A Fallen HomeKin

PART XXII

Fralith squeaked, duckling behind Tim for shelter as another strange person walked by. The person wore the same color-dotted clothing as Tim, so it must be a uniform. That didn't make him feel any better. It was a new person with new intentions and unknown allegiances. They could be working for the RedShirts... He shivered and sidled closer between Tim and BlueShirt, fog swirling around in his head.

BlueShirt put a reassuring arm around his shoulders. "Don't be afraid, Brave Bud. No one will hurt you."

He glanced around, scanning the hall for anyone else. Empty. Safe for now. Taking a small breath to still the shadows under his skin, he beeped quietly and looked up at BlueShirt. Where were they going? This wasn't the way to the playroom; there were too many people.

BlueShirt just smiled and continued walking.

Huffing, he turned his attention to the end of the same-looking hall where all the people had been coming from. What lay behind the corner? They'd turned many corners already and so far it was all the same. The hall was empty at the moment, colorful walls and moss lit by the never-dying, never-flickering firelight from the logs in the ceiling. Doors still lined the walls, and they remained shut like the other ones.

The sameness did nothing to ease the shadows flitting beneath the fog. It was still new, with new people coming around the corners, and anything could happen. It wasn't safe. Biting his lip, Fralith tensed as they turned the corner.

Instead of the same hall, the walls pulled back and opened into a larger room with soft chairs, a low bookshelf, and, on the far side, two double metal doors with a sign in between them. Two people — dressed in clothes like BlueShirt's — sat on the soft chairs, one looking at a WeirdRectangle and the other, a book.

One of them was blonde.

The fog lurched, scattering as shadows geysered into his mind. He froze, tingles racing up his spine. There was a RedShirt. A RedShirt! Here! A white wall hit his senses and he was flying. Running. Away, away, away. He had to get away. He had to—

"Brave Bud!"

No, no, no, no! PainBird bellowed in his ears, talons digging into his chest and lungs. He shoved it away, pushing his feet to move faster. Did the RedShirt see him? Would she draw her sword and chase him? He had to get away. He had to get away!

"Brave Bud, wait!"

Hands grabbed him, catching in his shawl. Instinct flared and Fralith whirled, hands grasping for a knife and foot lashing out, hooking the ankles of his attacker and swiping the feet out from under them. He backed away, the world smearing and sloshing around the fog. The wolf's paws pounded in his ears to the time of his frantic intake of breath, causing his limbs to shake.

Stumbling, he took a few steps, legs barely able to support him. No, no, no. He couldn't collapse, not now! It wasn't safe. He wasn't safe. There was a RedShirt! Away! He needed away!

Where was Tim? He couldn't— he needed— hands were at him again, this time sweeping him into arms and warmth and a familiar scent. Tim. It was Tim. He turned and clutched at Tim's shirt, lungs heaving for air. Trembles shook his frame and he closed his eyes tightly, tears squeezing through the corners of his eyes. The RedShirt was coming. She'd hurt him. Or capture him. Or worse.

"Shh shh," Tim murmured, sliding an arm under his knees and back, hefting him up with an audible grunt. "It's okay. We're here, Brave Bud. It's okay. Shh, shh."

Fralith stifled a sob, holding onto Tim tighter. The wolf's gait slowed a little, paws hitting the ground with less force. PainBird stabbed at his chest with each movement of his lungs, and he attempted to slow his breathing to make it stop hurting so much. White swirled and spun around in his mind, shadows and fog weaving in and out through him, burning the edges of everything.