I leaned against the wall, watching as Cato adjusted the blanket over Daya. She shifted slightly, her face pinched but calmer than it had been when they'd first arrived. Her breathing was steady now, though still shallow.
"She'll be okay," I said, more to reassure myself than him.
He didn't look up. "I hope so."
Silence stretched between us for a moment before I cleared my throat. "So... where are you two from? Like, which city?"
Cato finally turned his gaze to me, his expression wary. "She's from the City of Ra," he said, nodding toward Daya. "I'm from Amartus."
I raised an eyebrow. "And which one's closer?"
"The City of Ra," he answered. "It's southwest, maybe three days from here. Amartus is farther east—at least five days if you're lucky."
I nodded, my mind already spinning. "Okay. Ra it is. Once Daya's on her feet, we'll head there."
Cato frowned, shifting in his seat. "You don't have to come with us, you know. You've done enough."
"You think I'm going to just let you wander back into the Wasteland with her barely recovered?" I said, crossing my arms. "You wouldn't last two days out there."
He opened his mouth to argue, then stopped. He knew I was right.
"Two days," I continued. "That's how long it'll take for Daya to be strong enough to walk. We'll stock up on what we can, then head for Ra. They'll have people who can help her there, right?"
Cato hesitated. "Maybe. She's got family, but... it's complicated."
"Everything's complicated," I said with a shrug. "But it's still your best shot."
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Okay. Two days."
"Good." I glanced over at Daya, her face slightly less pale than before. "Get some rest. We're going to need it."
Cato didn't reply, his eyes fixed on her again. I slipped out of the room, giving him space.
Two days. Then we'd head for the City of Ra and hope the Wasteland didn't catch up with us first.
The first night was restless.
I lay on the narrow cot I'd set up in the corner of my room, staring at the cracks in the ceiling. The hum of the city's generators buzzed faintly in the background, a familiar sound that usually lulled me to sleep. Not tonight.
Cato was in the next room, keeping watch over Daya. I could hear him shifting occasionally, the scrape of the chair legs against the floor as he moved. Every so often, Daya let out a soft groan, and I tensed, waiting to see if it would escalate into something worse.
It didn't.
By morning, I felt like I'd hardly slept.
When I stepped into the other room, Cato looked worse. His eyes were shadowed, his movements sluggish. Daya was awake, though, propped up on the cot with a faint smile on her lips.
"Morning," she said, her voice raspy but steady.
"You're looking better," I said, grabbing a metal cup and filling it with water from the jug on the counter. I handed it to her.
"Feel better," she replied after a sip. "Still hurts, though."
"That's to be expected," I said. "You're lucky to be alive."
Her smile faded, and I saw her glance at Cato. There was something unspoken between them, something heavy. I decided not to pry.
"Okay," I said, clapping my hands together. "Here's the plan. You rest today. I'll get supplies for the trip—food, water, maybe some gear if I can scrounge it up. We leave tomorrow morning."
"Wait," Cato said, standing up. "I should come with you."
I raised an eyebrow. "And leave her alone? Not a chance."
"I can handle myself," Daya muttered, but her voice lacked conviction.
"You can't even sit up straight," I shot back. "Stay put. Both of you."
Cato didn't argue, but the look on his face told me he didn't like it.
I spent most of the day scrounging through the markets of Terminus. Resources were scarce, as always, but I managed to barter for a small stash of dried meat, a canteen of clean water, and a pair of sturdy boots that looked like they'd fit Cato.
While I was out, I ran into Ansel, one of the city's scouts. He leaned against a rusted railing, his sharp eyes scanning the crowded streets.
"Still babysitting those outsiders?" he asked with a smirk.
"They're not my responsibility," I said, crossing my arms. "But they need help."
He tilted his head, his expression turning serious. "You've got a good heart, Astrid. Just don't let it get you killed."
I didn't reply.
By the second day, Daya was strong enough to sit up on her own. She was pale and weak, but her spirits seemed higher.
"I owe you one," she said as I helped her stretch her legs.
"Save your gratitude," I replied. "You're not out of the woods yet."
Cato watched us from the corner, sharpening a blade he'd found somewhere. He looked more rested now, though his usual tension hadn't faded.
That afternoon, I took them to one of the higher levels of Terminus, where you could see the Wasteland stretching out in every direction. The City of Ra was somewhere to the southwest, a faint glimmer of hope on the horizon.
"It's not going to be easy," I said, leaning against the railing.
"Nothing ever is," Cato replied.
Daya nodded, determination flickering in her eyes. "We'll make it. We have to."
I looked at them, two strangers who had somehow stumbled into my life. In two days, I'd grown to care about their survival more than I thought I would.
"All right," I said. "Tomorrow morning, we go."
The three of us stood there in silence, watching the sun dip below the horizon. The Wasteland was waiting.