Lavivrus

Chapter 10

The setting sun caused most buildings in the town to cast long eerie shadows. The soulless wind whistled as it swept through broken windows and abandoned rooms.

From behind the scope of his rifle, Shai took it all in.

The crisp winter air slapped against the side of his head, searching for skin to bite. A stinging sensation in eyes made them water. The urge to blink was resisted as Shai remained focused on the area ahead. His view changed as he swung the weapon, covering ground he had already looked at moments before.

"Anything?" a voice called.

Reaching out, Shai adjusted the scope. The next moment the barrel of the gun swept left.

He was about to give in to the urge of his watering eyes when the movement caught his attention. The gun turned further left, Shai's finger hovered above the trigger as he took a breath.

There!

His finger tightened. When the object of his attention swam into focus the finger relaxed. Shai released his breath. He couldn't resist the snort. At the other end of his scope was nothing other than a feline. The cat sat before a closed door and was calmly grooming itself.

If the prey is not afraid then a predator isn't nearby. With one smooth motion Shai stood and slung the rifle over a shoulder. "We're good."

Turning he caught sight of the others.

Fabian was crouched in front of the truck, a gun propped up in one hand. Mav leaned against the door vehicle, one leg behind the other. Roanna sat on the hood, no doubt letting the recently running engine warm her.

"Alright then." Fabian jumped to his feet. "Let's see what we can find and move on."

Mav banged a hand on the window. Lake's figure shot into view as he sat up. The boy sleepily turned to stare outside. Mav's attention had turned to the back as he grabbed a backpack and began to empty it.

"Just how sure are you that there aren't going to be guests to welcome us?" Roanna asked.

The door of the truck opened and Lake stumbled out.

"Pretty sure," Shai responded as he walked over to Mav. The wound in his leg no longer throbbed, numbed by the cold.

"That doesn't sound convincing," Roanna jumped off the hood.

Shai grabbed the empty fuel can. "I trust cats."

"Huh?" Roanna lifted an eyebrow. "You what?"

Mav tossed the empty backpack to Lake while Fabian had already began to climb over the pile of cars that blocked the fork in the road leading into the town.

"I think..." Roanna turned a finger in her ear. "I think he said something about cats...can someone translate?"

Shai simply responded by pointing in the general direction where the creature with whiskers had been moments before.

Roanna's eyes followed the path, however, she ended up turning to Mav. The boy shrugged before heading after Fabian.

The truck door opened again and Asumi stepped out. The girl kept her head low.

Roanna glanced in her direction before shuffling her feet. She abruptly turned. "I still say we should keep going!" She called after the other two boys.

"We'll run out of gas!" came Mav's reply. "Besides...it'll do you good to stretch your legs."

The girl muttered something under her breath before setting out after them.