A Fishy Beginning

Having returned to training with Mallory Ayita tried her best to follow her instructions, but having spent the entirety of her life using a bow and arrow she couldn't quite grasp the intricacies of using a firearm. Trying her best as she watched Ziggy and Sarah pass through with flying colours Ayita couldn't seem to find the drive to get fully engaged in the training, she had too much on her mind. The worry brought by Ziggy's reaction, or lack there of when she elaborated on what she had told her back at the garage had served to bring great amounts of worry to the young Native American. Getting through the first phase of the training Ayita listened as Mallory paired her and Ellie off with Justin while she took Ziggy and Sarah to focus on their rifles. Being back to her familiar weapon brought Ayita a bit of comfort, but still the worry persisted. 'please don't hate me... I ruined it all..' she thought as Justin began working with Ellie on using an assault rifle.

Spending about forty five minutes or so working with Justin with one small arms weapon or another Ayita found comfort in the way he went about teaching them, he never raised his voice and even when he got serious he never sounded threatening. "Thank you Justin.." Ayita said as they heard Mallory call for them all to take a break.

"Hey, What's wrong kiddo?" Justin asked, noticing the obvious sadness and unsureness in her voice.

Ayita bowed her head and looked to her feet. "Last night, I told Ziggy the full story of the time I was forced to defend myself and... Kill.. Someone." Ayita said her gaze never leaving the ground. "She looked lost in thought after I told her and even this morning she felt distant, like she didn't want to talk to me." Ayita vented to Justin, his way of handing her making her feel comfortable enough to tell him what was on her mind.

Justin brought his hand to rest on her head and tussled her hair before crouching down to her. Placing his hand under her chin he gently raised her head. "Let me tell you a secret Ayita. That girl loves you way too much to hate you over something like that. You can see it in her eyes when she looks at you, she looks at you with the same glow that I do with Alexandra." He said letting his hand fall from her chin. "So chin up soldier." he said before noticing Mallory had sent Ziggy and Sarah to take a break. "Look." he said motioning towards Ziggy and Sarah. "They're taking a break. Go talk to her, I can assure you that her thoughts on you haven't changed." With those words Justin got to his feet and pushed Ayita forward towards Ziggy.

Approaching Ziggy Ayita looked down at Sarah who was cleaning her rifle in the down time before coming to stand before Ziggy. "Sieglinde? Can I talk you for a second?" she asked before walking a distance away from Mallory and Sarah where waited for her girlfriend to join before she spoke.

Taking a deep breath she looked back towards Justin who nodded to her for reassurance. "About last night." Ayita started. "After I told you the details.. about what I had mentioned back in the garage." she began to stutter through her nerves. "After I told you the full story you looked distant and didn't talk much, and then this morning you didn't kiss me good morning like.. you usually do." Ayita looked into her lovers eyes searching for the glow that Justin had mentioned. She didn't know what she was looking for. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner. Truth be told I was scared of how you'd react when I told you." Ayita looked to the ground for a moment before back to Ziggy. "I've been shunned by people before for telling them about that.." She said as a tear began to form in her eye. Wiping the tear away Ayita reached out and took Ziggy's hand, she was shaking now. "Ich liebe dich Sieglinde, ich will dich nicht verlieren."(I love you Sieglinde, I don't want to lose you.)

Tears in her eyes Ayita looked to her girlfriend for her response. Hopefully she didn't hate her now, hopefully she hadn't ruined everything by telling her what had happened back at the market with the three men.

Looking in Ziggy's eyes Ayita blinked her tears away as she listened to her girlfriends words, To her relief Justin was right, it wasn't her at all that was causing her to be so distant. Giving herself into the kiss as Sieglinde pulled her in Ayita closed her eyes not wanting it to end. Pulling away she stood quietly as Ziggy explained that it was what was going to happen to them in just two days time and what they would have to go through that had made her distance herself. The thoughts had been weighing heavily on Ayita's mind as well but she would never let it show, she had to stay strong for the people around her, especially for Sieglinde and Sara. Gripping her girlfriends hand she looked into her eyes and for a moment caught a glimpse of what Justin had been talking about, a flicker in Ziggy's eyes when they're gazes met.

"Don't apologize Sieglinde." Ayita said as a smile broke through the tears in her eyes. "I'm sorry I didn't notice sooner, I'm sure it's been on your mind ever since we got here. I should have given you someone to talk to." Ayita said apologetically before feeling Ziggy pull her head onto her shoulder, Feeling the warmth of her body as she listened to her tell her that she wasn't mad and that she was thinking about all of the people that were around them and that she was thinking about what she had to do to keep them safe. The words caused another smile to form on Ayita's face. Ayita said to herself that she wasn't going to ignore Ziggy's feelings anymore, if she was distant then that meant she had something on her mind and if she could help her get whatever that something is off it then she would do everything she could. Lifting up she felt as Ziggy took her head and said in German that she loved her to the sun and back which brought another smile to Ayita's face, The phrase was something they had come up with a few weeks before coming to Maine. Ziggy's was the sun while Ayita's was the moon. The smile staying in placed as she heard the words Ayita looked her in the eyes and saw the glow again.

"Und ich liebe dich bis zum Mond und zurück."(And I love you to the moon and back.) She answered Sieglinde's phrase with her counter.

Ayita looked to the training grounds where Sarah was cleaning her rifle and Mallory was preparing more drills for Ziggy and Sarah. Ayita's face changed at the sight as she thought on what Ziggy had said, what they were about to do. Turning back to Ziggy she took her by the hands. "Whatever we have to do we'll do it together." Ayita said with renewed determination after hearing what Ziggy had to say and seeing the hard work she was putting in. The thought of what they were about to do scared her half to death but she knew that wherever they were, whatever they were doing, they'd do it together. And that would never change. "I'll be right by your side. No matter what." with those words Ayita looked back to Justin and saw him smile.

"Before I came over here Justin told me that he could tell how close we were just by the glow in our eyes when we looked at each other. He said it's the same glow he has with his wife." Ayita said without turning around. "I think I'm beginning to understand what love is. It's a condition of bliss and madness but when it's sustained it's the sweetest thing in the world." Ayita then turned back to her girlfriend and placed a kiss on her lips as she took her hand in hers. "I asked Mallory to be your spotter during all of this. I don't know when training for that with her starts but I'm going to get a head start with Justin. We're in this together, from now until the end. I love you Sieglinde."

Ayita returned her head to rest on Ziggy's shoulder and breathed in her girlfriends sent, the sweetness of the shower they had shared two days before still lingered and Ayita relished in the smell for a moment before she opened her eyes again. "I know you tend to put everything on yourself." Ayita started. "But promise me you won't shut me out anymore, We're in this together babe. Your problems are my problems." Ayita said as she brought her hands to wrap around Ziggy's midsection. "No matter what's troubling you I'll do everything I can to help you. I don't like seeing you lose sleep." Ayita then looked up at Ziggy's ear as she listened for her response. Staying like that for a few seconds a thought then crossed Ayita's mind and she felt her cheeks go red. She remembered how relaxed she had felt after Ziggy had done the dead with her before they had come to the island and after seeing the stress that Ziggy was putting herself under she wanted to give her the same feeling. Looking at Ziggy's ear Ayita closed her eyes and took a breath as she contemplated going through with what she was about to do. Releasing the breath she opened her eyes. "The other day you showed me something that relaxed me immensely." She said as she looked up at her girlfriend from her spot on her shoulder when she decided to do what Ziggy had done to her a few nights ago. Slowly she moved her lips up to Ziggy's ear and gently nibbled on it as she judged her response. Feeling her tense up Ayita stopped and smiled. "You like it too then?" She ask before waiting for her response. Nibbling on her ear once more Ayita waited for her to tense up again before she stopped and lifted her head up to look in her eyes, seeing the glow again Ayita kept her smile on her features as she took Ziggy's hands. "Tonight when we get back to the Tipi, when it's just us and the stars, let me help you sort out your thoughts. And... Help you relax. Okay?" Ayita said with a stutter as her mind crossed what they had just discussed. Without another word Ayita placed one last passionate kiss on her girlfriends lips and smiled as she hugged her tight. Releasing her Ayita maintained the smile on her face, the tear streaks now almost completely dry her eyes now burned with determination. Determined to stay by Ziggy's side through any hardship Ayita returned to Justin to start her training.    

"So? How'd it go kiddo?" Justin asked as he saw her approaching.

"She's not mad at me, she's been worried about what she'll have to do to help the people during the fight." Ayita answered as she came to stand before Justin, Alexandra had since joined him and was standing against a tree inspecting her weapons.

"See, I told you it wasn't you she was upset with. Just stay by her side and support her and she'll be fine." Justin said with a smile as he placed a fatherly hand on her shoulder.

"You're right. So now It's up to me to make sure I don't fail her. Mallory plans to have her as one of the marksman, I asked to be her spotter." Ayita said looking up into his eyes. "I don't know when Mallory plans on beginning that training but I was hoping you'd be able to give me a head start." She said.

Justin smiled at the girls newfound enthusiasm and looked back to Alexandra. "Lieutenant, Looks like you have a new recruit." Justin said, he knew she had been listening to what they had been saying but to insure that she'd agree Justin shot her his million dollar smile. In response she blushed and smiled like a school girl as she always did.

Alexandra pushed off the tree and handed her weapon to Justin before making her way to stand before Ayita. "So you're going to be her eyes hmm?" she asked, her tone was noticeably colder and more militaristic than Justin's, but Ayita was dedicated now and didn't flinch away. "Yes Ma'am." Ayita answered with conviction.

Looking down at Ayita Alexandra studied her features as she heard her answer, seeing the conviction on her face she nodded. "Then let's begin." she said commandingly giving the young Native American no time to answer before brandishing a pair of binoculars from one of the many pockets on her plate carrier that she wore nearly any time she was awake and shoved them into the girls' hands.

Letting Alexandra take over with Ayita's training Justin turned his focus back to Ellie. Alexandra was stern as she threw Ayita through the basics of being a marksman's spotter, Explaining that it would be her duty to keep track of everything that was going on around them to allow her marksman to focus on one thing; downing targets.

Slightly shaken by the abrupt difference between Justin and his wife Ayita was taken aback at first when Alex threw her into it head first with little warning. She didn't shy away however and soon fully focused on everything Alexandra said, she was giving her complete obedience and followed every order. The worry that she had previously been feeling over upsetting Ziggy gone, Ayita kept pace with Alexandra. When it came to a live fire exercise she didn't shy away from the challenge. Watching as the woman fetched her rifle from Justin and laid beside her Ayita waited eagerly for her orders.

"There are seven tree's down range, one with a red leaf on the second left branch, one with a knot in it's trunk about four feet off the ground, one with a broken bottom right branch, One with a Y shaped split, one is four smaller trees merged into one, one has a fallen log on its western side and the other has a small amount of red tape on the leftmost side. Find them, identify them, range them, and relay that information to me. Understood?" Alexandra spoke with a sternness of a Russian Commander.

"Yes Ma'am." Ayita said, and with that she set to work. Calling out the first few tree's Ayita began to get used to the sound of the rifle firing beside her, it still made her jump but with each shot it got easier to handle. Mallory was sure to test them for spotting just like she had with weapon handling but Ayita had her fathers fire burning in her, she could feel it as she continued to drill with Alex. Soon they moved to new targets and began the process again. They drilled like this for a time before Alexandra gave her a breather. Coming to the tree with Justin and Ellie he handed her a bottle of water, taking a swig as she looked to Ziggy and Sarah she thought about the concerns Ziggy had previously mentioned.

Setting the water in her pack Ayita returned to training with Alexandra as Justin began to drill Ellie on his SCAR-L.

Ayita once again dived in with little protest knowing that Whatever was in store for her and Sieglinde, she'd be right there beside her and she was determined to be ready. Now more than ever.

Taking the medical supplies from Claudia Brody took Carmins hand and led her to the side, oblivious to her feelings he didn't notice how red she got when their hands met. Coming to sit next to a nearby tree Brody sat down and began unwinding the gauze. "Here, let me do that." Carmin said sitting crisscross beside him. Taking the gauze from his hands she began unwinding it and placed in in her lap before she took one of the bandages and soaked it in peroxide. "This is gonna sting B." Carmin said before pouring an amount of peroxide on the wound. Brody winced at the pain but gritted his teeth and let her continue. Placing the bandage on the wound Carmin set to wrapping the bandage around his head to cover the wound.

"There, all done." She said with a smile.

"Thank you. You want me to help you take care of that?" Brody asked.

"Take care of what B?" Carmin asked completely oblivious to the gash on her cheek. She was nearly always cut up or bruised from one thing or another so she hadn't even thought about it until Brody pointed it out. Reaching her hand up to her face Carmin winced as her hand met the wound. "Oh, I guess you got me too. Hmm, good job B." Carmin said looking at the blood on her hand. "Yea, if you would, I don't got a mirror so I can't see what I'm doing." Carmin answered.

"Alright, hold still." Brody said as he prepared another bandage and set to cleaning the wound on her face. Concentrating on what he was doing Brody again didn't notice the fact that Carmin's cheeks grew red at his touch. It was frustrating to Carmin that he didn't notice anything when they were together, didn't notice that she liked him. Her cheeks still red as he finished bandaging her Carmin watched as Brody stood up and held his hand out to help her to her feet. Taking his hand Carmin bounced to her feet and looked at Brody with a smile. "You ever think you'd wanna be more than friends with someone?" Carmin then asked out of the blue.

"More than friends?" Brody repeated confused. "Like best friends?"

Carmin laughed awkwardly as she heard the answer. "Uhh, not really.." She said, but Brody didn't know what she meant and was still equally confused. Frustrated Carmin shook her head and smiled back to her friend. "Nevermind, I'll explain later." she said as she saw Brody look at her for a moment before shrugging.

Getting back to the group Carmin saw that they were now doing Fireman carries, a drill she wasn't especially fond of due to her small frame but over the months Claudia had trained her enough that she could do it fairly well. Seeing Thomas approach them she opened her mouth to ask him who was up but before she could ask she watched as he pulled Brody away. "Guess that answers that question." She said to herself.  After the two boys one of the biker dudes was up.

"I'll go next." Carmin said after the biker finished.

Starting with Thomas and Brody Carmin carried the both of them to the mark and back as instructed before doing the same with a few others. By the time she finished beads of sweat were running down her face and she needed to cool off. Laying down in the grass she took the bottle of water she had with her and took a good long swig from it before letting out a long steady breath. Her turn passing she chose to sit in the grass and observe the rest until Claudia gave them their next drill.

"It's okay, don't apologize for it." Ziggy responded to Ayita's apology. "Misunderstandings happen between couples, it's only natural."

Part of Mallory appreciated everyone being so polite with calling her Ma'am, but unlike with Claudia that really wasn't necessary with her. Ayita made it clear she wanted to work with her girlfriend and it wasn't really Mallory's plan to separate them. Valentina had given them some spotter training which she appreciated. Also, the name Sieglinde Mallory hadn't heard yet, as Ziggy had introduced herself with her nickname, but Mallory understood why Ziggy abbreviated her name. But Mallory figured Ayita wouldn't let it go until she confirmed she could be Ziggy's spotter.

"Easy Ayita, you got the job alright? Don't worry." Mal said, then turned to Ziggy. "Deine echte Name ist Zeeglinda? Und du sagst mir das nicht? Nicht frisch Fraulein!" (Your real name is Zeeglinda? And you don't tell me that? Not fresh miss!)
Ziggy giggled. "We use the word 'cool' too Mallory!" Ziggy said. "You literally said it's not fresh!"

Sara had been in Troy's tent for what seemed like hours as she was resting up. She woke up for her sleep and put on her pants that she had worn last night. but she was feeling a bit chilly and grabbed one of Troy's flannels along with one of his beanies. She had hoped he wouldn't mind it and she had every intention of giving him back his flannel and his beanie. When she stepped out she could see that all eyes were on her and as she walked by the bikers she heard them cat calling her but this was quickly stopped by Frank who raised his voice at them. "Hey! Quit it assholes!" said Frank slightly raising his voice to a few members of his gang who were cat calling Sara and they went completely silent. Frank looked to Sara and nodded at her. "Take care." said Frank to Sara who had a small smile on her face and she nodded to the leader of the bikers before she left heading over to the training fields where she saw two groups training. She walked over sitting on the grass as she watched the training go on and she was amazed at the little army that had. She looked over seeing Maria in the distance teaching Laura how to skin animals a smile formed on her face as she saw her old rival interacting and pulling her weight. She had her stories how she barely did anything and mainly flirted with the guys and used them to do her work but now she was doing it and Sara couldn't be more proud. She broke out of her thoughts as she saw an exhausted Troy walk over to her. "Hey brainiac how's it going?" asked Troy with a smirk to Sara who looked away briefly at the ground for a moment before looking at him.




Her face grew slightly red as she saw him smirk while he was drenched in sweat. Hell the way he looked right now made her think like he was just going to do a beach calendar photo shoot. She chuckled at her own thought and shook her head as he sat next to her. "You're wearing my clothes now?" asked Troy to Sara who chuckled and shook her head once more. "I'm fine and it was chilly what do you expect me to wear? Maria had my coat last night." said Sara to Troy who shrugged as he didn't mind. "It's alright no worries. You can keep them they look better on you anyway." said Troy with a smirk to Sara who looked slightly surprised as she wasn't expecting it. "Are you sure?" asked Sara to Troy who nodded. He heard his name being called out and he let out a heavy sigh as he was ready for more of Claudia's insane drills. He started to walk but stopped as he turned to Sara taking off his vest and handing it to her. "If you wear this people will shut the hell up and mind their own business trust me." said Troy as he handed it to Sara who looked at the black denim vest as her hand went over a few of the patches that were on the front. She put it on and Troy nodded as he approved of it of course. "See you wear it better than me. Later brainiac!" said Troy as he left Sara who sat their smiling as she watched Troy jog off back to Claudia.