Shuffling down the hallway Max listened to what Tasha and Victor found out but little of it compared to what she learned. Apparently, Daniel had an especially enthusiastic follower named Sadie who was actually stalking him for years and now seemed to be responsible for obtaining questionable materials from clans by any means necessary. It even turned out that Daniel's pet was close to leveling up along with him making them among the strongest people in the school aside from the MVPs and the committee.
Leaving her to realize something. It’d already been two days.
Wrenching herself from her friend's arms Max began a desperate dash for the auditorium, pushing past other clans and shoving people aside Max ran to the auditorium as fear and panic forced her heart to pump harder than it ever had before. Slamming against the auditoriums push bar Max felt her foot tug against her gown and in a swift motion felt her body tangle in the mass of auditorium chairs. Hearing the murmurs of people and the tearful cries of Frida Max couldn't be happier to be back in the darkened hall of the auditorium. Looking up Max found Frida to be tearfully hugging her head while her unkempt red hair sprawled around her face. Tasha and Victor followed suit the duo returning to a welcome just as warm with Marco carefully picking Max out of the mangle of chairs shed gotten into and through the commotion came Gwen. Her stern sour face and razor emerald eyes neared Max's face before collapsing into tears as her arms wrapped Max in a nearly suffocating embrace “I was so worried about you guys, you just disappeared without a word”.
Soaking in the worry and tears like a sponge Max turned to see the Mellior exactly as she left them all of them huddled around the auditorium chatting or simply going about their business. There were no signs of any armor being prepped, no weapons being claimed, it was as if nothing at all had happened since her disappearance. “Um... Gwen, what's going on?” Pulling away from Max Gwen fixed a puzzled expression on her face before wiping away the welling tears held in her eyes “Max...what do you mean?”
Tempted to speak out about the raid, about what they'd do in the future Max could feel her question lodge itself in her throat ‘they probably took care of it while I was gone” she thought hopefully. Seeing as that was the best option possible, it would be better to hope for something kind instead of confronting the harsh possibility of despair. Shoving her question back down her gullet Max let out a sound that was weaker than even that of a rat “n-nothing”. Holding on to a gracious smile Gwen led Max back to her room laying her to rest along with Tasha and Victor their bodies melding into the suffocating shadows of the room. Max could tell Gwen was happy that she was back but something didn't feel right, from what she saw they were nowhere near prepared for the upcoming battle and they had nothing to defend themselves.
Max could clearly tell that the clan had held off on the raid to assure her safety first but the more she connected the dots the less sense it made. Even with her gone Gwen would've made sure to make some armor or equipment that is until Max realized she took the Umbris only source of weapons and armor for a full two days. Turning to Victor she watched as he meticulously began unpacking separating between the tools, food, and other supplies they'd taken on their journey. Feeling the guilt welling in her heart Max remembered the entire purpose of her quest.
Bursting from the room to Tasha and Victor's surprise Max hurried over to Gwen's door restlessly pounding on it until a perturbed Gwen exiting the semi spacious closet. “Hey! Hey! Who’s banging on my door seriously I… oh? Max, what is it that you need” shoving Gwen back into the room Max slammed the door behind her before pausing to take in the Gwen’s precious planning room. The walls were lined with stray pieces of notebook paper and maps of the school detailing each clans' location along with the prime hunting grounds in the school, each sheet overlapping or bordering another with not a single space left vacant. Dispelling herself from the enamor of the room max grasped Gwen's shoulders her eyes aflame with determined conviction “Gwen I have to tell you about the rats and Daniel and the raid it's not gonna work because we're going against an entire army and-”
“Max, Max slow down I can't understand what your saying” lightly prying Max’s hands from her shoulders Gwen guided her to one of the small aged chairs that decorated the room “okay now let's take a deep breath and try this again”. Taking in gulps of air Max finally relaxed yet a slight edge still clung to her voice as her sense of urgency still stood unwavered.
“Gwen we need to make a deal and join another clan it's our only way to survive
“Max what’re you talking about taking over the rats is our best bet at survival especially with the upcoming clan battle I mean-”
“No I'm telling you, we don't stand a chance against the rats. They've become organized, they've got weapons, armor, and even a true leader. It'd be better for all of us if we kept low and just joined a larger clan like Crylics or something”
“Max these are rats that were talking about they're no more of a threat than a wild puppy”
“No Gwen listen even if they are rats they've changed, they're dangerous, please just listen. I don't wanna see my friends die in here”. Thick crystalline tears began welling in Max's eyes as she dug her nails into her palm, she needed Gwen to listen, to understand that if they pursued the rats then death was the only certainty to follow especially when confronting Daniel. Leading her out the room Gwen gave her a small hug and a gentle smile proudly stating “don't worry Max no matter what I’ll make sure nothing happens to the Umbris, you have my word”.
Max gave a curt nod as she walked away yet as she retreated to her room Max couldn't help but feel as if Gwen had her own plan for the future of Umbris.
The following days passed in a blur, the Umbris sat no differently during their timely dinners, nor during their semi eventful days. The world spun on as if Max's adventure had been nothing but an inane and farfetched daydream. Pacing the morning halls as she usually did Max found it to be out of the ordinary, aside from the occasional bystander or wandering clan member the halls were completely empty though it did make sense. With the clan war, only a week out it was clear that most of the clans had either pre-established alliances or didn't want to risk antagonizing one another. Retreating to the auditorium Max couldn't help but hear something just around the corner, the hall was short, full of abandoned classrooms yet one clearly harbored a rather noisy set of residents.
Carefully sneaking closer Max fed her curiosity with the wet slaps of each hasty thrust, the labored breaths of the exhausted couple and the guttural moans of pleasure that escaped their lips. Max had to cover her mouth to keep from gasping while the hot sweaty smell of smut filled her nose. Max stood watching in stunned silence as Gwen screamed while Tasha slobbered over Victor's cock, victor clenching Gwen's thighs while he lapped her soaking pussy and Tasha stroking Victor's cock before mounting it.
Max didn't know what to do should she run, should she interject, the only thing Max felt was a wrenching sadness as she desperately pinched her legs feeling a trickle of fluid slide between her thighs. Creeping away from the scene Max locked herself in her room taking every precaution to ensure nobody would interrupt her as her hand slid just beneath the silky fabric of her panties. Max felt the heat radiating from her body as she thought back to the vision she just witnessed, her heart racing Max felt shame as she fingered herself. It was to a point where even her climax felt underwhelmed as the pieces fell into place ‘Of course Gwen wasn't worried Tasha and Victor had already told her everything, making me just a useless burden on the group...again’. Wallowing in loathing, pity and envy Max welcomed the heavy embrace of sleep, the time of day no longer held meaning in her eyes. She simply wanted to sleep and to forget.
Skittish and frightened Max scrambled to the far end of her room while her hair stood on end, outside of her door were the sounds of jostling steel and metal clanking and clanging against each other in random sets. Delirious and confused Max pushed against the doors handle only for it to lay in stagnation. Pushing harder Max began throwing her weight against the door only to no avail until she noticed the small slip of paper just beyond the crack of the door. Holding the note to the little light she had Max read feeling her eyes swell in worry and fear with only a minute squeak escaping her lips.
“Oh no”.
