"We have been together ever since." Jules said coming up behind Katey.
"You take such good care of me." She kissed him. "And you of me." She giggled.
We heard hammering.
"I am going to see what that is all about."
"All right Kylie. See you later."
I nodded. "See you later."
I rushed on deck. The men had taken apart some of the crates the vampires were in and made rafts with the wood.
There were lowing them into the water. Jules, Benjamin, Paddy and I brought up the supplies for tonight.
A group of the wolves brought the bodies up and piled them onto the other raft. Then brought it to the riverbank, unloaded it then came back for more.
Just before nightfall everyone left for shore. Katey, Jules, Colleen, Shaun, Melissa, Paddy and I along with the Council were the only ones left on the ship besides all the staked vampires.
Councilman Klaus and Councilwoman Cleo were watching the sunset. The Councilman was pointing to some low hills off in the distance.
Katey had a pot of stew cooking on the deck pit. Melissa, who was almost five, was helping Katey. She served Jules and her family.
The rest of the Council came on deck and sat with us.
"I have found our destination." Councilman Klaus announced. He pointed to the hills.
"We are that close Klaus?" Councilman Antonio said excitedly.
"Yes Antonio. We should be there in the next few days." Everyone smiled. "I know you are anxious to set down some roots."
"Yes Klaus. It has taken all my willpower not to swim back to London."
"You have done well my friend. It will not be long now." Councilman Klaus addressed the rest of us.
"We will see how far up the river we can go then we will stop and scout out the area. Once we have determined where our home is to be. We will unstake everyone." We nodded.
I had a slight pain in my chest thinking about it. Paddy took my hand.
Councilman Klaus nodded towards the hills.
"Under the snow there is bedrock. Perfect for our needs. We will have plenty of room." He paused. "It looks like the river follows the escarpment."
"Good night All." Councilman Klaus finished and walked to the bow.
We finished our meal. Paddy and I went for a swim before going to our cabin.
We laid in our bed listening to the waves.
"Do you hear that?" Paddy whispered. I listened.
"No. What am I listening for?" I whispered.
"The street noise." I smiled.
"There is none."
"Exactly." He held me tighter.
At daybreak the off shore people returned. They were very excited.
"I can not believe how quiet it is."
It was what everyone was saying.
After the rafts were brought back on board. We started manoeuvring up the river.
By noon the ship was stuck on a sandbar. We all jumped into the water and pushed it off. It took us awhile. It was almost dusk when the 'Gabriel' was back in deeper waters. We stayed for the night.
The next few days we sailed steadily North until we came to very shallow part of the river. The shifters were back on board conferring with the Council.
"It is as far as we can go, Sir. The ship is too big and heavy to push it across the rocks."
"All right. We will make rafts and unload as much as we can then we see what we can do with the ship."
It took us a few days to make the rafts and unload the cargo. We had put it on shore.
A large party of natives came to see what we were doing. It looked like there were enough of them to feed the remaining staked vampires.
They, of course, were already on shore. A squad of us went and open the crates as the Council directed.
We watched our friends move slowly out of their crates. Once they sniffed the air and smelled the fresh mortals nearby. They pounced.
"Only take a small amount, my friends." Councilman Carlos instructed everyone to compel them. They did.
The natives looked a little dazed but alive. They stayed and helped us make rafts. We had taken a lot of the wood from the ship. Any wood that was not supporting anything we used.
Six of the Guard picked up the deck pit and brought it ashore. Katey started it up right away.
Her cooking made the natives rub their bellies. Katey had made extra for them. She called to me to come closer.
"Kylie can you let them know I have food for them."
"All right Katey."
I went to one of the women with a bowl of stew and gave it to her. She accepted shyly. I brought another and another. Soon they were all lining up for a bowl.
The Guard came and had their meal next.
"Katey this smells wonderful."
"Thank you Shaun."
He took a mouthful. "It is good."
She smiled.
