Page 36 of Born Savage

“She is not wanted,” Thomas continued. He also believed newcomers should be forced to earn their place within the community.

“Be careful of your tone.” Mine was just as agitated. “Both the child and the dog are now with me.”

He was younger than most, a former soldier still in boot camp when the world collapsed. While his knowledge had proven invaluable, the fact he’d lived for many years in isolation had driven him a bit mad. Plus, he wasn’t thrilled that I outranked him.

Outranked. What a joke. This wasn’t a military operation, but people needed organization, to pretend as if our security system would offer safety. However, I had earned both my title and my reputation in a brutal manner.

“Yes, Commander,” he hissed, turning away immediately.

Commander. Rebuilding a structured organization within the new world had been important once the harshest of the aftereffects had begun to loosen their death grip. But in the past few years and with the rise of the Resistance, the creation of a hierarchy had been done out of necessity.

Even with a cause, when people grew bored, they violated what few laws remained in place. I’d had the benefit of living in a military compound for years, taught military strategies and weapons before I was eighteen. In the eyes of the Resistance, I was a leader.

But in my mind, I was a girl longing to be transported back in time to beautiful places now only existing in books.

“The dog? Is it rabid?” Trina pressed, her fear mimicking several others.

I laughed even as the ache in my bones manifested into a deep sigh. “No, he’s not rabid. He’s a wonderful dog and will not be hurt nor will he hurt any of us. Does everyone understand?”

The group who’d greeted me nodded.

“We were afraid something happened, Commander,” Stan said as he approached. An engineer by trade, his services had also come in handy over the years. Between him and my father as well as a couple of others, they’d managed to keep the aging mechanical equipment in working order.

“I was forced to hide for the night. Nothing more. I couldn’t leave Wren and Jake.”

His smile was genuine, a true kind soul even after his horrific losses. Including his wife and children. All six of them. He’d also been a teacher, guiding me through martial arts training. Everyone’s past came into use. “Your mother and father instilled morals in you. I’m sure they are proud.”

Very few people knew the amazing husband and wife were my adoptive parents, although they were the only ones I could remember. I wouldn’t have known had they not told me when I’d been ten or eleven. To me, they were my everything, which was the biggest reason I’d risked Rage’s fury by escaping.

I’d done what I’d had to do, including using a toxic spray to render them unconscious. The moment light had fallen across the horizon, I’d been ready. Thankfully, I’d discovered a GPS device in a soldier’s bag, which had provided me with a clear path back to the compound.

There’d been no other choice. Not one that was acceptable.

The experience had been… fascinating, including that Rage had taken the time to clean my weapons, the blade of my sword shining more than before. Perhaps a portion of the Savage’s training.

“Thanks, Stan. How is Mama?”

He’d always tried to keep his spirit up even when we’d faced one crisis after another, but I could tell by his expression that in my absence, she’d taken a turn for the worse. I’d been terrified of leaving her, but what choice had I been given?

“She’s asking for you. Maggie had spent time with her.”

“Okay.” Maggie, a nurse. My mother wouldn’t be alive without her being a member of our group.

“So has Tom. He needs to get some rest,” he encouraged.

My father was always by my mother’s side. Their love had transcended so much.

Stan was our resident soothsayer, or at least that’s what I’d called him. He was an older man, yet in all the years I’d known him, he never seemed to age. Wise and careful with his opinions, he was considered both the voice of reason and our resident sheriff.

We’d been forced to banish two people over the years, his decision the final one.

He was also like my grandfather, happy I was eager to learn from his teachings. In his previous life, he’d been a professor. Before that, a soldier in the Marines.

What he’d taught me and the worlds he’d allowed me to experience through his eyes and the books we’d found together had been invaluable.

“Thank you for letting me know. Come on, Wren. There are some people I want you to meet.”

As I tried to walk away, Stan touched my arm. “You appear different. Are you certain nothing happened?”