“Do you think there are any animals still alive in the barn?” I asked.
“I do. Why else would they have stood there like that?”
“I don’t know. I’ve just never seen them go after animals. It’s always been people.”
“I hope there weren’t people in there.”
I nodded in agreement and watched the fey haul away the dead cows. Ryan gave the carcasses a lengthy look and shook his head as he walked toward the barn with a large group of fey. They disappeared inside for several long minutes before the group reemerged. They had clearly encountered some infected inside, based on the red on their clothing. Not Ryan, though. He still looked clean as he jogged toward our truck.
Garrett rolled down his window.
“Half the cows are dead, but it looks like a few broke free and are roaming the space behind the barn. There’s a pig pen around back, too. I’m going to try to pull closer to that pen so the fey can carry the cows there and drive them into the back of the truck, all at once.” He raked his hand through his hair. “This is going to be a zoo. Keep your eyes open, and watch your truck.”
Garrett nodded then rolled his window back up. Before he could comment on what he thought of the arrangement, Merdon jogged up to us. Shiny dark bits stuck to his hair. I made a face that had him slowing. Not wanting him to stop, I put my hand on the window again. He continued my way.
“You’re extremely dirty,” I said when he stood next to my door.
“I know.”
I smiled and tapped my hand against the glass.
“You’re also a bossy know-it-all. But I’m glad you’re okay. I heard there’s still some animals alive.”
“Yes. You can come out and see them now. We checked the barn and there are no more infected.”
He stepped back and let Tor open the door for me.
I hopped down and gave them both a grateful smile. Merdon’s gaze swept over me as if checking to make sure I was still in once piece. My stomach dipped at the simple display of how much he cared.
“Stay close, Hannah.”
“I’m sticking to you like glue,” I said before amending, “Well, maybe to Tor like glue. You’re a little gooey for close contact.”
He grunted and looked at Tor.
“Not too close.”
“Told you,” Garrett said from the other side of the truck.
I shook my head at him and hurried after Merdon with Tor close on my heels. Behind us, I heard the other truck doors close and Tasha’s excited whispers.
The gravel, bathed in glistening red, painted the way to the barn’s entrance door. Despite Merdon saying it was safe and having him go first, I still hesitated before advancing into the shadowed underbelly. The scent of manure and silage clogged the air, and I coughed lightly as I entered.
The main area of the barn was far from empty. Dead cattle littered the pen to our left. Based on the pile of infected bodies and the bloody smears on the central aisle, a few of the infected had been inside, waiting for the fey. That or we’d interrupted them killing the cows.
I frowned at the thought.
“Is this where they found the cat?” Tasha whispered.
I glanced back at Uan, who had an arm around the girl’s shoulders in a fatherly, loving gesture that was anything but a casual embrace. His gaze shifted around the space restlessly as he listened to her. He took “protective father” to a whole new level.
“This is where we found the cat,” Merdon said, motioning to a room near the entrance. He ducked under the pipes hanging overhead and entered the space first.
“It’s a milk house,” Tasha said. “My grandpa told me about them.”
She started looking around the room, opening cabinets and the refrigerator in search of cat food.
“Nothing,” she said, disappointed.
“This place is pretty clean, and there’s no litterbox,” I said. “Maybe this isn’t where the cat was kept. Maybe it just wandered in here?”
She nodded.
Shouts and male laughter rose outside.
“Is it smart to make that much noise?” I asked.
Merdon’s typically serious expression turned even more grave.
“The animals are frightened and do not want to be carried. One kicked Hanno in the thigh. He is limping.”
I cringed. “Maybe we should wait in the trucks.”
“Can we keep looking for cat food?” Tasha asked.
Uan and Merdon shared a look before Merdon nodded.
“Yes. Do not lose sight of Hannah. I will return when the animals