Page 23 of Healing Creek
“You got off Roma the same way as we did,” Jupiter paraphrased. “Unless, like us, you never made it to the resistance stronghold.”
“I made it there.”
Jupiter’s eyebrows lifted. “But you didn’t stay?”
“No.” He hoped the definitive answer would convey that he didn’t wish to talk about his experience there. It had not been the right place for him, but he didn’t wish to speak against the people who’d freed him. He had been the problem, not them.
Jupiter let the topic drop, but Mercury did not. “Is there any reason we shouldn’t seek them out?”
“No,” said Creek. “They have freed many of our kind.”
“What can you tell us about them?”
Creek sighed and leaned back in his chair. “They call their base Haven. There are around forty free Arena Dogs there.” He saw the faces fall around the table.
“So few?” Seneca spoke for the first time.
Mercury’s silver eyes were full of grief. “We’d hoped more of those who’ve fallen in the arena had been saved."
It was how many had been rescued without alerting Roma. Dogs pronounced dead sometimes were snuck out when they made miraculous recoveries.
“Could they be somewhere else,” Seneca asked.
“As far as I know, I am the only Dog who’s ever left Haven.” Creek fisted his hands letting the pain of it quell his own grief. “There are also about two dozen humans there. The facility is set into a ravine and the Dogs there have freedom so long as they follow the rules.”
Diablo folded his arms over his chest. “Whose rules?”
“The founder of the resistance is a human female. She’s mated to one of us and they lead together. Her name is Eve, and he’s called Max. He’s the oldest Dog I’ve ever seen.” Creek thought of the Dog with gray at his temples and a hint of lines in his face. “I believe he’s been free for many years. Eve has connections to Roma that have allowed her to place humans friendly to their cause within the company.”
Diablo scooted his chair back, stood, and paced to the nearest wall, body tight with tension.
“We have experience with the resistance’s agents.” Regret colored Mercury’s voice. “One of their medics gave her life to help us escape. We had to leave many behind—humans and Dogs. We all owe our lives to the resistance, but I don’t think we can afford to do things their way, if so few have been rescued.”
Diablo growled as he continued to pace. “And we’re told they’ve been at it for ten years.”
Mercury slammed a fist on the table. “Too many of our people are dying or suffering every day.”
“Agreed. I—” Creek wanted to tell them how much he regretted every Dog’s life he’d ended in his years of fighting for their cruel masters, but he refused to make excuses. Excuses only served to lessen the value of those lost lives, as if there were any worthy excuses. Their eyes studied him waiting for what he would say. “I agree. All Dogs should be free, the sooner the better.”
“It’s time the masters begin to die.” Diablo’s baritone rumbled with anger. “Instead of good Dogs who want only to protect their brothers and sisters.”
“Thanks to our mates we now have allies, resources—” Mercury began.
“And victories,” added Carn. “We freed my mate from the kennels and staged a rescue in the middle of the arena. Now we’ve taken the ship they wanted to destroy. Perhaps this will inspire the resistance to take a more aggressive stance on freeing our people.”
Mercury nodded then leveled his gaze at Creek. “I would be glad to have you at my side when we meet Eve and Max.”
Creek hesitated. He should warn Mercury that having him at his side could be more hinderance than help, but it had not been the leadership of the resistance that had not wanted him there. “I’d be proud to stand with you.”
“Good.” Mercury barked softly with satisfaction. “Now that’s settled, you should get back to the female. I don’t want any surprises from her.”
Creek thought of gentle Grace. An image of folding her into his arms flashed through his mind. Why did he feel so protective? A lone Dog was no protector for a female. A female needed the protection of a pack and this one had a pack of her own with such a large family. But they had not done a good job of protecting her. He nodded to Mercury and stood.
Jupiter’s chair squeaked under his weight as he too pushed away from the table and stood to walk with him. They made it through the door to the corridor where they had a moment of privacy.
“Mercury is a wise leader. You can trust him.” His eyes seem to be pleading with something more unsaid between them.
Creek nodded.
