“Well, that’s it for the canned food.” Andor set a can of corn, beets, and green beans on the table. “Wow. Our food dwindled much quicker than we anticipated.” Lilli opened the can of beets and sipped the frothy red juice off the top. “Yup, not much of a breakfast today. I guess we should start the trek north after this meal.” “Okay.” Lilli let out a wistful sigh. “You’re sure you saw movement in the village to the north?” “Yes.” Andor speared a forkful of green beans. “I could see trucks driving on the highway. It looked like they had some sort of military escort too. It was hard to hold the binoculars steady enough to be completely sure…” “Well, we both knew this day was coming sooner rather than later, and we’re all packed up.” Lilli peeled off her jacket and tossed it on the bed. --- “Well that took longer than I was expecting.” Andor grunted as he tightened Baba Ghanoush’s pannier strap. “Phew. You’re telling me,” Lilli wiped her brow and took a deep breath. “I didn’t realize how much stuff we were going to need for the trek.” Baba Ghanoush didn’t seem to be bothered by the bulging load of sleeping bags, their old tent, and what little food they had left that she was carrying. As always, Ijape was excited to go anywhere with her humans, and she darted too and fro in the camp, her tongue hanging from her mouth and her tail wagging. “Well, we’re burning daylight.” Andor’s voice was gruff. The task of packing while Aurora fussed compounded by the fact that they were leaving had him on edge. “I know you’re sad,” Lilli put her arm around his waist. “I am too. But we’ll be back, it’s just a short trip to get resupplies.” Andor smiled weakly. He wanted to believe her, but he couldn’t shake the nagging feeling they were saying good-bye to this place — not see you soon. “I can’t believe this place has been our home for over a year. I don’t want to leave, it’s so beautiful!” Lilli stopped to pluck a few wildflowers and put them in her hair. “Me too.” Andor took a deep breath of the cool, clean mountain air. “The Shoshone were blessed to call this land theirs. The more time I spend out here, the more connected I feel to this place.” “It certainly has been wonderful to be a steward of this land, to cherish it and to respect it.” Lilli took Andor’s hand as they hopped over a small stream. “It sure was a lot different than how we used to live—cut off from the land.” “I know. It’s hard to fathom how we used to live… A life divorced from the natural world.” Andor turned and looked back at their cave home and a smile spread across his face as he remembered back to when they first got here. They were scared, unsure, and trying to figure out how to survive. “We’ve come a long way since we first came here.” As if sensing their melancholy demeanor, Ijape’s chipper mood abated. She trotted over to Andor and nuzzled up against him and whined softly. “It’s okay girl.” Andor said as he scratched her between the ears. Then he turned and gazed longingly at his mountain. A tear trickled down his cheek as he tightened his pack straps and walked on. We’ll be back. Just a few days… Maybe a week tops. They walked for several hours, each lost in their own thoughts remembering storms, nights they had made love, the small victories - like harvesting blue berries or finding the huge puffballs, and the setbacks - illnesses, sprained ankles, and broken tools. The last year had been fraught with challenges, cold nights, and jaw dropping sunsets. There was a lot to be thankful for. Lilli gripped Baba Ghanoush’s lead gently as she followed Andor north down out of the high country. She couldn’t understand why Andor seemed so bothered. She lifted up the blanket and gazed lovingly at Aurora who was sound asleep, snuggled up against her chest. The only sound was her peaceful snoring, the crunch of pine needles beneath their feet, and the wind rustling through the trees. “Wow, there’s something I haven’t seen in a long time.” Andor pointed down into the valley. “Geez, civilization.” Lilli stopped, unsure how to feel about the change of scenery. “I’m not sure I’m ready.” “What will people think? A wolf, a llama, us in hides and skin, barefoot, carrying spears and flint knives.” “Yeah, we’re definitely going to stand out, that’s for sure.” Lilli chuckled. “Let’s set up camp here tonight... I’m not ready for this to end.” Andor undid his pack’s hip belt and slid it to the ground. “Me too.” Lilli tethered Baba Ghanoush to a small pine tree next to a clump of grass that she immediately set about chomping. They set up the tent quickly and tossed their sleeping bags inside. “We haven’t used this in a long time,” Lilli said wistfully. “Our first home away from home. It served us well.” “I’ll go get firewood,” Lilli offered. “That way Aurora will keep sleeping.” “Sounds good, babe. I’ll get dinner going.” Andor mumbled as he stuffed himself headfirst into his pack looking for the matches. — “Look at those stars!” Andor folded his hands on his chest and propped his head up on Lilli’s lap. “They seem like they’re brighter than normal.” Lilli smiled. “I guess we haven’t slept under them in a while. We’ve been living in that cave with a roof and walls...” It was a cool night, and the fire made them nice and cozy but as the sun set behind the ridge they heard a dull whine and then a cloud of mosquitos descended on them. “The mosquitos are eating me alive,” Lilli winced as she slapped her arm. “I’m gonna turn in.” “I’m right behind you,” Andor tossed another log on the fire. “Seems like they came out of nowhere.” As if on queue as they lay down the crickets started chirping and the frogs began croaking. A lovely mountain ballad to drift off to sleep too. A few moments later they were all snoring peacefully from a deep, dreamless sleep. --- The morning dawned bright and clear. Birds were calling from the trees and bushes, while the forest was filled with the scent of wet pine needles and granite. “I don’t think I could ever get tired of that smell.” Andor sat up and smiled at Lilli, who was breastfeeding Aurora. Packing this time was much quicker since they didn’t have to decide what to bring and what to leave. The walk across the mountainside was hard work, and the time passed quickly as they both concentrated on the task of getting down safely. “Is that a dirt road?” Lilli stopped and pointed. Andor followed her outstretched hand. “It is.” They followed it, marveling at the work it had required to cut into the hillside. “Maybe it goes to an old mine or something…” Andor mused. “I can’t imagine they’d go through all the trouble of building it for the lumber up here – there isn’t much…” Then, around a bend in the road, they saw an old house. The roof had nearly collapsed, and vines grew all over, covering the peeling white paint. “I don’t think anyone’s lived there in a long time.” As if on cue to confirm their hypothesis, a flock of pigeons thundered out of the second-story window, leaving a cloud of dust and feathers behind them. A little further down, the road turned to asphalt. “Okay, this is weird.” Lilli said as she stopped to feel the cool asphalt on her feet. “I agree.” Andor stopped and stared at the hard black surface. “We’re definitely not in Kansas anymore, Toto.” Lilli chuckled, then froze when a white pickup crossed through the intersection down the road, then screeched to a halt. “I think they saw us.” Andor’s voice was flat, a strong desire to turn and run back into the hills welling up inside of him. The truck backed up, then turned up their street and approached them slowly. It stopped about ten feet away. The sun was glaring off the windshield, so they couldn’t see who was inside. Then the door opened, and a big man wearing a cowboy hat stepped out. It’s a deputy, Andor thought to himself as he relaxed a little bit. “Andor and Lilli—is that you?!” ![[asi-iii-migration.jpg]] “Deputy Ed Worthington?!” Andor was shocked to hear someone other than Lilli’s voice. “Oh my god! I thought you were dead!” the deputy took off his hat and slapped his thigh with it. Ijape started yipping and barking playfully at the deputy. “I think she likes you.” Andor patted her on the head. “You have a wolf pup and a llama!? You two look like you’ve been thriving while the rest of the world has been burning to the ground…” “Three of us, actually.” Lilli turned so Ed could see the little one tied to her back. Ed took a large step forward with a big grin on his face. “Oh my gosh! What an adorable little nugget.” Aurora opened her eyes and sleepily stared up at Ed, giving him a toothless smile. “I needed that.” Ed bit his balled-up fist and fought back the tears. “What a beautiful child. What’s its name?” “Her name is Aurora Agape Kellogg.” “Nice to meet you,” Ed cooed as he stroked her soft wispy hair. “Heather is going to melt when she sees you.” “Are you living up here now?” Andor asked. “Yeah, we fled the evacuation center last summer and came here. My brother has a cabin up here.” “You had to flee?” Lilli’s voice caught in her throat. “How much have you heard about what’s going on since last year?” Ed looked up, his eyes awash with fresh horror and trauma. “Nothing…” Andor’s throat tightened and he coughed to clear the trepidation in his voice. “Well, when we got to the evacuation center and found out you weren’t there, Heather and I tried to get back to look for you, but there were no helicopters available. Then the alien attacks started. We were the only ones who survived.” “We saw the alien. It destroyed our entire village.” Andor’s voice was primed with rage recalling how they had lost so much in such a short time. “Well, the jets and attack helicopters didn’t help.” “I did finally manage to fly back and look for you a week after the attack. When we saw the burned-out village, we thought for sure you were goners.” “We would have been,” Lilli scratched Ijape between the ears. “Thankfully, though, we headed for the hills the day after you all left.” “Well, I’m sure glad you did.” Ed’s radio fizzed and crackled, then went silent again. “Why don’t you hop in my truck? Your llama and wolf pup can ride in the back. You all can stay with us. Like I said we’re staying at my brother’s place. He is gone right now on a convoy operation taking supplies down south. So, there’s plenty of room.” “Are you sure? We don’t want to impose…” Lilli said more out of respect than sincerity. She really wanted to take a shower. “Absolutely. You’re not imposing. If Heather found out you were in town and didn’t stay with us, she would never let me live it down.” “Okay. Thank you very much.” Andor turned towards Ijape. “Come here, Ijape, come here girl.” Ijape trotted up, tail wagging, and Andor scooped her up and put her in the bed of the truck. Getting Baba Ghanoush into the truck bed was a little more difficult. Eventually, though, they were able to prod and push her in. At first she was skeptical, but once the truck started moving her eyes lit up and she hung her head over the side of the truck to feel the wind in her fur. Ijape didn’t seem to think much of it and promptly fell asleep. As they passed through town, everyone came out to stare as the sheriff drove through with a llama in the back of his truck and a wild-looking family crammed into the cab. “It sure is odd being back in civilization again.” Andor gazed out the window. Lilli smiled and took Andor’s hand in hers. “I know. I can’t really wrap my head around it. I feel like I am dreaming.” Ed turned into the driveway of a cute cabin with dark green shutters and a rainbow assortment of flowers spilling out of window boxes and hanging from baskets on the eaves of the porch, which ran the length of the home. Heather came storming out of the front door as they spilled out of the truck. “Andor? Is that you?” she exclaimed in shock. A moment later Lilli scooted out clutching Aurora to her chest. “Lilli! You had a baby?! Oh my god.” Heather screamed as she ran towards Lilli. “Would you like to hold her?” Lilli laughed as Heather flung her arms around her neck and clung to her tightly. “Oh boy, would I ever.” Aurora let out a soft little coo and giggled when Heather scooped her up. “Oh my goodness. She’s just a doll.” “She hasn’t seen anyone but us since she was born. She warmed right up to Ed when they first met too.” “Where have you been? We thought you’d been killed.” “Let’s get them inside before we bombard them with more questions.” Ed smiled as he came around the front of the truck. “Why don’t you three go inside and get cleaned up. Heather can get you set up with some clean clothes. I’ll take care of getting Ijape and Baba Ghanoush settled in the barn. They’ll have the place to themselves.” “Are you sure I can’t help you with that?” Andor grabbed his pack out of the back of the truck. “Nonsense. I can take care of your animals. Go get cleaned up, and then we can catch you up on what has been going on since we parted ways.” ### Next Chapter: [[21 - My Child 🔮]] ### Previous Chapter: [[20 - Migration 🌲]]