The assumption that Ai was skeptical of the Matron was a gross understatement. She stood near the back of the group atop a small stone formation to see over the heads of her skeptical sisters. This was going to be the last gathering that Ai attended with the Matron; that much she and Miira had decided upon. After this was finished they planned to find a way off the island, and continue their mission.

Ai knew in her core that this new tree, the false goddess, would only bring forth more disappointment. It was a trick of the Matron and nothing more. Who other than Aisha could help them now? Ai refused to believe that they couldn't return to Chibale; to their home. If their remaining sisters refused to allow them to return to the land of their birth then they could be dealt with, of that she was sure.

Curling her lip, Ai listened as the woman spewed off more flowered words, obviously building up anticipation for whatever she had planned. After that disgraceful failure in Sauti, Ai had vaguely hoped the fool would just curl up and die. It was obvious this woman was grasping at anything to save what shreds remained of her dignity. Many, many trees blossomed, but there was only one Aisha. Ai clucked her tongue in disgust. It was a shameful stunt, nothing more, and if her sisters were wise they would run the wretch through just to shut her up.

"Watch, my faithful and dedicated sisters, as the true vision of our future is revealed. Elzira has spoken. Today is the day that our future begins!"

"Oh goddess, what now." Ai grumbled, reaching up to pull down the skin beneath her left eye. If Miira hadn't insisted on being with the older sisters during the announcement she may have suggested an early departure, as her limited patience was wearing thin.

And then it appeared.

The Elaria.

Narrowed eyes, so full of hate and carnivorous wrath, opened wide on a sharp inhale of breath. For a moment Ai couldn't force her lungs to function properly. It felt as if the world had shuddered to a halt around her, forcing her to fall to her knees. The sight of that child disappeared from view, and in an instant the young extremist was swallowed by the chants of her sisters.

A pair of strong arms pulled Ai to her feet while simultaneously moving her through the crowd. Time seemed to blur in those moments. Everything seemed so slow for Ai, but when those arms, once so supportive, began to shake her Ai realized just how far away from Elzira they were.

"Wake up!" Miira shouted. She raised a hand, ready to smack the sense back into Ai when the teenager pulled away. "Good...good...I thought you were going to faint back there." The older warrior looked back through the trees, spying on the gathering from afar. At this distance both parties were clearly visible, though hearing the smaller group would have been difficult.

"We...We have to leave, right now." After a year of waiting, wondering, wishing for a sign...this is what they had been given? Some deformed, grey mass? Ai buried her face in her hands, trying to knock down as much of the panic building within her as possible. What if the Matron was right? What if she had been, all along?

"Ai, look at me." Miira grasped the younger alkidike's chin between her fingers and drew the girl's attention with a hard jerk. "You said yourself that the earthlings expected us to die here. That in order to survive we needed to make hard choices and purge ourselves of the traitors. Don't you think Aisha knew this would happen? Maybe she wasn't strong enough to do it herself, maybe the same taint that weakened our people weakened her, and so she told the Matron to take Elzira."

"Are you listening to yourself?!" Her shriek was loud enough to pierce the veil of the forest, though not nearly loud enough to drown out the settlement as a whole. She wrenched herself away from Miira and took off at a dead run through the jungle. Her mentor called after her, but soon enough even her voice faded away.

This didn't make any sense! Why wouldn't Aisha be strong enough to do her own work? And those...those things. Ai's run eventually slowed down enough so that she could punch the closest tree in a fit of rage. Miira was lying; she was lying and weak, just like the Matron. Aisha was strong enough to save her own damn people by herself. Right?

Seeds of doubt had already been planted with Ai. Miira's words may have upset her, but they gave her reason to pause. What if...what if it was real? Hypothetically it could be, and if it were true then Ai had just turned her back on the greatest blessing her goddess would ever give her. She had a chance to play a part in something great; to be one of the founding members, even!

Then why did it feel so wrong?

Perhaps it was the final realization that she would never be allowed to return to Aisha's side that got to her. That Elzira was as close as she would ever be to her goddess, and thus only an extension to the culture that molded her.

If she left now she would either be killed by the earthlings or die alone. Neither thought was pleasant to the teenager; especially not after living in exile shortly after losing her mother. This place...Elzira...was all she had left.

And if this was truly what Aisha wanted then she would come to accept the Elaria, deformed as they were.

What other choice was there?

(WC: 971)