Surface R: Reunion

Part 05.1

PART 05

::TREY::

It's twilight now.

"They're getting closer."

I sighed, "I know Kytes, I see."

We're standing on the wall again, watching these threats—trees, for crying out loud. Trees that are slowly creeping on us at the rate of 15 millimeters an hour. If it wasn't for the fact that we couldn't move because of Lori's condition, or Cody's absence, this would be funny, in a twisted sort of way—I mean, trees.

"Could you tell what they want?"

Kytes's powers has always been one of the most useful ones we have. Sure, it wasn't as offensive as mine or Rhys's, but thanks to him, we're able to maintain a proper diet with the meat we hunt and the vegetables he produces. All it took was a few packs of seeds we managed to scavenge on our first year and he did the rest to keep the stock limitless. The animals he was able to tame, like stags and the common cattle are pretty helpful, too, especially if Orphaned infants need milk since they can't handle solid foods. Of course, we have to be careful not to get radiation into them. We've already made preparations and vacated them to the next base. If we need to make a speedy leave, it'll be best if don't have to herd them along with us, it's also less crowded that way.

"They're trees, Trey." Kytes deadpanned. "they want to eat and grow and put down roots."

It takes me a moment to confirm he was being funny about it and I snicker. "Cute. Anything else?"

"I'm sensing a particular hunger, I think the encounter with Lori gave them a taste for human blood—particularly, our blood."

I stared at the blond, raising a brow. "Rabids were what attacked them, not these trees."

"I can't really explain it, Trey, not as well as Rhys might if he's got my powers but—" Kytes is silent as he thinks. "it's like the radiation sharpened the instincts of those affected by it, so maybe our instincts on survival enhanced as well once we got our abilities." Well, that'd explained how we survived this long even when we had been younger. "and just like that, it's sharpened the animals and vegetation instincts, too."

I frowned. "In what way?"

"To put it simply, we're all sensitive about the other inhabitants of Surface R, in the trees case, they were able to get a feel of the sheep's encounter with Lori. It's a bit like how we're able to share our thoughts through telepathy." Kytes explained the best he could, but it's a little hard to understand if even he didn't get the how's of the concept. "Now, they want to, say, finish that meal the Sheep hadn't finished."

I glowered, "Why am I not surprised?"

"They're seeking to surround us, they've worked out that we're easier targets if we can't move to escape."

"Yeah?" I scowled at the trees, "Well, we'll see about that you overgrown toothpicks!"

Kytes raised a brow, smirking. "They're trees, Trey. They can't hear you, let alone understand what a toothpick is and how it applies to them." he said.

"I knew that," I muttered, chagrined. Shaking my head, I left Kytes.

I needed to find Rhys.