“Those are some beautiful flowers,” Hazel said.
She pointed to a clutch of light blue petaled flowers with a dark patch around the edges that resembled an ink stain. They were nestled in the roots of a tree.
“Those are Healer’s Touch,” I said.
“They are?” she said.
I bent down and plucked the flower heads off. There were three plants at this location and another four on the other side of the tree.
“You don’t want to take the entire flower?” Hazel said.
“If we just take the heads, we get the medicine and the flowers can bloom again.”
I pulled down a large leaf and wrapped the petals inside it. Then I tied it together with dried vines that hung limply from the tree’s bark.
I curled the vine into a hoop so I could carry it in one hand.
Wiiiiiiing!
I would recognize that sound anywhere.
“Get down!” I said.
I grabbed Hazel by the hand and pulled her toward the tree trunk. I scanned the sky and, finding we were exposed beneath a section where the boughs did not reach, I swung us around to the other side of the trunk.
“Is it them?” Hazel said.
“Yes,” I said. “With any luck, they won’t see us.”
The ship was far away but we both whispered.
“Are they looking for us?” she said.
“Maybe,” I said. “But more likely, they’re looking for the Fallen Temple. They’ll keep searching until they find us.”
“What happens if they find it? Is there another place we can retreat to?”
“No. But that would be a good idea.”
We never saw the ship. We only heard its engines whine and turn in another direction. Probably to murder some poor innocents they’d locked onto.
Thankfully, it wasn’t in the same direction we were heading.
But maybe there was another reason they weren’t heading toward the Fallen Temple.
What if they’d found it already?
What if we could no longer meet up with other Titan survivors?
What if Changelings were already there, waiting to ambush us the moment we arrived?
I pushed the thoughts from my mind and focused on reaching the Fallen Temple. That was the plan. And it was the only one we had.
I stepped forward and found Hazel still holding my hand. I made to let go but she refused.
She stared at me with her big wide eyes, terrified.
I tightened my grip and then, holding hands, we edged through the forest. We maintained low crouched positions, peering this way and that, looking out for any Changelings that might be close by.
Darkness closed in on us before we knew it. Maybe we slept in a little too late. Night seemed to approach much faster than I expected.
We heard three more Changeling shuttlecraft passing overhead but not once did we lay eyes on them. Each time, we hid beneath a thick tree trunk and made ourselves as small as possible.
I hated that they made her so scared.
We waited until they passed. So long as they kept searching, there was always hope the resistance would take hold.
We moved on, covering the forest one slow mile at a time. It was hard, grueling work. What made it twice as difficult was not having enough food or water on us.
I plucked what few berries and nuts I knew to be safe and munched on them first. I let at least an hour pass before allowing Hazel to eat them. Even then, I wouldn’t allow her to have more than a few at a time.
She was not a Titan and she needed to be careful with our wild food. So far, she appeared to react well to it.
My body grew stronger, the activity helping my muscles and tendons to reform and grow. My skin was still healing. There were patches on my arms that still had not fully recovered. I needed more of the Healer’s Touch. I would apply it tonight.
I look forward to settling down beneath the stars with Hazel again tonight, naked beneath those blankets of leaves. A part of me dreaded it, being so close and yet unable to act on my impulses.
I came to a stop and raised a hand for Hazel to wait. Ahead of us, behind a long hedgerow, was a farmhouse. I’d let myself drift away in my thoughts and allowed my mind to wander.
Idiot!
It could just as easily have been a Changeling shuttlecraft bearing down on us.
Luck had saved me this time. It wouldn’t again.
I peered around the hedge at the farmhouse’s soft glowing lights. Titan farmers would reside inside. I knew local tribes had good relationships with local farmers. They often traded their goods and services, especially when times were lean.
“Okay, mom!”
A little boy let the backdoor slam shut behind him as he strode with a smile and a confident gait toward the barn. He went inside and came out with a large cooking pot.
“What is it?” Hazel said. “Do you think Changelings are here?”
“No,” I said. “But I think we shouldn’t take the risk.”
“Too late for that.”
We snapped around to find an old rifle staring us in the grill.
The Titan holding it said, “Now, what do you think—”
My endless training from when I was a young lad came to the fore. I’d received training from the greatest fighters in the empire. I learned to fight with blades, shields, guns, and my bare hands. I’d also been taught psychology and when was the best time to attack.
“As soon as possible,” my teacher always said. “They’re still trying to figure out if you’re a threat. You already know you are one. And you’re far more dangerous than they will ever be. Use your skills against them and attack first.”
My hands flew up and knocked the rifle aside. I twisted it out of the Titan’s grip. He maintained his hold and lost his balance. I spun the rifle around and aimed it back at him.
It happened in the blink of an eye.
The Titan was garbed in a flannel shirt and stained overalls. He must have been the farmer. Except… Changelings were capable of adopting the shape of others. He could just as easily be
