Scientific Fantasies (Wattys2015)

Chapter Thirty-One

They stayed in the shack overnight, and when morning came, a new discussion resulted.

"Slim, where are you planning to go? If the other ones are all hidden, what are you going to do?"

She didn't move from her seat under the tree. For the first time in a while, she was watching the sun rise, and Alise was curled on her lap, playing with some leaves.

Sam sighed, and sat down beside her. "Honestly. Do you have a plan?"

She nodded. "Yes. I know what I'm going to do."

"Then why won't you tell me?"

She turned her head to look at him. "Because it's too dangerous for them, Sam. I know you won't intentionally tell, but the less people that know, the better."

"But what of the military?"

She shrugged. "I told them everything had been destroyed."

"But the fledglings?"

"They were killed as well as Ingvar."

"Oh." He was silent for a while next to her, thinking. "And the falcon? Is he happy with everything?"

"I haven't told him yet. He'll find us and ask. I'm not worried."

He sighed again, and got to his feet, holding out a hand to her. "Coming in for breakfast?"

She nodded, waiting until Alise was standing before she took his offer and let him pull her up. "Thanks, Sam. I know you were counting on the work."

He shook his head. "No, Willow. Don't be sorry for stopping it. I'll find something else to do. But what about you?"

She frowned, letting Alise hold her hand tightly. "What do you mean?"

"What are you going to do with yourself? That job was your dream."

"I don't know anymore," she said softly, stepping inside to the almost heavenly smell of coffee. Her father grinned at her when she sighed with happiness, but she just poked her tongue out at him.

He passed her a cup, and she sat on the floor with it. They'd found no chairs, but it didn't bother any of them. They weren't going to be staying much longer.

"Nat, what's the plan this morning?"

She offered a piece of cheese on bread to Alise. "We're going to split up."

As she'd expected, her statement caused a huge protest, but she stayed quiet, letting them argue themselves silent. When they finally did, she spoke again, quietly.

"It's too dangerous for the fledglings. There's no other choice."

"And how is this going to happen?" Sam's voice was dangerously quiet, but she met his hard gaze calmly. She knew him too well to be intimated by him.

"You all will go to the valley entrance. I'll meet you there, and then we'll go to Maria's farm. I'll go back to the cliffs and talk to Talon."

Once more, a huge argument happened, and she sighed in resignation, leaning back against the wall as she listened to it.

"Are you mad, Slim?" Sam demanded. "You can't go anywhere alone! Not now!"

She glared back at him. "And why not?"

He seemed to be searching for words, and she turned to her father. "It's the only way he'll listen to me. You know that."

He sighed, nodding. "I know that, honey. I saw him last night. But I'm not the one you need to convince."