A Fractured Reflection

Chapter 26 Shifting Sands

Normal POV.

From far above the sun shined down upon Steven and company with an unforgiving light as they trek through the desert. Steven wasn't really affected by the desert heat and neither were his companions that followed him. He still couldn't understand why the corrupted and mutated gems still continue to follow him. When bringing this question up with Peridot she just shrugged.

Peridot:"I have no idea as to why they follow you. But if I had to take a guess as to why then I'd say it's because they see you as their alpha"

Steven:"Alpha?"

Peridot:"*Nods* Yes alpha. When I was looking up Earths species I stumbled across a few that were lead by an alpha. Upon looking up the term I learned that it basically means the dominant member of the group"

Steven:"So they follow me because they see me as superior to them?"

Peridot:"Most likely. It also doesn't hurt that they probably trust you since you freed them all"

Steven:"Not all of them were from the facility though, so it doesn't make sense as to why they still follow me?"

Peridot:"*Shrugs* I've got nothing for that. Maybe they follow you because of some other factor"

That had Steven looking down at his gem and began to wonder if that was the reason. He already knows that gems serve the diamonds and admire them. Could it be that because he was also a diamond that they unconsciously follow him.

Steven:"*Mumbles* Would explain how mom was able to get an army to rebel against the other diamonds so easily. But then begs the question as to why she started the rebellion in the first place. There has to be some reason-"

Peridot:"What are you talking about Steven?"

Her sudden voice broke him out of his mumblings.

Steven:"Huh? Oh it's nothing really important Peridot"

She looks at him for a moment before shrugging and walks ahead of him. He still doesn't understand why she didn't want to stay sitting on his shoulder but didn't really question it.

Steven:"*Thoughts* One things for certain, I can't trust anything the gems tell me anymore. Any one of them could be lying and for all I know everything they said about mom could be false"

Looking down at the blue angel that's nestled in his arm he couldn't help but smile. Even in a somewhat corrupt state he still loved her with all his being.

Steven:"*Whispers* At least this is not a lie"

It was at this moment that Lapis began to stir from her sleep. With a yawn she stretched her limbs and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. She then realized that she was not on the ground but instead being carried. It took her a moment to remember who exactly was carrying her and immediately greeted him.

Lapis:"GoOd MoRnInG STeVeN"

Steven:"*Chuckles* It's the evening Lapis"

Lapis:"Oh..."

Silence ranged between the two as neither of them knew what else to say to each other. Just as the silence began to be unbearable a thought crossed Stevens mind.