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The Caravan swayed and bumped along the track with rickety creaking noises and everyone in the caravan bumped with it, the plodsteed's hooves clopping across the cobbled road. There were five children in all Jay'ell, Dazda, Montery, Jasper and Aiv. All of them had the same, slightly reflective bronze coulored skin and golden eyes of Kindleborn, a strange new race of humans who had started to appear over the last 20 years. All of them had been taken by Stirben, under the license of a, supposed, Ashclad; a division formed for the sole purpose of hunting down Kindleborn and taking them to be ?Extinguished?. They all had little to no memory of what their previous lives had been like as they had all been raised by Stirben and Suza from as young as they could remember.

Dazda moved to one of several barrels, that took up most of the room in the caravan, and fished through it for clothes Jay'ell could wear. Montery was reading a book, his bald head rocking backward and forward on his spindly neck as he sat, utterly engrossed. ?What've you got there?? Jay'ell asked, accepting the proffered jerkin and trousers Dazda handed him. Montery ignored him for a moment before, responding after his name was shouted at him a few times, ?This?? He asked in a small voice, holding up the book in his spidery hands, ?It's Cayde's Accounts. It's about how the Lunari were driven back from the Crescent mountains with the power of the Promethiun.?

?The Promethiun?? Jay'ell asked.

?Lunari!? Dazda exclaimed freezing in place and dropping cross-legged ready to listen.

?I thought it was forbidden to write about the Promethiun since the Devouring?? Jay'ell asked, talking over Dazda Montery's head turned from side to side as the two fought for attention. At 15 Montery was neither the oldest, nor the biggest but they all treated him as an oracle or font of knowledge. ?To answer your question Jay, it has BECOME forbidden to write about it in certain parts of the land but not to READ it. And to you Dazda yes, the mountain folk, lunari, they are in here?

?What does it say about the Lunari?? Aiv asked, her legs still hanging out the back of the caravan. ?It err, it says quite a lot,? Montery said nervously, his spidery fingers running over his shaved head as everyone's eyes trained on him. ?It says how they used their vast battle experience from long lives to set up crucial garrisons throughout the mountains. How they could use the power of the moon to transform and hunt man. But when?? He paused, unsure of what to say. ?With the great flame, the humans could drive them back. At night or day. I've not finished the book so there's more to read.?

?I'd love to see a Lunari,? Dazda said wistfully, tearing off a piece of bread and extending it to Aiv.

?None of us have ever been past the Crescent mountains Dah. I reckon anyone on the other side of these mountains would see through our stupid act in 5 minutes. It's only this part of the land that doesn't seem to be aware that kids like us even exist.?

Dazda flushed, ?I was only saying I'd like to see one.? Jay'ell swallowed a mouthful of his bread.

?Well maybe on a night we can run and hide in the mountains. Maybe one will turn up.?

?Are you planning an escape? Or just dreaming?? Came a voice from the front on the Cart. Jasper who had been quiet up until this point was the oldest of all of them. He was tall, like Jay'ell but stocky, with thick curly hair and the darkest skin. He wore nicer clothes that the rest of them, thought it was still poor quality, and he had a deep soothing voice. At 18, he had played the part of ?The Witch? the most and knew Suza and Stirben the best. ?If I were you, I'd stick to dreaming. It's better that way.?

?Why have you ever tried escaping?? Montery asked, turning from his book. Jasper looked over his shoulder at him, his hands still holding the reins to the plodsteed. ?Once,?

?I didn't know you'd tried.? Aiv said as they all looked at each other.

?What happened?? Jay'ell asked, leaning forward to listen. Jasper's stare was intense and calculating, but Jay'ell could see that he was lost in reminiscence.

?I waited till Stirben had fallen asleep, and Suza was counting money, then when a cloud covered the moon I ran.?

?How far did you get?? Dazda asked, leaning forward intently, eyes wide.

?Far. I made it to a farm. Banged on the door till it opened, man and his wife, and told them everything. The kidnap, the squalor, the performance, everything.? Everyone was listening now, even Aiv, who usually maintained a placid, disinterested vinere, was wide eyed and hungry for detail ?They invited me in and put me in a spare room.I though I'd made it.? His eyes turned dark and his expression lowered. ?Then they locked the door and sent for an Ashclad. Guess who happened to be in the area.? They all looked at Jasper now with a mix of sympathy and wonder. ?Stirben dragged me straight back, laughing all the way at how pathetic it was thinking anyone would accept me and my story. Ashclad's are infallible, Stirben's scheme might be a scam, but his license is legit and here outside the Crescent mountains.? He gestured to the monumental hills they rode past, ?They believe every word he says.?

He turned back to the plodsteed, ?So honestly. Keep reading books, keep dreaming, learn what you want about the world and live it in your head. Cause you sure as sunlight aren't going to see it for yourselves.? They all exchanged looks, a mix of defiance, hopelessness and frustration. ?Way to kill a mood,? Jay'ell said, sinking back against the hard wood and taking another bite of chewy bread. Aiv was still looking at Jasper. ?You only tried once?? She asked him, provocation in her tone. Jasper didn't answer, leaning forward to concentrate on his job. ?Sounds like you gave up pretty easily. There's more of us now, we could easily outstrip them surely??

?And go where?? Jasper replied curtly, ?We look different Aiv. We shine in the light, we don't burn our eyes our golden. These people don't trust a thing that they find unfamiliar. That's why Stirben's little con works so well.?

?Why stick to this side of the hills?? Aiv asked, gesturing to the mountains. ?Why not cross into the Crescent? Seek refuge in the city.? Dazda's little eyes lit up at talk of the city.

?I've always thought about seeing Aushen one day.?

?Because we'll never make it across. Besides do you really think they're any different in the city??

?How do you know?? Aiv snapped, ?You've never been there.?

?Neither have you.?

They all fell quiet for a while after that. ?Montery, do you still have that pamphlet?? Dazda asked softly. Montery looked up from his book and frowned, ?The one for the job? ?Acanologist wanted?.? Montery closed his book and, pushing past Dazda, reached into one of the many boxes and rootled around till he pulled out a thin piece of parchment with some writing on. ?Read it to us again,? Jay'ell said smiling at Dazda. The small boy crossed his legs and stared at Montery. He loved hearing about the great city and the land beyond. Montery sat up straight, cleared his throat, and began, ?Dear Sir *stroke* Madam. Are you an ambitious scholar with expertise in time before the age of the Promethiun and Medeter culture? If so, High Arconologist Galohan is?? Jay'ell knew the rest pretty much by heart. It spoke about life in the very heart of the city. High rise structures with magnificent views across the ever-turning great wheels of the Arcanocraft factories in the city's heart. So tall they rivalled the mountains themselves, with wealth that could probably buy a small town on the side that they travelled on. He tried to close his eyes and picture it but, couldn't help watching Dazda out the corner of his eye, enraptured.

When night fell, Suza and Stirben drew both their caravans to a halt and ordered everyone to make camp. They did so as usual. Jay'ell unloaded and pitched the tents while Dazda set about the fire. Aiv and Jasper disappeared for firewood, berries and anything else they could forage. Whilst all this happened Stirben and Suza, counted their coin talked heatedly and drank Ale from an old cask. By the time the moon has half risen a pot was simmering over a fire along with a chunk of questionable meat that Dazda intended to blacken to make sure it was safe to eat.

When it was ready, he served Suza and Stirben first, the largest portions, then shared the rest out among the other young ones. Stirben by this point, was pretty drunk and Suza, barely touching her meal, instead counted some coin and went into her caravan to stow if all away. Montery continued to read his book by the firelight, Dazda gathered up the scraps that Stirben wasn't finishing off and stored them, while Aiv Jasper and Jay'ell played a game of Stone capture. Montery had berated them once that it was a Lunari battle-map turned board game, but no one was really interested. When their game had finished Jasper turned in, leaving the others round the dying fire.

?Do you guys want any extra? Before I barrel it up?? Dazda asked, his demeanour like that of a caring mother. ?No,? Jay'ell replied, ?Thank you,? Aiv spared the boy one of her rare smiles.

?I'm fine Dah, save it for tomorrow.? The moon was high and bright, casting a brilliant glow up the sides of the mountains, riming them in silver light. Jay'ell was lying back and staring at the stars, enjoying the warm air when he heard Aiv get up suddenly. She was looking at Stirben, fast asleep. ?Just like Jasper said.? She whispered. She looked down at Jay'ell, ?C'mon let's go!? Jay'ell furrowed his brow, ?What??

?Let's go. Now, let's just leave. Get out of here. Run.? He sat up as she began to march toward the feet of the mountain. ?You're serious, aren't you??

?Well, I'm going even if you're not.? True to her word she turned back toward the steep slope and made her way swiftly up it. Jay'ell turned his head and looked around. Dazda and Jasper were in the caravan, Stirben was asleep, Montery was asleep with a book on his face. ?Speth it,? he hissed, got up and ran after Aiv.

Catching up with her, they walked shoulder to shoulder panting like animals up the hill. The camp getting further and further away, the campfire a distant orange glow beneath them. The higher they got, the more the sparse trees thickened and grew against the slope creaking in the harsh wind. Suddenly, Aiv stopped, putting out a hand to stop Jay'ell. ?What?? She shushed him, her face a frozen mask of terror. Jay'ell looked where she was looking and saw why. A wolf stood its ground before them, not ten paces away. Its coat was glossy and grey, with black eyes like the night-sky itself It stood as a sentinel guardian to the mountain, its eyes fixed on the two kindleborn in front of it. ?Step back,? Aiv whispered, ?Really, really slowly.? Jay'ell did as he was told, keeping his eyes fixed on the wolf. It didn't move, watching them as they backed away reverently.

?It's not following us,? Jay'ell whispered to Aiv as they made it 20 paces away.

?I know,? Aiv hissed, somehow still adding sarcasm to her tone when terrified. ?I think it's just protecting something.? They were just about to take another step when a flash of silver whizzed past Aiv's ear up at the wolf. It stuck fast in a tree root and the wolf, leapt backward, disappearing into the trees. The two whipped around and saw Suza, Stirben's heavy crossbow in hand, glaring up at the spot where the creature had just been She then moved her glare onto them, ?You two,? Her voice was toxic. ?You two. At it again??

?We're not at anything,? Aiv snapped at her. Jay'ell felt a rush of embarrassment and shame cut off his voice. ?Get down this hill now. I should flog you. Wandering off in the night. Trying an escape!?

?We just wanted to get some air.? Aiv replied frostily making her way past the dishevelled woman.

?Shut your backchatting mouth. Selfish girl, don't you know what you two are worth? It's spething dangerous on these mountains, you could have been damaged!?

?So what if we were escaping?? Jay'ell said, courage absent from his voice, ?Could you blame us??

Suza raised an eyebrow in surprise at Jay'ell before leering at him. ?There are people in this part of the world, who would kill for an opportunity like yours! Travel, a job, regular meals, clothes, friends. And you have the ingratitude to try and ?Escape?? She babied the last word to rub salt into Jay'ell's already hurting pride. ?You have it good, boy. Don't forget it. You try and get away again, I'll hunt you down like a real Ashclad, and not spare you the bolt.?

?You just said we were valuable,? Aiv retorted. Suza pointed the cross bow at them, and even though there was no bolt in it, the two froze. ?We can always find more.?

The beauty of having someone to decide every little thing for you while you grow up becomes prejudicial in the city of Landow. Although Maressa may contest it, her life has been more than four times threatened by circumstances.

There's four core types of deciders in 2050, Landow: Conditioners, Logisticals, Knee-jerkers and Maximisers.

A Maximiser works their brain by exhausting every possible outcome linking any consequence ? good or bad, to their decision. In fewer words, Maressa catalogues them as overthinkers.

A Knee-jerker uses a system of decision-making that bases itself on luck; they've incorporated the way humans make small decisions into the way they make big, important ones. Maressa catalogues them as automatic thinkers.

A Logistical person is pretty self explanatory, they use logic to assess options and their benefits that may come while, also, crossing references to their previous criteria of needs. She calls them rational thinkers.

A Conditioner leaves their decision-making completely to external sources ? most of the time by use of conditions: If, Then. Maressa names them underthinkers.

If Maressa is being completely honest, she's certain that being a hundred percent only one of them is exactly what puts Landow in danger. But commodity and the fear of deciding makes people do and agree to weird things.

While growing up may have been easy because her parents were flexible and used every resource available including, but not limited to, spontaneity and sentimentalism, Maressa thinks of herself as being a Conditioner.

It's really a coward's way of decision-making ? it gives the person the excuse of faulting anything and everything except themselves. Maressa knows this, consciously thinks about this everytime she has to come to a judgment about any matter.

So, it's extremely surprising that she finds herself in the situation she's in, now.

?Girl, you better get out of here before anything else blows wrong.?

And she knows this, she has the instinctual feeling of having to leave, settled low in her gut. It's just?

?I can't? I,? Maressa looks around with wide eyes, sees nothing but water and flooded holes in the ground, ?my friends, they're down there, somewhere.?

The man has left already, probably made the right call, she thinks, even though Maressa knows his wife and kid are floating where her friends are, too.

And the thing is, normally? frequently, there would be no hesitancy, she wouldn't need to use her default decision-making system or any of the others, for that matter...However.

Landow has become a city that kills for the system that you use, that you are. Her parents were killed when she was 19, they had no other family, no friends, no one and that's exactly how Maressa stayed until she turned 21.

Right now, though, 25-years-old-Maressa isn't very keen on having to go back to old habits and lonely traditions ? in this city that is out to promptly stake you as an example, having people to count on is a blessing that not everybody has.

Which is why, when they entered this store to look for resources for their houseboat, Maressa didn't think anything of the holes on the ground ? holes that looked like the ones caused by Military soldiers' explosions.

It's when various ones started to break and consequently dumping her friends in current waters, that she starts to freak out, a bit.

?Fuck.?

Maressa can feel her brain expanding, can sense it in the way she shivers that she's about to cross a line ? it works like this: she runs through the Big Four and walks consciously, very slowly and afraid, to what the Radows call Conflicters. Maressa names them as creative thinkers.

Anchoring herself to a secure spot above the hole, she dives in and swims to find Emver and Stara.

The Radicals of Landow, the Radows, decided that Conflicters shouldn't exist because they would disrupt Landow's system and make their residents vulnerable to attacks. Maressa doesn't understand this, she thinks that creative thinkers should be the one in charge exactly because of how their brains are wired to think. Radows seem to comprehend that the way it's wired, it's bound to put emotions and selfishness first.

Clearly, it isn't. This is the first time Maressa makes a decision that is entirely her own.

A month later, when Emver and Stara introduces another addition to the group, Maressa starts to think that being open-minded and giving way to gauge how she feels about whatever options she has, isn't so bad.

Yes, at times she feels like she could explode from the terrifying sentiment of deciding wrong and ultimately damning her entire life ahead but. It's worth it.

The second time she has to use her newly wired brain to make as big a decision as the life of her friends, it's when Radows trap them underground. They were searching for new, more spacious locations to make home when Damilia, the new member, shushes everyone to a stop.

?Did you hear that?? She asks.

?Radows or patrol?? Emver questions and looks around.

?If it's like this, then we shouldn't settle here,? Maressa whispers, ?let's keep going.?

That's when they're effectively surrounded by the guns of Radows

?We're not here to hurt anyone. Let us just Test every one of you and then we'll let you go.?

Maressa glances her eyes to Emver, knows that if she takes the Test, they'll be separated, knows that he thinks the same thing because he nods and points his eyes to his left.

?As you wish. I'll go first,? Emver speaks and Maressa situates herself last, behind Damilia.

When it gets to the newbie's turn, Maressa sees no way of escaping except if a distraction is created. She has to decide whether to chance her luck on the Test, create a distraction herself, try to escape and leave her friends to fetch for themselves or try to signal any of them to help.

It's the second time and it's just as big. Sheltering a Conflicter is almost the same as being one, Radows have no compassion for either.

It's the second time and everything feels slowed and sugary, Maressa steps forward when Damilia does the same.

When a Radow starts the test on her, Maressa knows what to do.

?A white board with gray corners and a black marker.?

?A black board with gray corners and a white marker.? Damilia speaks robotically.

?You want to leave, how do you leave??

Maressa pokes Damilia and the latter looks around.

?I leave by bike.?

?You want to sleep, where do you sleep??

Damilia looks around again.

?I sleep in the bunker.?

?You're diverted, how do you react??