Page 23 of Fated to the Hunter
“And before I could correct him, everyone was already weighing in on it, plans were being made, and everyone got so excited. All the Tech Wizards started making a list of everything they could do to help, and the hunters were contacting their counterparts at the Dead Zone.
“It just got out of hand. And I didn’t want to disappoint anyone. And plus, I really want to know what’s at the end of the rainbow, so to speak. One thing led to another, and well, here I am. It wasn’t even my idea. I’m not brave. I’m terrified.” I blew out a long breath, glad to finally get it off my chest, even though technically, I’d already come clean with Dottie.
“You know, it’s not too late to walk it back,” Katerina suggested. “No one would fault you.”
Katerina and Aanya were the types who’d totally go on a mission like this. They were constantly throwing themselves out there and bringing back lifesaving foraged goodies. They were the true, strong heroine type. Not me.
But did I really want to back out? Did I want to disappoint everyone? Would I rather this be the mission Ialmostwent on? Somehow, that didn’t feel right to me either.
“I’m not sure. I just wish I were a better fit. You know?”
“What do you mean by that?” Aanya scrunched up her nose in a way that told me I better have a good answer.
“I mean, I’m a liability. Aside from the two scuttlers I brained way back when, before I found New Franklin, I have no experience out there. What if I get Bael’k trapped? Or killed?”And suddenly, all the guilty and negative thoughts that had been living rent-free in my head, whispering relentlessly between my ears came to a head. “He thought I was a Tech Wizard at first. Then, when he found out I wasn’t, he thought my nickname on the forum was a title. The Keeper of Knowledge!” I buried my face in my hands.
“Umm, Kiera?”
I glanced up at Aanya, who had a look of amusement on her face.
“What?”
“That’s who you are. You’re the Keeper of Knowledge.”
I looked at her incredulously. “It’s a fucking handle!”
Oh yeah, I could feel a total and complete breakdown coming on.
Katerina held up her hand. “Can you fly a drone?” She asked in that Russian accent of hers.
“Yeah.”
“And did you take those marksmanship classes?”
“Everyone had to.”
“Can you fly a shuttle?”
“Yes.” I didn’t have much practice, but I’d helped move shuttles around.
“And fire a ship’s blaster?”
“You know I manned the turrets during the summer swarms.” What was she getting at?
“Good.” Kat nodded solemnly. “Then I do not see a problem.”
“She’s got a point,” Aanya agreed.
“The Tech Wizards wouldn’t back it if they thought it would fail,” Connie said. “And Jorg’k said the Dead Zone hunters wouldn’t agree unless they believed you had a real shot.”
“And we’re your friends,” Aanya added. “We don’t want you in danger. But we also know you can handle yourself. Nothing’s risk-free anymore. A scourge attack could wipe out the whole camp tomorrow.”
“Or a bandit attack.”
“Or from disease.”
Ugh! Why did they have to make so much sense?
“Or hit by lightning.”
