“I have to get back to the encampment,” Scarlet said.“I told my parents I wouldn’t be gone long, and while they haven’t said it to me, they’re pretty nervous about me being in the forest.”
“Can you let the kids know I won’t be able to work with them today?”Ellery asked.
“Why don’t you go back with Scarlet,” I suggested.“Those kids are probably looking forward to seeing you, and there’s not much you can do about this.We’ll make sure it’s safe to bring them back and meet you at the encampment before nightfall.”
“Nothing ever goes that easy in these woods,” Ellery said.
“Not always, but we’ll be fine.Plus, those kids need some training if they’re going to protect themselves against the creatures here and in case anything goes wrong.”
Ellery bit her bottom lip as she pondered this.“If anything happens, send Farley to tell me.”
“I’m not a dog,” Farley interjected.
“Of course you’re not,” Ellery assured.“You’re far too handsome.”
Farley wiggled like a dog happy to receive a belly rub, while I rolled my eyes.She was so full of shit, but it appeased the blob.
“We’ll be okay,” I assured her with a kiss.I looked at the others.“Are you guys coming with me, or do you have to head back too?”
“I’m coming,” Tucker said, and Ianto and Callan agreed.
I kissed Ellery again before reluctantly separating from her and following Farley into the woods.When I glanced back, she stood with Scarlet while they watched us go.
CHAPTERSEVENTY-THREE
Ryker
When we reachedthe women and children, a group of poltergeists surrounded them.They floated in the air with their stubby arms crossed over their chests as they eyed the group suspiciously.
“Back off of them,” I said as I strode into the circle.
The poltergeists grumbled, but they drifted a little further away.The tall woman who’d escaped the field with us stared warily at the poltergeist before shifting her attention to me.Many of the children huddled at their mother’s sides.
“Did they scare you?”I asked.
“Most of us have never encountered a poltergeist before,” the woman replied.
“It’s our forest,” one of the floaters muttered.
“We’re sharing it with them now,” Creighton, another poltergeist helping us, replied.
A few of them mumbled so low I couldn’t hear them, but they didn’t say anything further.I studied the group of twenty-five women and children.I wouldn’t stick any of them on a battlefield, as they looked softer than a mushroom, but I wouldn’t leave them here.
“Where are their fathers?”I asked quietly.
The woman glanced behind her before replying.“They stayed behind… for now.They’re clinging to what little they have left, but these women don’t feel safe after what happened.They came through the towns and rounded upallthe women with far too much ease.Knowing that it could happen again makes it impossible to sleep at night.”
Ianto stared sympathetically at the crowd.“I bet it does.”
“It’s thegiant,” one of the little boys whispered with reverence.“He can take on anyone.”
“Shh,” his mother shushed him.
Ianto grinned at the boy before bending to be at eye level with the child.“My name’s Ianto, but you can call me ‘giant’ if you prefer.”
The boy smiled sheepishly back at him.I didn’t like admiring Ianto for anything, but it was impossible not to notice what a softy he turned into around children.They should have run screaming from the man, but they flocked to him instead.
“I know they’re not much of an army,” the woman continued, “but the men will come too.They’re trying to hold on in case a miracle happens and they can save their homes and livelihoods.”
