The full moon was coming, it had been several weeks since the ruins and meeting Tala. Both Tala and I were starting to get use to each other being in our heads. Things had started taking on a normal rhythm. I knew, there was a brewing inside me, yet for the life of me I did not know what it was. Tala would only giggle and say nothing. Red had told me that Mackie was home healing and the mare would be back later in the week. I was happy to hear they were healing at least on the outside. Inside I knew would take them a while.
I was still.laughing at Tala being agust at the idea that we cooked our meat. She did like this idea one bit. My.phone rang suddenly, I knew it was Red by the ring tone, " Hi!" laughter still in my voice.
"It has started." Red said gruffly. "I will be home in a while. Expect trouble." The he hung up.
Realizing that the town must be in trouble, I ran put the back door, through the side gate and up to "look out hill". There I seen it. Fires raging, explosions occurring one right after another. Transformers in the power lines and buildings or things around them. The war had finally made it to our small town.
My heart sank, the horror being wittnessed down there would be truly awful. I had heard they took children right from their mothers, raped women, killed anything that resisted among much much more. I could only imagine what Red was seeing. "Lada!" I hollered I knew she was never out of ear shot.
"I have been watching," she walked out of the shadows of the larger juniper just below the hill. "I heard the explosions a little while ago and have been watching." She sat next to me looking out at the chaos and destruction.
"Red is down there." My heart hurt just saying that. Knowing he would have to call on that darkness.
"I know, young one. He is an old warrior. He will manage. Of that I am sure." There was a wolf grin to her. Her ears turned suddenly begin her, "Get your rifle someone is coming fast this way!" She was already moving, I could see the fluffy LGD jump toward the sound. Running down the sandy hill, my feet had wings. Into the house, Chief asked "What's wrong?"
"The town is under attack." I started. "There is also someone headed this way." I watched the old man leap up and be ready for a fight in an instant. "I am always ready to battle." He grunted.
I smiled, I knew this fellow well, matching scars and stories we shared. He would be beside me not matter what. "Let's go." I added grabbing my rifle and pistol.
Outside I heard the engine. It was coming fast. So I ran down to the gate. There I stood just to the side but ready to see who was coming. A huge school bus, had made it down the road. A bit surprisingly. Our road was left unkept to keep people from just coming down. The bus stopped just inches from hitting the gate. I seen the doors flop open and Ruthann leaped out. "Lia!! I didn't know where else to bring them." She started to cry instantly.
Putting my rifle on my shoulder, I opened the gate, to walk toward her. I peeked inside the bus to see children packed with some mothers and other teachers. Looking to Ruthann " It's ok," I put my arms around her. She was crying there were others inside the bus bursting to tears. "Ruthann, I need you to stay focused. Look at me" I pulled her hands away. "Take them down to the bunk house." I was calm and clear in my instructions.
"I don't remember where it is," she burst into more tears.
I looked at Chief, heard him say yes, "Chief will lead you. Have you been followed here?"
Ruthann's brown eyes in sudden shock, tears forming in them again "I don't know!" She started hiccuping she was so upset.
"Its fine, just get them to the bunk house." I gave her a quick hug, "Get going so I can see if anyone is coming." I turned her around and shoved her in the bus. Chief started tipping and dancing toward the bunk house.
"Lada," I hollered.
She came shortly after the bus turned the corner into our small hidden valley just below the tiny house we had. "They were not followed from what I can tell. Your fluffy one is keeping watch on the hill to the main road." Lada sat looking at me. "The time has come Tala" I heard her say.
I looked around to see how a storm up here on the mesa had formed. The clouds had managed to pop up without a warning. I had seen this in the mountians of the high Sierras and the Appalachia Mountians. but never here. "I need to make sure they are settled." I shouldered my rifle. To puck up the pace toward the valley on foot. Lada trotted next to me. "He will be fine," she whispered just before she took a path to the right suddenly.
I hoped so. I really did.