‘Clyde feels Dawn, so he came, but she feels… sick. Far away. Confused.’
Yeah, Dawn was high. That must feel weird to tap into. Clyde was a cute name. All the Galadrias were taking human names now.
‘We’ve given her human medication,’ I explained. ‘Her wings are broken. Temporarily we hope. But she needs the green stuff. Food.’
I stepped forward and reached out my hand. Galadrias were affectionate creatures and I knew he would feel better when touched. The moment he butted his head into my hand, I stroked his neck and his whole body relaxed.
‘Clyde was scared. Clyde thought all Galadrias… dead.’
Tears welled in my eyes. ‘No. They’re safe on Earth. I can take you there once we get Dawn and the rest of my friends better.’
Once my freaking brain bleed healed too I guess.
‘Clyde can take Kit to bring Dawn food. Dawn is important to Clyde.’
Something crossed his face, and for the first time I wondered if it were possible for Galadrias to fall in love, or if they had mates or partners. I’d never asked… I knew some were meant for breeding and some were warriors, but beyond that it was a mystery.
Relief rushed through me.
‘Yes. If I can get Dawn food she will heal and we can all fly out of here,’ I told him.
He nodded. ‘I know of a feeding lake. It’s dangerous, but plenty of green.’
I would need a way to carry it… and I didn’t like the danger part. Then I remembered the green barrels. They were like oil drums. We’d stocked up on the crap and the breeders had pushed it through the portal to Boston. How far of a flight was that? A couple hours if I remembered correctly. It might all be gone. Nox had blown that place sky high. I’d have to risk the lake and hope I found a bucket on the way.
‘That would be great,’ I told him, and climbed onto his back, then pulled out my walkie.
Ronnie wasn’t going to like this. Better not to tell her in person.
“Ronnie, it’s Kit. Over.”
“Go for Ronnie. Any green stuff?”
I paused. “Not up here, but I found a survivor. Clyde is a Galadria who is friends with Dawn. He’s going to fly me down to the surface and I’ll return with the green stuff.”
Her reply was instant. “Absolutely not! Kit, I forbid it. No solo missions.”
I heard Maxine curse in the background, but we were already airborne and the reception was getting choppy.
“I’m the commander. I do what it takes to make sure my entire team survives. Dawn needs this, Ronnie. I’m going.” My voice was tougher than I meant for it to be.
“Take me with you. Where are you?” I heard her huffing and puffing. She was probably hobbling around the island looking for me. That made me feel like a total asshole.
“Love you, bitch. Over and out.” I shut off the walkie.
A deep pang of sadness settled into me. I hoped I wasn’t making a mistake. But Dawn was family and I wasn’t leaving this place without her.
I had to operate on the assumption that the breeders had a GPS on my location at all times. I was going to assume that one or more would be waiting for me there. That would help me be most prepared. They’d gone pretty silent after the bust-up at the opening. I hoped it was because we’d killed a ton of them and they were regrouping. If I could find a bucket and string before we got to the lake, I might even be able to get Clyde to fly over it and I could scoop up the green stuff without even landing. That would be ideal.
Worst case, I’d bring back my empty canteen’s worth and make multiple runs. I wouldn’t let Dawn down.
As we flew, I kept my eyes peeled on the ground for anything I could use. There were old bikes, guns, duffle bags, pillows, but so far nothing like a bucket.
‘Wait! Slow down.’
We’d passed a giant ghoul, but had gone way over his head and were now flying at a lower altitude. I’d just seen a group of humans, and now beyond them something caught my eye.
‘Get lower,’ I told Clyde.
There was a huge plastic tub, like the ones you would organize your garage with. It was half peeking up out of the ground. Only issue was there was also a grunt about twenty feet from it, walking aimlessly. A single grunt I could handle. Like swatting a fly.
When Clyde lowered me over the plastic tub, I leapt off of him mid-flight and landed on my feet, gun raised. The ghoul turned towards the sound and I cut him down with bullets.
Reaching into the ground, I pulled up the tub and my heart sank when I spied a hole about five inches from the bottom.
Fuck.
Think, think, think.
I needed freaking duct tape.
Well, five inches of green stuff was better than none. I’d just have to fill it only a third of the way.
‘How much do Galadrias drink in a day?’ I asked Clyde as he landed to pick me back up. I grabbed a nasty bedsheet, hoping to use it as rope and hopped on his back.
He observed the tub I held. ‘Half of that would be okay.’
Okay, so filling this up would be two days’ worth… if I could plug the hole. If not, it was less a day’s worth.
Part of me wanted to open a portal right now and see how the others were doing, get us the hell out of here. But if I fainted or had a brain bleed without Ronnie to save me, I’d be dead. I hoped Damien was fighting for the Galadrias on Earth, getting them food and shelter while he worked out a deal. They were basically alien refugees, and there
