Chapter 78 Vera

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<Austria Wilderness>

"I'm so glad you survived, Hedge!" Cohline cried. Alice held the carrier bird an arm's length away from her teary-eyed mess of a friend. The past few days were riddled with savage beasts and frigid nights. Of all things, Cohline was glad she could talk to Stephen again. If she didn't have her fiance Tom she would've exploded at Cohline's selfishness.

"We have no parchment,"  Alice grumbled hollowly. Her lips were taut and trembling. She couldn't point her piercing gaze towards Cohline. Her friend just wanted some comfort.

"We have parchment." Cohline insisted, she took out a sharpened stick and snatched the letter from Hedge's carrier pouch. It was of a strong quality and perfect for the situation she assessed. A simple nod of affirmation to her judgment then controlled her hand.

Swish! Swish! She blotched out Stephens's words and sat on a dried Riverstone slate. She hastily scribbled down the situation, the supplies they needed, and the documentation necessary for requesting aid.

"We were last in Linz, right? It's a bit more hilly and the Bohmerwald range is to the north. I don't see the end of the range that means we're closer to Linz."

"Yes," Alice replied dryly. Her voice was tinged with a sour scent. She let her emotions get the better of her. "Ava spoke about the distance from either city. It'd be faster to head to Linz but our orders were to head to Vienna with utmost haste. I'm sorry, Cohline."

"Huh? Ok. Right now I need a better assessment of the supplies we salvaged and the medical equipment we need. Please help me, Alice."

Cohline rose to her feet, her eyes were a different shade of brown today. They always changed colors and Alice had to admit they were especially admirable at the moment. Cohline was the eldest among them.

"I'll take you to Olivia first, she has the inventory of vaccines. Then we can speak to Hertina, ah it bothers me that only one amongst us can restore weapons. Then, Ava for our position. Beatrice for our supplies and finally we'll report to the Captain."

"I'll report to her." Cathy nodded. She lumbered off. Passing make-shift tents founded on wooden stilts and roofed by moss. Rough cots made of uneven wooden sticks housed a few Valkyries who like cats, licked their wounds and rested as much as they could. Cathy had a few bruises herself. Somehow the beasts always knew their location amongst the river. Detours around certain bends of the river were pathed to avoid scrutinous eyes. Still, the beasts found them. They attacked with coordination, discipline, and control. If Kallen and Eleanor weren't with them the Valkyries would've been wiped out.

'It's hilly as well. The forest is dense. We should've lost them. Scouts find nothing.' Cathy noted in her mind.

Outside the full medical tent, Olivia was crushing wild herbs. A few of her medical Valkyries were either doing the same or tending to the wounded. Her buttoned nose was barely holding up her cracked glasses. Dark shadows threatened to pop her eyes out of their sockets. She had never looked more attractive with her diligence and commitment.

"Olivia," Alice called.

"Yes? More wounded? I'll prepare a cot. Just a moment." She replied not looking up. She stopped grinding her herbs and jumped to her feet but Alice caught her.

"No, we just need an inventory of the vaccines. We have a carrier bird and we can request for aid. A ship providing all we need will come. I'll fund this again."

"Ah," Relief lifted Olivia's face. "We're all out. I need as many as we can get and fast. We've got no dead but if possible we need to send some of our Valkyries back."

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