(33) Timberwolf
Evacuation in style.
Evengelica lifted her rifle up, holding it against her body momentarily. She let out a breath just as the tower was hit by an artillery shell and collapsed.
She wasn’t sure just how long she was out, but she had some vague, fuzzy memories of being crushed under a lot of rubble and feeling like she had died.
Fortunately, she didn’t die.
Kane was lifting rubble off of Evengelica while fighting back any facet of panic was trying to crawl up his chest, and when he finally got her uncovered, he let out a sigh of relief, “Found you…”
Evengelica’s eyes squinted open as she looked up at a ceiling fan overhead, slowly spinning. She felt a sharp pain in her side and somewhere in her head that she couldn’t quite place. With a flinch, she managed to sit up, and felt her head throb like it was loose.
Bandages lined most of her arms and legs, with large wraps around her stomach and ribs, and a few around her head, with a smaller patch over her cheek. Her eyepatch was sitting on the bedside table next to her, and she realized a moment later she wasn’t in either a field medical tent, nor a hospital.
She was on a couch in the living room of Amelia-Amanda’s house, and with another careful turn of her head saw Kane entering the room from the kitchen, carrying a small tray with some food on it. He noticed her sitting up, and tried, but ultimately failed to give her a convincing smile, “You’re up.”
“I think so.” She watched as he walked over and set the tray on the coffee table in front of her.
“Did we push them back?” Evengelica asked.
“No. They’re still fighting on the opposite end of the city. We got reinforcements though, and since you’re conscious, I can feel better about getting you evacuated with Lady Wintersong.” Kane crouched down and offered the bowl of soup to her.
Evengelica looked between him and the bowl, “…Thank you, but I can’t really feel my fingers…”
“I can feed you then.” Kane offered.
Evengelica looked down, and felt her face redden slightly, “Is that okay?”
“I’m used to feeding people.” Kane offered a spoonful to her, “My sister was in the hospital a lot, and my mother was sickly most of my life.”
Evengelica hesitated, but allowed him to feed her.
It was mediocre, but for some reason the taste didn’t matter. It just felt nice to be fed by someone.
“You’re a Valentine, right?” Evengelica asked after Kane finished feeding her.
“Yeah.” Kane walked over to a window to look outside.
“Your family used to be pretty big at one point.” Evengelica slowly managed to get her feet on the floor, but was still afraid of trying to stand.
“That was before any of us were born.” Kane sighed, “Right now, it’s just my sister and I left.”
“That must be hard.” Evengelica looked at her feet, wondering when she should try to stand. She could still feel the sharpness in her ribs and head, but knew she couldn’t sit idly much longer.
“What about you, any family?” Kane glanced over.
“My parents were poor. I was given up to the Church when I was about five.” Evengelica then flexed her fingers, trying to see if she could register feeling in them. Fortunately, she had decent control.
“I see.” Kane walked over and offered a hand to her, “That must have been hard.”
Evengelica took his hand, and he helped her stand, “It was.”
They shared a glance, and Evengelica managed a small smile, “But I’ve made do.”
Kane helped her start walking, and got her shoes and coat on. Evengelica sat back down in the living room, holding her head carefully while Kane went to get Amelia from the second floor.
“…He’s kind.” Evengelica thought out-loud.
Atraue’s phone buzzed in his pocket, and he pulled it out, unfolding it to see a message from Kane. Trying to contain his endless worry he read it over twice. All he said was [I’m okay. About to evacuate with VIPs.]
Atraue, [Stay safe, brother.]
Kane, [I promise.]
Atraue blinked a couple times. Since when did Kane promise something like that?
Atraue then showed Felix his phone, and Felix let out a sigh of relief.
Kraulten was sat with his eyes closed, in deep thought. Atraue then glanced at his brother and nudged him. Kraulten opened his eyes and glanced at Atraue’s phone screen, “…That’s good news at least.”
Atraue folded his phone and set it in his pocket, “What’s our plan going forward then?”
“We’ll join the convoy carrying his VIPs. It’s most likely to be Amelia-Amanda Wintersong, and the currently present Janelyn Katherine.” Kraulten stood in the vehicle and moved forward to talk to the driver.
Atraue leaned back in his fair, and Felix moved a page in his book. Felix glanced at Atraue, “You look scared.”
Atraue, “Aren’t you?”
Felix, “Always.”
There was a bit of silence between them, and Atraue took a breath, “I didn’t think they’d ever start again.”
“I always thought they would.” Felix closed the book in his hand, “When you look at the history it was inevitable…”
“So what’s the plan?” Atraue looked at his hands momentarily, “I can fight… But…”
“Dainsleif’s government has propagandized hatred of others for a long time. Their people won’t hesitate to kill others.” Felix said rather distantly, “So we can’t hesitate to protect innocent people.”
“I know that much.” Atraue sighed and sat back.
“I’d rather it be different too.” Felix looked at him.
Atraue whispered, “I just want to keep my friends safe…”
The convoy was getting ready to leave, and Kane had just finished getting Evengelica buckled into a stretcher in the back of a medical vehicle with two field medics with her. He then got Janelyn and Amelia on an armored truck, and made sure the soldiers he was with had their formation ready and got the rest ready to leave.
He then lifted a set of keys off a folding table to one of the timberwolf armored bikes and mounted it, connecting to the radio frequency of the convoy, “Everyone better be ready to move out. We’re losing ground to the enemy and can’t afford to let them catch our VIPs.”
There were confirmations over the radio from the drivers, and Kane kicked on the timberwolf, “Follow me then, I’ll take point as scout and make sure out paths are clear.”
Kane then tried to recall the last time he’d actually used a timberwolf and then twisted the throttle, taking off down the road with the convoy following behind him.