“I don’t remember that,” I assure him.
Kit is now trying to eat the shiny bits off the bracelet.
“Kit, no!” I say as I pull it away so she can’t.
She seems very dissatisfied by that and decides to deal with her woes by trotting over to the pen where the new baby chicks are that Torin purchased. There are also some adult laying hens that Kit licks her chops over.
Ever since they arrived, I’ve gotten to see them up close far more often than I prefer, all because Kit would love to eat one. I swear that anytime I’m in the area, I have to assume I’m going to lose my eyesight just so I can stare at a bird.
“They’re never going to be allowed to be free range, are they?” Torin asks.
“She’s as stubborn as you are. Convince her.”
“Just like you convinced Mickey to send some of his undead back?”
“Why are we so perfect yet surrounded by such stubborn beings?” I ask.
“You know what? Weareperfect.”
I get to watch one of the chickens peck Kit through the wire fence. Kit seems rather confused by this.
“Kit, we’ll get you cooked chicken if you leave the live chickens alone,” I coax.
She ignores me.
“We’ll get yousomuch chicken.”
She perks up a little but she’s locked onto a little puffball of a baby now.
“Kit, come on, I can’t be involved in the massacre of baby chicks,” I say. “You want steak too? You can have whatever you want if you refrain from baby chick massacre.”
Torin suggests, “We could get some geese or something larger. Maybe they’ll run her off.”
I think about Kit’s level of determination but nod, hoping I can convince the genet that these birds are our friends.
“Once the land has more greenery, I want to introduce wild animals here too. Maybe she can go hunt those,” Torin says. “That sounds fun, doesn’t it, Kit?”
Kit thinks those fluffballs look more fun.
“This is going to be a lot of work. Like… how do you create a healthy ecosystem?” I ask. “You’ll need so much of… everything. Will bugs and stuff return now that life is returning? Will you have to bring them in?”
“Fuck if I know, Riley. I’m just winging all of this. Maybe Mickey can revive a scientist or something who can figure it all out.”
“He’s probably already revived five who are just out there living their best life. How is he functioning?”
“I… I’m not sure,” Torin says.
“Are you guys talking about me again?” Mickey asks as he approaches.
“Quick, switch to Shaarunen,” I tell Torin, switching to it myself while Kit leaps onto my shoulder.
Mickey gasps. “Don’t you dare. I’m going to learn this damn language, and then I’m going to… Riley, what’s the matter?”
I freeze, positive that I’m wrong,knowingI have to be wrong, but when I see Sigma looking in the same direction I feel it, I know I’m right.
Torin leaps to his feet as he calls Quill to him. “A Door has opened. We need to get the people somewhere safe.” He turns to the people who are hard at work on their new homes and new lives, oblivious to what is about to happen. “Attention! A Door has opened! I’m asking everyone to gather at the palaceimmediately. Do not delay. We will send you through the Door to Riley’s world if we need to.”
“Fuck,” I hiss, rushing to Torin before glancing back at the horse.
