Page 10 of Lost

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“You seriously have a Scottie ranch!” Kevin couldn’t stop himself from gawking as he and Grandma Redbird followed Tina into the sprawling ranch-style home. As they entered through the garage, a bevy of short, brick-shaped terriers, ranging in color from blond and wheat to black and black brindle, mobbed them. Kevin tried to count, but when he hit fifteen he gave up. “Um, G-ma, were you serious about the puppies? Man, I hope so.”

Tina smiled at him then—the first time she’d done more than look at him like he was a bug staked on a display board. “I don’t have puppies right now, but I will in a few weeks.”

“It’s code, u-we-tsi. Humans or blue vampyres, and even blue fledglings who are allied with the Resistance, come to Tina’s ranch and ask for puppies.”

“But what they’re really asking for is sanctuary,” Tina said.

“Hope someday I can get a puppy,” Kevin mumbled as he crouched and thoroughly enjoyed being mauled by a herd of Scottie dogs.

“Why is he different?” Tina asked.

“That, my friend, is a long story that we’d rather not take time for at this moment, as the Resistance is going to need that explanation as well. Are they here?”

Tina nodded. “On the top of the ridge. You know where the hunting blinds are, in those trees adjacent to that flat, grassy easement?”

“I do.”

“Some of them are in the blinds. Some are working on trying to expand a little cave-like area they discovered just a day or so ago among the rocks on the side of the ridge. They arrived last night, with a few refugees they need to smuggle out—mostly women and children. There’s a winter storm brewing. They thought they’d be safe on the ridge—at least for a few days.”

Grandma Redbird sighed. “They’re too vulnerable in those blinds. There’s so little shelter in them. I know vampyres are resistant to the cold weather, but it’s just awful that they have to run from place to place like they do. The stress of not having a truly safe place must wear on them.”

“That’s why they were so excited to find the cave,” Tina agreed. “But Dragon told me that right now it can only hold about five people, and that’s if they don’t mind being crowded together. They’re working on expanding it, but you know that ridge is mostly rock and hard red dirt. It’s slow going, especially in the middle of winter.”

“Wait, did you say Dragon? As in Dragon Lankford?” Kevin said.

“Yes. Dragon Lankford used to be the Tulsa House of Night’s Swordmaster—before Neferet began the war,” Tina said.

“Is his mate, Anastasia, here too?” Kevin asked, excitement lifting his voice.

Tina nodded. “She is.”

“G-ma! Zoey told me to find Dragon and Anastasia Lankford—that they could help me for sure.”

“Then we are on the right path,” G-ma said with a smile.

“Man, I hope so.” Kevin stood after giving the Scotties one more group petting. “So, you were saying that the Resistance doesn’t really have a headquarters?”

“They did have a headquarters, but that was before Lenobia and Travis were trailed, trapped, and killed—along with their horses…” Tina’s words broke off as she tried to compose herself, obviously too upset to continue.

Grandma Redbird reached out to her, hugging Tina sympathetically, and then finished explaining for her. “Lenobia and Travis had created a headquarters for the Resistance in the middle of Keystone National Park. It’s more than seven hundred acres, and except for the areas near Keystone Lake and Dam, it’s wild and undeveloped, even though it’s only about an hour from downtown Tulsa to the park. It was an excellent place for a rough camp, especially as Lenobia managed to smuggle several horses out of the House of Night when she and Travis left for good. Someone betrayed them. Lenobia and Travis stayed with the horses, drawing the Red Army away from the rest of the Resistance and the innocents they were helping to safety. They were slaughtered. Lenobia, Travis, the Resistance members, the innocents, and every single horse.”

Kevin bowed his head, sadness and regret filling him.

“You were there, weren’t you?” Tina’s voice was filled with gravel.

“No. And I thank Nyx for that. I was still a fledgling when that happened, and fledglings are never part of an actual deployment. They’re not good weapons yet. They have to be fully Changed before enough of their humanity is wiped out for them to be dangerousandexpendable.” He grimaced in disgust. “I heard about the slaughter, though. My general, his name was Dominick, gloated about the victory. It—it made me sick. It still makes me sick.”

“I’m glad you weren’t there,” Tina said, her voice still shaky. “I don’t believe I could bear having you in my home had you been involved in that. Lenobia was a good friend. And those horses…” She shuddered. “I can’t think about what the Red Army did to them.”

“I’m sorry,” was all Kevin could think to say.

“Show me. Don’t tell me. Help us stop Neferet and the misery she’s unleashed upon this world, and I’ll believe you’re truly sorry,” said Tina.

“I will. I promise.”

Tina nodded briskly and then motioned for them to follow her into the fragrant kitchen. With the herd of Scottie dogs trotting around their feet, Grandma Redbird and Kevin made their way slowly after Tina, careful not to step on paws.