Chapter 48

The sound of fabric being yanked back woke Rain, causing her to sit bolt upright on the makeshift bed. Her hand automatically reached for a weapon that wasn’t there. Thankfully, it was Mist’s familiar face that met her eye, which made the pounding of her heart soften slightly.
“We need to get going,” her friend said, entering the room, her hand extended. Rain reached up, palm open, and Mist dropped a capsule into her hand before offering the same to Adam. “I expect Dal will or Cla will be here soon to get us. We should be ready to go. I don’t want to overstay our welcome.”
Rain looked at the pill in her hand and realized it was an energy pill. She’d definitely be needing that. Even though she’d gone back to sleep after visiting the restroom, it hadn’t been restful; the conversation she’d had with Adam hadn’t left her mind, even when she’d closed her eyes and tried to find sleep. Now, he handed her a canteen of water so she could take her pill, and she thanked him. Even though he was smiling, there was something guarded in the expression; it wasn’t quite as friendly as usual.
She swallowed the pill down, hoping it kicked in quickly, and handed the water back so he could take his. “We should definitely make sure we fill up our water bottles before we go. The water here seems clean, unlike what we’ll find out in the countryside,” Mist reminded them.
Nodding, Rain looked around for her boots and saw them sitting a few feet away. Her head felt foggy, and her legs were still aching from the trek the day before, but she was ready to get moving. The Mothers had to have made up some ground while they slept. While the last thing Rain wanted was for Dal and his people to have any problems because of their stay, if coming through Dafo slowed the military down any at all, she’d be thankful.
Rain put her boots on and stood, realizing she needed the restroom again. Before she could say anything to Mist, Cla’s face appeared behind her friend. “Good. You are awake. I have food for you, and then, Dal will be by shortly to see you off.”
The woman handed Mist a large bowl with a lid, bowed her head, and then left. Mist called their thanks after her and opened the lid. The scent of cooked meat and eggs filled Rain’s lungs, and her hunger overpowered her need to use the restroom. “I’ll get Walt,” Mist said, setting the dish down on the floor, but before she even stepped outside, Walt was at the opening.
“Oh, I smelled the food,” he said with a smile. His hair was slightly messy, and Rain realized hers might be as well, even though she had it in a braid. Their combs and brushes were all in their backpacks, which they still didn’t have. Somehow, Adam still looked perfect.
They ate quickly with their hands, washing it down with water from the canteens. Mist explained that they still had about eighty miles until they reached Oklasaw. “Once we get to the river, we’ll have to figure out a way to get across it, too,” she added, wiping her hands together and standing.
“There’s no bridge?” Adam asked.
“No, not that I know of. I actually hope there isn’t. It’ll be more difficult for the Mothers to follow us if there is.”
“Do they have boats?” Walt asked her, looking up at her as he shuffled a big bite of eggs into his mouth.
“Not nearby. Maybe in the towns further south. At least, if they do have them in Gretchintown, they’ve kept it a secret. It wouldn’t surprise me if they did have more vehicles than we are aware of.”
“Heliobirds will get them across the water,” Rain reminded them. “We know they have those.” She looked around at her companions’ faces and saw the same solemn expressions on each of them, which echoed the way she felt inside. The chances that they would be able to get away from the Mothers seemed slim. She wondered whether or not anyone else had managed to make it as far as they had and prayed the other rebels were having better luck than they were. She had no way of knowing if any of the others were even still alive.
“We’ll just have to get so far ahead of them, they won’t be able to find us with their heliobirds,” Mist said, and the others nodded, Rain included, even though she didn’t know how that would be possible.
“Maybe they won’t bother, once we are across.” Adam seemed to be hopeful as well. “Wouldn’t they be risking war with Oklasaw if they did?”
“I would think so,” Mist nodded. “I can’t imagine they’d be willing to risk the possibility of a war, even against an inferior power, over a handful of escapees.”
“Do you think that’s all there’s left of us?” Rain asked, done with the food. The idea that everyone else may have been captured or killed didn’t sit well with her.
Mist shook her head. “No, of course not. I just meant… we aren't all together. There weren’t a lot of rebels headed the same direction as us. I’m sure there are others who’ve already reached their destinations, other countries. They’ll get those governments involved, and then the Mothers will have their hands full with threats from other directions. That’s all.”
Again, Rain found herself nodding in agreement, even though she didn't think what her friend was saying was accurate. It was all just wishful thinking, wasn’t it?
Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of loud footsteps approaching. Mist looked out the entryway, holding the curtain open. She drew in a deep breath and held it for a moment, her head up, her shoulders back. “Dal, sir. Good morning. It’s nice to see you.”
Dal became visible in the opening as he stopped in front of Mist. Rain and the others stood with their shoulders back as well, as if his very presence demanded correct posture and respect. “Good morning. We have brought your packs.” He gestured over his shoulder, and though Rain couldn’t see who was with him, she assumed it was the same people who’d taken their belongings the day before. “Crit will see you out of our lands.”
Rain’s stomach fell as she pictured the angry lieutenant from the day before. He stepped up next to Dal, the same wild expression in his eyes, and she found herself holding her breath, wishing there was a way to get anyone else to serve as their escort.
Mist felt the same way. “That won’t be necessary,” she said with a cheerful smile. “If you will give us directions, we will be able to make it on our own. We hate to pull one of your most essential warriors from your side when the threat of the Mothers is more present than usual.”
“The threat of the Mothers is constant,” Dal assured them, his tone conveying how true the statement was. “Crit will escort you. I want to make sure you are well north of our borders before sunset tonight.”
Seeing that his mind was already made up, Mist nodded. “Very well. We thank you again for your hospitality. May we help clean up our bowls and blankets?”
Dal shook his head. “My daughters will be here shortly to manage it. Come. I will see you out of the building.”
As the party exited the area they’d borrowed, their packs and weapons were returned to them. Rain put her backpack on, thanking the girl, Bali, who handed it to her, and slung her rifle over her shoulder as soon as Mobe handed it back, hoping no one saw them as a threat. Once they were all prepared, they followed Dal back the way they’d come, Crit behind them.
Many of the residents were awake already. The noise from the common area was not nearly as loud and cheerful as it had been the night before. Some of the entryways cracked open as they came by. An occasional wave sent them off, though many of the people only stared at them.
As they passed Dal’s home, Lyna came out, a few small flowers in her hand. “These are for you!” she said, offering the blossoms to Rain.
“Thank you!” Rain took the tiny yellow and white flowers and held them to her nose. “They smell wonderful.”
“Be careful,” Lyna said, her eyes wide as she looked up at Rain. “Many blessings to you and your people.”
“We will be careful. Many blessings to you and your people,” she said back, stroking the little girl softly on the cheek. Lyna smiled and then ran back to the opening of her home where Cla stood, a worried expression on her face.
“Thank you for your kindness,” Mist said to Dal’s wife on behalf of all of them.
Cla nodded. “Be careful,” she said, just as her daughter had.
“We will,” Mist assured her, but they all knew care had nothing to do with it. The Mothers could find them no matter how many precautions they took.
Dal led them up the stairs to the wide opening of what Rain now realized had once been a parking garage for cars. There, he stopped. “Many blessings to you,” he said, bowing his head slightly. “Go in peace.”
“Thank you,” Mist said, bowing her head as well. “Many blessings to you and your people.”
The phrase must’ve been some sort of a prayer because Dal made a gesture that symbolized something religious, Rain guessed, as he moved his hand across his chest. The others, Mobe, Bali, and even Crit, did the same, and then Dal said something to Crit in a language she did not understand, and the man waved for them to follow him.
Despite Adam’s cold shoulder the night before, when Rain reached for his hand, he gave it to her. Anxiety bubbled up inside of her as they began to follow the shifty fellow down an asphalt path, away from a place where she’d felt relatively safe, into a concrete jungle where she didn’t even trust their guide.
Still, Rain followed Mist and Walt, not looking back. What choice did she have but to assume Crit would do as he was instructed and lead them out of Dafo, further away from the Motherhood, and that much closer to freedom in the Nation of Quebec? She had to keep going, not just for her own sake, but for Adam’s. If he was ever to have the wife and family she had wished for him the night before, he had to get as far away from Michaelanburg as possible.