[spoiler]This interesting storyline is made possible by Major Fluffball (MindOfTheUndying)[/spoiler] **nearly four months later** The lightly forested area was utterly silent and still as the full moon rose slowly in the cloudless sky. Nothing sturred as the breeze was a faint whisper that creeped around the trunks of the trees and settled into the faint dirt and snow. A sudden flash of movement kicks up a patch of snow and four figures race through, taking cover as quickly as they moved out of it. The four figures moved in utter silence, cloaks dipped in the crimson of their fallen comrades fluttering behind, as they darted quickly around. One figure stops near a large rock formation and pulls out an old model Springfield, aiming down the sights. It held its hand up and motioned forward as the three other figures darted along. Before it could move, the figure felt a hand on its shoulder. He pulled out a knife and whipped around to meet a familiar red rifle to the face. "Honestly Ivan. I could hear your breathing from a kilometer away. I'm surprised your still alive." Red grinned as she tapped the edge of her barrel under his chin. The figure pulled back his hood to reveal Ivan's face. It was more stern and now had wrinkles compared to his previous self before the start of the Collapse and his voice was a tad lower. "Don't give me that crap, I couldn't sneak past you even if I wanted to." "D*** straight, Romanowski." Ivan grinned as a voice pierced into his ear. "Where are you Ivan?" He tapped his ear and spoke quietly. "I thought I saw movement, might be fauna but I'm checking to be sure. Stand by." He tapped his ear again and looked back at Red. "Any more survivors found?" "Oh yea... more than enough... You really are starting to blow my cover Ivan, all this blood red bulls***. I don't like being seen." She gestured towards his cloak with disapproval. "Not to mention it smells bad." Ivan shook his head. "You and your creature comforts." He smiled as Red put the barrel of her rifle closer to his neck. "Don't test me, Ivan. I will shoot you and watch you spaz on the ground while you s*** yourself. Might even let a Fallen watch." Her tongue curled around her lip as she gave a devilish laugh. "As if you could kill me." "I can." "Would you?" She paused and pulled the rifle away. "I might." "Sure." Ivan's ear piece spoke again. "Hurry up!" "Roger." Ivan tapped his ear piece again. "You following?" "As always." She grinned as she watched him turn and make his way towards cover. Snow began to drift lazily from the sky as the four figures made their way through the forest towards a big clearing. The moon was high in the sky but the Traveler was even larger. Recent attacks had left the underbelly of the benefactor slightly cracked but it still floated high in the sky. The encampment they were staying at was still several miles from the base of the Traveler but being near him gave many comfort. The four figures quickly moved across the clearing, letting out a small call. The guard's heads snapped towards their direction and began making preperations to allow the scouts through the makeshift electric fence. They all slipped through before the crackling started once more and they all let out a sigh of relief. Each made their way towards their tents and Ivan dissapeared into his. It was basically a simple cot with some clothes, a table and some prep gear, but to Ivan, it was more home than anything. The little silver heart was stuck to a broken picture of his family that he had managed to scrounge up and other small trinkets were placed here and there to keep his thoughts from wandering too much. Ivan lied down on the coffin with a huff after tossing his cloak to the side. He stared up at the tent ceiling for a little while before glancing over to the picture. He had yet to find his family and he had begun to fear the worst, but that did little to stop him from becoming the inspiring figure he was today. As he began to reach over and pick up the heart necklace, the flap of his tent opened quickly and a face poked in. "Sorry... to bother... you sir..." The face was young and red as the boy tried to catch his breath. "No trouble. What is it?" Ivan sat up quickly. "Council... something about... Fallen... Hurry!" He dissapeared past the flap and took off. Ivan jumped out of his cot and sped walked towards the larger tent, located near the center of the survivor's encampment. The tent was alive with argument and rage as he entered. Several people were getting into very heated matches with one another and everything was in chaos. The elder was trying to get everyone calm but his voice was lost to the crowd. "Please!... Every... IET!..." Ivan looked around until he felt a small nudge in his back followed by a short burst of dulled gunfire. He turned to see a brief red barrel dissapear before he looked back at the suddenly still crowd. The elder huffed and waved a hand. "Thank you... Ivan... Now... Everyone just shut it!..." The crowd slowly began to sit down and wait for a response, some looking towards Ivan occasionally. "Alright..." The elder regained his composure and spoke. "As we have just stated, the House of Devils have been raiding us for quite some time and another Houses has joined their fray, the House of Kings." A faint grumble was heard through the crowd. "This leads to a serious problem, now there are more of them than us. We can't keep taking the beating that we are here. Too much is at stake here." A cry was heard from one of the members. "Well what are we supposed to do? Keep running?" "Towards the Traveler." The elder said, pointing in its general direction. "We get right under it..." "He's already damaged enough! What happens if he comes crashing down!" Arguing began to break out. "Shut your traps! Over there is where everyone else is moving! As we have seen, many clunkers and ships have flown over and dropped people off there. The closer we get everyone together, the better off we can be!" More aggression filled the air as everyone debated over what to do. Ivan sighed and yelled his response. "What if we take the fight to them?!" Silence filled the room. Everyone looked in his direction. "What if we took the fight to them? Buy everyone some time that's moving towards the Traveler." "That's practically suicide!" Barked a member. "Maybe, if we play it smart, we can easily cripple their current troops." "Why should we do something this stupid?!" "What choice do we have?" "What do you mean?! Live!" More bickering commenced. "If we keep cowering then nothing good will come of us." Ivan pointed towards the ground. "I'm done dealing with all this, I want them to pay for all the s*** these freaks had put against us. Whether or not you fight with me is up to you." He turned and left the tent as the bickering turned to quiet whispers. Ivan rubbed his face and sighed. "This should end well." "Depends, how many bits of guts do you have left?" Red was leaning against a support, rubbing her nails against her chest. "You must have s*** yourself just by saying that plan." "I didn't. Felt quite proud of myself." "Well well. You're even dumber than I thought." "All thanks to you." Red growled. "Don't make me shoot you." "As if..." Ivan crossed his arms and looked at the sky. "You still going to look for survivors?" "I'll do one more round, then I'll see how you boys fair out without my guidance." "Everyone already knows you exist." "Like hell they do. No one has yet to see me." Ivan chuckled. "There have been sightings." "I call bulls*** on that." "That or you're just getting sloppy." He grinned as his side stung slightly from being hit. "Don't make me kill you to set an example." "That's not what Red Lightning would do. She's an honorable spirit. A voice of the wilderness reincarnated as a Warrior to fight back the demons that plague our lands." He glanced at Red. She had a horrified expression on her face. "That's what you have been calling me? You're just going to make me sick now..." "You are the martyr everyone needs." "I am not dying for anyone, you hear me? No one." "No... but protect from afar." Red paused and grumbled a bit. She slung her rifle on her shoulder. "Whatever helps you people cope I suppose." She turned and started to walk off. "And by the way, tell your guards that they have some... faulty wires on the eastern side." Ivan smiled as he turned and listened to the conversation inside the tent. His idea was being warmed up to but it would take a while, nothing he hadn't thought of before. Nothing he wasn't willing to do. Nothing. https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/185248440/0/0 link to part 5 https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/172164045/0/0/1 link to Spear of the Red Lightning