liah

This Means War

"I hadn't even thought about a crutch. That would be perfect. Are you sure you could conjure one up for me? I don't want to be any more trouble than I've already been these past few days." I looked up at the brothers as they stared back at me.
"It's- it's no problem." Spencer wiggled his way out of his brothers grip. "I'll get started on it. I'm sure there's a bunch of stuff I could use to make one." Spencer thumped his brother on the forehead before running off to find something to make a crutch out of.
While Spencer ran off, the girls packed and Joe began grabbing and organizing all of our bags.

This Means War

"That all sounds good to me." I chimed in. "I can walk. Or at least hobble. I won't be as fast as you guys, but I think I can make it." Spencer shrugged.
"Alright." Spencer croaked. "When do we start leaving? I'm ready when you guys are. Daisy is feeling better, we're all rested. I think the sooner, the better." He looked to his siblings for approval. Joe nodded at him, slapping him on the back. Spencer winced, but ignored his big brothers attempt at affection.
"Sam. Plan Man-" Nina began, "How long do you think it'll take us to get there." She pointed at the red X sketched onto the map.

This Means War

"I mean, I don't know if it could end the war. Those were just stories I'd heard from a long time ago." I carefully sat back down in my seat. "But I'm pretty sure that's the secret base I'd been told about. If not, they were just stories to keep me positive." I shrugged. "It's worth a shot though. We don't even have to get to the base. We just have to get to Til." I rested my hands in my lap.
Spencer came stumbling over, his hair sticking up this way and that. He grumbled something, but I couldn't make it out. Nina hushed him and sat down beside me, eyeing the maps over.

This Means War

"Ok, so-" I shifted my weight so I wasn't leaning on my hurt leg so much. "Right here-" I pointed, "Is a secret base located in a discrete part of Til. If we can make it there, we should be good. I don't think a lot of people know about it. It's for... important people. I don't know. I guess all the big, high up people. My brother used to write to me and tell me stories of some almighty secret base that was supposed to help end the war more efficiently." I ran a hand through my hair, thinking of my brother. Missing him. But the war took him. "That was a long time ago, though." I said quietly, "Anyway. I think we can do it."

This Means War

"Oh, good morning." I heard Sam say from the doorway of the bedroom. "I didn't think anyone had heard me." I looked over my shoulder and gave him a small smile. "So-" I gently patted the chair beside me for Sam to sit down. "It took me a while, but I finally got it." I said proudly.
"Actually, don't sit. Stand here." I gestured beside me. I placed both of my hands onto the table and slowly pushed off, standing up in front of my chair.
The maps were all sprawled out onto the table. But this time,they made since. They fit together as one. All of the maps were in fact, one huge map that just needed to be put together like a puzzle.
"We're right here." I pointed to a red dot on one of the maps. "We need to go over there." I gently dragged my finger across various maps to our new destination.

This Means War

((Time skip? I'm gonna go for it lol))

The morning came with a light drizzle pitter pattering on the roof of the old rickety house. The siblings were asleep in various places in the living room. Spencer was sprawled on the half cushioned couch, while Nina lay on the floor beside him. Joe slept up against the wall in an upright position, right next to a window so he could get some air while he slept. Em lay next to Nina, cuddled beside her younger sister for warmth. As for Sam, I guessed he was still in the bedroom, asleep.
The light patter of the rain on the roof was calming. It had eventually put me to sleep long after the siblings were out. I had fallen asleep at the table, arms crossed over the maps. I'd used them as some comfort or pillow. The night seemed endless as I'd spent it mulling over the maps. But with much determination and little sleep, I'd finally figured something out. I had saved my new findings to tell the group when the morning came.
"Hey guys, I found something." I said to sleeping ears, wondering if anyone could hear me. "We've got a way out of here." I said quietly to myself.

This Means War

"I'm fine. I'm wide awake, actually. I've been asleep for about 48 hours. You can take the bed if you like." I nodded towards the bedroom I'd previously been asleep in. "I'm going to go over these maps for a bit and see what I can find. I think it'll be good for me to stay awake. If I sleep any longer, I'll be awake for he rest of my life." I joked. "Get some rest, you need it."

This Means War

"Honestly-" I started. "I think we're okay. I don't think they'll find us." I gave him a soft smile. "I don't know how we got here because I was out the whole time, but I don't feel like we're in danger." My eyes met his. "Give your eyes a break. I can only imagine how long you've been starring at these maps. Take a nap and recharge." I couldn't help but feel bad. I had been asleep for almost two full days. I'd slowed us down and now we were stuck in some old raggedy house in the middle of the woods. I was sure everyone needed sleep.

This Means War

I could hear Joe and his sister talking about trying to make a new plan outside. It was very faint and I could every other word, but I could still hear them. Spencer still sat on the half cushioned couch as he read whatever book he had his face buried into.
"I'm alright." I nodded. "Thanks for asking, appreciate it." I gave him a small smile as I rested my hands in my lap. "How are you doing over there?" I asked in return. "You look a little sleepy."

This Means War

I examined both maps from where I sat, looking back and forth and back again. "There." I pointed to a spot on the newer map that looked like it had a building of some sort on it. "That's in the same area as this map." I tapped the older version of it. "A base? I'm not sure if it's ours or a Jaxlor base though." I paused for a moment. "That is- if it even is a base. But it's something and it might help." I rested my elbow on the table and leaned my cheek in my hand. "What do you suppose it is?"