Page 36 of Outcast Fae
Wally’s eyes were wild, his anger very near boiling over, but Meadow Song still answered him in a calm, albeit tired voice. “Everything that is happening to you is helping build character. I assure you that everything is under control.”
“Things don’t seem under control,” Daniella murmured.
Meadow Song’s eyes tracked to Daniella, and an emotion flickered over her face before she smoothed it back into her normally calm demeanor. “Things are under control. Trust us.”
“Trust you?” I said, finally losing my composure. “Nothingyou have done has made us think we can trust you. It seems like you are barely paying attention.”
“Now, listen,” she said, but suddenly she stopped, her eyes floating up as if she were listening for something. Then she began to talk to someone we couldn’t see. “What?” The other ca— place? They…. What? I’m coming.”
Smoke filled the cave. Before we could think to protest, Meadow Song was gone.
“Shit!” Wally kicked at the dirt, then clenched his fists and roared. “She just left us again.”
I stared at the spot where Meadow Song had been. Everything about that reaction made me think my assumptions were right. Something was happening, something they hadn’t planned on. And hadn’t it sounded like she’d been about to say another—
“Did she say there was another camp?” Daniella said, glancing toward the group.
I nodded slowly. “It sure sounded like it.”
“Another camp?” Elon asked. “With kids like us?”
“Who knows?” I said, my mind reeling to what Vaughn had said.
Maybe they were keeping others on the island. Maybe I wasn’t crazy to suspect they had also abducted the children and had brought them along. The island was huge as I’d seen from above. They could have many other groups like ours—some withmychildren and whatever other children Vaughn was after. If so, I needed to find out where and quick, preferably while our counselors were occupied. If I left now, maybe I could fly ahead of the storm. As soon as I got food in my stomach, I would leave and search.
“Who cares if there’s another camp?” Wally said, snagging two MREs and a bottled water before retreating to his rock again.
I cared if there was another camp. Very much so. And I would find out soon. I took a silver packet from the basket, opened it, and ate it without even looking at the label. The salty meat and sauce were yellow instead of brown this time, but just as bland. Yet, I felt marginally better with it in my stomach.
My wings whirred with renewed energy, but pain shot from my right side, spreading through my shoulder blade and up my neck.
Had I pulled something? No, no, no! Not when I needed my wings the most. I’d felt something twang when helping Daniella escape the werewolves, but I hadn’t thought it was as bad as this. When I tried my wings again, the pain was worse. I could barely lift my right one, let alone use them to carry me through this crazy wind.
I stared at the cave entrance. Were the children out there in the storm? They’d be so frightened. Was there someone protecting them like I would be doing?
My heart ached nearly as much as my wing. Stuck and stranded, I glanced around wondering what to do.
Vaughn still lay on his back, unconscious. He’d need water. Finding comfort in knowing at least one more action I could take, I grabbed a bottle from the basket, walked over, and crouched before Vaughn, cracking open the blue plastic lid.
As I tipped the lid toward his lips, he stirred. Green eyes flashed toward me. I suddenly realized how close I was to him, my hand poised over his lips. Heart pounding, I pulled back.
“What… what’s happening?” He blinked, lifting his head and peering into the dim cave.
“You missed a lot,” I said, handing him the water bottle. “You’re going to want to drink, but go slowly.”
He took the bottle and sat up so he could drink. Ignoring my warning completely, he drained the whole bottle, gasping and wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.
Another roll of thunder cut through the silence. Outside, the rain started to fall, large heavy drops splattering on the dirt. The smell of wet earth drifted in on the breeze.
“A storm?” Vaughn asked.
I nodded. “Thunderstorm. A big one.”
“Hmm,” he replied.
“You missed Meadow Song’s appearance,” I added.
His head whirled toward me. “What?”
