Page 33 of Treasured By the Hunter

“We suspect that Sanctuary has already run into these mutants. We’re now drafting a proposal, suggesting a temporary truce and partnership to stamp out this nest together before things worsen. If we don’t, Sanctuary will be the first place affected. There are hunters in the area now; one reported seeing a female arriving at the settlement riding a two-wheeled machine.”

“That has to be Riley. We both have electric scooters.”

“We will add a note to our proposal to let her know about your situation.”

As Sam spoke, two shuttles came to fly alongside us.

“Once you’re declared healthy, we will get you to her. Or her to us, depending on how safe Sanctuary will be. I promise.”

Zoey slumped in my lap. “I understand.”

“Five days will go by quickly,” Sam said.

“What about Pip? Didn’t he bad-mouth me to everyone already?”

“Don’t worry about him. I’ll get everything cleared up before you get here.”

“Thanks.”

“What is this about Pip?” I asked. “He sent me a cryptic message.”

Sam waved her hand dismissively. “Ignore it. Pip’s thinking with his feelings again. If you really need to know, your shuttle should have recorded everything.”

“I will ask it.”

“Great. See you both soon.”

Zoey relaxed back against me as the screen dimmed.

“You are stuck with me for a little longer,” I said.

“You know, now that I know Riley made it to Sanctuary safely, I don’t mind getting stuck with you. We make good partners.”

Krux! Did she even know what she’d just said?

Her words had my chest rumbling so loud it rattled the entire shuttle.

Chapter 15: Zoey

Protected by the two other shuttles, we made it to the tropical island in the middle of the ocean without issue. The island was still being set up with a temporary lab to analyze the fragment. The humans walking out of the trailers wore unwieldy hazmat suits with helmets. They were more interested in the fragment than they were in us.

However, they insisted that I spend time in one of the medical units since they detected trace amounts of the scourge’s fungus on me, and I’d sustained several scrapes and bruises over the last few days. The second I heard the word fungus, I was ready to jump into any medical unit they wanted.

That shit was no joke.

“Alright, you’re good to go. Thank you for getting us this sample,” said a woman with her face hidden behind a mask as she helped me out of the full-body medical unit, and into a hospital gown.

“You’re welcome,” I said, yawning.

I felt exhausted, even though I’d been in a sort of half-sleep for the past hour or so. All the little aches and pains that had been bothering me were gone, though. I hadn’t realized my muscles were so sore until they weren’t.

“But if you start feeling sick or odd in any way, please alert someone, and we will get you help immediately.”

“Got it.”

I was grateful to find my clothes neatly folded and smelling fresh. Harb’k gave the woman his contact information. We went back to the shuttle, only to realize it had been temporarily grounded. The researchers wanted to observe the vessel for a few hours, just in case. It was probably for the best.

“You can stay in your shuttle if you wish while we run some diagnostics,” said a man in one of those suits.

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