asks, “[i]What is your name, Awoken?[/i]” The same conflict that always occurs when someone asks me that rears its head within me again. It’s a mark of shame, re-appropriated into pride by my accomplishments, but a stain on me nonetheless that will never come out. I live with it, I will die with it, and I dare anyone to say I’m any less for it. I psych myself up as I throw my head back and declare: “Ia Tanis.” The collected growls ripple through the crowd again at the sound of my name. [i]Damn my pride,[/i] the sensible part of me thinks ruefully. [i]Screw them, and screw them even more if they turn you over for it,[/i] I respond automatically. [i]I shouldn’t have to be ashamed of my name.[/i] Doc and Grumpy both look at me seriously. “[i]Great price given by Taniks for return of any lost trophies[/i],” Doc tells me shrewdly. Grumpy growls his assent, or so I guess given his rapid nodding. “If I agree to go,” I begin slowly, “Will you grant my crew their freedom?” “[i]Agree?[/i]” Doc asks curiously. “[i]You think you can choose?[/i]” “I always make my own choices,” I respond, and as I do, I think back to the Fallen bringing us in, remembering that they didn’t frisk any of us after removing our weapons and ammo belts. No weapons scanners on the way onto the ketch either. Poor, sloppy, lazy, or some combination of all three, these Exiles, strong though they may be physically, are sorely ill-prepared to take on someone as crafty as myself. Smirking, I pull the hidden grenade I keep in my cleavage out, finger on the pin as I hold it up in the air, showing the Exiles. Growls from the peanut gallery again as Doc and Grumpy roar at Happy, who lunges for me. “Whoa, watch yourself, Happy, my finger trips this and there’s no do-overs, you can’t shut it off.” I wave it in his face as he backs off finally, growling his discontent. [i]Yeah, yeah,[/i] I think proudly, [i]sit down, punk[/i]. I turn to face the others while still keeping Happy in my peripherals. “I die, we all die.” Doc leans forward, almost smiling his appreciation. “[i]Too many we command for you to escape, Awoken.[/i]” “Oh, I never said escape, I said freedom granted,” I answer, still holding the grenade high. “[i]You and Wolf too valuable to be freed[/i],” Doc answers. “[i]Feed and arm Exiles for long time with you[/i].” I think for a few moments, knowing what I should do but wanting to do what I wish I could. “You can have one of us. But the other goes free, with the rest of my crew. Either one of us should still be enough to feed and arm your House.” “[i]Both still more valuable[/i],” Doc responds. “More valuable than your own lives?” I wave the grenade a little just to underscore the point. “How long would the Exiles last if their tribal leaders were all killed at once?” The Exiles confer amongst each other – predictably, there’s shouting over one another and roaring as different factions start to show their inherent oppositions, but they finally settle down as Doc looks at me. “[i]Which one?[/i]” “Me,” I answer without hesitation. [i]Damn my pride[/i], the sensible side of me mourns. The peanut gallery confers more, arguments rippling like waves throughout the crowd. I wait for what feels like an eternity before Doc finally leans forward. “[i]Done.[/i]” Solis roars as Nas and Kenedi hang their heads, knowing better than to try and stop me. [i]This is what a captain does[/i], I comfort myself by saying, or at least try to. I ease my finger off the grenade and turn to Happy – I hold it out to him, then drop it – he catches it, and glares at me as I can’t help but laugh. Nas and Kenedi rush up to me before the Fallen can intervene. “We’ll find a way to come back for you, cherie,” Nas says as Kenedi nods. Solis whimpers as she puts her hand on my shoulder. "Don't worry," I whisper back quickly. "I'll find my own way out. Take the ship and leave, boarding code is Lionis Omega Vol-7355." Nas nods, storing the code, but suddenly, Happy and the other Vandals seize my crew again – I wheel around to Doc with fury – “What are you –“ “[i]Awoken should not have dropped grenade[/i],” Doc says, bemused. “[i]Deal not final until it’s final.[/i]” “Oh, come on!” I can’t help but shout as Happy kicks my feet out from under me again. “You are so going to regret having done that,” I mutter darkly as he keeps snickering. “[i]We will send word to Taniks that one of his lost trophies has been found,[/i]” Doc says, staring right at me, saying it only to see my face. I purposefully try to make it blank as I listen to the fate of my crew. “[i]Do as you wish to the others. But keep the Wolf...intact.[/i]” [i]Shouldn’t have given up the grenade[/i], the sensible part of me scolds. [i]Oh, shut up[/i], I respond.