50
Tum chose her time and when the child was at the stream she walked to the other bank of the stream and stood in the long grass, her hand on her brother's head as he sat with her watching the child.
Older than first thought, their Tadd's voice was whispering through the bond it was a child of about eight maybe. Smaller due to the diet or energy needed all the time.
"There are no fish in there" she finally spoke, the boy gasping as he looked at her with shock "But there is a fishing hole further down there because another stream connects crating what they call an eddy."
The boy looked in the direction she was pointing and then back at her "Where did you come from?"
She pointed in the direction of the cloaked vessel and then smiled at the boy "I am called Autumn. This is Auburn. We wanted to say hi. We know you don't need our help, your mama seems quite good at things, we just want to warn you that there is a snarl of Zs coming from the ridgeline that way and you need to move to that small path that was once a road. You can find a house there and close the doors. They still can't open doors you know. Stupid bitey things."
The boy blinked, then a voice called over the grass "Ethron?"
"Ethron. Nice name" Tum smiled "Everyone calls me Tum. My Tad calls me Autumn still though. He likes the whole name when scolding."
The mother was coming fast and Autumn listened to the bond as the Predis in the long grass whispered that she had her gun out of its holster and was pulling back the hammer. Nervy.
"Your Mama looks mad. I better go, I promised I would not get shot" she smiled and turned, running like the wind as the mother reached her child, scooping him into her arms as she watched with wide eyes. The little girl and her huge red dog bounding away across the grass.
"What did she say?"
"Biters are coming from over that way. She sez there is a house along that road with doors that still close. She said we needed to move fast." The boy pointed "Can horses fit in houses?"
"I guess we shall see" the mother softly replied back at the child, and then looked in the direction her son had pointed.
Her hair was standing up on the back of her neck and she knew she was shaking from the suddenness of the interaction.
"She was nice" Ethron sighed "She has a Tad."
"Come on. You have a mama and she is saying move your arse!" she growled "Come back and have your dinner. Then we will go check it out and see if she was telling the truth."
"But shouldn't we go that way, like she said?"
"Into a trap?" the mother snorted "Right. God. Sometimes I worry about you."
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On the ship Jack was slamming his hand on the console as he cursed softly "Stupid woman!"
"Now, now. Babies listening" Ianto scolded gently as Tosh entered to watch the madness while Jack tried to check the distance of the Snarl.
"Shit" she said softly, "Sorry Ianto but… that is not good. She is seriously riding towards it?"
"Not even finished breaking camp. Damn it" Jack snarled then roared rudely "BILLY! RHYS!"
They entered along with Owen who was still in an apron with a bright pink spatula in his hand. Jack did a double take then blinked, started to speak "We need to go down and start breaking up her camp. The aft hold can hold the horses and stuff once we scoop her up."
"What happened to not interfering if she didn't want it?"
"Pigheadedness happened. If we don't interfere she will die, so will her child. They are quickly being flanked by Zs and do not even know it. Not even a drone or anything to judge distance. She is working with bloody binoculars. How the hell did she survive at all! She has a child for Godsake!" Jack roared, his hormones apparently still simmering as he steeled.
"Cariad…"
"No. We go and fix this … Marley love, go check on her sweetie?"
Marley nodded, then buzzed out of the room as Ianto nodded to his husband then rise to leave the flight deck "Well I am going to have a snooze. This is too much for me. Call me if someone loses a limb."
Jack flapped a hand behind himself like he had farted, clearly indicating Ianto should bugger off and Ianto found humour in it, the kids joining the giggling as he shared his image of green gas emitting from their father's arse.
"Maybe that's why he sometimes says terrible things. Talking from his arse" Pip agreed with glee.
Jack swung to look at them, aware something had been shared without him being included but saw that whatever it was, it was funny so probably about him and he grinned, letting it go.
"One day we have to stop saving them" Owen said softly as he stood next to Jack watching the screens "One day Darwin has to be allowed to cull the herd."
"That's the problem Owen. He did and look … not much left. She got this far with a child on her own … no. It's not time to turn away yet. Humanity still has a chance. I have to believe that." Jack argued and Owen patted him on the back as he saw Jack's determination.
Still trying to save the world.
Shithole that it is.