Chapter 6: Exile Zone
Field Notes: Exile Zone, Part 3
Tensions Rising By the third day, tension simmered just beneath the surface of the Exile Zone. The close quarters, endless scrutiny, and weight of unresolved pasts had started to wear at everyone. When a supply cart went missing after dinner, frustration boiled over.
Maren, the sharp Lilith exile Kellyanna had worked with, accused a quiet Leah exile named Simon of hoarding supplies. Simon, already anxious and withdrawn, denied everything—his voice shaking, his frequency discordant.
Other exiles gathered, whispers growing louder. The mentors moved in to observe, but this time, they hung back, waiting to see if the group could resolve it themselves.
Kellyanna Steps In Kellyanna recognized the pattern: conflict ready to spiral, trust about to shatter. She moved to the center of the group, catching Maren’s eye first, then Simon’s. Her presence steadied the room; her frequency, intentionally calm and open, radiated an invitation to pause.
She asked Maren to explain, listening without judgment. Maren listed her grievances—missing inventory, sloppiness, perceived disrespect. Kellyanna thanked her, then asked Simon to speak. Simon struggled but managed to say he’d been afraid to ask for more supplies after breaking something the day before.
Kellyanna acknowledged both perspectives, repeating their words back, stripping blame from the narrative. “It sounds like everyone’s running low on trust, not just on supplies,” she said quietly. “We can solve the inventory, but we can’t do it if we’re divided.”
She suggested a compromise: all exiles would audit the supply room together, item by item. Maren and Simon, supervised by Kellyanna, would lead the check. If anything was missing, they would address it openly—no secrets, no punishment, only restoration.
Resolution The audit revealed nothing malicious—just a miscount and a mislabeled box. Tension defused, Maren offered a curt apology; Simon, relieved, managed a shaky smile.
Afterward, Kellyanna pulled both aside. She praised their willingness to be honest and to try again, despite the fear. She reminded them—and the watching mentors—that in exile, their greatest strength was learning to trust each other, even after trust had been broken before.
The mentors, quietly impressed, made notes in their logs. Kellyanna felt the room’s frequency shift: lighter, more resilient, ready to carry on.
Night Reflection That night, Kellyanna stood alone in the courtyard, breathing in the stillness. She knew there would be more conflicts, more repairs to make, but for now, the community had held together. In the Exile Zone, every crisis was a test—and every piece brokered was one step closer to restoration, not just for herself, but for everyone in exile.
To be continued…
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