Between The Crystals

Ch 16 Elephant Charge

"Any nightmares?" I asked Belle as we gathered near the crystal for our morning assignments, wondering how she had slept after yesterday's events.

"Nothing, thankfully. You?"

"I slept like a log." The small water cart had left me so exhausted that I couldn't even remember which hunter had helped me up the pathway to my room.

Grant cleared his throat. "Okay people, listen up. Saursunes might be out and about like they were yesterday. Remember, if one appears, drop anything that looks like a weapon," he said, making eye contact with all of us before continuing. "Bounce if possible, and make sure you get scanned for trackers after."

"Not like we can fight the lizards with a bow or knife anyway," a hunter muttered.

Grant glanced in his direction. "Fighting back has never ended well, hence why I've always told people to run. I'm not sure why the Saursunes are acting strange lately, but so far, anyone who dropped their weapons has escaped with just bruises and scrapes. The only exceptions were those raiding a field or farm."

No one here had to be told to avoid the farms and fields. Our village had realized the danger long before I was born and never set foot in them, nor did we forage in the forests bordering the fields when they were ready to be harvested. That was just asking for trouble.

"Stay alert," Calum advised us calmly. "The Saursunes and airships stalking the man with the tracker will soon realize it's in the latrine. They'll be looking for new targets."

I made a face. The man had seen airships circling the abandoned village at a distance, and he found fresh tracks in the morning. The aliens hadn't entered the cave, and were possibly trying spook him into fleeing back to the "safety" of the village.

Grant worked his way through the crowd of porters, hunters, and gatherers as he gave people their assignments for the day. When Andre got his location, someone volunteered to port him out, so I remained near the back of the group.

Merryl yawned, and when I glanced at her, she said, "I didn't sleep well last night. Calum is taking Callie today, so I'll have plenty of time to rest by the crystal." Instead of morning sickness, she was usually plagued with sleepless nights. As much as some people wanted her to stay in the village on such days, we needed all the porters we had.

When Grant reached us, he didn't even bat an eye at how Callie held her father's hand and watched with wide, excited eyes. "The upper alpine fields are pretty much picked clean. Your hunters can try catching some rabbits in the berry batches by Mud Puddle Meadow."

Calum nodded in recognition. We had never seen a Saursune in that area, so it was a good choice with Callie in tow, assuming no one else beat us to it. A gatherer and three hunters quickly attached themselves to the duo.

"Merryl, do you want Natalie to give you a lift to one of the lower mountain valleys?"

I smirked as my older sister rolled her eyes. Despite being preoccupied, Grant hadn't missed her yawn. Merryl could normally port eight or nine times throughout the day so I suspected the question was to appease several aunties and grandmas who were lingering nearby and listening to the assignments. To give Merryl credit, she politely declined before covering another yawn with her hand.

Grant flipped through a few more pages. "Natalie, can you take six to Baxton Hill? A Saursune was seen there last week, but at least they can't sneak up on people. There were some good patches of greens near the boggy area."

I nodded and headed to the crystal as two gatherers and four hunters separated from the group. Calum and Merryl disappeared before we reached the spires.