Novek was exhausted, though not tired — something that never made any sense to him, but still managed to be true. The finishing touches were being put on the coach, though he'd given up on being as quiet as possible now that dawn was coming and the rest of the group would need to be on their feet soon.

  Rezzan had come down from the rock-top tree an hour earlier to sit next to the cooking stone — kept warm by Moira — and watch in silence. He'd taken a few spare moments to pour her some tea, which had received an appreciative head bob in return. She likely could have managed it with some effort, but the kettle wasn't really suited for someone of her size. He'd seen the clackaw work as a group to move things that any one of them alone couldn't have handled, but the young were apparently still asleep. He'd wanted something warm to drink himself, so it was no bother.

  The coach now had panels above the doors and on the runners that could have a pin slid out to allow them to spin in place. If grabbed or stepped on with sufficient force, they'd rotate to expose the sharp cactus tines on their hidden side — for instance if they were grabbed by someone attempting to board it while in motion. Additionally, there were now two leaf spring reinforced L-frames that could be triggered from the driver's bench that would effectively slap anyone on either side away, possibly breaking bones, before the boards would come to rest blocking the doors from opening fully.

  A few additional thin cactuswood boards, hastily applied, served as some armor against bolts and small arms. Those could look better, if he was honest with himself, but they'd function as intended. The weak point of the whole thing was, frankly, the horses. He couldn't come up with a way to protect them — barding wasn't something he could fabricate, and any enclosure would add too much weight for the two horses to pull — they were both large and powerful, but not draft horses.

  As Novek stood back to admire his work, Rezzan broke the silence, “So, bodyguard — do you often retrofit vehicles for combat, overnight, for your totally unassociated coach master?”

  He chuckled in response, “Ellie's good people — for all that I've known her a week. She got dragged into something that none of us expected, and while she could ride away at any point — she didn't. So, she's a helper — and I'm here to keep the helpers safe. Speaking of which, how's the leg?”

  Rezzan looked down, appraising their bandaged leg, “Satisfactory.”

  Oh, this one was a cool customer, that was for certain. “I won't say it's the most dramatic I've seen, but there's something extra to it. With some practice, they should be able to work wonders.”

  She lifted her beak up, and tilted her head to the side, looking at him, “With some practice?”

  He began cleaning and packing his tools, wrapping them into their oiled leather fold while they spoke, “Well, this group — other than Lyn and Moira — only met for the first time — a week and two days ago? So, seven, total.”

  “And they've been practicing this combined healing method?”

  “Oh, no. Lyn is mostly an aetheric and electrical therapist, if I understood it correctly. The addition of the pattern is just the last few days.”

  “I do not find this as reassuring as perhaps you expect me to.”

  “It wasn't meant to be. And yet, the results speak for themselves, do they not?”

  Rezzan appeared thoughtful, “Mmm. We shall see. I hope it is enough.”

  “Well, dawn's coming. Time to wake the others and pack up. Will you be travelling with us?”

  “I think not all of us, one or two of the young shall remain. Though we'll stay through breakfast — if none object. I have some other business to attend to, but the others will be close by. You're easy enough to spot, from the air.”

  Novek paused in thought as he approached the coach to wake Ellie, “Oh, that's not comforting in the least.”

  “It was not meant to be.”

  Lyn was enjoying their morning despite how tired they were. There had not been nearly enough sleep recently, and the work healing was taxing. That applied to the performance of it upon others, as well as the restoration of their own foot.

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  But what was nice, was having another Ber'Duun to talk to. It wasn't exactly rare out here in the Human lands, but it wasn't common, either — Ceress's group being a notable exception. Humans just lacked the shared understanding — and it made talking to them both slow and prone to error of assumption.

  For instance, they were discussing healing techniques as they applied to Clackaw while Lyn and Nat sat holding hands in their usual positions around the rock.

  Rezzan sounded wistful from their perch a safe distance away, as they recounted selections from stories passed down to them. “Our mother's grandmother was in the sky the day the progenitors lit the atmosphere ablaze in their haste to escape their pursuers. It was decades before they could return to the skies — broken bones are serious, but our skin — once burnt — is not easily coaxed to re-feather.”

  “But she did recover fully, eventually?”

  “Oh yes. All things in time. We are not as fast as you Silverpaw to heal, but as with any Ber — that which does not kill us.”

  “Has made a tactical error?”

  “Very much so. Though in this case, the progenitors are beyond our reach, in more ways than one.”

  “For now, at least. Perhaps not forever.”

  “Bold words — and still, perhaps, unwisely spoken. In ages past, one would not dare to speak them aloud, but as I am told, AMA's voice was much more — singular of purpose — then. And heard more often.”

  “I have heard the same.”

  Nat was less interested in the discussion, apparently. “Okay, so this is fascinating, and I mean that, but the sun's up. Can I go eat now?” Ah, just hungry.

  They couldn't help but needle him a bit, however. “Ah, the young species. So impatient.”

  Rezzan was clearly game to join in, “So true. I applaud your tolerance of them.”

  “I'm right here, you know. I can hear you.”

  Lyn nodded sagely in the direction of the clackaw, “Well, you know how it is — we must watch over the children, after all.”

  Wings together, then pushed to the sky, she responded in kind, “It is our burden, to guide them to enlightenment.”

  “Okay, now you're just making fun of me. Perhaps I'll go pack up the kettle and put the food away.”

  “And yet, they are so exciting, and full of exuberance!”

  A quick flap and Rezzan was in the air back towards the food, “Oh! Another hotcake for me, please!”

  Nat was bouncing his leg up and down he was so excited. Lyn gave him a look every time he forgot to hold it still, which lasted all of two minutes before it would start up again of its own accord. The two clackaw that had remained with them were less tolerant of it than Lyn — they'd shifted to sit on top of the railing atop the roof of the coach, rather than be subjected to the constant vibration.

  They were only a few minutes to the mill, where they'd be picking up Tanner and his pup — Khe — to take them to the creche. It would be fun to surprise Tanner, and to play escort for the day. He wondered if he'd be given a chance to look inside the creche — he'd never been to one before, and his mind was full of possibilities.

  Apparently they were expected — well, Ellie and the coach were — there were a few Brin watching from the side of the road up ahead, who waved and shouted back towards the mill. Probably letting Tanner know his ride was here.

  A minute later and Nat spotted Tanner's distinctive coloration exit the large double doors, then jog towards the coach. A similarly colored pup followed excitedly at his heels on all fours — ah, of course, Khe was going for the first of the uplift treatments.

  “Ellie! We need to leave! Oh, good, you brought Novek.”

  Nat leaned out the window, preparing to surprise Tanner, but he was focused on Ellie at the moment, so Nat waited, impatiently.

  Ellie looked down from her position on the bench, “What's the hurry, Tanner?”

  “There's something up at the… the creche. Cennet and some of the others went to pick up their pups last night on his way home, and they wouldn't let them in, or the pups out. Cennet said he didn't recognize the door guards, either. They went north… the… this morning to ask the greater pack to send someone, but I'm not waiting — you don't have to stay if there's trouble, but can you take me there?”

  “Ah, beans. Of course I will. Get in.”

  Nat pushed the door open as Tanner turned and reached for it, his excited greeting coming out somewhat differently than intended, “Hi, Tanner. Fancy meeting you here?”

  “Nat?” The wolfen Brin looked into the cabin. “And Lyn? Why are you all here?”

  Lyn, less thrown than Nat, responded coolly. “Long story. We're on a contract to perform some healing and the creche is on our way. Want some help?”

  Tanner reached down and picked Khe up, then swung into the coach, nimbly. “I'm not… sure that it's necessary, but accepted if so — and appreciated regardless.”

  He closed the door, and banged on the wooden wall. “We're all set, Ellie!”

  The coach began to turn around to head to the crossroads, though the entryway to the mill wasn't sufficiently wide where they'd stopped short, so it took a couple of minutes while Tanner settled in and introduced his pup. “This is Khe. No second syllable, of course, until after the treatments.”

  Khe was almost as excited as Nat had been, and was jumping around the footwell in the coach, trying to jump up, but then pawing at various sets of knees when he couldn't reach the bench.

  Lyn was giving Tanner a look of concern, and reached into their bag to bring out a small bottle.

  “Tanner, here, have a few sips of this and calm down a little — you'll want to be cool and collected for the creche.”

  Tanner uncorked the bottle, then sniffed at it, “What is it? Medicine?”

  “I believe it's called whisky.”

  “Ah. Thanks.”

  Tanner had slightly more than a sip. He then took a calming breath, placed Khe on his lap to soothe him, and turned to Nat. “So, how's your week out in the wilderness been? Nice and relaxing?”