The Wild Wolf Within

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She came shortly after the bus turned the corner into our small hidden valley just below the tiny house we had. "They were not followed from what I can tell. Your fluffy one is keeping watch on the hill to the main road." Lada sat looking at me. "The time has come Tala" I heard her say.

I looked around to see how a storm up here on the mesa had formed. The clouds had managed to pop up without a warning. I had seen this in the mountains of the high Sierras and the Appalachia Mountains. but never here. "I need to make sure they are settled." I shouldered my rifle. To puck up the pace toward the valley on foot. Lada trotted next to me. "He will be fine," she whispered just before she took a path to the right suddenly.

I hoped so. I really did. I put on some speed, which in sand sucks. But I did it. I was huffing and puffing when I turned the corner to see people milling about. I seen a few elderly, lots of little children and a few of the teachers from the local elementary school.

I found Ruthann sitting on the steps to the bus crying, Her face puffed and red from it. kneeling down I asked her, "You did very good." I hugged her as tight as I could. I heard Chief tip and seen he was with the kids. He always knew who needed those big brown eyes.

"Red told me to come here." I heard Ruthann hiccup.

That snapped my attention back to her in less then a heartbeat. "Red?" I asked again.

Another voice came in behind me, "he came to the school told all of us to get in the bus. and get moving he would clear a path for us." I turned to the other voice to see Butch, a mighty man in his day. Age had diminished his body but not his spirit. "You have a helluva man there." His age lightened brown eyes almost an amber colored winkled to show a smile.

"I know, one in a million he is," I murmured.

Butch added, "He found me at the coffee shop when this crazy hit. Threw men and a few others into his scout and plowed straight to the school. Watched him jump out and take down the group that was in the parking lot headed inside. Gathered up the kids and people he could find, got them on the bus, and literally plowed the road to get us through the road block that those nasty son of a bitches made." There was a snarl to his last few words. "I watched him make mince meat out of any of those things. If I was younger I would have stayed to help. But he reminded me these need help too." He motioned to the women and children as well has his friends from the coffee shop.

I was silent a moment. He was getting people out, I knew some of the people in town to be old military from marines to spooks. I was hoping he was going to gather them up. "Did he mention when he would be back?" I looked at Butch.

"No," Butch said solemnly.

"I hope soon" I murmured. Looking at the kids I seen Chief had taken up cuddling and playing with them. "Thank you, will you get them sorted. I need to go back to the gate and double check all is well."

"Of course," Butch nodded. "I can get them, settled". He leaned in gave me a quick hug and said "I suspect he will be back soon." He smiled patted me on the back.

I gave Ruthann a quick hug, looking back to Chief I told him to stay. He would do good work here. The kids and people would need him. I took off to ward the gate again. I needed to make sure that they were not followed. I heard the bark in the distance, telling me another vehicle was coming. I picked up the pace to meet a familiar truck at the gate.

The Scout door opened, I held my breath just hoping it was him and my eyes were just playing tricks. Alas, it was not, it was his friend and fellow military brother. My heart sank.

"Lia I am sorry to get your hopes up, but last time I chatted with him about a half hour ago he was well but very very pissed off." I heard him say.

"Suck it up" I heard Tala snap in my head. "Why are you up here Jay?" I asked.

"He wanted to know that group made it and that you are ok?" His eyes told me there was something else.

"Yes and yes. What else is in there? " I raised a brow knowing he had more and the reason he was here.

"We need supplies, of the ammo type and some snacks." He was still holding back.

"Let me guess, and a medical kit. How bad is he wounded?" The surprise in his eyes let me know I was right.

"Yes, some cuts and a nic from a bullet." He was shaky in his words. I opened the gate, "come to the house." I walked behind the Scout to see more of the same yuck on it. I knew why he stayed, he was helping to keep what people down there left safe. Getting up to the house, I pointed to a door that laid haphazardly on the ground. "Through there is the ammo and food supplies." I walked on the porch to look back and add "Yes it opens. I will pack a med kit and meet you in there." Opening the door I walked in and started to gather the things I figured he would need. I glanced out the window to see Jay headed down to the supply shed.

Back outside, I opened the passenger door and seen blood inside and could smell death. I set the bag down, smelled the blood again and realization hit me it was not Red oddly. That set my heart and mind a little better. As to the one who had been in there must have not made it. I closed the door a little lighter. I seen Jay with his arms packed, looking at me with worry in his face.

"Its not his blood," Jay gulped.

"I know" I smiled. "Here let me get the door for you." I reopened the door to let him put the supplies in his hands down.

He put the supplies down and turned to go back for another load. I closed the door and followed him to the supply shed. Once inside I let my eyes adjust. I seen a pile of ammo in the middle of the floor, a few more rifles and some food. I walked past it all to the corner. His sniper rifle, and his gilli suit sitting in there. I grabbed both and one big ammo case for that rifle. Walking past Jay I heard him start to say something then close his mouth with a snap. I put it in with the other supplies. Helped Jay carry the other ammo and weapons to the truck. Jay turned to get in, I walked in behind him while he sat in the driver's seat. His hazel eyes, looking back at me with worry. "Your message to him is," I paused a second. "Get done and get home in one piece." I said simply then closed the door. He drove around the house to the gate.

"I will make sure he gets home." He said with conviction.

"I know you will. Take the side gate. Less drive time and not as likely to be noticed on the main road." I pointed to a gate southeast of our main one.

"Yes Ma'am." He nodded. Turning the Scout he headed down the side dirt track