"I do too," someone else said. "Not as many as him, but two litters."
"Can you move them to your other home or Lorsa?" Ayla asked. "Put the dogs somewhere safe, just like the children?"
"I don't have a place," Lansin admitted. "I'd need someone to care for them, and I really don't want to be kicked out of this."
"Irrik's in Lorsa," Rymar suggested. "We'll find your dogs a place. And anyone else who needs it. I have a feeling the stables by the dock can make room, and Irrik can make sure the animals are getting the proper care."
Then Eriska looked at Zasen. "Are you good with this?"
"Why wouldn't I be?" he asked.
"Because it means keeping the militia from Lorsa longer." She shrugged. "I know you people don't like to be away from home too long."
"No, I think Kanik's right on this. We can divide the groups up into half Reapers and half Dragons. That gives all of us the benefits of the other. I'll take half toward Lorsa. You, Eriska, take the other half toward your camp. Then we can divide them out into smaller groups. Campsites. If the distance between each camp isn't enough to let Moles slip between, we've effectively made a wall."
"All of us will have to keep watch," I said. "And we'll need a minimum of two dogs per camp."
"Four," Lansin corrected. "Three shifts and an extra. If a dog is lost, we don't want to be left defenseless."
"Let's go with an hour walk between each," Rymar suggested. "How many camps will we need?"
"If we pull in," Eriska said, "we can do that in twelve groups. Six for me, six for Zasen. No offense, Rymar, but my men will answer to him for this."
"I wouldn't expect anything else," Rymar said. "So, let's start dividing up the groups. We need twelve, and everyone should bewith those they know and can work with. If you don't care, go stand over there and we'll put you where you're needed."
And just like that, a plan was made. Now we just had to sort out all the annoying details - like picking up the things we'd left back at the Reaper camp and how to respond fast enough if there was an attack.
But this? The Moles had been adapting too fast. This time, it was going to be our turn to surprise them.
Sixty-Eight
Rymar
Aplan was made. The groups were divided out. Zasen assured me he could handle the camp placement, but there was one thing we were all going to need if we wanted to make this work: shelter. Thankfully, Lorsa had a small collection of durable and long-lasting tents in reserve for natural disasters or other emergencies.
So while the Reapers and the half of our militia still with Zasen set out to mark the campsites, I climbed into one of the carts carrying the wounded to our hospital. The ride wasn't nearly as long as I'd feared, but I did nap a bit. Not easy with the cart jostling me around, but I was starting to get used to living a little rough.
Eventually, we made it into Lorsa. Not surprisingly, Tamin hurried outside to see the carts drive past. Ayla's nephew waved and jumped in place, thrilled to see the horses, but Saveah saw me. A hand flew to her mouth, so I leaned over the edge.
"They're fine!" I called to her. "Just getting care for the wounded and some supplies."
And then we were too far past to say anything more, but Saveah looked relieved. I had a feeling I'd get a bit of that today - and all without enough sleep. Still, there were things to do. Thefirst of which happened the moment we pulled in front of the hospital.
"We're going to need nurses to help the injured!" I called out. "Some can't walk. Others need sutures still. Nothing critical!"
A rush of bodies began pouring through the doors to come help. Most headed right for the wounded, but one turned to me. I recognized her grey skin even before I saw her face.
"Rymar!" Jeera snapped.
"They're all fine," I promised, holding open my arms for the hug I knew was coming.
Jeera slammed into me, squeezing hard. "We haven't heard anything since the last delivery of wounded."
"Because there hasn't been anything to say," I assured her. "Jeera, your brother's fine."
"Oh, I figured that much," she said with a grin. "Irrik's worried, though."
"Yeah, well, let him know we have dogs coming. The simple version is we're going to make a wall of camps between Lorsa and the Moles. Also the Reapers' camp and the moles. Like an arc, so they can't slip past us. That means the camp is being emptied out, and some of the Reapers have litters they can't just send to the winter camp."
