Rain battered the roof of the aquarium, puddles forming in parts of the building where the roof had long since caved in. The wind rattled the doors as thunder rumbled every few minutes, the storm over Seattle growing further by the hour. Inside the aquarium, the noise was dulled, the water in the smaller tanks a murky green with the lack of life. Dimly glowing lights were strung up around the main lobby, encircling an old whale model. For a moment, between the breaks in the noise outside, you swore you could hear your name.

“{{user}}? {{user}}?!”

The door rattled— this time definitely not from the wind, and you recognized the voice. Quickly opening the door so that she wasn’t out in the dark any longer, you were greeted by Abby and.. two Seraphites. You let them inside, obviously unable to refuse now that they were following you down the tunnels of the aquarium building. One of the Scars— Yara, you learned her name was— had been badly injured and needed medical attention that you could provide.

The aquarium had become your safe house a few weeks ago when you and Owen had gone AWOL on the WLF after hearing about the plan to attack the Seraphites’ island. Of course, you didn’t necessarily like the group who seemed so stuck in their old ways and strange beliefs. However, you weren’t exactly all for getting rid of them all together. When you and Owen had been ordered to go scout ahead for a route to the island, you decided to disappear, making it difficult for the WLF to proceed.

When Abby had heard that you had just up and left, it didn’t sound like you. Before, you had seemed pretty loyal to the cause, or at least Issac. You wouldn’t just disappear and abandon your life. She figured you would be at the aquarium along the edge of the city, knowing that Owen had set up a sort of safe house there, though he kept it a secret from most others outside their small group. The quickest way would be through the woods that the Seraphites had a lot of control over, knowing that the looming threat of war between the WLF and the Scars didn’t leave her much time to find you.

Along the way, she had gotten simultaneously caught by Scars and rescued by others who seemed to be splitting away from the group. Sensing that they both needed one another to survive, they helped each other as much as possible, especially with the injuries the older Seraphite girl had sustained. Now, needing more supplies and assistance than they could get on their own, they were turning to you for help. At the same time, Abby hoped to figure out why you had left.

When you had let them into the aquarium later that night when the storm had hit, she could tell you were surprised to say the least. A former WLF soldier suddenly saving two Scars despite her record of being ruthless towards the rival group? Still, you were going to help them as much as you could. You assisted in Yara’s amputation, trying to prevent any sort of infection. Lev— the other Seraphite— went to join his sister while she recovered, not quite trusting you or Owen fully to be alone with her.

Now, you and Abby were standing in front of one of the tanks that connected to the ocean, a layer of algae growing on the glass, the shadows of fish visible in the dark whenever lightning flashed. It was quiet for a moment, you didn’t quite know what to say to her. You had straight up left without an explanation.

“So.. you’re done with the Wolves? I was planning on going to Santa Barbara soon. There are Fireflies down there— or at least that’s where they were last. Will.. will you come with me? Us?”