- Hold. - John, you should hear us out.
John? From the Alliance?
Wait, I thought he was supposed to be your friend?
That depends on one's definition of "friend."
I'm surprised you have any left, Meiyin.
Uh, can we talk about this? Like reasonable people?
We heard a huge explosion. I should have known.
You've always had a knack for finding trouble.
We found something, John.
A weapon of tremendous power. This is the advantage we needed!
This can change everything.
I will allow you the courtesy of leaving the way you came.
But-- Hmm.
Meiyin!
Alasie!
You're much stronger than I remember.
You said she wasn't ever coming back.
And I told you she would.
She's coming to the village for dinner, right, Dad?
All right. At ease.
Yes! You're the best!
The Beast Queen is back!
Beast Queen?
Don't ask.
Trying to eavesdrop? Am I that bad at it?
Let's say you need to work on your technique.
I get it, though, I've been trying to get my dad
to let me into council meetings for ages.
- I'm Helena. - Meiyin's friend.
And don't worry,
you haven't missed anything good.
But if I know her,
they're about to start arguing in three, two...
Nerva thinks us weak. But that is an advantage.
With this weapon in our hands, we could strike now and--
You are not listening to me.
The Alliance died in that battle.
My people and Alasie, they are my only concern now.
Where is the fierce warrior I once knew?
I-- We cannot be led astray.
Nerva will come for us all, eventually.
What will become of your people then?
What will become of your daughter?
How long have you been here? No idea.
I've been knocked unconscious for a lot of it.
The days do tend to blur together.
My dad says every day is a gift,
but I think he just tells me that
to make chores seem less boring.
Thank you for convincing John to take us to your village.
You were very persuasive.
He listened, for once.
Well, he clearly cares about you very much.
Yeah, we had our own families back where we each came from.
When I first woke up here, I was...
I was in a really dark place.
Then John found me, and he made it seem all right.
He's my father now, no matter what.
But I wish there was a way he could see
I'm not that scared little girl anymore.
Want to hold him?
He always cheers me up.
- And I think he likes you. - Oh.
A lot!
Thanks, Helena.
Oh. We're here!
We're home.
Food and water for the mounts.
Have the Eastern scouts returned?
Helena, check this out! They're really just big softies.
Uh, I can see quite well from here, thank you.
Hmm. Hmm.
- He's missed you. - And I, him.
Pretty neat, isn't it?
Henry designed those, he's an inventor.
But Meiyin and him, um, they don't get along.
Alasie! Get a saddle for that fin-head over there.
Mm-hmm.
What are you doing here?
Easy, Henry. There is something that we must discuss.
A weapon won't rebuild the Alliance.
This one will.
That's enough. We'll convene the elders.
Perhaps, it is better that I do this alone.
Hmm.
Ch... Check eyes.
Dilated pupils. Bloody hell, he's burning up.
Chava?
- What's happening to them? - Swamp fever.
We don't know what makes them sick.
They don't get it from each other.
First a cough, then a gasp. Then they, um...
Hand me that cloth.
There's no more.
The council is making a mistake, John.
The time for half-measures is gone,
Nerva knows we have the Green Artifact.
These are the problems I must solve here, Meiyin.
Your desire for vengeance must wait.
Chava showed me how to make medicine.
Where can we get more?
The essential ingredients are blue flowers
that used to grow on the mountain slopes nearby.
But the Great Bird,
ruler of the mountain, has since devoured them all.
"Great Bird"?
It's the big mean one, and it lays the blue eggs and--
Blue? Like the flower?
Have its eggs only turned this color recently?
We need to get one of those eggs.
I know this sounds crazy,
but the Great Bird may have passed
the medicinal properties of the blue flower onto its eggs
through the transmission of epigenetic markers.
- The egg could heal the sick. - Then let's go get it!
It... It's a dangerous trek.
You're right, John.
Nerva will cut through us like a scythe
through the summer grass if we do not stop this sickness.
Hmm.
How are you feeling, Chava?
Well enough for this.
And I will be here the moment you return.
I think you gave him too much personality.
Looks kind of cute. So, it's really not that hard.
Just draw...
...and release.
See? It's easy.
Draw... - And release!
Easier said than done.
Meiyin's a warrior.
You shouldn't compare yourself to her.
Uh, I... I... I don't.
Listen, I wasn't always our village's best archer.
My dad used to refuse to take me on hunts.
So, I made it impossible for him to leave me behind.
How? - Practice. Lots of practice.
Now, watch again.
- Ready to go, Dad! - Good.
Henry, watch over Chava and protect her
while we fetch the medicine.
Smooth climbing, my friend.
We will make haste.
Hmm.
Helena, climb to me!
There is a secret. Soft face.
Uh, "soft face"?
Too much tension. Soft face. Relaxed.
You better have worked up an appetite.
Alasie, your cooking smells so good,
I won't need an--
Are you okay?
Yeah. Just fine.
Alasie, you're burning.
How long have you known?
Please don't tell anyone. He'll never let me--
- Why wouldn't you tell me? - Because I knew you'd overreact.
You're always telling me I'm not ready.
I feel fine, honestly!
If I hadn't come with you, would you have been able
to beat back those critters on the climb?
If you fell ill when we needed you,
that could have endangered us all.
John...
You must learn to consider
how your actions affect your tribe.
You are no longer a child.
You will stay here tomorrow.
Dad! No! You'll need me up there.
And, you said it yourself. I'm no longer a child, and--
Alasie, here, have some water.
I'm afraid her condition is worsening.
The egg. Are you certain?
I am hopeful, yes.
Then only one thing matters.
Tomorrow morning,
the Great Bird will leave its nest.
And then we will take the egg.
Huh?
It is time.
Just rest, my daughter.
We will return soon. Watch over her.
I will.
Hmm.
Huh?
Dad!
Mount up!
Helena, take my hand!
Woah!
Alasie!
Alasie? Where is the medicine?
We've got to hurry.
Bring her close.
- Is it working? - Give it time.
Alasie, you are strong. You are my daughter.
I won't lose you. I won't.
Alasie?
Yuck. That tastes really awful.
Oh!
Easy, Dad.
Alasie is right. It does taste awful.
But who am I to complain?
Henry and I will take the rest back to the village.
Meiyin says you were a scientist in your time.
Perhaps we shall add "Healer" to your list of titles.
Thank you, Chava.
It is we who owe you a debt that we can never repay.
Though I would like to know more about those--
What did you call them? "Genes"?
Well...
But can we keep it? Huh?
Please?
I promise I'll take good care of it.
Yes, for now.
But we must also discuss it at the next council meeting.
Which you will attend.
Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you.
Helena! I'm gonna name him Rhubarb!
So, does this mean Meiyin is welcome at your village?
Hmm.
She... she was at Nerva's camp with me.
We escaped together.
I have seen these before.
They are from Nerva's mining camps.
There must be one nearby.
- What can we do? - We shall find this camp.
And then, we are going to liberate it.