4

Stan was hunkered down in the copse of trees watching as Kev walked slowly and deliberately along the tree line to his left, the stag in the middle of the clearing magnificent.

Kev drew back his bow as Stan raised his rifle and took a moment to get a bead on the creature, then Kev let his bolt fly, striking the creature cleanly in the eye, though it as the creature seemed to jerk back and fall. Stan lowered the rifle, still unfired. Damn this was fun being backup, even if Kev rarely ever misfired.

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Suzanna and Jessica were lifting the huge wrought iron branch that would reach over the doorway to the Main Room, the limbs coming off it already had some of the leaves attached, the others still being painted by those adding their names.

Then Suzanna stepped back and canted her head "I think it's about right."

Jessica stepped back as well and nodded "so what now?"

"Now? Snow patrol" Suzanna said with glee "come on, let's find Martha and Kathy. We can take the snow cat out and the snow sleds"

"I wanna come" Rosie said suddenly, standing up with delight "I wanna try the chair Daddy made me with the runners. Can I come? We hardly ever do stuff together."

And so they all took off over the white wonderland to check the Dome's edging, the sleigh being pulled by two huge Predis with Rosie sitting on the seat like a princess on a throne was a sight to se. Their laughter being snatched by the wind.

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"Tad?"

Ianto glanced up as Hope entered the Library and settled next to him. "Hello Sweetie."

She grinned. "Can I ask you something quietly?"

"Sure, anything."

"Why am I not taking the Valiant out to just mow down those Zs out in that snarl?"

She did not ask out of anger or need to destroy, but out of genuine interest. As her pregnancy progressed, so did her personal development and as Ianto had hoped, she was finally growing up.

"The Lynxette… I think they are what is not just keeping her there but stopping her from moving closer. They need her like bees need a queen, if you destroy them she might come after us instead of staying where we can see her." He explained.

"So, they are connected?"

"I think so. She has some level of empathic or telepathic ability, enough to control them and those that she turned and are some sort of super soldier… I think they would follow her and she is afraid of the cold killing them. She might be able to die, I can't but I have other things in my favor she did not get. She is scared, they are keeping her alive and she needs to keep them alive. On some level she knows that if she comes at us, we will come back at her" Ianto surmised "spring will be the problem."

"And the shitheads?"

"Again, we know where they are and they are the only thing between us and the Snarl. If they do move, hopefully the Shitheads are going to be on their radar long before we are" he shrugged "Let's not forget Outpost is only a one hour walk from the Shithead caves."

"True" she sat back, rubbing her stomach "and any signs of your wolves?"

"No. I am growing increasingly concerned. As we both now, the cold is only going to get worse and with their safety net gone, I fear they might not make it. I know if they head to anther valley the Zs will get them sooner or later" Ianto agreed "I am thinking of going to hunt."

"Myfanwy is hibernating right? The only reason for going out is Dome checks and the Security?"

"Stan, Kev and Billy are still hunting for some fresh meat, Stan and Kev are a good match. Billy usually takes Frank or Sol as a partner. I think Forrest wants a turn too. The rules still apply, no lone wolves… apart from me."

She looked confused and then finally got it "Oh. For me?"

"Yes, the thought is that they catch a few for meat for everyone, but mostly they are making sure the herds are staying where they want them to so when you reach about this point in your cooking until you give birth, if you o get the blood lust I did, then they can easily provide for you. They know you will not want it from our livestock if possible." He laughed.

"you know, yesterday I passed the kill room while they were dressing a sheep and I did get a mouth watering need for something to eat, but not that" she grimaced.

"No, I didn't want mutton either. I think the men have a stag coming in if the radio chatter is anything to go by. Go by the Kill Room and have a sniff, see if you want to check the blood bucket too."

"I never thought… you did this for me?"

"For all of you, of course. Dad didn't need to, but he is of a different elk" Ianto smiled.

"A horse of a different colour."

"Oh yes, I might be a Wolfing but Daddy…. He is a down and out Junkyard Dog."