Chapter 7: The Gaians
Eagle and Dal arrived at the Gaians the same evening. The Gaians lived in a big old house and a few tents at the edge of the forest. They kept some sheep, hens, goats and horses. Besides they had a kitchen-garden and a grain-field, so they were totally independent of finding always something to eat because they cultivated it themselves. Of course there were also some cats and a watchdog.
Eagle went directly to Pride and Melody, the leaders of the Gaians. She said, "I'm back again. That's my best friend Dal. I met him at Eagle Mountain. He thought I'm dead. He was at the grave in which he thought I'm buried in, because today is my 15th birthday. Since we've known each other we have celebrated every birthday together. That's why he was at Eagle Mountain."
"Hello Dal, nice to see you again. Stay here and become a member of our tribe," Melody said friendly.
"I always liked it here. Eagle and I wanted to go here even then when the virus broke out. But then we founded our own tribe and stayed in the city. I think I can't stay. I have to go back to the Mall. I think my best friend is worried because I'm not there anymore. I just went without leaving a note," Dal answered.
"I thought about going with him," Eagle said. "Dal said my boyfriend, who's grave I go to every week, is still alive, because it's not his grave, but the grave of my friend. I just didn't want to go back to the Mall without saying good-bye to you. Otherwise you think a hostile tribe has caught me."
"But why do you want to go? Don't you like it here anymore?"
"I like it here as much as the beginning when I came here. But I'm missing my other friends. They think I'm not alive anymore."
"Then you also can stay here, if they think you're dead anyhow."
"But Patsy and Cloe need me, just now when Trudy has been kidnapped by the Chosen and Salene and Ryan have married. We three were the only ones who cared about the little ones. I can't leave them under the bad influence of Lex. I look forward to see the faces of the others when I suddenly stand in the Mall. I never imagined of saying that but I'm even missing the little conflicts with Lex. We'll see us again in any case, because if I stay with the Mall-Rats I want that Sam comes there, too."
"If you want to come back, you can also bring the Mall-Rats with you. I'd like to get to know them," Pride said.
The Gaians celebrated Eagles birthday till late in the night. Dal and Eagle stayed till noon of the next day and after lunch they got fresh bread, vegetables, fruits, self-made cheese, fresh milk and water for their long way back to the Mall.
Eagle kissed Sam and said, "Hey Sam, darling. I'll be away for a while, because I go back to my old tribe. But we'll meet again very soon." Then she and Dal said good-bye to the Gaians and set out for the city.