Cora || “ No. There is no way you guys are going across the fold and risking your life for what? A little dream and some money?” Steph was practically fuming when she heard the plan. Cora knew she wouldn’t be happy about the idea of her friend and worker going on a mission to the fold, especially with the whole war happening but she didn’t know Steph would be THIS mad. “ Please Steph! I finally got this troll to help me so I can’t back down now! No offense Erix.” Cora pleaded. Erix scoffed and said: “ You know what Cora, someday you’ll go far. And hopefully you will stay there.” She knew it was an insult but she had to laugh. There was something so amusing about Erix trying to be sassy. “ Still. I won’t let the two people I care the most about in this whole trash heap of a town go into the unknown and never come out again!” “Excuse me?” Jack yelled from the back. “ JACK! I am trying to explain why these kids shouldn’t go into the fold!” Steph screamed back. You could see the veins popping out of her head. Cora stifled a laugh. “ How old do you think we are? I’m 17!” Cora said between her laughs. “ I’m 18.” Erix said, raising his hand. Cora placed her hands on her hips to prove a point but she couldn’t seem to focus. 18?? That was only a year older than her and he was THAT attractive?!? She shook the notion out of her head, she had business to attend to. “ See? We are basically adults so treat us as such! Now, can we go?” Cora asked, giving her best puppy dog eyes. Erix imdelty moved her to the side of the room in a little huddle position. “Are you kidding me? We are not asking for permission. This is not primary school, take the map and leave. She is not your mom.” Cora knew he didn’t mean that to be rude but… it kinda hurt. In a way, Steph was her mom. A mom that she had known since she had come to Ketterdam and worked for Mrs. Katz. “ I can’t do that. She is my mom Erix.” “ Then why don’t you stay here? Work in the bakrey instead of going across the fold with me? Having a loving family? You have to choose Cora. Your birth family or your chosen family.” Erix stood tall away from their little huddle. He was right. She had to choose sooner or later. Plus, she had known Steph and Jack for longer so why not see her real parents? “ Fine. Steph? We need the map. We are going whether you like it or not, and you probably don’t like it.” Steph looked at her with a ‘ are you kidding ‘ glance. After a bit of a stare-off, Steph succumbed. “I want letters every week, just to make sure you both are alive, and as much gold as you can bring back. I’m not letting you give me a heart attack AND keep me poor.”
Steph walked into another room out of sight. Cora was so happy and excited that she forgot the tiny fact that, maybe they weren’t ever coming back. The war was running rampid and keeping Grisha hidden. Ravka was the only real safe place for Grisha but even then it was being raided every day. The chance that Erix and Cora could pass the fold even once would take a miracle so to pass the fold TWICE? No chance. It hurt Cora to lie but she had to. She had to see her parents again. “Thank you!” Cora called back. She then saw Erix’s disapproving glaze so she then said; “ I mean… Yeah! You better get us that map!” Erix stifled a laugh as Cora gave her best ‘ I mean business ‘ face. His laugh was sweet and infectious at least, the parts she heard of it before he covered it up with a cough. “This is the map, newest one I have. You’ll see passes through the ocean, land etc. I got the Grisha safe one for me and Jack so we don’t get pulled over at the harbor.” Steph said, placing the map on the dirty counter. “You’re a Grisha?? I had no clue!” Cora responded as Erix peered at the map. “ Well if you stayed around, you might have known.” A twinge in Cora’s heart struck. She already felt bad for putting her through this. “ Steph, I don’t know if you could kill me with the wave of your hand so I’m going to say this cautiously. Stop guilt-tripping Cora. We aren’t staying.” Erix took the map and backed away. As if that was going to help against a Grisha. “ Well, way to ruin my plan, Erix. And I can’t kill you. But Cora sure as heck can.” Erix flipped his blonde hair her way. “ What?” He stepped back even farther. “ I’m a heartrender. That’s how I choked you earlier, remember?” Erix nodded but still had fear in his eyes. “ Well I guess that makes sense. Very helpful to this you know. A girl trying to cross the fold and is grisha during a civil war? What could possibly happen?” Erix made a fair point again, but also again, she couldn’t help but stifle a laugh. It was hard to take him so seriously when he was serious. “ See Cora? Even Erix sees this as a bad idea.” Steph quickly said. “He’s just teasing. And we’ll be fine. As long as I don’t make someone’s heart stop, we're fine.” Cora slid across the floor to Erix and put her arm around his shoulder. He tensed and gave off a face of pure uncomfort. She didn’t mind since they had to make this pich believable to be able to go. “ That’s enough of that. A boat should be leaving in two days which gives us plenty of time to get to the shore. Are you ready to head out?” Erix said, moving his body away from her’s. Cora nodded even though a deep uncomfort settled in her stomach. Was she ready? She walked out of the bakery, trying to keep her eyes away from Steph’s sad gaze of disappointment in the window. She had to keep her calm if she was to go on such a troubling journey.
