Chapter 404 The North Star
There were at least ten wild wolves. Without guns, they'd have been wolf food tonight!
But with different diets, beliefs, and experiences, they skinned the wolves barehanded and roasted the meat over the fire.
Guadalupe offered Pearl a wolf leg, but she refused. The smell of wolf blood was too much for her.
Barbara gave her the last bit of bread and some black tree sap Guadalupe offered in the desert. Just a sniff made her feel more awake.
She tried her phone, but still no signal. They'd sleep here tonight and travel three more hours tomorrow to reach a populated area. They hadn't reached the Eldorians yet.
'When will I see Adrian and Oscar?' she wondered, hugging herself and looking up at the starry sky.
Meanwhile, Oscar was in a bad mood. He'd met the people he needed to and got a new mission, but Elijah and Kyle Graham still hadn't contacted Pearl. They only knew she got off the plane. This wasn't like back home; he had no authority here.
Since arriving, Oscar had been busy and constantly under pressure, not even smoking. Now, he felt the urge. Elijah quickly offered him a cigarette. Oscar lit it, and smoke enveloped his face. Elijah knew how troubled Oscar was.
"Oscar, I've sent out the notice and asked Harold for Ms. Harris's photo. I'll inform you as soon as there's any news," Elijah said.
Elijah and Nicholas sometimes called Pearl by her first name but mostly "Ms. Harris."
Oscar stayed silent. This place wasn't like home, where he could use his connections to find someone. Here, it was like searching for a needle in a haystack!
He had arranged everything, hoping Pearl would stay safe back home, even if she continued her career. It was better than taking risks here. But now, he couldn't contact her or tell her these things.
Elijah didn't say much more. Oscar smoked half the cigarette, then tossed it away, his expression cold.
"How's the follow-up with RavenWing?" he asked.
"The internal situation there is bad. Patrols are strict, so our people haven't made contact," Elijah replied.
Oscar frowned deeply, staying silent, his expression cold. A fierce look flashed in his eyes, enveloping him.
"Don't worry, Oscar. We're keeping up with things here. Focus on healing your wounds," Elijah said hoarsely.
"No need. I'll head to the Eldorians soon," Oscar replied. He'd met the contact; no reason to stay.
"But Oscar, your wounds haven't healed yet," Elijah said, concerned.
Oscar was resolute. "These minor injuries are nothing."
"Alright, I'll make the arrangements," Elijah said, knowing Oscar wouldn't rest until Pearl was found. So, they set off for the Eldorians overnight.
Pearl couldn't sleep. As the night grew colder, everyone else dozed off. The fire couldn't stay lit all night, so she crawled into the tent.
Barbara, also awake, noticed Pearl's movements. "You need to sleep, Pearl. We have a journey ahead, and you need your strength. Didn't you listen to Adrian's recording?"
"Why aren't you asleep?" Pearl asked, surprised. Barbara had exerted more effort than Pearl and she was still awake, probably because she had her own worries.
"If you haven't slept, how can I? Even if you do, I still have to watch over you. Pearl, I understand, but you need to save your energy," Barbara said.
"I know," Pearl replied, feeling the weight of her thoughts. Images of Oscar, Adrian, and her newborn child filled her mind, along with the recent harrowing incident.
"Barbara, do you think there's something wrong with me?" Pearl asked, biting her lip.
She was in pain. She thought she could go straight to the Eldorians, but the journey was taking longer than expected. With just the two of them, finding the Eldorians seemed difficult.
Barbara's eyes lit up. "If you're feeling tired, why don't we go back?"
"No!" Pearl said firmly. She had come this far and wouldn't give up until she found Adrian and Oscar.
Suddenly, the sound of a car engine roared outside, making Pearl and Barbara tense up.
"Don't worry. It's just a passing vehicle. If anything happens, I'll protect you," Barbara reassured Pearl with certainty. Her duty was to protect Pearl, even if it meant dying for her.
"I'm not scared. It just startled me," Pearl said. She wasn't really scared, just reacting to the sudden noise.
"Get some rest," Barbara urged.
After a moment of silence, Pearl asked, "Barbara, did Oscar only ask you to take care of me? When I was giving birth, did he tell you anything else?"
"No," Barbara replied, knowing Pearl was testing her. She had only received that one task, and even if she knew more, she wouldn't dare tell Pearl. Oscar had his reasons for keeping things from her.
Meanwhile, Oscar, sitting in a vehicle in the desert, saw the North Star and the full moon shining brightly.
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