Chapter Seven

When Lucas attempted to wake Emily from her sleep, he discovered that not everyone was a morning person. He'd never had an issue with waking at dawn, but others evidently did. Emily expressed this to him with a string of curses and insults at being woken just after sunrise, at what would have been most likely 7:30 AM. The days were getting shorter, and dawn was arriving later each day. Orion knew that soon, daytime would only last for a few hours, but that was an issue that would be dealt with in the future. He finally managed to coax Emily out of her bedding, much to the amusement of Lohar and Evelyn, as well as their children. A breakfast of mushroom and fish soup had been prepared, and after everyone had eaten enough, Evelyn got set on the clean up with the help of her children, while Lohar took Lucas and Emily down into the boiler room of the ship, handing over the pile of arrowheads wrapped in cloth. Saying their farewells, Lucas and Emily headed back out across the ice, heading back the way they came the previous day. Walking along the highway, Lucas heard Emily gasp next to him.

"Look," she said, pointing into the woods to the right of them.

Following her pointed finger, Lucas saw the outline of a wolf between the trees, its gait relaxed and free of tension.

"Don't worry," he reassured his companion. "It isn't after us, nor has it caught our scent. That being said, we shouldn't leave it to chance."

Both now moved a little faster, keen to reach the cliff path that would take them to the mine through the cliffside. Following the path off the road, they kept to the cliff wall, keeping an eye on the forest. Rounding the corner they left the path, walking up the incline, climbing higher and higher, until the mouth of the mine could be seen. The guard stationed at the entrance merely nodded his head to the pair, allowing them inside the mine, while another stationed inside led them through the tunnels. Emerging back into the daylight, they continued on, making their way back onto the Old Highway Connector. Passing by the abandoned car and the burnt-down Harris houses, moving on towards the canyon leading to Coastal Highway, they picked their way across the scattered rocks and continued along the highway. As they passed between the rocky outcrops that sheltered the Waterfront Cottages and Lucas started to wonder about how the residents were going with their new supplies, the crack of a gunshot rang out across the bay.

"Was that a rifle?" Emily asked, her body tensed.

"Not a normal one," Lucas muttered, dashing into a sprint, with a bewildered Emily running behind.

They spotted the town ahead, and Lucas' heart tightened in worry as he managed to hear a commotion coming from the townsite. However, as the duo got closer to the town, Lucas was relieved to hear that the commotion wasn't the sound of battle or panic, but jubilation and celebration. Slowing to a jog, and then a brisk walk, Lucas and an out-of-breath Emily made their way to the northern end of the town where a crowd had gathered. A few spotted Lucas and a cheer rang out, with more and more of the towns folk noticing the hunter. The mob parted, revealing Mayor Quincey seated on the head of a dead bull moose, a dark green rifle laying on her lap.

"Well, look who it is?" she greeted, a smile on her face. "While you were out shopping, Orion, it seems that we've had to deal with our moose rumour."

The gathered members of the town laughed at this, as did Lucas, joining in on the fun. Quincey too laughed, however upon noticing Emily, her laugh slowed, her expression turning from joy into a frown. Even though this only lasted for a second before she started laughing all over again, it didn't escape Lucas' attention. After the residents had calmed down, most started to disperse, with others running to collect tools for the butchering of the carcass.

"Orion," Mayor Quincey called out, drawing the attention of both Lucas and Emily, who turned to see the mayor walking towards them, her green rifle slung over her shoulder. "I would like to have a word with you as well as your friend."

Orion nodded his consent, following the mayor back to the old garage that served as her office, and he could hear the crunch of boots walking through snow as Emily followed. Opening the door to the office, and gesturing for Emily to go before him, the two entered into the old reception room, and they both took a seat facing the desk Mayor Quincey was sitting behind. Her rifle was leaning against the wall, and she was seated, her elbows resting on the desk and her fingers interlaced.

"I must say," she started as Lucas and Emily sat down, "I wasn't expecting you to return to Cinder Hills with company, Orion. I was under the impression you were simply heading to The Riken to collect some supplies." Her gaze shifted attention, now zeroing in on Emily. "Yet you return to my town with a stranger, and as the person in charge of the safety of my people, I can't just let someone that I have no knowledge of roam free."

"Well, Mayor Quincey, this is Emily. She has hired me to take her to Milton," Lucas replied, a line of nervous sweat running down the back of his neck.

"Really?" Quincey asked. "Do pray tell, where is she from, and why is she heading to Milton?"

""Why does that matter?"" Lucas and Emily asked, their voices overlapping as they asked simultaneously.

"Just curious, that's all."

"S-she's from Hibernia," Lucas lied, "she has friends in Milton who she hasn't seen since the First Flare. She doesn't know the wilds though, so she needs a guide."

Lucas tried to keep his breathing calm, praying that Quincey would buy it.

Quincey, however, tilted her head, then sighed, closing her eyes. "Orion, I'm a mayor, true, however, I am first and foremost a businesswoman. As such, I have much experience in dealing with truths, half-truths, and more. And you, dear boy, are not a good liar." She opened her eyes, focusing on Lucas and continued. "Some parts of what you said were true. She is wanting to go to Milton, and she does want to see someone, that much I know you believe to be true. However, she isn't from Hibernia, and I don't believe that she has friends there."

"Why does it matter so much where she's from?" Lucas objected. "I trust her, and I'd like to think I have a good judgement of character."

Quincey sighed again, resting her head on her laced fingers. "You're a loner, townless, so you don't know about the intricacies of intertown relations. Everyone is nervous of strangers, so no one can really trust someone who isn't from their town."

"Why is that?" Emily spoke up.

"Because," Quincey said, looking to Emily and then back to Lucas, "there are rumours of trouble brewing in Blackrock."

Lucas breathed in sharply, shocked at the news, but Emily frowned. "Isn't Blackrock the maximum security prison?" she asked. "No one can get out of there, right?"

"Supposedly," Quincey nodded, "yet people are still worried over the fact that the First Flare has disabled all electronics, so for all we know the prisoners in Blackrock might have already taken over the prison. So people all over Great Bear are worried that a stranger they meet isn't actually a stranger, but a scout from Blackrock, testing their defences.

"But given your knowledge of Blackrock, I'd say it's safe to assume you're not a Mainlander. Which makes me more concerned. So tell me, stranger," she said, placing a hand on her rifle, "and tell me truthfully. Who are you?"

A tense silence lasted for a second, as Emily and Quincey locked eyes. It was broken by Emily looking down, and in a quiet voice, "I'm from the Mainland, but I was born in Milton. My parents live there, but I moved to Ottawa to further my education. I arrived back on Great Bear yesterday when Lucas found me near the ice edge on a boat."

Looking up, she looked Quincey in the eyes, and after a second, Quincey nodded. "Alright, I believe you." She took her hand off the rifle and extended it to Emily, who shook it. "Sorry for the first impressions, but I'm Mayor Quincey."

"Emily," Emily replied.

"So," Quincey started, leaning back in her chair, "you both need to get to Milton as soon as possible."

Lucas and Emily nodded, and Quincey continued. "Then I'd recommend heading along the Ravine. While heading through Pleasant Valley might be easier, it won't be as fast. If you follow the old rail line, you'll be able to get to Milton the day after tomorrow."

"The problem with that is we don't have any supplies," Lucas responded. "I was planning to head to Thomson's Crossing to get some supplies."

Quincey shook her head. "It'll take too long. My lookout stationed to the north reckons a storm is coming. You'll need to take the Ravine crossing to be able to get to Milton, otherwise, you might be delayed by days."

Lucas contemplated this, then looked to Emily on his right.

"Don't look at me," she shrugged, "you're the guide, so I'll trust your decision."

"Alright," he said. "We'll need food if you have any to spare."

"Please," Quincey said with a laugh, "we have a dead bull moose outside. We have food that we can spare."

Quincey got busy ensuring just that, getting any spare food for Lucas and Emily, who set off for the Ravine. Lucas led them along, retracing the steps that he had taken the day before, leading them along the highway, past the outposts, and up the hill, all the way to the old railroad that ran along the island.

"So," Emily asked lightheartedly, "anything I should be aware of for the Ravine?" She put emphasis on the name, making it sound ominous.

"Just one," Lucas replied back, a smile on his face. "Don't look down."