Love, Against All Odds

III - Chapter 7

Becca slowed down and lowered the cart. 'Think this is far enough?'

Raine scanned the area and nodded.

'Far enough from the farm,' Chris agreed, his hands on his hips.

Andren caught up to the three Earthlings and stood at the side of the cart. 'It's pretty wooded here too.'

Becca sighed and decided it was the best place, so she went to the rear of the cart. She stood beside the cage and watched the animal continue to pace. This morning, she had checked on the locke; it had eaten the cooked meat in the bowl after refusing to last night. She fed it a larger meal this morning and decided its constant pacing was a positive sign. 'Come on,' she whispered and picked up the cage.

'Do you need help?' Raine asked.

Shaking her head, Becca carried the cage and disappeared into the woods alone. She went a short distance, then lowered the cage to the ground and kneeled down. 'Time for you to go.' She encouraged the animal with a tender smile.

The locke looked at Becca for the first time, its head tilted to one side.

'Be more careful out there too.' Becca reached for the gate's latch, worked it free, and opened the door. But the animal sat there, staring out of the opening. 'Go on,' she told it.

The locke dropped its tall ears, then crept out of the cage and tested its paws on the fallen leaves. It sniffed the ground, as if ensuring it was real. Taking more steps, it unfurled from the cage and stretched its body; it peered over its shoulder and held its gaze on her.

Becca noticed a reflective sheen to the locke's solid white eyes, which soothed the worry she felt for the locke's future. She parted her lips, but she was silent and entranced by the animal's ferocious yet beautiful nature.

Without another glance, the locke bolted off and easily vanished as its gray coat blended in with nature.

For a moment, Becca stayed there and searched the woods for any sign of the locke, but it was gone. She sighed, picked up the cage, and returned to her friends. 'It's gone,' she said when everyone looked at her. Raine squeezed Becca's shoulder in silent support.

During the walk to work, Becca stayed by herself and handled different messages on her techbit, including one from Starr that showed a copy of the bounty. Much to her chagrin, Magnar was included on the bounty. Nearing the city, she reminded Raine that she wanted to go to the Great Tower to take care of a few things before work. Her most important task was to call Victor and begin setting the trap.

Again, the city was quiet in the morning, and the smell of firewood, horse, and hints of food lingered in the air. Once past the Great Gate, Becca separated from the group and continued to the Great Tower, Andren in tow. At the front entrance, Andren departed from Becca's side and went to the barrack so she could speak with her commanding officer.