The Reaping [D9]

Alec watched his leader and friend as they stood togheter, masked in shadows as they watched the reaping. Alec was actually afraid for one of the few times of his life. Why? Not because he was afraid he would be reaped, it was a frightening thought, but what was even more frightening was to have Ari here. Alec knew something most of the rebels didn't, actually, it was something none of them knew and something that he hoped would never happen.
Alec was afraid today would be the day he lost Ari. Alec couldn't help but notice the tightening of Ari's jaw, the way he stood, small tiny things, that on anyone else would mean so little, on Ari they meant alot. Alec was probably one of the only one's that could see the fury rolling inside of Ari. Alec knew the wall, he'd fought with it since it was built, Alec knew that it hid Ari's emotions, he also knew that Ari would never take it down himself.
"Don't do anything rash" Alec whispered.
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Ari was sick to his stomach as he watched the event taking place, it was awful. Ari wanted to stop it, in fact he was more than aware of the bow strapped to his back, the arrows in his quiver. There were just to many though, too many keepers to take on, too many innocents that would be caught in the proceeding battle. No, an arrow wouldn't solve this.
Ari thought he could though. All Ari lived for now was the Rebellion, and it was a life growing shorter. Recently, he'd practically abandoned them, to go set up small bases in other districts, to try and spread his rebels. It was a test. Ari knew that a year ago, him leaving for a week would have ripped the band apart at it's seams. They had needed him. So he had let himself be consumed by them, let the rebels be his only purpose. The rebellion had flourished. Ari was a great leader, the rebels were at the strongest they'd been since his brother Leo had started the rebellion all those years ago.
They were strong enough to take care of themselves. Ari realized that he wasn't as needed, there were more strong Rebels, if he fell, they would rise. When the time came, Ari would leave, he would avenge his brother. He would die. Ari'd waited for this for years, now the time was nearly here.
So why not volunteer? Save the poor boy that was going to be lead to his death. Ari would fare better than any one else here. He could save a life. And if he died, well, he was going to die anyway. Death wasn't a fearful thing to him anymore.
"Don't do anything rash"
Ari looked at Alec out of the side of his eye and knew. Alec's words brought reality back to him. Ari couldn't leave Alec to lead yet, or help the new leader. There were talents in the rebels, but none were developed yet. Ari needed to leave behind a leader, if he brought up more than one he could use that to establish more bases. All the same, there wasn't a true leader ready yet. So the rebels still needed him. So Ari had to live now.
Ari would avenge Leo, he would die killing those that had killed his brother. First though, Ari would grow Leo's creation farther, baby his child longer.
The rebels were his life.
Ari and Alec were silent.