Volcanic eruptions were blackening the skies. The ring of Fire was shaken regularly by shattering earthquakes, then blanketed by devastating tsunamis. The Amazon fires burning in the rainforest had grown so large, they were visible from space. The pace of Glacier loss was accelerating at unprecedented speed. New laws were put in place regarding travel, even the Hive had restrictions on the movement between the Hive and the rest of the world.
Yet within the Hive there was no sense of urgency. Life flowed smoothly.
Lucy definitely had a green thumb. Her garden was amazing and people came from all over the Hive to ask for advice and fresh produce. Of course they stayed back a safe distance because her guard, a giant Canadian Timber wolf, was never more than a few feet from her side. Lucy had named the wolf Shadow. The wolf knew exactly how far it could stray and still be within striking distance. There had been no more attacks on Lucy.
She grew mostly vegetables. But, also some natural, healing herbs. Lucy used her garden as therapy. Since her kidnapping 18 months ago, many new therapies and counseling sessions had been instituted in the Hive.
"Are you coming in for dinner?" Rufus sauntered over. He casually rubbed Shadow's ear.
"Of course." Lucy brushed her hands on her apron. Time always got away from her in her garden. "I'm starving. Thanks for coming to get me." Her smile melted his heart.
"No problem." Rufus shrugged. He cared for her more everyday. Lucy seemed to have no idea how he felt about her. He would make her see how special she was to him even if it took forever.
"What's for dinner?"
His smile was genuine. "Tuna casserole."
"Ewww." It was no secret that Lucy hated all fish.
"Come on, shrimp, we are really having lasagna."
As they entered the pod together, Shadow following closely, Lucy swatted playfully at Rufus for teasing her. His heart jumped a little in his chest.
A lot had changed since Anne had last seen her old pod mates over a year ago. She no longer let any random visions over take her. Len Green had taught her how to snap her mind closed, allowing only the visions she wanted to seep in. And immediately after Anne was finished with the visions she began meditation and chanting to cleanse her mind. Never again would she allow others to take control of her thinking.
"Hi." She stepped into the living area just as the others were sitting down to dinner. "Is that garlic bread I smell?"
"Anne!"
"Welcome stranger."
"You're back!"
One by one they pushed their chairs back. The group swarmed her. Shadow waited, alert, sizing up the new person near his master.
Anne hugged each in turn, hanging on a little longer when she put her arms around Ethan, pushing her nose against his chest for one split second. He smelled like home.
"Hey, come, eat!" Rufus pulled a chair out and Georgie grabbed an extra plate and set of silverware.
Anne sat. She looked around the table and suddenly a tear dropped onto her cheek. She hadn't realized how much she missed these guys.
"Are you okay?" Ethan laid a hand on her arm.
Anne wiped the tear away. "Actually I'm great. It's just so amazing to see you all! Dinner looks great, let's eat before it gets cold." They all dug in.
During the meal, they each took turns, bringing Anne up to date on what had happened since she left that day with Len Green.
Lucy, of course, had made the most changes. She introduced Anne to Shadow. They all laughed when Lucy explained that the 110 pound dog was afraid of only one thing in the world: Twiskers! If Twiskers was laying on Lucy's bed, Shadow, to avoid a confrontation, would stretch out on the floor, casting baleful glances at Lucy, imploring her to intervene. Shadow was always careful to stay a safe distance from the cat in case Twiskers got angry and swatted at the wolf's nose. Anne smiled fondly as Lucy hummed excitedly in her chair when she talked about her garden. Anne was grateful that Lucy had healed so well after her trauma.
"Georgie?" Georgie held a special place in Anne's heart after he had thwarted Sybil and Vera's vicious attack on her sanity.
"Same old." He stated blandly, then ruined his nonchalant demeanor by tossing half a dozen knives in the air and juggling them without ever touching them. Anne clapped, delighted. Georgie settled the knives back on the table and smiled at her.
Not to be upstaged, Rufus said, "Hey, watch this!" He flicked his fingers, like he was shaking water off them, but instead he snapped bolts of electric current back and forth. "It doesn't even burn me."
"Nice."
"And watch this." Rufus pointed at his glass of water, light arced from his fingers, the water began to bubble and boil.
"Impressive." Rufus' enthusiasm was charming. Anne noticed Lucy watched him with a sweet smile.
Next, Anne turned her attention to Griffen. He grinned and flickered in and out. "Still creeped out." She said, softening the words with a smile of her own.
Anne waited for Ethan to add his update, but he kept his head down, starting intently at his plate of lasagna. She knew from gossip that he was studying to become a teacher and mentor like Kate. He said nothing. Finally, Anne shrugged.
"Rudy and Kate are meeting me here after dinner. Then we can discuss the reason for my visit."
Curious, all eyes turned in her direction. Ethan dropped his fork, his appetite gone.
"Hello, podlings." No one noticed that Rudy's smile was forced, his body tense. They thought it couldn't be bad news if he was so upbeat. The group looked to Kate to gauge her mood, always a little harder to do with her than with her twin. Her features were smooth, unreadable.
"The world has become a very small place." Rudy began, pacing in front of them. Rudy wasn't smiling now. "As of midnight we have been ordered to leave the Hive.
There were gasps around the room.
"How?"
"Why?"
Kate took over from Rudy. "Fires are blazing right outside our doors. It would seem that satellites tracking the fires have spotted an unusual compound. Rumors are spreading that it is some sort of illegal hiding place."
"Anne has seen the military swarming the Hive." Rudy announced. "They are already dangerously close."
"But, we don't even know where the Hive is and we live here!" Georgie blurted.
"The Hive, for the first time in centuries is being threatened on multiple fronts."
"What? They looked from Kate and Rudy to each other. "How is that possible? Why can't we put out the fires... fight back?"