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“So, scoot. Go get that tracker.” She smirked, “Else, I’ll send Kaze to smack your ass too.”
I couldn’t help but laugh as I ran off in search of our resident doctor. I found her deeper in the caves just as I expected, steeping some leaves in a pot of tea. When I explained what I needed, she agreed without hesitation. She understood my need to find my sister and trusted me as a leader. I was thankful for that.
I waited for a few minutes while she went off and gathered the supplies she needed. I pulled up my sleeve and gave her my wrist when she returned. She sterilized the back of my right forearm with an ethanol wipe and took the cartridge into her hand.
I looked away. I’d always hated needles.
With a swift click, I felt the tracker insert under my skin and yipped slightly at the sting. Only a second later though, the numbing reagent cooled my skin, chasing all the hurt away.
Dr. Lily placed a hand on my shoulder.
“Take care, Alaina. We all look up to you. You are strong and so is Kira. She’ll survive. I just know she’ll come back to us soon,” she said, her gray-blue eyes searching for mine. The corners of her eyes crinkled with concern and I grinned softly in response.
“I’ll be back soon. Thanks, Dr. Lily,” I replied.
She nodded, looking away.
“Good luck,” she whispered as I walked away.
I waved. I returned closer to the entrance of the caves where I’d set up my bedroll and began to pack a few things in a small backpack. An extra change of clothes, some dried meat and fruits, and some weapons. I picked up a knife from my shelf and sighed. I ran my thumb over the handle. Kira had lent it to me some time ago and I’d forgotten to give it back to her.
I shoved it in my jeans pocket. I’d give it back to her soon. I hoped I would anyway.
Once I was fully packed, I sat down and took a deep breath. Kira had always believed in me and told me I was strong, that I was a leader. I had to trust in her instincts and my own. I pressed my shoulders back and took a deep breath. A shoe scraping against the rock echoed loudly and I looked up to see Kaela and Danika coming toward me.
“Hey,” I began, beaming at their excited smiles.
“We brought you some goodies for the trip,” Danika offered, and I grinned as she passed me a cloth with what looked like a few pieces of cooked bacon.
“I’d been saving this for a rainy day too,” Kaela started, before she passed me a small package, in addition to the bacon.
“What is it?” I asked.
“Lemon cakes. I was able to find a cake mix in that treehouse I mentioned, and I tweaked with a few special additives, including some lemons from the trees we found nearby. Saved them as a special treat. From us for you,” Kaela said.
“I helped Kaela bake them myself. We burned a spot or two when we put them over the fire, but they should still taste pretty good. I taste tested one to make sure,” Danika explained with a sheepish smile.
“Thanks so much, guys. It means a lot,” I said.
Danika sat down beside me, but she fidgeted just a bit. I stifled a laugh in my throat.
“How’s Kaze doing then?” I said, with the most serious tone I could muster. Beside me, Kaela descended into a fit of giggles and Danika pretended to look surprised, but I saw the littlest indication of a smirk at the corner of her lips.
“He seems to like you, huh…” I observed cheekily.
“Shut up, Laina,” Danika protested, but she leaned into me instead, for support. We were all very close, but as the older sister, I had always looked out for them. They looked up to both me and Kira. I grinned and hooked my arm around her shoulders.
“I’ll only be gone for a few days,” I mused. “I’ll be back before you know it.”
“I know. Just, since Kira has been gone, it makes me nervous that you’d go out there, all alone. I’ll be pissed if you don’t come back,” Danika said. Kaela nodded as she sat next to me too.
“Just be smart. Find Kira, but don’t get caught in the process,” Kaela warned.
“In the meantime, though,” Danika began, pulling a small flask out of her pocket.
“You did not!” I exclaimed, knowing exactly where it had come from.
She laughed hysterically and even Kaela began to giggle too.
