Finding the Perfect Lily [Complete]

[Edmund Conner]

Everything felt like a dream to Edmund for being in the Carna territory for the first time. Not only in the Fallen did they speak ill of the Carna, but so did the Fulsi. Never sounded like a good place to visit yet there Edmund was trying to talk some sense into Ethan. It was getting difficult for the Fulsi Scout to focus when his head kept racing millions of miles a second. Going from a desert territory, to an urban territory, and now in a forest in a single dome made Edmund uncomfortable at the thought of how many other places may have completely new terrain with other dangerous people. Edmund was not the biggest fan of change if it did not benefit him. Looking up toward the sky past the canopy of the trees showed gray clouds with a decent chance of rain. Even though he did not want to get wet he knew that would help them escape with the water washing off Ethan and his own scent. At a fast pace Edmund tried his best to keep up with Ethan to talk some sense into him. To look for a person in a dangerous territory was a bad idea and the Fulsi Scout had to get Ethan out of it before it was too late. It would all be in vain if they both got killed trying to find Ethan's sister. The scene played in his head over and over again of the argument they had the night before leading up to this point... -------------------------------------------- "Are you crazy?" Edmund yelled extending both his arms into the air with open palms and louder than he expected at Ethan. "She's been, I don't know, brain washed by the Carna or something. She's lost, Edmund. If we bring her to the Fulsi, I know we can help her find her way again," Ethan pleaded to Edmund with such assurance. "Getting yourself killed to find your sister isn't worth it. Why would you risk your life to do that?" he questioned with a clear expression of distraught. "That's what family does. We go out of our way to protect the people we love and care about. I'd do that for you. Wouldn't you do that for me?" Ethan responded with a tinge of sadness in his tone to throw in a good guilt trip. Closing his eyes and taking a deep breath, the Fulsi Scout needed a moment to calmly continue the conversation. "Of course I would. Can we please go to bed? This is the first time in awhile we've actually had the time to be together without being interrupted with tasks to do. We can talk about it in the morning. " Ethan nodded his head with his eyes looking down to the left with an exasperated sigh. "Okay. Fine. We'll talk about it in the morning." After sleeping for a few hours later Edmund suddenly shot out of bed looking around. Gone."Dammit," he said to himself when it became clear Ethan went to the Carna anyway. Edmund knew he would do that crap, but did not want to believe it. Throwing off the ratty blanket Edmund put on his underwear, pants, and shoes. He was still wearing his shirt so it made it easier for him to not have so many things to put on. Dashing out the door of the room in the Gospel Complex he raced down the stairwell to grab Ethan before it was too late. --------------------------------------------- Under his breath the Fulsi Scout repeatedly said the 'f word' over and over again to relieve some of the stress of what was going on. Recently Edmund noticed people were unaware of his presence. More than once did he scare the crap out of Ethan by sneaking up on him. He was not sure if people were just ignoring him or if something had changed. Edmund knew to use that to his advantage to hopefully not get caught while searching for Ethan. "You better be alive, you SOB!" --- Flashback Edmund Speaking Flashback Ethan Speaking Present Edmund Speaking

[Ethan Graff]

The forest seemed to ooze darkness as he picked his way through the undergrowth, each crackle of leaves underfoot sounding like an avalanche to his ears. Each step he took seemed to echo through the woodland and he cringed at each twig or leaf he stepped on. He was not small and lithe and light of foot -- he was like his shift, heavy, plodding, wide as a pickup truck and just as sturdy; but quiet, he was not. He hoped that some of the volume was contributed to the bucket loads of adrenaline he could feel pumping through him, heightening all his senses. Even so, he tried to remember what his Fulsi mentor had said about stealth and weight distribution. It was easier than trying to remember the training he'd had under UNIT, which seemed eons ago now. Anouka's words were harsh but well-meaning in his mind, something about how he she couldn't believe it sounded like he was walking around with tap shoes on. You could not sneak up on a deaf man! She'd once said in exasperation. And that was saying something, seeing as she was half-deaf herself, supposedly because of an explosion at a pro-Shifter rally. She was only a few years older than him, but she somehow seemed to hold so much more wisdom than he did. He found himself wishing that Noushka, as he'd taken to calling her, was here now. But she was safely tucked in her bed, probably with some other man she was currently training. Thinking about being safely tucked in bed made him think of Edmund, something he regretted. He knew he shouldn't have snuck out on him. But he didn't want to put Edmund in harm's way. He shouldn't have even told him what he was doing, but he couldn't keep a secret like this from him either ... Ethan grimaced at the loud snap of a twig under his boot, rolling his eyes at his own stupidity. This was how people got straight up murdered in the dome, doing reckless and dangerous things like this but doing so distracted. It was the modern-day "texting while driving," sneaking into enemy territory while daydreaming about the past. How had he ever been a cop? No. No. He had to concentrate. He had to find a way to get to Lily without being detected, then convince her to come back to the Fulsi with him. It seemed an impossible task, but Ethan drew himself up to it. He knew that he could face anything if it meant he could save his sister. It wasn't long before he could smell the seaside, hear the roar of wind tearing over the face of the cliff, the faint ebb and flow of the waves. It had been such a long time since he'd smelled the sea, that salty tinge that reminded him of California. He didn't allow the thoughts to pervade this time, though. He kept his focus and became aware, suddenly, that something was coming. He heard a hushed voice, like someone was muttering under their breath. Heart pounding loud in his ears he felt his cheeks flush with heat as he searched the ground for any means of defense. He saw a felled branch and grabbed it, tucking himself behind a tree to wait. Minutes passed and he didn't hear anything that sounded like a footstep, but suddenly he could make out a shadowed figure in the darkness. He calmed his breathing as much as he could, trying to swallow the roiling fear in his chest; he couldn't hear what was coming, hell, he could barely see it. The grumbling shadow passe within a few feet of him and he jumped out behind it with a hoarse shout, holding his branch aloft and ready to strike whatever had found him.

[Edmund Conner]

Sweat dripped down Edmund's face from using so much energy to scout from one territory to the next. Originally being in the desert helped him adapt to enduring the heat. For awhile he continuously would meet up with Ethan on the Fulsi and Fallen border to get to know each other more. Edmund found it to be an odd kind of dating situation since he came from a wealthy family so his expectations were a bit too high. Being in the Menagerie humbled him extremely, but it has taken some time to do so. When it came to the ultimatum of leaving the Fallen to join Ethan in the Fulsi or stay in the desert alone it did not take any thought of what his decision would be. If he was willing to leave a ring to be with Ethan then he was willing to chase after him into the Carna territory. Little by little Edmund knew he was catching up to Ethan. Some parts became difficult when dodging trees in the night. Edmund would have preferred to use his shift form instead of human. That would give him away to any Carna that may be nearby which would make the "hunt" pointless. It felt like his heart was beating out of his chest from the anxiety of it all. There was no turning back. Finally, Edmund could feel himself getting much closer to catching up to Ethan. Just as he became confident that he was caught up with Ethan it looked like he disappeared. "Dammit. Dammit. Dammit," he muttered to himself out of frustration. When about to pass a tree all of a sudden a person jumped in front of him surprising the hell out of Edmund. Within seconds he realized it was Ethan. Putting up his hands in front of his face as a sign of surrender Edmund loudly said, "It's me! It's me! It's me!" A sense of relief settled in since he found Ethan, but also a tinge of anger for him leaving. In the moment he was grateful Ethan did not hit him in the face when he realized who was standing in front of him. "Is there anything you would like to tell me? I know it's not morning time yet, but we may as well discuss this now."

[Ethan Graff]

It was so dark that Edmund's voice snapped him out of defense mode before he could recognize his face."Gówno! Edmund?!" he yelped, barely stopping himself mid-swing as he let out a rush of air and dropped the branch, trying to get his heart to pick itself up from the bottom of his stomach. "Where the hell ... How did you ... I'm gonna have to tie a bell around your neck. Jesus!" His voice wavered a bit, still recovering from the nearly bashing his boyfriend's head with a branch thing. He gave it a second before Edmund's warm, familiar scent washed over him: an almost earthy sweat with some sweet, floral undertones -- Jesus, he always managed to smell delightful. Probably made a pact with the devil, Ethan thought with a tinge of envy. He When he finally made out Edmund's features, he could see his strong, dark brows were full-tilt rage squint mode. His confidence in his decision-making skills withered under that stare, even more so when Edmund spoke. He felt guilty, sure, but he didn't appreciate the tone, especially not in the middle of Carna territory in the dead of night. He was not properly equipped (at the moment) to handle Edmund's sass when his other senses screamed at him to focus. "I didn't want to put you in harm's way," Ethan said, his tone quiet yet firm. "Look. I know you think I'm crazy for trying to find Lily," He paused, drew in a sharp breath. "But I have to do this, Edmund. I don't have it in me to leave her in the Carna alone. I can't abandon her," Again, he finished in his mind. "Even if she doesn't want to come back to the Fulsi with me, at least I'll know I did everything I could to help her." He said. He stepped forward, closer to Edmund, so he could see him clearer. There was a long pause before he spoke again, reaching out to grab one of Edmund's hands. "Go home, Edmund, please. I couldn't live with myself if you got hurt or worse just because I'm too stubborn to listen."  He wanted Edmund by his side, true, but more than that he wanted Edmund safe and sound, happily snuggled in bed with his cat Isis. Hell, he wanted to be there next to him. But he was determined to find his sister, cost what it may.    ooc; we will posts even if it kills us !!!!!!!! translation - "gówno" meaning "shit" in polish

[Edmund Conner]

Edmund looked into Ethan's eyes with a feeling of regret for not listening more to how Ethan felt earlier. Maybe if he had not reacted so poorly they would not be in this situation. Every word Ethan spoke Edmund made sure to focus on completely before waiting to have a response. "Yes, you are crazy for wanting to come to the Carna like this, but that doesn't change my feelings for you." As if reading each other's minds Edmund reached his hand out to Ethan at the same time. "Knowing that you refuse to abandon your sister truly one hundred percent warms my heart. It says exactly what kind of person you are." Edmund could feel some tears surfacing to the front. With his free hand Edmund put his hand on Ethan's chest. "No, I am not going home. What's the point in going back if you don't come back with me?" Edmund squeezed Ethan's hand just a little tighter. "How could I let you go on this mission and be a hypocrite by abandoning you? We can and we will do this together." A tear ran down his face as he continously looked into Ethan's eyes without looking anywhere else. It was as if they were completely alone in their own little world. "Please, have more faith in me next time." Closing his eyes Edmund took a deep breath and exhaled to try to calm down from getting emotional. Edmund took his hand off Ethan's chest and intertwined his fingers with Ethan's other hand. For a few seconds he kept his eyes closed before opening them to once again look at Ethan. "Now, what exactly do you have planned to get her back? Did you bring weapons, have an escape route in case something happens, or an unexpected ally?" The most Edmund could do was hold onto hope that everything would turn out okay. Edmund forced himself to believe that without any doubt because he knew the moment he felt doubt was the moment he'd want to run back to the Fulsi.

[Ethan Graff]

Even through the darkness, Ethan could tell how upset Edmund was, could weirdly smell the tears as they spilled onto his cheeks. He was slightly taken aback at how deeply Edmund was affected by this. Edmund meant a lot to him, but part of him wondered how much Edmund really cared. He often seem guarded with his feelings; not his affections, to be sure, but they had never really shared with each other how they felt. But Ethan could see it now, hear it in Edmund’s voice, feel it in his touch. Ethan leaned into the hand on his chest, bringing his free hand to grasp it. He shook his head, still in disbelief that Edmund was here. “I can’t believe you followed me all the way out here,” He said. “And here I thought I was being the stubborn one,” he continued with a bemused tone. “And I do have faith in you, Hero. I just wanted to keep you safe, honestly. I didn’t want to risk your life ...” He said, his tone sobering a bit. He didn't want to tell Edmund the truth about Lily, that she had barely recognized him the last time they met. That she had almost killed him. How was he supposed to lead Eddi into that? He cleared his throat at the mention of a plan, snapped back into the realm of reality. He pushed aside the confusing flurry of emotions, nodding to compose himself. “This was really just a recon mission, to find any weak spots in their patrols or points of ingress into their headquarters.” “You won’t find any.” The voice came from above. Ethan’s head snapped up, hands instantly dropping from Edmund’s as he tried to find any hint of movement in the dark, shadowed canopy. He couldn’t see anything; A rustle of movement, then a short, barking laugh a second before something rough and heavy was dropped on their heads from the branches above; they were standing so close that they’d both been caught. Ethan struggled, trying to understand what was happening in the dark -- he felt the rough, rope-like material around his head, realizing it was a net. But it was only a moment before his feet were swept out from under him and he felt the net tighten around him. He landed heavily on the ground, shouting as he fell.

[Edmund Conner]

As soon as the net fell from above Edmund tried to push Ethan away from it, but it came so fast he came nowhere close to even reaching him. If maybe he had been paying attention to his surroundings he may have been able to save Ethan. His heart pounded in his chest so hard it felt like he was going to have a heart attack. The only thing on his mind was praying Ethan would come out safely from this so he could find his sister. Edmund felt no regret coming out here to find Sunshine since they got to share a strong bonding moment that may never have happened if he didn't go search. It did feel like it was his own fault for getting captured so regret still came along with the emotions of fear, panic, and desperation to survive. "Ethan, make sure you find your sister. Don't worry about me. I'll be o--," he tried to say before being interrupted with a kick in the ribs. "There's no point in worrying after you're dead. We'd love to kill you now, but we would love even more how our Alpha plans to torture you first." Edmund tried to reach out to Ethan to hold his hand at least one more time. He was so close to making it before getting hit on the head knocking him unconscious. "Nighty nighty, filthy Fulsi." There were no dreams in the darkness he fell under. In his mind there was silence, but in the wilderness there was plenty of laughter. Finding the perfect lily was not as easy as Edmund hoped it would be and it sure as hell was not a lovely experience either. ----------------- THE END :D Bolded - Edmund Speaking Italicized - NPC Carna Speaking