The Wastelands

"Is the cat okay?" Andres asked, keeping an eye on the road.

The cat was shivering, bundled up in Shadow s arms. "Most of the blood isn't her's, good thing too." Shadow held up his hand.

Shadow watched to see Andres's eyes widened. "Is that silver?"

Nodding his head. "Yes, this little girl has silver blood." He gently lifted the cat's lip. "Her teeth are silver too. Fascinating." Shadow looked over the tiny creature with a vested interest. "Tough little thing too, went down fighting. What did Lee call her Va?"

Andres gave Shadow a wary look. "Maybe I'll take Va,"

Shadow tightened his hold. "No, she is Lee's medium. She's not leaving my sight."

"You promised…"

"I promised to be good and follow your lead. But anything Lee cares for is my duty to protect." He added, with conviction."Including Stella and that cop woman."

"Am I supposed to believe that?" She asked, wariness laced through her voice.

'It tastes like lemon-orange.'

Shadow only shook his head. "Are you questioning my motives? You?" He laughed. "You who rather be back on the compound by the Headmistress side than here."

The jeep skitted a little as she whipped her head to stare at Shadow. "I thought you're not great with emotions."

Shadow's hold on to the bundled cat tightened. "Careful!" He said sharply, sighed when the cat meowed and borrowed more in the blankets. "You think I was just meditating in solitary? I wanted to be better, so I practiced deciphering emotions." Before, he only used his empathy like a bloodhound, using it as a tool to hunt down his targets. However, Shadow doesn't need to be a mindless killer anymore; he finally has a purpose.

"How did you…Never mind, I don't want to know." She quickly changed her mind.

"Besides, despite your stoic face, you aren't that hard to read." Shadow scuffed; his smile was cold. "All of your beings is resisting as you get further and further away from the Headmistress. The d.e.s.i.r.e to follow your chosen person for the rest of your lives and do whatever necessary to keep that person safe. Is an essential part of your existence." He leaned back. "There's no shame in admitting it. I am the same after all."

"I…" But before she could say anything, though, the jeep skitted to a holt. "The roads blocked. We're walking." She got out and grabbed a backpack from the back.

Shadow did the same. Making sure that Va was comfortable and secured. "Are you prepared for the bad Wastelands beyond?"

Andres took out a gun and expertly loaded it in the clip. "We're more alike than I like to admit." Her smile was predatory. "Now, let's get those girls back and get home soon as possible." She walked forward, leading the way. "I have a bad feeling."

"Ah, someone wants to get back to their Master quick, huh." Shadow taunted, but it sounded like a compliment. Then he looked back with a whispered. "I know the feeling." Before following after Andres.

***

Ruin City

"Hurry!" Captain Terrance shouted.

"There's so many of them!" yelled Danial.

"Move, we need to move," Katy chatted.

"Tessa, no!" Terran cried out. "I don't see her."

"Let go." Tyson cried out. "I need to go after her!"

"We need to keep moving." Captain grabbed the boy, pushing him along.

"Damn." Katy stumbled, falling behind.

Danial doubled back."Grab my hand." Danial pleaded, "This way." Pulling Katy into a nearby building.

Finally, through all the chaos, "Here! In here!" The Captain ordered, holding a door. When everyone rushed in, he closed the door. There, on the side, was a broken bookcase. He pushed it over, blocking the door. Then crouched down. "Shh." And then they waited. There was some foot rustling, and everyone tensed as something fell over. Then it went silent.

Waiting with held breaths before Captain Terrance confirmed. "Okay, I think it's good. "Turning around to find that only Tyson, Terran and the Nomads were there. He looked taken aback, but he pushed through. He turned to the Nomads. "What the hell was that?"

July looked bored. "Not this again."

"The Protector, now those things out there." The Captain waved his hand at the door. "And you're saying that you didn't know about any of this. Isn't this your f.u.c.k.i.n.g domain?"

"Like a said before…." July began to say but was interrupted by laughter.

Terran and everyone turned to Kay, who was laughing almost hysterically. "No wonder the distortion wasn't noticeable until they spread out. Their people but dead, the Wastelands are filled with dead things, the only unnatural thing about them is that they're walking around." His hands covering his face. "How messed up is that." He got up, rubbing at his ears. "And this buzzing sound is driving me crazy."

Terran's ears perked up. 'Dead people walking? Where did I hear that before? His eyes widened. Oh no! Lilia and the Outpost?'

"Kay." July placing her hand on his shoulders, trying to comfort her cousin. Looking closer at him. "What happened to your ear protectors?" He was in no condition to answer.

Terran took off his headphones, offering them up to July. "Here."

July stared at him a little hesitant. "Don't you need these?"

"I barely hear it." Terran shook his head and then nodded at Kay. "And he needs it more."

"Thank you." Taking the headphones and placing them on Kay's ears. "Is that better?" All Kay could do was nod. Terran turned away, but July stopped him. "Look, the falcon." She eyed the falcon cradled in a make-shift sling, strapped across Terran's shoulders. "In our culture, animals like him are scarce," Her eyes held a lot of meaning. "Since his partner isn't here, it's your responsibility to protect him."

Terran glanced down at Sil's sleeping form before looking up with conviction. "I will." There was no doubt. Lumeyes take care of their own.

"Good." Tuning back to her cousin, giving a withering glare at Captain Terrance.

The Captain sighed. "Listen." Before something caught his eye. "Mr. Francis, what are you doing."

Tyson had a chair up, heading toward the window."I'm getting Tessa." But before he could throw the chair grabbed the chair and slammed the boy into the boy. "Are you trying to get us killed?"

He struggled against Captain Terrences's grip but had to settle for just glaring at the bigger man instead. "You left her to die."

"If you go out without knowing where she is, then we'll be looking for you too." Captain Terrance tried to reason with Tyson.

"I don't care," Tyson stated, but there was less force in his words.

"Um." Terran piped up.

Captain Terrance sighed and stepped back. "it's no just that. We need to find our supplies. We only have a couple of guns, and that's about it." He turned to the Nomads. "Do you have anything?"

July pulled out a knife, hilt out. "Other than this. We have a bit of food, but that's all. Nomads travel light."

"Damn." Captain Terrance cursed. "We need something to work with. Something." He mumbled with a frustrated expression.

"Um, Sir." Terran tried to interrupt.

Tyson rounded on Terran. "What's the hell your problem? You don't seem to be bothered that your friends are gone. Tessa? Your sister? "

"I more worried about Tessa… and Conner too." Terran quickly added. He really liked Tessa, and everything in him wanted to rush out there and find her as soon as possible. But Captain Terrance was right because if his suspicions were correct, going out there without a plan would be suicide. "At least the others had some training." That's all he could hope for now.

"Training? That's funny." Kay mumbled.

"And as for my sister?" Terran continued. "Would a bird's eye view help?" He pointed out the window. Everyone followed Terran's finger, then looked up.

July looked impressed. "Got to admit, the girl got guts."

Terran grunted at the force as Captain Terrance slapped Terran back, "Yeah, that will help immensely." The Captain sounded pleased.

As the Vulture Protector screeched out overhead making its presence known, skimming its wings against the rooftops. Beyond that, in the next building over, on a floor a couple of feet below the roof-line. In a room with an outside wall that was crumbled apart. Revealed Heather with a sniper rifle at the ready.