The resulting draft of icy air hit Tayel like a wall. She hobbled toward the open door, following Jace as he dropped down into the snow after Shy and Fehn. Tayel landed in the white abyss beside him, grimacing at the powder running all the way up to her knees. Her exposed skin burned, turning bright red, and she doubled over, a shivering fit tightening every muscle in her body.
Out here, the sounds of the fight along Kalanie Outposts’ city wall rang loud and clear. Shouts, barks, cries, and screams rose a haunting cacophony off the desolate buildings.
“T-they d-don’t l-l-look friendly,” Jace stuttered.
The group of Varg Shy had spotted ran toward them, archaic bows and lances aimed and primed in their paws. A human figure, wrapped head to toe in snow gear, staggered behind them, concealed from view as the massive Varg closed in.
“Don’t make any sudden movements,” Shy said.
Tayel wasn’t going to move at all. Not suddenly. Not slowly. The three wolf-like creatures easily stood seven feet tall, and with their snouts covered in retro-fitted gas masks, they made an intimidating appearance. She swallowed as the group stopped several yards away.
The human figure who brought up the rear of the Varg’s procession limped between the three of them to stand in front, the cane in his grip barely supporting his Axol-like, unwieldly gait. He pulled the scarf off his mouth and nose.
“Shy?” he called.
Tayel gaped.
“Locke?” Shy half-grinned, then winced. She touched the foam seal against her cheek. “Locke, it’s me.”
“Stand down,” the man ordered, and the Varg lowered their weapons.
Shy stumbled toward him, and he limped forward. He dropped his cane in the snow and embraced her, squeezing her so hard her clothes crinkled and pinched against his arms. Tayel smiled, but it dissipated as an explosion from the city wall far to the left rocked the ground.
“Hurry! We need to get you all inside!” Locke yelled at the Varg behind him, “Take them in!”
The three Varg bolted forward. Tayel didn’t have the time to gasp before one grabbed her around the middle and hoisted her over his shoulder. He bounded away from the ship, and she bounced against his boney frame, grimacing at the jolts of pain through her sides, where her harness had already left bruises. His tail flowed elegantly behind him, and his feet left human head-sized paw prints in the snow.
A wave of warmth washed over her as they made it inside, and he set her down.
“Thanks,” she muttered.
An overhead vent breathed hot air into the cave-like entrance. Her cheeks flushed as the door closed behind them all, sealing out the cold.
Locke pulled back his hood, revealing hair as long and black as Shy’s. He nodded to the group of Varg who’d brought them all inside. “Tell the ration pack we have four new guests — one of them Argel.”
The largest Varg nodded and led the way into the tunnel. The others bounded after him. Their footsteps echoed through the stretching path long after they’d vanished from view.
“When the war pack told me a ship flew into battle flying Sinos markings, I didn’t believe them.” Locke sighed. “Why are you here, little sister?”
Shy lunged forward and slapped him. The sharp crack echoed off the walls. Tayel’s jaw dropped. She met eyes with Fehn, who shrugged almost like he’d been expecting it. Jace edged backward toward the wall.
“You ass!” Shy shouted. “How dare you leave me with our psychopath of a father with everything that’s going on? I’m here because I needed to find you, to help you, to bring you back to where you belong!”
“Easy, Shy.” Locke lifted his chin, but did not reach for the red mark left on his cheek. “I was trying to keep you safe. Father would never lay a hand on you, especially if you had kept quiet and out of trouble like I asked. Though I suppose expecting you to sit still was a mistake. As to where I belong, that is a much longer conversation than I’m willing to have in front of strangers.” He narrowed his eyes at Fehn. “Or even unlikely yet familiar faces.”
“Upset your people’s dirty secret didn’t go hide under a rock?” Fehn asked.
“Quite happy you didn’t, actually,” he said cheerfully. “Saves me having to dig you up. Fehn, right? If I recall correctly.”
“…Right.”
“What was father trying to do to him?” Shy asked.
Locke flicked his eyes over Tayel and Jace. He shook his head. “This isn’t the place, Shy.”
“This is the perfect place. That’s Tayel, and he’s Jace. They’re allies,” she said. “They know everything. About us and our family — that we’re raiders. On the way here I had to land on Elsha. It would have been a much longer detour if it weren’t for them.”
“And leaving the planet really required telling them who you were?”
“It’s a lot easier to work with someone when you know who they are,” Tayel said.
He gave her a once over, and his mouth quirked into a smile. “Ah. Redhead.” He winked at Shy, whose jaw set.
Tayel flicked her gaze downward.
“I don’t know what they were trying to do to you,” Locke said to Fehn. “I knew my father had a project in the labs, and that the leader of the Rokkir was very interested in it. Freeing you was the first step in disrupting their plans, and” — his smile grew into a grin — “messing with father’s as well. I wish I could have seen his face.”
“Is the raider king interested in dark aether-tech?” Jace asked.
“I’m uncertain. Why would-? Oh, of course.” Locke squinted at Fehn’s cyonic arm. “You can wield dark aether.”
“Turns out—”
“Shush. It wasn’t a question. Does it hurt?”
Fehn crossed his arms. “It isn’t pleasant.”
“I see. If you really can wield the stuff, I have a favor to ask.” He looked back at his sister. “But before that, you all look like you’re in need of medical attention. A hot meal, too, I’d wager. Let’s head to the dining quarter.”
Tayel gripped her stomach. It had been over a day since she’d eaten, and even camp food sounded good now. Anything to eat sounded good now.
“Not to the medical facilities?” Fehn asked.
“Not to belittle your incident,” Locke said, “but there are soldiers from the wall with missing arms and most of their guts left spilled onto the snow. Our remedy pack is overwhelmed as is. No, I can fetch a suturing kit and deal with this over dinner. Unless one of you are missing half your blood and looking great for it?”
When no one responded, he waved for everyone to follow. “Right, then. Come on. We can talk more over food.”
He led the way into the connecting tunnel, lit on all sides by blue fire torches. Tayel fell into step behind him. She tried to block out the image of mutilated Varg on the walls, as well as the frightening reality of the army of raiders she’d seen from the sky. Considering them, the crash could have been much worse. The ship could have landed outside the outpost. Really, Tayel and everyone else were lucky. She didn’t feel lucky, though. That fear she’d experienced less than thirty minutes ago edged back in. Any one of them could have died. Shy could have died.
Tayel cleared her throat. She should say something to Shy. I’m glad you’re okay. Underwhelming. Glad you didn’t die! Too insensitive. Maybe how are you feeling? Probably the safest bet, although that might make her look oblivious. Obviously Shy wasn’t feeling all that great, since she’d just—
“Shy.” Locke craned his head back to look at his sister. “Come here. Let’s walk a couple paces ahead and chat. None of you will mind if we have a bit of sibling privacy on the way, I’m sure.”