nocked an arrow and waited.
The hellhounds crept forward from the barren trees, stealthy shadows among shadows. I couldn’t see the fey; and no one moved to stop the beasts, but I felt little fear. I knew the fey were there and wouldn’t let anything happen to me.
When the beasts were close enough, I let an arrow fly straight toward one glowing eye. Wind. Distance. Timing. It all influenced accuracy. And although I knew I was good, the hellhounds were made to live. I didn’t expect my arrow to do more than bounce off the impenetrable hide of my target. However, it flew so true it pierced one glowing eye.
The hound roared and swiped at the arrow. A light flared to life, flooding the area as fey dropped from the trees. They speared the creature while it was distracted and ripped open its chest to dig for its crystallized heart, the only way to kill it. I nocked another arrow and watched a second group circle the next beast. It snarled and lunged. Between its movement and the fey’s, there was no safe shot.
The fey had to use nearly every spear to pin the hellhound to the ground to remove its black heart. The dark energy pulsed from the corrupt organ even as the creature continued to thrash and howl. Undead. The source of the spread of the infection.
I didn’t lower my bow until all the hearts were nothing but dust and the creatures were finally silent.
“You did well,” Uan called from below.
I smiled as other fey nodded at me. They pulled the corpses away then returned to whatever they’d been doing before the hounds’ arrival.
“Do you think the noise will draw more infected?” I asked when Uan rejoined me.
“Maybe.”
“I don’t like that the infected just disappeared.”
He looked at me curiously.
“They did not disappear. You were almost bitten on a supply run.”
“Right. I meant I don’t like that they vanished from here.”
“They did not vanish from here. We killed them.”
I snorted at his literal answers.
“You didn’t kill all of them in the world. We shine lights up into the sky at night, make noise during the day, and go on supply runs. They’re getting smarter, Uan. Not dumber. They know we’re here. Why aren’t they trying to get us? What are they waiting for?”
He grunted and continued to watch the darkness with me until just before dawn. I yawned and moved toward the ladder, knowing someone would take my place.
“Will you come with me to Tenacity after we eat breakfast?” he asked, jumping from the wall, to land beside me. “I have supplies to trade, but I know the humans there will not want to talk to me.”
“Of course I’ll go with you. What are we trading?”
We started walking toward Mom’s…their house.
“Nancy wants me to find more canned meat.” He sighed slightly. “She thinks I am not eating enough and wants me to trade the corn.”
“Are you eating enough?” I asked.
“Everything has a season. Even in the caves, there were times our bellies begged for more. These lean times will not last forever.”
I liked how he thought, but I still felt terrible that he wasn’t eating enough. With the recent supply run, there was plenty to be had, but not a lot of meat. It made me wonder how many of the fey weren’t eating enough. Especially those trying to provide for someone else.
“Do you love her?” I asked. “Mom?”
“I do. Very much. She has a smart mind and a kind heart. And I like the way she touches me.”
“Okay. That’s enough. I get the idea.”
“Do you think she loves me?” he asked.
“She hasn’t said anything?”
“She is like you. Instead of anger, she carries much sadness. I know she misses Russ.”
It was weird hearing him say my dad’s name.
“Dad would have liked you, I think. He was a good judge of character and understood what it meant to do the right thing by someone. Even if that person didn’t want help.” I looked at the house I’d called home for a few short weeks. “Mom’s not good with being soft. She might not have said the words yet, but she wouldn’t be with you if she didn’t care about you a great deal. Never doubt that.”
He grunted and opened the door for me.
“Nancy, Brenna is home,” he called.
“About damn time,” Mom called back.
I appreciatively sniffed the air as I stepped inside and started stripping off my layers of clothing.
“Are you making cornbread?” I asked.
She appeared in the hall with a scowl.
“No.