Fire Country

When the sun comes up we continue on, but slow our pace to that of long walking strides, so as to lessen the effect of the harsh summer sun on our energy levels. We drink and eat without stopping.

The moment the sun reaches its apex in the red, cloudless sky, we stop. No one talks. We simply drop on command, find the softest ground we can, and fall into a restless sleep.

~~~

The moment the sun’s heat falters, we run. Although all the conditioning work we’ve been doing was miserable and painful at the time, I’m thankful for it now. No one lags, no one crumbles from exhaustion. We’re like separate parts of the same creature, moving as one across the desert.

’Fore the sun comes up again we’ve left the dried up river far behind. Today we run beyond the sun’s apex, sacrificing some energy and sleep to gain ground. For all we know, the Glassies are already upon the Heaters.

But eventually we hafta stop, to rest, to sleep.

I’m sweaty and stiff and achy, but as determined as ever. I might be dead tomorrow, but today I’m alive.

~~~

When I awake it’s already dark. T’other Wildes are gathering up their things, preparing to leave. I start doing the same.

“Wildes!” Wilde says. Everyone stops what they’re doing, cranes their necks in her direction, where she stands on a large flat rock. Crya and Brione are at her sides, loyal now, regardless of previous arguments. I gain a bit of respect for Crya seeing her like that.

“Today we fight for a people who would hunt us down and make us their slaves. A people who we left because we didn’t fit in, didn’t agree with their customs and Laws. But today isn’t about any of that, because they’re threatened by others who would destroy them from the face of the earth for reasons we may never know. Just because they can perhaps. We don’t do it out of the goodness of our hearts, or because we still have friends and family in the village, but because it’s the right thing to do. Today we show them who the Wildes really are!”

A cheer goes up and I find myself joining in, yelling my tired lungs out, relishing the burn in my parched throat. I throw back my head and scream till I can’t scream no more, spotting Circ’s starry gaze smiling down on me, my silent protector.

For the final night, we run. My legs feel as fresh and light and full of energy as that first night. The miles fall away like the leaves from the trees in ice country.

When day breaks, we see the village.

~~~

The village reminds me of my mother, of growing up, of Circ. It also reminds me of Bart’s hot, foul breath, his weight on me, feeling weak, helpless. I cast away the memories like shards of useless stone. None of that matters now.

We made it in time. From a safe distance away behind the dunes, the village almost looks peaceful. Beyond the guard towers, people emerge from their tents, rubbing their eyes and yawning, starting cook fires and bringing in hanging laundry, like it’s just any other day. But one look at the guard towers and we know it’s a mirage. At the top they’re stuffed with Hunters, looking in every direction, ensuring they spot the Glassies at the earliest moment possible. And below, dozens of Hunters milling about, sharpening blades, testing the tension on their bowstrings, securing leather armor to their bodies. Not a normal day. A day of war.

The rest of the Wildes are hidden away behind the biggest dune in the near vicinity, and I was only allowed to tag along ’cause of Skye. The three leaders are beside us, speaking in whispers. Me, I’m afraid to even breathe, for fear that the village lookouts’ll spot me and I’ll ruin everything. I’m determined not to do anything stupid today. A couple of pricklers laugh at me. Perry says hi, they say. After this is all over I think I might have MedMa take a look at my brain. (Although I’m not sure how he’d do that—through my ear maybe?)

The sun’s rising fast and already it’s sweltering; the hottest day yet. With a shock I notice the plentiful amount of scrubgrass growing ’round the village. The stuff is everywhere, practically right up to the border tents. Dangerous. By now, the Heaters would normally have pulled it all out and burned it. Perhaps amongst all their other problems it seemed like a small one. Very dangerous.

I’m continuing to scan the village when I see him. My father, striding from guard tower to guard tower, rallying the troops. I can almost hear his voice. They’re coming. The Glassies are coming.

As if to confirm what my father seems to already know, there’s a shout, and the men in the towers scramble down, waving their arms and pointing to the southeast. Our heads move in a collective swing in that direction.

We see them immediately. A Glassy army. They come tearing over the dunes on their chariots, which growl like animals, spi

Time to move.

“It’s burnin’ on,” Skye says, the first to pull back.

The others follow her, Brione and Crya and Wilde, but I linger, watching the village. The women are screaming and hurding their children toward the huts, while the men—and even the Younglings, some so young-looking they might be Midders—race for the rally point, a guard tower at the southern edge of the border tents, where my father’s already assembled a large group of Hunters. Today they fight for their survival, and we fight with them.

“Sie! Come on!” Skye shouts, having realized I didn’t follow her.

We run back to t’others, where Wilde is standing ’fore them, speaking. “…and you are all my sisters,” she says, firmness and emotion in her clear voice. Despite the pounding of my heart and the shortness of my breath, her voice instantly calms me, like it always does, like spring rains on the desert sand.

“Today we stand for those who can’t defend themselves, against a soulless enemy who destroys because it can. We will not remain idle while the freedom of others is threatened. Not when we have the power to do something about it. And we do have the power. As individuals we are strong, as Wildes we are invincible!”

A cheer goes up that surely both the Glassies and Heaters’ll hear, but stealth doesn’t matter now.

The moment of death is upon us.

~~~

With whoops and hollers, we launch ourselves into the desert.

The battle’s already begun and the work of death waits for nobody. Streams of Hunters pour from the village, as volleys of pointers zip like flocks of birds overhead. A Glassy chariot crashes when its driver is killed by a pointer, straight through his chest. It flips, bounces, bashes into another chariot, which spins wildly ’fore crashing against a prickler, toppling it.

Thunderous booms sound across the desert but the sky is clear. It ain’t thunder, but the Glassies’ fire sticks, exploding and hurting anyone in their path. Hunters drop in waves, but are quickly replaced by a new line. The two forces move steadily closer. My initial exhilaration turns to fear.

What’ve I done?

Another chariot crashes, filled with pointers and blood.

We’re close now and both the Glassies and Hunters seem to simultaneously realize they’re not alone. Shouts erupt from both sides of the desert.

The lead archer brings us up short while Skye, Brione, and their warriors—which include Lara—charge ahead. On her signal, we nock our pointers, aim high above the Wilde warriors.