~The others are getting tired,~ Lucius thought to himself, as he and the remaining leaflings marched through the night forest in search of a new camp. Though they wouldn't admit it, the sound of their labored breaths and their sluggish movements were evidence enough.
When they had first begun, he was a little scared that they would encounter predators lurking about, so he decided that he and Ghost would scout the area ahead before the leaflings could move in. However, this proved to take up a lot of time and effort, and soon only Lucius could run ahead and make the return trip to tell the leaflings if it was safe to move.
"We'll rest here," he ordered, realizing that the leaflings couldn't march much longer.
"Finally," sighed a few of them, dropping to the ground in exhaustion.
"Not out here. Find yourselves a resting spot in between the vines over there," he ordered, pointing towards a bunch of vines draping off a massive tree.
The leaflings obliged and quickly dragged themselves behind the curtain of vines and found a spot to rest.
"And what about you guys?" Lucius asked once the other leaflings had all found a spot. It was the usual suspects; Ghost was sitting on the ground a few centimeters to his right, Pagan stood close behind him, while Alpha was leaning against a tree in front of him.
"I'm not tired," Alpha replied, his tone lost and far away.
"I want to have a session," Pagan said after, walking to stand in front of Lucius.
"If he's having a session, I want one too," Ghost quickly chimed in, standing up from the ground before walking towards them.
"I don't think a session will be possible right now. The sun's not up," Lucius replied after a moment of thought. He had never really tested that theory out, but it only made sense that photosynthesis could only work during the day.
"Shall we give it a try anyway?" Pagan asked. Clearly, he wasn't going to take no for an answer.
"Hmm, might as well. And what about you? Are you just going to lurk around?" Lucius asked, turning to look towards the darkness where the leaflings were camped.
"Me? I might as well," Alpha responded, slipping out of his broody daze.
"Not you, him," Lucius replied, pointing into the darkness. After a few moments, a tip-tapping sound echoed from the dark, before Hannibal appeared into view.
"Kukk. You'll have to excuse me, Captain," Alpha said immediately before walking towards the camp. "I don't think it's right for us to mingle with cowards. Especially those who would give up th-"
"Enough, Alpha. You are excused," Lucius interrupted, gesturing for Hannibal to come closer. As Alpha left, he and Hannibal brushed shoulders, and he whispered something to the latter, before nudging him to the ground.
~I don't blame him. Even if it was the only way, I'm sure Alpha will never accept that,~ Lucius thought to himself before going to help Hannibal up.
"I-I'm sorry Lucius," Hannibal said as Lucius helped him up. His entire body was shaking, and his eyes averted Lucius's gaze, it seemed his shame would not even allow him that much.
"You shouldn't be apologizing to me. Your brothers are dead, go say sorry to them," Lucius replied, before walking back to the group.
"You aren't angry?" Hannibal asked as he followed close behind.
Lucius stopped for a moment and turned ever so slightly to look Hannibal in the face. "I'm angry but not at you. Your plan was good considering the circumstances, but that's not the type of strategist I'm trying to raise," Lucius replied before proceeding.
~But then again. You'd probably be praised back on Earth,~ he thought to himself before sitting down.
"Okay, let's begin."
Lucius closed his eyes and reached out to his crux, this time his connection with it seemed stronger, and he could lift it up even without Pagan's help. However, that didn't stop Pagan from reaching out to the crux as well and trying to help with the process.
If before the crux felt like an atrophied limb, it now felt like a limb going through rehabilitation. He could maneuver it well enough, but it felt weaker than it should.
[Photosynthesis unavailable.]
"Ahh, it seems I was right," Lucius said out loud, before opening his eyes.
The moment he did, his eyes were bombarded with a series of bright flashes as if individual suns were shining from everything in sight. He quickly closed his eyes and groaned in pain, rubbing them before opening them once more.
"Is something wrong?" Pagan asked.
Though Lucius was too flabbergasted to even process anything else around him. The light was simply too bright, and eventually, he gave up on the idea of even trying to open them again.
~What's happening,~ he thought to himself, before standing up, his eyes still closed.
"Luci?"
"Can you guys see anything?"
"Of course we can. I think you have to open your eyes first," Ghost tried explaining, a bit of doubt in her tone as she said this.
~Sigh,~
"Photosynthesis doesn't work so you guys can go ahead and rest. We might be marching the whole day tomorrow so I want you all in top shape," he said.
"Are you sure you're fine?" Hannibal asked?
"I'm okay. Now go rest," he replied, "... and Hannibal, steer clear of Alpha. He needs time."
After a few moments, Lucius was left alone. He felt around trying to find his way towards a nearby shrub right in front of the camp. He tried opening his eyes once again but was met with the same blinding light. Giving up, he decided he would just have to depend on his ears to take watch.
However, after a few minutes, he fell into a deep slumber. The day had been long, even for him.
That night he dreamt of war... of revenge. He dreamt of what was to come...
