The Little Crow

Chapter Fifty Two - [Crows and Lions]

Hi everyone!

Thanks for your patience! As I mentioned in my announcements, I'm in the process of moving, which has been causing a delay in posting - but I really appreciate your patience!!! I hope you enjoy this nice long chapter!! Hopefully more consistent posts will be coming soon! 

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Love,

Luckycharms <3

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Thea stared at the General with parted lips as an expression of horror washed over her face, any joy she had previously shown for the news of Niall's promotion vanishing instantly. "No... absolutely not. Niall, you know that can't happen."

He watched her from where he stood near the window of his office and the expression on his face made it clear that he agreed with her, though the words that came out of his mouth begged to differ. "I cannot go against the President's orders."

She stood up, startling the rest of the team into looking at her. "What was all this work for then?" Thea snapped, looking... enraged. "We worked so hard to get him to trust us and to work with us and for what, to have him sent to the State Police to be tortured and then murdered with the memory of him wiped away forever?"

"Theavi, I feel the same way-"

"Do you?" She asked. "Or are you just not trying harder... not fighting for him... because you've gotten what it is you wanted? You've gotten access to Tai and the title of Secretary of Defense now, after all?"

She didn't mean it, everyone knew that. She knew it too. And thankfully, Niall did as well, not seeming to be too bothered by her harsh words. "Thea, I know that this is a painful revelation and your deep connection to Rue complicates things but hurling attacks at me is not going to solve anything, and you know that," he responded, glowering a little. "We've discussed the consequences of these thoughtless outbursts, have we not?"

Not blaming him for his harshness, she let out a breath, her eyes watering as she sat back down. "Sorry," she said, right away, knowing well that she was being unfair. "I didn't mean it, I just... the State Police is notorious for their cruelty."

"State funded murderers," Luana mumbled, glaring at the floor.

"Exactly," Thea said. "I can't even bare to imagine if Rue would have survived before the attack, when he was the strongest he could possibly be in the situation he was in... but now? He still can't even stand up. He sleeps for most of the day trying to recover. And his mind is weak from the fact that we had to bring all of this trauma he's gone through back up. Right now, he needs care. He wouldn't be able to survive in the hands of the State Police."

"I know, Thea. Trust me, I know." Niall responded. "And though I disagree wholeheartedly with this decision, the President isn't wrong. The State Police does handle these sorts of investigations and since there are a lot of eyes on Achlis right now, it needs to be clear that things are being handled the correct way."

"So what, we're just going to throw Rue out to the dogs and just hope that they don't rip him to pieces?" Thea asked.

"I'm with Thea on this one," Luana said. "We agree to this then we're basically sending Rue to his death. And I may not be as fond of him as she is but at this point, he's practically one of us. And we can't just abandon one of our people."