"Ah, hello," Lachlan was a bit stunned by Adam's(J) odd appearance but an elegant voice. It was like polar opposites.
The leader quickly walked up to Lachlan and grabbed his hands, "Hello there!" he shouted, "What business do you have in Mount Barker to have most likely travelled a far distance".
"We have family here, wanted to meet them," Lachlan said.
"Ohh, and what might their names be?" Adam(J) asked.
"Darius Wilson," Lachlan stated.
Adam(J) quickly froze up, "Uhh, w-well this is an awkward situation," He stuttered, looking towards the whole family his eyes shot back and force from member to member.
Chloe already predicted what happened and fell to her knees crying. Adam(W) and Jack ran to her side, hugging her and trying to provide some comfort. However, they also understood what could have happened and tears run down his face.
"What happened?" Lachlan asked in a harsh voice, Lachlan never liked it when he saw his mother sad.
"Not long ago the rescue team went to Victor Harbour, in hopes of finding stragglers. Little did we know we came unprepared, very unprepared. Water shot from the ocean, destroying a few helicopters, luckily the pilots noticed the situation and distanced themselves from the water. Unfortunately, that was a trap. They close the gap between the helicopters and the trees and hills and before they realised it they had been webbed by spiders. Then a bird flew above and spew fire, completely melting everyone in its radius, nothing was left".
Lachlan was both sad and confused, his emotions conflicted. He was sad about losing his "Father", even though he wasn't his real dad, he still saw him like that. Tears rolled down his cheek, he continued to wipe them off, trying to portray a brave man, but couldn't. He was confused as to how he died, they called him a few days ago yet he was completely fine.
The military stood there in silence, there was nothing they could do. They didn't have the ability to bring back the dead, nor did they have the ability to reverse time. They could only leave the family to deal with this issue themselves.
However, while Lachlan was tearing up he continued to think about what else the man said. He was confused about the beasts setting up a trap, one that was undetectable by the military.
However, there wasn't only that bit of information that scared him, there was also the bird. Although his finally seen some elemental beast now, none of which had the power the completely melt helicopters.
But when thinking about it, there may be one beast of such strength, one of legends and myths, a Phoenix. A bird that has flames similar to the sun, that can scorch everything in its path, stopping at nothing. A bird that was birthed by flames, gaining complete control over them.
Lachlan's whole body shivered at the thought of such a beast existing. Although he had the three Rocs which could summon lightning, they required time and the necessary strength to summon it.
But from what the man told them, this was a Phoenix that breathed fire, fire that might not need any time to gather the strength, it may just come naturally. Lachlan remembered back to the wolf, its ice ability came naturally so the possibility was there.
And it's appropriate to think that this Phoenix should be an elder beast, it may have an even more powerful ability, one that could completely annihilate everything. Or maybe it follows its legend, it's special ability might be a rebirth.
"Indeed, I thought you would be slightly shocked. That's also the reason as to why everyone is gathered at the school, although we may be able to take back Mount Barker, who knows what could attack us after that," Adam(J) explained.
"Isn't that making it easier to kill everyone, after all, you just said that there was a bird capable of spewing fire that melted a helicopter. If that bird appears here and spews fire at the school it will melt everyone here," Alfredo said, although he felt sad for the family, he has no connection with the father.
He was however concerned with how the military did things, after gaining that information he thought it would be idiotic to gather everyone together. It was like they were making a target, one where the bird could kill everything in one shot.
"Ah, now you are not wrong. However, we currently do not have the forces to protect everyone should we spread out. Now, we do however spread everyone across the school grounds, some in classrooms and some in tents," Adam(J) explained.
"What if we help you take back Mount Barker?" Alfredo asked. It seemed like an easy solution to the problem
"Well that would be wonderful, but as I just said we don't have the necessary forces to protect all of Mount Barker, just a portion of it," Adam(J) explained.
"Where's that portion?" Lachlan asked.
"Bluestone, it's not too far from here and has some large houses, enough room for everyone".
"So why haven't you taken it back?" Lachlan asked.
"Because there's a beast there that has a lot of strength and intelligence," Adam(J) said, attempting to justify his actions.
"Intelligence?" Lachlan and Alfredo questioned, this was the first time they've heard that phrase when talking about beasts. They looked towards each other and shrugged their shoulders. Although they could talk to their beasts they thought it was common that beasts were intelligent.
Seeing that they have yet to be told this phrase doesn't surprise Adam, deciding to tell them everything he began explaining their situation, "Yes, intelligence. It's a phrase we use for beasts with the ability to issue commands to beasts, granting them the ability to create their own forces, some of which were able to contend with the military. Unfortunately for us, they have everything needed to guard their area as well. Beasts with detection abilities, camouflage abilities to set up ambushes, and some that are just crazy dangerous".
Lachlan thought back to what happened when they were at Port Augusta, it was very likely that a beast with intelligence lead that attacks back then, it probably escaped when it noticed the lightning attack.
"Are they strong?" Lachlan asked. If he could kill it then there shouldn't be a problem, they just need a big enough distraction to get close enough the kill the beast.
"Most of the times, however, we've been communicating with other parts of Australia and it seems that's not always the case. Sometimes they were just lucky to evolve with the ability to lead others. However, the one in Bluestone is definitely not just lucky with intelligence it also has insane strength. Luckily it doesn't seem interested in attacking us, It's rather relaxed and lazy, it doesn't take much notice in our attempts to lure it out of its protection," Adam(J) said with a bit of disappointment in his voice.
It was understandable considering that they've tried everything to get the intelligent beasts to come out. Yet because of its lazy personality, it doesn't take much notice.
"And how do you know they won't attack?" Alfredo asked, "They might just be biding for time, waiting for the perfect chance to annihilate this group".
Adam froze up again, unsure how to answer this question, "Well that's what it seems to be for the moment. However, we decided we won't stay here and will try to migrate to Adelaide in hopes they have room there".
"Wouldn't try that, although they may have a room, they might not have the supplies. The Adelaide Hills is one of the only places that are still plentiful in resources, specifically fruits and vegetables," Alfredo explained. He saw the situation in Adelaide, while there was plenty of room there weren't any farms.
"Well I suppose that just leaves us with the option fight, and yes I would love for your group to join in, increasing our numbers might give us a slightly better chance at winning," Adam said, he sounded even more disappointed.
"It doesn't sound like your confidant," Lachlan said. He noticed the change in tone, it was something he managed to pick up when talking to people so much.
"Why is that?" Lachlan asked his face still slightly messy, with slightly red eyes.
"This intelligent beast has a whole variety of beast in its "Army", it may have some unexpected ones so I wouldn't be surprised if we were caught off guard, rather its completely possible it'll happen should we attack it," Adam explained.
"Don't worry about that," Lachlan said while flexing his arms, showing a bit of muscle, "we got plenty of strength to fight against any unexpected situations".
"Well at least you're confident," Adam(J) said. He admired that confidence but also knew that such confidence could also get people killed quickly, especially in this new world.
"Follow me," he said before walking off towards the building.
The group followed along, Adam and Jack managed to snap out of it slightly, they were still a mess but they knew they had to move on. Chloe, on the other hand, seemed like an empty husk of a human, Adam and Jack were on each side walking her but it didn't seem like she took much notice of it.