The Wastelands

Towa

"I didn't even tell her where to meet your guide." Marty pondered.

"She'll figure it out," Bryson answered; his eyes didn't stray from the door. Illogically thinking that if he stared at long enough, then Druid would walk back in with a smile on her face.

How Bryson loathed feeling that way, he knew that Druid would be more than okay, but he couldn't help how he felt.

"A guide why? Just tell us the location, and we'll take it for them," Statson protested.

"Have your brain leaked through your ears. Those tunnels are a maze, and even some tunnels go well within the Wastelands," Marty taunted. "But go ahead, starve to death for all I care."

Statson stuttered a little. "Then what about the shielded compartment, and why would you know a guide through the tunnels in the first place."

"Like I said, it's none of your business." Marty resorted. "And did you forget you're the one running from the Guard?"

They bickered back and forth, with how Marty still had her back to the front and making a minimum amount of head movements. Whereas Statson was still kneeling on the floor. Making it even more ridiculous. Bryson couldn't help sigh with boredom. "Are you done yet? Because watching you peck at each other is becoming quite tedious." He added. "Druid's waiting."

There was a pause; Marty gave a sideways glance at Statson. "Snippy, isn't he?"

Statson tipped his hat a little and sighed. "But right. Okay, Marty girl, give with the info already."

Marty swept her feet, and a disk-shaped object came sliding toward Statson. "here you go."

The screen lit up, and he read some of the contents. "Brit, huh,," Looking toward Bryson. "Ice boy, are you up for it."

His voice was full of concern, but Bryson would have none of it. He didn't want to think about how he was still not up to his whole strength, and his appearance, for lack of a better word, was dismay. But Bryson wouldn't tell something like that to Statson of all people.

Bryson mustered up false stared at the older like he was crazy. "Of course." Then he activated his ability. There was a feeling of distortion as the cold washed over him. Relief washed over him. It felt right. And He slowly got up, checking to see with he was reflected in Marty's broken mirror. For once, Bryson was satisfied to not see his reflection staring back. He strolled toward Statson, making sure his footsteps are as light as possible. Then stood looking down at Statson kneeling form. And couldn't help but smile with morbid delight. "it's nice to see you in that position. It's exactly where you belong."

Statson looked up, and his expression wasn't impressed. "Yeah, yeah. Just get it over with already."

"Fine." Bryson huffed; he doesn't like his fun being ruined. He placed his hand on Statson shoulder.

"That's cold." Statson hissed, and he, too, disappeared.

"Well, that's either the weirdest or the coolest thing I ever saw." Marty's voice was awed, and Bryson preened at the praise.

"Stay safe, Marty." Statson voice softens.

Marty looked fl.u.s.tered. "Get out of here already, your creeping me out." Then added in a whisper. "Don't die, you big lug."

***

Ruined City

A shot rang out, and a zombie went down mere inches away from Tyson. "Holy…!" He cried out, stumbling.

"Keep moving." Captain Terrance ordered as he rifle butted a zombie in the head. A second later, the zombie was finished off by Heather's sniping. "Don't shoot unless you have to. That's Miss. Green"s job. We don't want to attract any more attention than absolutely necessary. Understood?"

Both boys piped up. "Yes, Sir!"

After things calmed down. Something peaked Terranès interested, and he bent down to take a better look at one of the fallen Zombies. They looked like they were experimented on like Lilia described, but Tyson noticed something on its neck. "That's odd," he whispered. "It looked like it might be a…."

Tyson came up to Terran. "Is your sister insane?" Then gave Terran an weird look. "What are you looking at?"

Terran got up. "It looks like a… no never." Then he caught on to what the other boy was saying. "What's this about Heather?"

"Okay." Tyson narrowed his eyes but sighed. "Oh yeah, Heather. She was inches away from shooting me instead. That's insane."

"No, not possible," Terran stated, shaking his head. "She never misses."

Tyson looked at Terran in disbelief. "No one is that good."

"She is." In this state, Heather's air ability wasn't as powerful as it usually was. But it doesn't need to be when she had the control to make compressed air bullets that could be encouraged to go where she wants them to go. Although Heather didn't need to most of the time, her aim was just that good.

"Hah, boys, stop yammering and get a move on," Statson called out over his shoulder.

"Yes, sir."

Terran was looking for anything he could use. Good thing there wasn't a need to show his Lumeye side yet. Sure he could create earth elements, like stone and dirt, but that was only to a limited degree. He was a lot better at manipulating the earth around him. Also, there wasn't much he could do without anything to draw on.

"It looked like a bomb went off," he whispered.

Through the burnt husk, there was also a lot of broken-up concrete and decapitated buildings. Still, there were signs where the Wastelands were slowly intruding. As roots were poking through here and there, and plant life creeping up the buildings. But the question was would it be enough?

"We are out of Miss. Green's line of sight. So be on your guard." Captian Terrance's voice broke Terran from his thoughts. The Captain's gaze was wary. His gaze darted from one place to the next. "I don't like this. It's too quiet." Then, suddenly like a bad omen, a batch of Zombies came borrowing out of nowhere. "Get ready." But then something with glowing eyes came crashing through, tearing into the Zombies like paper. "Spike?"

Spike had his side painted with blood, and he was heaving like he was running a marathon. But what worried Terran the most was the wild look in his eyes. "Maybe I take a look at him," Terran asked, concerned; animal medicine wasn't his expertise, but he couldn't just leave him like that. Although Terran had to quickly back up as Spike snapped at him.

"Stay back!" Captain Terrence order. "Let me handle it." He slowly approached Spike. "Ha, big guy, do you remember me?" When the wolf hesitated, he got some food from his pocket. "Here you go. You must be hungry." A second passed, another before taking the treat, and gobbled it up quickly, before burying his face into the Captain's c.h.e.s.t. "Ah, good man, you're still you." The Captain's face was delighted as he gave the spiked wolf a scratch behind the ears.

It was quite a sight to see, and Terran looked down at Sil's sleeping face. He couldn't help but be grateful that the falcon had broke from unconsciousness and finally fell into a restful sleep. It gave Terran hope that Lilia was going to be okay.

Then suddenly, there was shooting in the far distance. "Heather? What is she doing?" Terran asked. He looked in the direction of the shooting to see Heather taking down a couple of Zombies. "But why there?"

Captain still had his arm around Spike, responded. "That's not part of the plan. She's not supposed to accelerate her shooting until much later."

"Maybe she's trying to tell us something." Terran pondered.

"It's Tessa! Up there!" he shouted in excitement, pointing above the zombie's head, up into the buildings.

"Tessa, where?" Terren followed Tyson's finger, searching and finally spotting Tessa. She was running on the rooftops of a low rise, then she jumped into a window of the next building.

"When Tessa said that she did parkour, she wasn't kidding," Terran stated, relieved and impressed. Still, those emotions turned into concern as he heard something faint but very familiar. "Wait! She's not running from the Zombies! Someone's shooting at her! Sir, we have too…." Terran stepped toward the Captain but stopped as Spike growled, guarding the older man.

"Go," The Captain, seeing the problem with Spike, ordered. "The supplies must be nearby. We'll catch up." When Terran hesitated. "Go, Mr. Francis left already." As Terran turn to run after Tyson, he heard the Captain's voice calling after him. "Mr. Green, remember what I said before. Whatever it takes."

"Yes, Sir," Terran whispered, his eyes hardened in determination as he ran faster.

***

Wastelands

"What'll be left or right?" Shadow pondered. Staring from one road to the next. Then one Phantoms came from the right path, and another from the right., and whispered in Shadow's ear. "Sour gr.a.p.es, hmm. So neither then. What to do?" Taping his chin in thought.

"Huh, what's this?" Andres responded, who was walking the path's edges, looking for any clues.

Shadow came forward to get a better look. There was a small path leading deeper into the forest. It was barely noticeable, like it was made that way. "Do you think a couple of trucks can get through here?"

"Hmm, if barely." He turned to one of the Phantoms, but before he could say anything, paw feet jumped from Shadow's head. The tiny creature sniffed, look back meowed, before disappearing down the hidden path. "Hey, Va!"

Shadow and Andres exchanged glances. "Well, that answers that question. Let's go," Andres replied, then both followed after the cat.