60
The Sherriff arrived with a family on board, his brother and wife, their little one clinging to Anita with wide eyes as he drank things in then saw his old home looming, relaxing as he knew they would be safe if Taddy Ianto was about.
"Anita! Moose, come on, get down" Ianto yelled, alarmed as he watched the darkening sky "We don't have much time. Inside, now! Morty, park it over there where jack is, he can help upload."
Old Man Grimes was looking around as he let people help him along with his suitcase, the sound of children drawing him into the house and safety as Ianto turned and stood looking towards the distant tree-line.
They were coming.
He could hear them, even if no one else cold.
"Jack!" he called out, trying not to show alarm and jack swung to look at him, nodded then started to close doors as he pushed the last of the horses into the barn, those inside it trying to stable them.
They headed down, the door with the Childe inside closed with a Keep Out sign on it in little childish scrawl that made Ianto smile as he passed, his hand sliding across the paintwork then down another level to the insulated one. Finally Jack closed that door, his hand against it as they moved to the screens in the corner of the room that was closed off with partitions so the kids could not see what was happening Topside.
Mace, John and four others were up top on the top tier, walking around the walkways watching as the packs seemed to creep along, none willing to be the first to enter the property but it would come. They all knew it would come.
Ianto settled in the background as the kids started to sing a quiet song, Anita quite a lovely Mama that reveled in so many little faces… the teenagers that were not still hiding watching silently from the sidelines while pretending not to want to join in.
Ianto looked up at the ceiling and Jack knew it ws time. He gave the coms two sharp clicks and the men topside went on point, looking in every direction until they saw the surge from the tree-line from the north, like water flowing from it. Molasses in the semi-darkness. With glowing eyes floating in it.
Christ, so many. Jack watched the screens with his mouth going dry as the numbers grew, the flow endless. Toshiko then said softly "South"
Jack turned to see them coming from that way and felt a deep sense of sorrow knowing the townships either side must have already fallen for this many to still be rampaging.
"West"
Jack turned that way and swore as more came, these a dusky grey colour instead of the black of the others. This pack must be from the snowy regions, their pelts lighter. East was the last to come. These were smaller, compact and weedy looking. "So many. Gods."
"No Cariad. They are too busy tonight for the likes of us" Ianto whispered from behind them and Jack swung to look at him as Toshiko kept her eyes firmly on the epicentre of the packs. Their back section behind the barn.
"He we go" she said, bracing herself like they might feel the impact and as the packs converged for a massive show down the children continued to sing softly, unaware of the event unfolding Topside.
"Remember… do not fire unless threatened" Jack said down the coms to the men circling the roof "Stay down and hidden. Do not remove the thermal clothing that makes them see you. As long as you are quiet and invisible we might be OK. Only if they…"
"One is at the barn, ignoring the fight" John whispered into the coms "Looks like he can smell where everyone came in with their horses."
"Watch." Jack warned, turning to Toshiko who already had it on screen. A huge black Other clawed at the door a few times, sniffing the ground again and then with a pause to consider things, it canted it's head in a most human way.
"What is it doing?" she hissed.
"Wondering if it is worth the effort" Ianto replied behind her, his face grey with the thought of them gritting in at the horses and stock within.
Please… go away. Go away, there is nothing here. Go away, your bothers need you. They need teeth. They need claws. Go. Show your strength, you may shoe bough to lead. Go, show teeth and claws to those who defy your bloodline. Go away.
Jack reached out and placed his hand on the back of Ianto's neck, closing his eyes as he gave what he could to the bond, amplifying it as Ianto continued to send out the message. After a moment or two the creatures looked up at the house, John crouched there watching it back. IT considered.
"Go" Ianto whisper out loud "Biting sticks up there. Go. Be the biter."
It lowered its head and then took off, back towards the Greys to fight them and Jack let his breath out as Ianto slumped.
For now… they were still safe.
