Critical Condition

Chapter 13

Max POV

"Ig, set that board here. Then grab this one." I instructed as I heaved another board into place. We were trying to block off three sides of the church tower balcony with wooden boards, sheet metal, anything that would provide cover from wind and snow. With the current weather, I knew that Jeb would be cranking down the heat rapidly. We needed a safe place that was warm enough for us to survive the temperature shifts.

"Hold on, give me a second." Iggy panted, leaning against the one finished wall. Gazzy and Nudge stopped too, taking a breather. Our breath came out in clouds that were quickly blown away by the frigid breeze. Working in such cold temperatures on little energy to begin with really wears you down. Not to mention Iggy's still healing collar bone.

"Gazzy, you ok? Nudge?" I looked over them both. They nodded, though also out of breath. "We'll finish this side and then try to find some food, alright?" The plan seemed to lift their spirits and Gazzy picked up another board.

"I can lower the sheet metal into place if you want to position it." Iggy offered and I smiled.

"Sure." I handed him the rope that was wrapped around a piece of sheet metal and he took off into the icy air. I carefully lowered the sheet metal until he was carrying its full weight. His gray wings beat hard and fast to hover above the top edge of the church balcony. The sheet metal hung in front of me and I carefully moved it to where I wanted it. Nudge leaned out with me to help secure it into place. I glanced up at Iggy to make sure he was ok. He was breathing hard and fast, his wings beating rhythmically to compensate for the weight. Once the sheet was in place I called up to him and he dropped the rope.

"That's it for this wall then." Gazzy said excitedly. I looked over our work so far. We had two of the three sides covered with wooden boards and sheet metal on the outside of them. It had been hard work but we were far from done. I wanted to patch the holes in the tower of the church so we had a secure area to shelter in. We still had a third wall to cover and figure out an entrance that we could lock. Iggy landed inside carefully, out of breath again, and his body shivering from the cold. He tucked his wings in and groaned as he leaned against the wall.

"You up for a hunting party?" I asked and he nodded.

"About time." He said as Gazzy high fived him. I'll never understand his accuracy.

We moved out, one after the other. Gazzy had told me about the frozen over creek he and Iggy had discovered when they first woke up here. We moved towards it quickly, wanting to be out of sight of any other creatures, and out of the cold. With the artificial sun getting lower, the temperature was dropping fast.

"Ig, Gazzy, break open the ice and figure out a way to get those fish. Nudge keep watch in that tree. I'll cover this side." I ordered and everyone fell into line, carrying out their duties. Gazzy cracked the ice open with a large rock, water splashing everywhere. Iggy cupped some of the clear water and gulped it down with a sigh.

"Nothing like fresh spring water." He chuckled and pulled another layer of ice out of the way. Nudge stood in the tree behind us, shivering nervously as she scanned the clearing. I had my eyes peeled for any movement. After a few minutes, I heard Gazzy cheer as he flipped a fish onto the frozen bank of the creek. I glanced back to see Iggy smash its head as Gazzy reached back into the icy water.

"We got company guys." Nudge's alarm made all of us freeze. "Two creatures approaching, both can fly." Her voice sounded scared, but she gave the accurate description. Gazzy flipped a second fish out of the water at that moment.

"Ig, grab the fish, we're getting out of here." I ordered and Nudge scrambled down from the tree to stand by me. Now I could see the figures standing in the tree line about 500 feet away. They looked curious but nervous at the same time. It didn't take them long to see our cargo, and they began sprinting towards us.