Noble Hope| General Kirigan

𝟘𝟘𝟙

Adaline made her and Alina's presence known. "We'll go. Put us on the skiff, we'll go."

The general's expression was unreadable as he stood and stalked toward the opening of the tent. "Yes, you will. Your whole unit will," he said to Alina. "Head of Reporters, I only want you out there. No need to risk a whole unit on one report."

Adaline nodded stiffly at the order. Alina's hands were fidgeting nervously. 

Saints, what have we gotten ourselves into?

****~****

"What do you mean you're crossing the Fold, Addy?" Mikayla, Adaline's second in command as Head of Reporters, demanded while she watched her friend pack her bag. The girl was pretty with her golden blonde hair and blue eyes. You'd never expect her to be a part of the army, but here she was. "You're in charge of this whole unit, you can't just leave." 

Adaline sighed exasperatedly. "I have to. And until I get back I'm leaving you to lead everyone." Stuffing her pack of pencils into her pack, she swung it over her shoulder and left their tent. 

"Addy–"

"Leave it, Mikayla. I'll have Alina and Mal with me, I'll be fine." She placed her scruffed-up and scarred hands onto the blonde's shoulders. "I'll come back. But in the meantime, make sure Adrian doesn't have any more grammatical errors. He's been driving me insane."

The girl laughed sadly, her eyes glossing over. "Will do boss." 

"Good, that's good." Adaline pressed her lips to her friend's forehead in a friendly way. "I'll see you when I get back."

Taking a deep breath, Adaline collected her nerves. She pulled a hair tie off her wrist and quickly put her hair into a low ponytail as she rushed onto the large boat. Above her stood a woman in a blue kefta, a Squaller. Alina's presence soon found her.

"You ready?" Alina asked.

"No, but Mal's too stupid to go by himself. I think all those muscles dulled his brain cells." 

"Addy now's not the time for jokes."

"It's always the time for jokes, you just have no sense of humor," Adaline said as they boarded the skiff, trying and failing to lighten the mood. Especially failing when Mal caught sight of the two of them.

"What are you doing here?" he said, acting a little too calm and facing the younger Starkov. 

"We've been assigned with you," answered Alina, looking up at their best friend with his shaved head, broad shoulders, and rifle placed across his back.

"No. Turn around right now." 

Adaline scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Orders are orders." 

Mal's glare turned to Adaline. "I could shoot you in the foot." 

The girl hummed. "I quite like my feet thank you," she said and pushed past the man. "But you can certainly shoot Alina's." 

"Hey!"

Mal turned and gently but firmly grabbed Adaline's wrist while still blocking Alina. "Tell them you're sick."