In the Cold

Chapter 8

"You'll be ready to walk around in a few days. Until then, just settle down, okay? Every time you move, it undoes part of my work." Zee put the last few wraps of yellowed gauze around Tach's waist. She'd been much less familiar since the Wolf Riders incident.

"I feel like I've been lying around for weeks. Why isn't your magic squid juice working?"

"Flatcow milk doesn't do a whole lot for bones, and you my friend have a heckload of broken bones." Zee finished taping the bandage and stood up, before firmly laying Tach back in the bed. "What's the rush anyway? The Librarians have said we can stay indefinitely. And it's not just a kind gesture, they - quite obviously - need more people around who can fend off Trash Raiders."

Tach looked at the ceiling. She stayed silent for a few moments. "You don't call me 'pet' anymore."

Zee sat down in the chair next to the bed. "I don't own you Tach. And if tried to, I'd be afraid for my life every day."

Tach leaned up to make eye contact. "That's good." she took a deep breath. "You know we aren't going to be friends, right? We're not okay."

As Tach lay back down Zee opened her mouth to protest, then shook her head and started hastily gathering her tools. As she did so, Avis pushed open the flap of the tent.

"Can she take visitors doctor?"

"She can do whatever she wants!" muttered Zee as she pushed past the older woman.

Avis settled down in the chair next to Tach's bed. "Are you two fighting?"

Tach rolled her eyes, "If there was another medic around, I wouldn't be dealing with her."

Avis chuckled, "I take it she didn't convince you to stay?"

"Can we please talk about literally anything else?"

Avis leaned closer "Alright then, tell me how you're feeling."

Tach looked closed her eyes. "Not that either."

"You need to confront your deamons Tach. You were in an awful situation. You killed a lot of people. Your friend turned on you-"

"Mio wasn't my friend. He was my captor. Like Zee, like freaking everyone!" Tach brought both her fists down on the bed. "I don't need to 'confront my daemons' or whatever. Once I'm able to walk, I'm putting as much space between myself and every other living thing as I can-"

Tach blinked back tears. Avis waited silently.

"I know you're psychoanalizing me or whatever. Just leave me alone."

"I'm nowhere near qualified to psychoanalyze anyone kid. I've just seen people unravel out here and I'd rather you not be the next. People need people. If you get out there and the only voice you hear is your own guilt, fear, whatever, that will tear you apart. I'm not asking you to forgive Zee, or anyone. I just want you to stay long enough to heal your mind as well as your body."

Tach lay quietly, watching Avis speak. After a moment she touched the older woman's hand. "Can you sneak Angeline in for me please? Zee doesn't like her in the hospital.

Avis sighed, "Yes, I can do that."

---

Two guards watched over the Armory in the Librarian's camp. Both were found incapacitated, one concussed, one with bruises and a broken leg. An antique battle axe and a sawed-off shotgun were found missing. No one watched over the kitchen, but five smoked rabbits, three canteens of water and a tin of crackers were taken from there.

The special collections portables are patrolled by several guards. One apparently spotted the thief. There was an altercation. The door to the portable was smashed open. The guard was found tied up in a display case. One antique rabbit-shaped android head -severely broken- was taken.