Alec cautiously descended from the roof and settled into the front passenger seat, exhaling deeply. "I don't see anything on the horizon," he mused, gazing out at the expanse ahead.
Leoric frowned as he carefully assessed the situation. He estimated that the eagle soared through the sky at a speed of around 80 to 90 kilometers per hour, while their vehicles chugged along at a mere 40 kilometers per hour. The vast difference in speed was readily apparent and left them at a significant disadvantage.
Dr. Gavin Reeves, seated at the rear, eagerly reached for Alec's binoculars and proceeded to ascend to the roof of V1 with them.
He scanned the horizon and shouted hoarsely. "Look ahead. There is something in the sky."
Those who heard the doctor's hoarse shout became anxious. They were scared, remembering the attack four days ago. They craned their necks and squinted at the horizon.
"We're going to die," the anxious voice of a middle-aged woman at the back of the vehicle exclaimed. Even Rose, who was normally calm, began to sob.
Dr. Gavin Reeves shouted at the top of his voice, "It's her. Angel is back!" Upon hearing this, Captain Neil, who was sitting in the passenger seat of the vehicle behind him, also climbed on top of the vehicle. Placing his hand on his forehead, he squinted his eyes.
The captain spotted the eagle soaring in the distance, its impressive wingspan extended wide as it effortlessly glided through the sky. Its wings were held almost flat, slightly angled upwards to catch the wind.
Captain Neil was in a daze as he gazed enviously at the eagle and the woman riding it. He spent most of his time at sea. Watching the eagle soar, displaying a beautiful blend of power, elegance, and efficiency, was an awe-inspiring sight. For a moment, the captain forgot about their predicament.
As the eagle flew near, he noticed it tilting its wings and adjusting its tail to steer. The eagle used subtle shifts in its body to maintain balance and direction. It passed by him, then made a U-turn and landed perfectly on top of V1, almost knocking off Dr. Reeves, who seemed rooted to the spot.
The vehicle came to a sudden stop, throwing Gavin Reeves off the roof. Luckily, his skills allowed him to land on both feet on the desert sand.
Angel leaped out of the vehicle and landed right in front of Leoric, who was glaring at her. She noticed how tired he looked, with a thicker and longer beard.
Before he could speak unkindly, Angel handed him two bottles of water.
"I found a water source. We should be able to reach that in two hours."
The occupants of the other vehicles have also gotten out. They were curious about why Leoric had stopped. When they noticed the water bottle in Angel's hands, they hurried to her and eagerly reached out to grab one.
"I only had a dozen bottles. Please share equally," Angel said. She took the other bottles from her backpack and passed them to the captain and the chief engineer, keeping three bottles for the people in their vehicle.
The group showed no concern for hygiene as they passed around the bottle to quench their thirst.
Leoric accepted the plastic bottle and climbed into the vehicle. He noticed Emily, her strength fading, lying next to Rose. Gently, he helped her sit up, offering his support.
"Em, we have water; take a sip," he said gently. He was heartbroken to see the woman he grew up with in such a dire state.
Angel was expressionless as she watched her husband care for Emily. She then turned around, tiptoed, and gestured toward the top of the vehicle. A small, furry creature jumped into her arms. It had large, oversized ears that seemed almost too big for its tiny head, and it looked endearing with its wide-eyed expression.
"What the heck, where did you find this kit?" Gavin Reeves stood beside Angel and tried to touch the small animal's ears. They were soft and velvety, and because they were big, they stood out against the animal's small, delicate face.
"I am not sure what kind of animal this is. I found it in the oasis. It looked like a fox, but I am not sure if it is a fox." Angel looked at the face of the small animal with a button nose and bright, inquisitive black eyes that shined with a hint of mischief.
"That's a fennec fox, and it is still a baby. It is called a kit," Gavin explained to Angel.
"Isn't it very cute? I will call this Kit then."
Leoric's voice was filled with urgency as he implored the two to return inside quickly. "We need to leave. There's not enough water for everyone," he said, casting a solemn glance at Angel, who stood closely beside Gavin.
"Angel and Gavin exchanged a quick glance before getting into the vehicle."
After drinking half a bottle of water, Emily regained some of her strength. She glared at Angel and the furry animal in her arms. The others in the vehicle looked at the animal and began to drool; they hadn't had fresh meat for a few days.
Angel's hand tightened protectively around the young fennec fox. "This is not something you can eat."
"If it's not edible, then why did you bring that here? What if its parents attack us? We are already in this state, and you bring danger to us," Emily said hatefully. She was still thirsty and hungry. Her body was sticky because of sweat, and she felt uncomfortable because she had not bathed for a few days. She was venting on Angel.
"Hah. It looks like the water I brought back is miraculous. You now have the strength to find fault with me." Angel snapped back. She would not allow Emily to insult her.
Emily could only purse her lips in anger.
At the driver's seat, Leoric's breathing became shallow and rugged, a sign of the deep fatigue settling in. For a brief moment, his eyes fluttered shut. His grip on the steering wheel loosened, hands slipping slightly as his body slumped forward, and the vehicle started to drift subtly toward the right.
"Leoric!" Alec shouted as he stepped on the break.