Tension in the Family

"Tension in the Family" is a [SEASON NUMBER] thread written on [IRL DATE].
==Summary==
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==Full Text==
As soon as Brandt, Grey, and Shadow were alone with Lila, the Chief sighed and looked to her second oldest niece, and she knew immediately what it was about. 
“I know what you’re going to say,” Grey said holding up a hand to hopefully keep the situation calm, “and I apologize for–”
Dec 12, 2020
“Brant would you please leave us.” Lila interrupted. “I would like to speak with the chief alone, please.” Her posture nor expression had not changed since her sister had left with the ambassador. And now her tone and her words showed that she was speaking business now.
Dec 12, 2020
“Lila, I–” Brandt quickly said with a stern look on his face. 
However, Grey quickly placed a hand on Brandt’s chest stopping. “It’s okay,” she said. “I’ll find you later.”
Brandt sighed. He knew that Lila and Grey needed to talk, but he hated the idea of leaving his wife alone without someone to back her up…especially when Dixie placed some thoughts in her head regarding the prisoners. Nevertheless, Grey could handle it, and he took her hand into his giving her a small smile silently telling her that she had his support and that he would wait for her. Plus, he threw a look at Shadow telling the Night Fury to stay close, and with that, he left the Chief and the Commander alone after placing a hand on his niece’s shoulder.
Dec 12, 2020
She doesn’t react, just taking slow deep breaths for the time being. As the door to the great hall closed she finally speaks. “I’m moving the rebelion off of Haligan, over to the old dungeon.” She says firmly.
Dec 12, 2020
“What?” Grey asked completely not expecting to hear this news from her niece. “When did you decide this?”
Dec 12, 2020
“About 10 minutes ago.” She says. “It’s clear that there’s too much on your plate to balance both the rebelion and the island. Not to mention this will take the heat off Haligan, and will allow us to actually house and train our army. Especially if we’re adding 100 troops to it.”
Dec 12, 2020
Grey glared slightly at her niece clearly not liking that one bit…at all. “Since when do you decide if the Rebellion is too much for me?” she asked…somewhat coolly. “Up until 10 minutes ago, we were doing just fine.”
Dec 12, 2020
“This is not the first time you’ve forgotten to include me in Rebelion matters Chief, and I’m afraid it won’t be the last. Regardless, even if it were not the case, my other points still stand.”
Dec 12, 2020
“Lila, I made a mistake…twice,” Grey said glaring back at her feeling anger slightly increase. “I apologized back then, and I’m apologizing now. I’m only human, I’m not perfect. You don’t need to relocate hundreds of troops just because you’re angry with me.”
Dec 12, 2020
She remains cool and stoic, battle and training having taught her control. “Regardless of my feelings on the matter and whether or not you can handle it, my other points still stand.”
Dec 12, 2020
“Okay, let’s say you do move hundreds of troops swiftly and suddenly,” Grey began trying to keep her temper in check. “What are you going to do if High Central finds you there? That building is barely weak enough as it is, and if they attack, how do you expect anyone to come with back-up? Shadow is fast, but not that fast.”
Dec 12, 2020
“And you prefer their fire be brought down on Haligan and it’s people?” She asks with a raised eyebrow.
Dec 12, 2020
Hearing Lila tell her that, she did have a point. It would take the heat off Haligan, but…when Grey made one little mistake, it seemed like Lila wanted her out of the Rebellion. That just added more fuel to the fire.
“We have evacuation plans in place,” Grey said, “a strong support here. An old building in the middle of nowhere can only do so much, and what of Darien? He’s supposed to be imprisoned here.”
Dec 12, 2020
“And the evacuation plan guarantees no civilian casualties? As for Darien, if you wish for him to remain here, I will not fight you on it, he is your prisoner, and his information can travel.” She sighed. “Your are letting your emotions overrule your judgement, Chief. You’d risk the safety and security of your people to keep one person around.”
Dec 13, 2020
“I’m letting my emotions overrule my judgement?” Grey said incredulously. “What about you, Lila? You decided this 10 minutes ago all because I made a mistake.”
Dec 13, 2020
“I have been thinking about this for months.” Lila growls flames licking at her armor. She takes a deep breath and they extinguish. “I stayed to be closer to you, and my family. But now things are getting serious. We have an army and nowhere to put them. We have enemies who would rain fire upon us for who we are. Central has already left it’s scars on this island. I will not see them destroy it any further.”
Dec 13, 2020
Everything Lila was saying was right. Things were getting serious, and it was getting more and more dangerous and more crowded for both the Rebellion and Haligan Island to be on the same island. They already had trouble at the Jaw, and sure enough their Jarl would be looking for a fight. Grey’s right fist clenched as a small purple glow emerged as she closed her eyes trying to will away the horrible memories of whenever Central attacked their island…especially on November 11. 
Greg using his fire powers…
Greg telling her to leave him…all alone…
Her…listening to him…
Seeing the explosion…and finding Greg…already gone…
“But…if you leave…I can’t protect you…or your siblings…” Grey said through clenched teeth as she quickly turned her head away from her niece.
Dec 13, 2020
She sighs and walks over to her and places her hand on her shoulder. “You know that we’re capable Aunt Grey. I know that you want to take care of us, but we’re not children. And you have a duty to take care of this island and her people. If we stay here we will be working against that, putting people in danger.”
Dec 13, 2020
“I’m well aware of that,” Grey said as she placed her hand on Lila’s hand. “I know you three aren’t children anymore. None of you are children anymore.” Her own kids were teenagers, and Siri actually had a baby on the way now. The youngest was Katryn, and even she was growing up. “It’s just…I couldn’t protect your dad…and…the thought of something going down out there and I can’t be there for you and the Rebellion. What kind of leader…or aunt would I be if I let that happen on my watch?”
Dec 13, 2020
Lila swallowed as Grey brought Greg up. She hadn’t talked much about him since his death. Not even with Deo. “There was nothing you could have done, or not done that would have saved him. My father chose to give his life for you and the people of Haligan Island. I am doing something so that no one must make a similar choice again.”
Dec 13, 2020
Grey closed her eyes feeling the rage slowly melt away. She and Lila never fully talked about Greg’s death, and…she rarely talked about it with Warren. Even though Deo was around and held his memories, it wasn’t the same. It wasn’t Greg Ericson. She sighed. “I’m sorry I got so emotional,” Grey said turning to look at her niece, “and I really am sorry I didn’t send for you today. I want you to know that there was no malice behind it. I really did just make a mistake, I promise.”
Dec 13, 2020
She nods. "I know. My frustration help fuel this decision, but it is still the right decision for everyone. I'm not trying to cut you out, I hope you understand that. "I'm just trying do what's best for everyone. To be the leader they need me to be."
“I know,” Grey said with a small smile. “I mean, I do now, and I’m glad you told me that. I know I’ve been…spread a little thin, but I do want to be a part of this as much as I can. However, I also know that I’m not the Lady anymore…and I have a very capable niece, who can be the leader they need. It would lessen the heat to have the Rebellion in another location, but I am worried about the structure of that old building in the event High Central gets any funny ideas. There’s no doubt the Conclave and their Jarl will want to try something, and we know nothing about him.”
hubwalker1
“Assuming first they know where the dungeon is, and second that they even know we’re there. Besides the bunker is well fortified, and I doubt they know of it’s existence.”
lbigreyhound13
“True, it’s been there for 25 years,” Grey said nodding. No one knew of its existence other than former rebels and their families, and those who wished to join the Rebellion. “That being said, I do have a proposition for you, if this is indeed going to happen.”
hubwalker1
She nods, ready to hear it.
lbigreyhound13
“I know you’re very capable of leading the Rebellion,” Grey said, “but I also want to make sure that everything runs smoothly out there. You will run the Rebellion full time, there’s no question there, but…first, I want updates and to come check in once a week…maybe every couple of weeks to check in and make sure everything is okay. The days that I’m not there and there’s an emergency you come for me immediately.”
hubwalker1
“Oh of course. As I said, my intention was never to cut you out of the rebelion.”
lbigreyhound13
“I know, but I’ll feel a lot better knowing that we have that understanding. Next, I do want the prisoners to remain here. I know we need Darien, and Malak, Opie, Milae, and Indigo are all rebels. But I can’t let them wander around beyond Haligan Island. Dixie already confronted me about it once, and he has apologized. But…between you and me, I’d rather not give him more ammunition. If you need them, let me know, and I will send them.”
hubwalker1
She nods. “Of course. They are your prisoners after all.” she says.
lbigreyhound13
The Chief nodded smiling. “Good,” she said. “Is there anything on your end you need me to do?”
hubwalker1
“We’ll need supply lines. Food, medicine, possibly weapons if we can’t make them ourselves. The kind of things we can’t just get out in the bunker.” She explains. “Just be careful that you don’t let central find out where it’s going.”
lbigreyhound13
“Absolutely,” Grey said smiling. “Dixie can remain here and work on weapons, and food, medicine, and water will be sent as soon as you need it. Dad and I once had a secret network to get half-breeds to Haligan Island, so I look into those plans again and format it for the food and medicine.”
hubwalker1
“I know Kettil also has something like that, so you should talk to him as well. Either way I think that’s it.”
lbigreyhound13
“Well, not really,” Grey said, “just one more thing…just please…promise me you and your brother and sister will be extremely careful out there. As a Chief, I know you’re capable, but as an aunt, I still worry. Just ask your cousins.”
hubwalker1
She nods and smiles. “Of course Aunt Grey.”
lbigreyhound13
“That’s all I can ask for,” Grey said. She took a deep breath. “Well then, Commander Lila, I think,” she held her hand out to Lila, “we have a deal.”
hubwalker1
Instead of taking her hand she quickly wrapped her arms around Grey. She knew how hard this was for her. And besides she didn’t get to be soft very often.
lbigreyhound13
Tears formed in Grey’s eyes as she hugged her niece in return burying her face in Lila’s hair…thinking back on the day Lila was born…how she was this little baby and how fast she had grown…along with Siri, Katryn, the twins, and her own children. She sighed. It wasn’t often Lila showed physical affection, and she wanted to cherish this moment for as long as possible…to stop time. 
She placed a kiss on Lila’s forehead. “I love you so much, Lila,” Grey said. “Never forget that.”
hubwalker1
“I love you too Aunt Grey.” She maintains the hug for a few more moments before pulling back and sighing. “Well, I should go rally the troops then.” She says.
foresight-botgd
“Stop, stop, stop, WAIT!”
The hall echoed with rapid footsteps as someone shouldered their way into the building and stopped short upon seeing the two leaders turn to face him, along with the handful of various other people milling about the hall. The gray late afternoon sun filtered around the shape of a short young man with dark skin and hair, thickly bundled up for the harsh winter weather. He gulped and tugged on the neck of his cloak, pulling it away from his face and letting his glasses un-mist from his warm breath. He was trying to stand up straight and firm, but it was clear he was absolutely shivering with either nerves or fear.
“Oh, boy,” he whispered, seeing that he had interrupted the two of them. “Lila–I mean, Commander–I–” He swallowed. Not the time to get starstruck!! “I really needed to come get you, and I hope this isn’t too much, but–the Warden–Stonegit, they’re in trouble, they’re at the Jaw–” The stranger put an inked hand to his forehead, feeling faint. “Oh, god, I’m sorry–”
hubwalker1
She’s surprised the sudden appearance of the boy, he was more than likely around Lila’s age, but to her he seemed like a boy at least. Her hand had instantly gone to her hilt, but as he spoke she slowly lowered it. She wasn’t sure why but he seemed familiar for whatever reason. It was enough for her to lower her guard for the time being. She puts her hands firmly on his shoulders. “Relax soldier. Take a deep breath. If people are in trouble we can’t help them unless you’re calm enough to tell us everything.”
foresight-botgd
He took a huge breath and shut his eyes, trying to focus. He was still struggling with all the new information in his head at any given time, like he’d moved into a new house with twice as much square footage. “Commander,” he said again, more steady now, and he also looked at Grey. “Chief…” He put a hand to his chest. “My name is Yun. You know Milae. We’re…related, sorta.” He tugged down one of his long sleeves to show them the edge of his seidr markings, as proof. “Sorry, it’s weird. It’s really weird. But–sorry, that’s not important. You just–you need to know that Stonegit and Nala are in huge danger. Like, I don’t know how to tell you how major this is. Vidar has them trapped and he’s trying to take the Warden for himself. We have to go stop him. Right now. Or we are toast.”
lbigreyhound13
The Chief’s brown eyes scanned the stranger in front of her and Lila. He did seem to resemble Milae…but how could that be? She didn’t remember Milae mentioning any siblings. Nevertheless, all she could focus on was the mention of the Jarl Vidar Bloodletter…and what that had to do with Stonegit and Nala. Ever since this whole rebellion began, they had never met face to face, and yet, he was a thorn in her side…kidnapping Liam…and now…Stonegit and Nala…her former comrades were in danger because of him. She glared and clenched her fists.
“Whoa, okay, start from the beginning,” Grey said as calmly as she could. “What does he want with the Warden and Stonegit?”
foresight-botgd
“I don’t know,” he said, tossing his arms in front of him in a panic. “I think he wants to trap her and use her, or something? But it’s huge enough that I can’t even go back and tell Stonegit not to go without shaving off a huge chunk of the timeline.” Yun mussed his own hair, realizing that his words were making zero sense. “It’s a giant decision with a lot of ripples. I don’t know how else to describe it. I can’t fix it without your help. We have to go.”
Lila cursed to herself. “Well what can we do? We can’t sneak in and sneak out. They’re gonna be on high alert after we just broke 3 people out, and we don’t have time to move our army out there.”
Dec 14, 2020
Grey leaned on the table in front of her glaring at the wood as if it was going to give her the answer. Stonegit and Nala were currently at the hands of one of the most vicious warlords High Central had to offer, for what reason she didn’t know. Not only that but Nala had informed her that she left her body to remain on the island to guard it. 
“And there’s no way we can reason with that dragon-shitheaded, pig-headed, racist…bastard,” Grey said. “We’re still building up our army too, and we don’t even measure up to what Central has. We could use the Nixes to get everyone there, but…it would be a tough fight.”
Dec 14, 2020
“The fight is not what I’m concerned about. There is no way we could get Nix from the underground here in time for us to leave and it would exhaust those here to bring our whole army and the supplies we’d need for the battle such a long way.”
Dec 14, 2020
“You’re right,” Grey said turning to her niece. “What are you thinking? I think I can see the wheels turning.”
Dec 14, 2020
“Can…can they turn faster?” Yun said, his voice thin and a bit high due to the stress of both the situation and speaking up to the two leaders.
Over his shoulder in the open threshold of the Great Hall, the snow on the ground sloshed and boiled briefly before a familiar heavy-coated figure pulled themselves up by the arms and sat on the ground with their feet in the portal like a hot spring, reaching a hand down to help a skinny, timid-looking doe up through the ground as well.
Dec 14, 2020
She shakes her head. “I don’t know… Nio how much can you portal at a time?” She asks as she looks over at the river Nix.
Dec 14, 2020
They snapped their head around at the summons, pale gaze flicking around at the scene. “Uhhhh…” They looked up at the frosty day moon with their hands on their hips, eyes narrowing. “Dunno. On a good day…couple hundred? Five hundred? More? Probably more. The Hel why?”
Yun, standing in the background of the conversation, also looked like he was thinking extremely hard. He lifted his arms, and his tattoos rippled in a wave of teal light. He didn’t quite move anywhere, though everyone felt a rush to the head that they hadn’t felt in a while, and he lifted his chin, looking between the three of them. “Akkey’s on the way,” he said definitively.
Dec 14, 2020
“You better pray to her it is a very good day. We’re gonna need yours and the other Nixes help to get our army from here all the way to the Jaw.” She turned to Yun. “Can you see about any of the nixes from the ocean? We’re gonna need all we can get. Reginald came with a Nix as well yes? He’ll be easy to get a hold of at least…” She trails off and growls. “I don’t know how we’re going to get everyone from here to there without absolutely exhausting everyone.
Dec 14, 2020
“She’s already bringing them.” Yun lifted his hand, hesitated for a second, and then grabbed Lila’s arm. “Hey, it’s…it’s gonna be okay. They can do it.”
“Depends. Here to where?” Nio inquired, leaning up against the massive door. 
“The Jaw.”
Nio raised their eyebrows. “Oh, shit. You said you have other Nixes coming?”
Yun nodded, and Nio tapped their active fingers across the pocket of their coat, with small silver globules of water fluttering between them. Then they looked at Lila and Grey again.
“You ever hear of a portal train?”
Dec 14, 2020
“Well, that’s a technique I haven’t heard of in a while.”
The hardwood yawned open into an old, comforting hum, depositing three more white haired figures into the Hall, followed by a familiar rebel.
Akkey stepped briskly through to the small group, the only dark haired Nix amongst them. Her brow was already knotted with both worry and determination. After Yun’s abrupt debriefing and some hesitation on the trustworthiness of the stranger, she had left an anxious Blunt with the promise to bring the bodyguard back alive, and went to gather Libulan, Ambon, and Azul back to Haligan.
“Unconventional, but smart. Probably our best option.” she pulled at her braid, eyes flicking to the side as in habit as her mind raced. She nodded, getting immediately down to business, “Lila, Grey. Start gathering your troops. Meet us at the village center, especially with that other Nix you mentioned. Be quick.”
—
Five nixes stood in the village center, with a thoughtful Akkey in the middle as she strategized in her head.
Dec 14, 2020
Savarthan was the first one to arrive to the pow wow and upon seeing the other Nixes groaned. “Oh gods, who invited these losers?” He cried.
“I did.” Lila said as she approached with Grey and the rest of the army behind her. “Now listen up, all of you. I don’t give a shit what beef each of you have with the others. Right now we have more important things to worry about than ideological differences. Kill each other after this is done if you have to, otherwise keep your mouths shut and do your damn jobs. Understood?”
Dec 14, 2020
The Chief glared at the Nixes and crossed her arms feeling the swell of pride watching her niece call their troops to attention. “I would listen to my niece,” she said with a raised eyebrow. “You would not want to see what happens when she’s angry, trust me.” She then turned to her niece. “Commander, perhaps, you and Akkey can explain the strategy to our recruits.”
Dec 14, 2020
Lila nods and steps forward, pulling her hand from where it laid in her hoodie pocket, folding both hands behind her back. “As it has been explained to me, the Jarl, Vidar is attempting to gain control of the Warden. If that he succeeds, our fight against central will become incredibly difficult, if not impossible. We are going to make sure that does not happen. Not just to aid our war, but to save our friends.”
She begins to pace back and forth in front of them all. “Here is the plan. We will be attempting a maneuver known as a portal train. The basic idea of it, is that we will be stringing several portals together to move us all the way from Haligan Island all the way to Fenrir’s Jaw. To do this, and correct me if I’m wrong Akkey,you will need to enter the portal single file.
“Once on the other side get into formation. The bulk of our forces will approach from the east while a thousand splits off from the group and sneaks around to the north west side. Once we are in position I will attempt to engage the Jarl in single combat while Jari and a few of our engineers plant bombs along a few of the teeth.
"Best case scenario he agrees and falls. Worst case, he refuses and we attack. If we do commence our attack, Jari will detonate the bombs and the remaining forces will attack from the north west while we attack from the east.”
She pauses and takes a deep breath. “This is it. This is our moment to strike back at Central and deal a lasting blow. This is our moment to show that we are more than just the animals they say we are! That we are more than what anyone thinks! We are Rebels, and we will not be pushed around any longer!”
Dec 14, 2020
The Rebels all cheered in response, and Grey and Brandt stood beside each other smiling with absolute pride on their faces. With nothing else to add to that speech, the Chief slowly walked up to the Commander…her niece and placed her hand on Lila’s shoulder. 
“That was beautifully said,” Grey said. “Your dad would be so proud of you.”
Dec 14, 2020
Libulan and his entourage were left fuming as the rebels mobilized, “If you think that we will be cooperating with this low life, this inferior, dark skinned impure-!”
“Okay, that’s enough!” Akkey pulled her sword up and thrust its hilt to the prince’s jaw, forcing him to stop speaking and tilt his chin upwards. She alternated her glare between him and the newcomer, “You heard the Commander and the Chief. One more peep out of either of you I am sending both of you to the Moon and you can say hi to the goddess.”
She pulled a map out with a huff as everyone fell into disgruntled silence, and pinned six small icicles into the parchment on the ground to mark points, “We’ll start here, on Haligan.”
“Azul, you’re physically the strongest out of all of us. You’re the only one with enough stamina who can keep it open for that long to let three thousand soldiers through, so you’ll stay here to be our anchour. Ambon will be posted between here and Port Krum; winds are wild so stay steady. Your Highness, you’ll be right by where the port island used to be, by the Frostbitten Fields. And you--” she hesitated and turned towards the newest Nix, “--I didn’t catch your name, I’m sorry. You can take Traebor. It’s warmer so hopefully you can manage.” All Ocean nixes and underground Nix groaned at having to be in close contact with each other, but immediately simmered down with another look from the elder rebel.
“I’ll come up from behind in the Scrublands. It’s a bigger distance compared to everyone else, but it’ll be fine. And Nio--” Akkey stood to look up at the short haired figure, “You’re the only one who knows exactly where the best place to come up will be, so if you can please bring up the rear. We’re counting on you.”
She kicked the ground, and the snow melted into another opening, “I’ll bring everyone to their posts. Let’s get to it.”
Azul nodded as Akkey and the others disappeared, then turned to face the other rebels who were getting in formation, “Several lines are fine. Just not all at once,” she said in a steady voice. She rubbed her hands together as she planted her bare feet firmly into the cold stone, visualizing where Ambon would be stationed and locking her connection in place. With a big exhale, she let a portal stretch open on the ground, and frigid seawater began lapping around the ankles of the first groups of rebels. They began to sink quickly.