Page 44 of Cruel Daddy Dragon

“What about Sarah?” I ask, “Surely she’s the one at risk?”

Cyrus nods.

“You’re right,” he says, “Kaius, Milo, try and maneuver the girls closer to Sarah so they’re in your radius of protection. Perhaps set up in Lena’s shop so you’re closer to the police station.”

The pair of them nod.

“So, are we all agreed?” Cyrus says, “Everyone knows what they’re doing?”

We all nod.

“Yes, Alpha,” the Candara team chants.

“Good. Everyone get going.”

***

The snow crunches under our feet as we approach the hole again. It’s a huge gaping crater in the earth, filled with snow. I can see the boulder Sarah huddled under yesterday, complete with a lighter patch of snow where she’d been sitting, and it breaks my heart a little bit.

She must have been so cold in there…

“Rufus!” Orion snaps, “Don’t walk over all the tracks!”

“Oh. Sorry, O.”

I walk back. Orion crouches down and starts scanning the ground, his foxy face sweeping back and forth as he looks through the snow.

“Most of the interesting stuff isinsidethe cave,” I say.

“No,” Orion answers back sternly, “I need to know who’s been here.”

I hold my hands up.

“All right, Man. You do your thing.”

Sometimes, I don’t get Orion. We all have super senses, but O’s something else. I have absolutely no idea what he might be seeing around here, but his eyes are darting around like he’s looking at an artistic masterpiece with a hundred little detailson it. Occasionally, he gets up, walks a short while, and then crouches down again. All I see is snow.

After a while of looking in silence, he gives a low chuckle.

“What is it?” I ask.

“Roscoe doesn’t seem to be very happy about what happened to his stash,” he says, “He showed up sometime early this morning, and padded around the perimeter probably about three times, and then walked off. Those footsteps are so slow and sluggish when he leaves, so I think he was slinking away really sadly.”

Orion laughs and stands.

“Poor little trash panda. I don’t think he could find a way back inside after the hole collapsed in on itself,” he chuckles.

“Oh, no,” I drawl sarcastically, “Poor little vermin, losing his stolen goods.”

“Ah, he’s all right,” Orion says, “I actually kind of like him.”

“You wait until Kaius decides it’s funny to have him stealyourstuff,” I grumble.

“Nah, Bro,” Orion says, “I’m pretty sure you’ll always be the funniest target for Kaius to sic Roscoe on.”

I sigh.

“Ugh, you’re right.”

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