Feral Heart by Duron Crejaro (distant reading .TXT) 📕

much of my time of my time with Cami and Bobby. Discussing things about the Wylder and what he knew about our captors. I was also introduced to someone new, Rees was his name, and I recognized him by the deep jagged scar along his chin. He had been taken from school a few weeks before. He was as defiant and arrogant as ever and had to be subdued by the guards for his violent outbursts. I learn that he was Morelet, a reptilian shifter mostly associated with of all things, crocodiles. No wonder he was always ornery. Continuous discussions about what kind of Wylder Cami was were fruitless. Bobby had never encountered anything like her, and none with a spirit companion. At first Bobby was in doubt about Nali’s existence, until a few playful pranks on him assured him that she was indeed quite real.

 

After almost two weeks, it happened. I had an epiphany. I jumped from my bunk and rushed through the common area till I found Cami. “Cami, come with me!” I exclaimed before heading for Bobby’s room. She followed with a perplexed expression and together we joined Bobby, who sat meditating on his bed.

 

“Bobby, I’ve got an idea!” I nearly yelled, then thought better of it and let it come out as an excited whisper.

 

He raised a brow leaning forward with his hands on his knees without a word. “We can get a message to Springwell. Let everyone know we are safe, and in need of rescuing.”

 

“And how do you propose to do that young one? Locked up as we are?”

 

“Cami, do you remember when Nali warned me on my mirror that I was Wylder?”

 

She nodded, “Of course, I told her not to.”

 

“So that means that even though you are connected, she can leave your side.”

 

A slow smile began to spread across Cami’s face as my idea began to sink in, “Yes, yes she can.”

 

“So can we send her to deliver a message? We could have her go to Springwell since we can’t!” I was getting more excited by the second.

 

“Ok, suppose we do get a message to the others. Then what? It’s not like we can have them storm this place. They would be cut down before they ever reached us.” Bobby offered unconvinced.

 

“Yes but if we can relay messages, then we can revolt from the inside at the same time. We can fight them from the inside and the outside. Surely there are enough Wylder confined to this place that we have the numbers to overpower them.”

 

“And what makes you think that the Wylder here will help? They don’t belong to the community, they owe me no allegiance.” Bobby was ever the skeptic.

 

“You think they want to stay here. That they want experimented on and controlled?” I was outraged and indignant. “Surely given the opportunity for freedom and a place where they belonged they would seize the opportunity.”

 

“Perhaps,” He gave a little shrug. “First we need to see if this idea of yours even has legs to stand on.” He turned to Cami, “What do you think little one? Can Nali travel far that far without you?”

 

“I dunno. When she went to Eliza’s, I could still feel her. It’s hard to explain. It’s like there is a rope tethering us together. Right now, it’s strong and unbreakable, like a thick steel chain. When she went to Eliza, I could feel it stretched, thinner weaker. I don’t know how stretched it could get without breaking.” She answered as simply as she could, unnerved at the thought of losing Nali.

 

I was disheartened, worried that I could cause Cami to lose her other half. “Maybe we shouldn’t try then. It was just an idea.”

 

“Why don’t we try seeing how far Nali can go, if that’s alright with her of course,” Suggested Bobby. “Cami, you can send her further and further each time, until you know the limits. That way neither of you is in danger, meanwhile I will start talking to the other Wylder, and see where they stand on the idea of revolting and escape.”

 

Now that we were all in agreement, and seeds of an idea had been sown. It was time to start tending the crops and see what grew. I retreated to the confines of my small room, giving Cami peace and quiet to work with Nali. I sat in silence, staring at the wall lost in my thoughts. Did I think this plan would work? I wasn’t sure. Did I think the Wylder here would rise to the occasion? I sure hoped so. Was I on the verge of getting even more people killed? Damn I hoped not.

Chapter 19: Forget Me Not

Cami had been pushing herself to the point of exhaustion everyday for almost a week now, and each day she was able to let Nali roam farther and farther away. The strain of each separation was evident on her face. She looked forlorn and worried, downtrodden and anxious. I felt bad for her, I really did, but just today, she had reached the outskirts of Springwell. No doubt, soon she would be able to contact Aeolia, whom we had decided would be the best Wylder to contact, as she seemed most similar to Nali.

 

Here at the facility, things were not going quite as well as we had hoped. Some of the Wylder were more than happy to pledge their support, the prospect of freedom too much for them to resist. Others were proving to be far more difficult to sway. Some of them had been here for much of their lives and were much more hesitant about open rebellion. Rees was among the most vocal about his refusal to participate, which surprised me, since he was the most down trodden of them all when it came to abuse at the hands of the guards. I would have expected him to be the first one to jump on the bandwagon of escape.

 

Every time I tried to confront him about it, he would huff up and blow me off. One time he even started a fight with a guard, just to avoid talking to me. It seemed like he had a chip on his shoulder and neither I nor Bobby were having any success breaking through his tough guy exterior to find out what the issue really was. It was so damn frustrating. I refused, refused to let it go. Finally, I caught him alone in the laundry area. I blocked the doorway bodily.

 

“What the hell is your problem?” I felt like I yelled the question at him, but it was more of a hiss.

 

He glanced up at me for more than a second before returning to his chore. This only served to infuriate me more, who the hell did he think he is I thought. I moved from my spot at the door and pushed him. “I’m talking to you.”

 

He gave me a look that had death written all over it as he stumbled sideways. “Really?” His tone was dark, sending chills through my spine. “You really don’t remember do you?”

 

I was confused, but refused to let my anger abate. “Remember what? You got some awesome reason why you’re being an ass about helping us? You’re one of the most powerful Wylder here. I’da thought you’d have been the first to jump at the idea of escape.”

 

It started off slow and small, and it surprised me, he was laughing. It built as though he simply couldn’t control it. “I can’t believe it. Such a memorable event in my life, and you really have no clue.”

 

My mystification didn’t need words, and I had none. He continued, “We were ten. A boy was bullying you. Ring any bells?” He waited just moments, not giving me a chance to think or answer. “This scar, I got it defending you from that boy, Dhamon. When we were ten. He was bullying you at the playground and I defended you. We fought and he pushed me down, I hit that big rock and it tore my face open.” He was shaking a bit now, from rage or some unfathomable emotion I couldn’t tell, continuing took effort on his part and he spat the words at me through gritted teeth. “And now you’re best friends with him. What about me? Forgotten, thrown aside when I was no longer useful. I never even got a thank you.”

 

I was dumbstruck, I did remember the incident. It seemed so long ago. It seemed such a minor thing even then, for it to linger with him till now saddened me. I started to open my mouth, to give voice to my feelings and at long last apologize and thank him when he cut me off. “Don’t bother. Now here we are once again, Eliza needs help, she needs saving. And you what? Expect everyone to just jump to your beck and call and line up for their own scars?” He sounded disgusted.

 

I inched my way towards him, cautious, afraid of myself, afraid of him. Was he right? Did I expect people to just come to my aid? Was I so weak, so feeble that I needed others to defend me? “Rees. We were kids.” I began, unsure of what to say. “Dhamon liked me, so picked on me. Hell he still does. I had no idea though,” I reached out and curled my hand on his cheek. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know I hurt you so bad.” I meant it, I felt ashamed that I had disregarded his feelings, on purpose or otherwise. “We aren’t kids anymore though. This is real Rees, real life or death. You may hate me, but these people. “I made a faint gesture with my free hand to our surroundings, “Are your people now and they need you. You’ve experienced firsthand what the guards are like. What the tests are like. Do what is right. Do now what that young boy had the courage to do. Help us.”

 

He had a torn look on his face. The look of an inner battle, a struggle to make a decision. I didn’t press the issue. I let my hand fall from his face, and slipped out of the room. I couldn’t choose for him. It was on him now.

Chapter 20: In Motion

Cami had done it the plan was in motion. Tarin we learned had escaped from the battle, though injured he was planning to lead the raiding party that would attack from the outside. Now we just had to hold up