58

They were done. The room looked like it was wrapped in tinfoil and Ianto was taken with the attempt to make it livable as well. Defined areas were in place, the kids exited to have a sleeping area just for them. Great idea, contain the madness. Food had been thought of, non-perishables as well as two huge fridges Jack had acquired from god knows were full of food, even some cooking facilities so less time was spent topside. That is what they called the house now. Topside.

We go topside to milk the cos. We go topside to patrol. We go topside only when we HAVE to.

The kids were a on board, seeing this as a game and Jack was a ringmaster to those mad monkeys flying about. Ok. Ianto could accept this. His feeling that the Pack Wars were going to be the worst ones ever pushing him to complete everything in time. The soft rushing in his ears telling him it was sooner rather than later that they needed this done.

Ianto knows there is more to be done, things Jack will not understand as he goes to the barn and checks the livestock in there. He is reminded of that ancient Sol3 fable about the man who built a huge boat… what was it… an ark? Yes. Cows, sheep, chickens, dogs, cats, even some errant rabbits were in there and he knew he had to hunt out what little hole they were using as it may be a weakness. Then he saw the dirt mound and knew a Gerfillon had dug a little burrow from outside into the barn and the rabbits were using it. He relaxed. These strange fuzzy creatures were sort of like a cross between a mole and a cat. Their burrows about the same sir as well so no Others could get in that way if they tried. It was safe.

He knew there was more than enough to sustain them if they were down there for a prolonged period, there would be stock left to release after clean-up when it was all over but this is not why he was there. He walked to the pen with the pigs, reaching in to pluck a piglet out, shoving it into a sack without looking at the others. He felt mean doing it even if they were bred for meat in the first place. Then he headed back inside, down the levels and he passed the large red door to the living quarters, continuing down two more to the lowest basement.

Here he hesitated outside the blue door, taking a deep breath before pushing it open and slipping inside quickly, then slamming it after himself.

The room was completely dark, something shifting in the ethos of the back of the room but with nothing but sound, who knows what it is. Ianto crouched and released the piglet, then moved back so the door knob was in the small of his back, listening as the sound of shuffling ceased. The piglet grunted and snuffled as it tried to work out where it was then came the sound like a tidal wave crashing onto a shore of pebbles. The piglet shrieked with fear and horror. But only for a moment, and then it ws gone, the thing devouring it and shrinking back to it' corner.

"It is coming" Ianto finally spoke in a low tone "The Pack Wars is coming and this time… this time it is going to get nasty."

A soft sigh and noise like newspaper being ruffled as the thing in the darkness listened to it's master. For this is the way of things. This thing in particular.

"The children will be above us, a level or two. Please do not venture out, do not pluck one. You know I will always look after you. Did I not promise? I promise now. Be calm and wait here. It will pass, it always passes, until then I must ask you to remain in here where it is safe. For everyone."

No reply but Ianto did not expect one. She had stopped speaking to him long ago, long since lost the ability to do so and he now nodded as he opened the door and slid out, slamming it to lean against and take deep shuddering breaths as he let his fear explode for a moment.

Always so dangerous to venture into her lair.

Even if she did bow to him as her master… even masters can get bit.

Ianto let his heart return to its normal rhythm and then squared his shoulders, walking back up to the red door, opening it to find the kids running about screaming with glee as a kitten raced across his feet. Laughter as people made up beds and someone was already cooking over the little battery stove.

Jack glanced at him, then looked away as someone spoke to him and Ianto did not know if Jack had felt the spoke of fear down there or not. Hopefully Ianto's shields had been strong enough to hide that at least.

For she was something he did not want to explain unless he really had to.

After all… she was not supposed to exist.