Chapter 123

[ 858 words ]

Earth syhper

123: 123.

Earth syhper Kade

The moment we cross back into our territory, something feels wrong.

The smell of smoke lingers in the air, and the ground looks like a storm has passed through, yet the ground is dehydrated.

I look at Theo, and he’s drowning on the ground as well.

“Looks like a battle happened,” Sebastian says.

My wolf lifts his head inside me, ears pinned flat.

We need to check on our mate.

We rush inside the mountain, nodding to the young warrior on guard as we pass him.

“We should go around, find the Alphas, and call a meeting to let them know what we found,” Theo says.

“You’re right. They need to know quickly,” Juno replies.

We split up, Theo coming with me to find Ronan.

As we move closer to the common areas, the sounds of our community become clearer.

Coughing.

Moaning.

The unmistakable smell of sickness.

We head to the common rooms and see a distinct lack of people milling about.

We’re too late, my wolf says.

For a horrible few seconds, the dread threatens to consume me, but I push it down and focus.

There are still healthy people working thier tasks and going about their daily lives, that means we have a chance to fix this.

“How long has this been going on?” I ask the first patrol member I recognize.

The young wolf looks relieved to see us.

“People started getting sick yesterday. More this morning, but the numbers are rising pretty fast. The healers think it’s some sort of bug.”

My stomach drops.

“How many?” Sebastian asks.

“Thirty-seven so far.”

It’s traveling fast.

Beside me, Theo mutters a curse.

The hunters exchange worried glances.

Thirty-seven isn’t an illness, it’s an outbreak.

My pockets suddenly feel heavier where the water bottle with the sample I collected is.

I give the warrior a nod of thanks, and we make our way to the infirmary.

“I’ll go collect the Alpha’s,” Juno says.

I nod at him.

When we get to the infirmary, I see the healer running around the room along with their assistants.

The healers look haggard, and the sick are pale and in various states of curling up in a ball and leaning over the edge of the bed, and upchucking.

One of the volunteer stops is at the door.

“We don’t want healthy individuals coming further,”

“Quinnie?” Sebastian says from behind me.

I look at the far end of the room and see my cousin in a fetal position on the bed.

Sebastian tries to go into the room, but the male blocks his path.

“I’m sorry, but you can’t go in.”

“I’m getting in that room,” Sebastian declares, the threat of no matter what evident in his voice.

Kiara appears in front of him.

“Calm yourself, Bash.

She’s okay, but she won’t be if you’re back here, causing a scene.”

“Let me through,” he says again.

“It’s too much of a risk,” Kiara says.

He doesn’t miss a beat.

“I’ll take it.”

They have a small stare off, then Kiara lets out a breath.

“Fine, go ahead and risk yourself.”

Without having to be told twice, he rushes into the room and heads to her bed.

Kiara turns her attention to me.

“When we were out hunting, we found evidence of poisoning of the land,” I say.

“You found evidence?” she says, looking both horrified and relieved at the same time.

I took one of the water bottles from my pocket.

“We noticed the herds have moved further than they ever were before, and when we reached the creek north of the settlement, there was dead wildlife and flora. The water source is contaminated, Kiara.”

She swears under her breath.

“The game animals were drinking from it?”

Juno arrives with Ronan, Elliot, two other Alphas, Aria, and an older male I don’t recognize.

From the look on their face, I assume he’s filled them in.

“It’s likely. We picked up some samples to be analyzed.” I wave Juno up front, and he comes to stand beside me.

“Juno’s cousin is a chemist, he said she could help identify the compounds so we could have a better idea of the side effects and find a treatment.”

“We all head our collected samples to Kiara, and she cradles them in her hand like they’re precious.

Looking at Juno, she says, “Send your cousin this way when you have a chance.”

A voice speaks from the doorway.

“Maybe I can help.

I can scan the surrounding area and let you know the exact area where the contamination is.”

“That you, Rick, that will be helpful,” Kiara says.

Ronan gives Theo and me a look.

“Kade, this is Rick.

He is Lorain’s godfather and a sypher.

An Earth syhper.”

“Ah,” I say.

My confusion must be transparent because he adds, “He’s the male who was making his way here.”

Rick looks at the samples, holding out his hand.

“May I take a look?”

“Knock yourself out, “ Kiara says.

The room watches silently as Rick examines the contents.

His expression grows darker with every sample.

Finally he looks up.

“Natural contamination leaves patterns, but this,” he points toward the water sample, “This doesn’t.

It’s just a pocket of foreign substance, indicating it was something that was put into the environment, not mutated from it.

”

“Alright, I want a team on research, and another put together to test all our water and our food.

Until the tests are performed, no one eats or drinks anything,” Ronan says.

“ Kiara heads the research.

Kade, I’d like you to take point on checking the stores.”

“I’ll go with Kade,” Aria says.

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