Growth

Calvin led the way from the cabin, down the dirt road, and off to freedom. They followed the highway for a few hours until the first exit took them to a settlement with two-story, thick wooden walls surrounding it. They had to enter through a single large gate with “REFUGE 49” painted across it. Guard towers were posted within and against the wall at regular intervals.

Refuge 49, despite being one hellhole of a town, was a remarkable place to Clare. All roads were cracked and almost completely crumbled away because of the massive trees that grew in and around the Refuge. Some even burst up through houses, providing extra roofing. Its organization was essentially that of any old tourist town. Buildings, streets, a bit of law enforcement. The difference was the wall. Trash had built up in the streets and alleyways and it seemed like no one cared about it.

Calvin accompanied Clare on a shopping spree for equipment that would prepare her for the next stage of her life. When it was all said and done, Clare stood tall with brown cargo pants and shirt, dark-brown hiking boots, and a mid-sized backpack full of supplies and sleeping gear. She even decided to have her hair cut short in a pixie style.

Shopping complete, Clare and Calvin walked back towards the gate, the only way in or out. Locals and travelers filled the streets around them. The lingering smell of sweat and mud hardly bothered Clare as she took in everything with wonderment. Then the two turned a corner and a large crowd blocked the way. Everyone was murmuring to each other.

“Stay close,” Calvin warned.

“What’s going on? Can you see?”

No answer. Calvin continued forward.

“Wait up. I’m losing you,” Clare said. She reached and grabbed Calvin’s hand as he pushed onward through the crowd.

Suddenly everyone dispersed in a panic. Calvin and Clare found themselves in the front row and saw her: another Protector. This one had a shorter and athletic stature. Her short straight black hair fell just past her earlobes. The intense amber eyes matched Calvin’s and the signature black leather armor covered her lightly tanned body.

It was a standoff. Before the Protector stood four men with bows and arrows poised at her and under her foot was a recently deceased fifth. The Protector stood with a spear ready to be thrown. The brilliant spearhead was fearsome to say the least. It was pointed to penetrate straight through a body, yet jagged so that when retracted it would tear everything out with it. The corpse on the ground found that out the hard way.

Calvin slid his pack into Clare’s arms and moved her behind him.

“It must be my lucky day,” the leader declared after noticing Calvin. A man turned his bow on him. Two faced the new Protector, and two faced Calvin. “Looks like we’ll be killing two Protectors today, boys.”

The new Protector followed the leader’s gaze. “Calvin?” she said. “I’ll be damned.”

Suddenly, an arrow was protruding from the Protector’s heart. She stumbled backwards and fell flat on her back. The remaining men then pointed their bows at Calvin.

“Don’t you move,” the leader said to Calvin. He passed by the Protector’s body, stealing a quick glance to make sure she wasn’t moving. “One down, one to go.” He pulled back his bowstring a little farther.

The jagged spearhead abruptly burst straight through his chest. The other Protector, playing dead on the ground with a grin, held the spear steady. Then with a grunt she jerked it out, and the man fell, lifeless. Calvin took the bow and arrow from the falling body and shot down one of the other men before he himself took an arrow to the chest. He turned and hugged Clare as he lowered the two to a crouch, getting struck in the back in the process. Then in one motion he grabbed his machete off his pack, slung it from its sheath, and flung it like a Frisbee through the air. The large blade sang as it flew and landed in another archer’s throat as the other Protector speared down the last man.

Calvin turned and grabbed Clare to examine her. “Were you hit?”

“There are arrows sticking out of you!”

“This armor can take anything short of a grenade.”

“A what?” Clare was trembling but got to her feet. Then she looked over Calvin’s shoulder. There stood the other Protector. She had retrieved Calvin’s machete and returned the weapon.

“Two sentences to a stranger? That must be a record,” she said with a smirk.

“Staying out of trouble, Raven?”

“They started it.” Raven reached her spear out into the road and snagged her backpack with it. “We should go. I’m surprised the militia isn’t already here.” Shouts from down the street turned their heads. They were closing in. “I spoke too soon.”

Calvin sheathed the machete and situated his pack. “Is there any other way out besides the gates?”

“Up and over the wall.”

“Up and over it is. Let’s go.”

At full sprint, the three darted between buildings and rushed through alleys. Raven stopped them before leaving the final alleyway that faced a wall. All that was left was crossing the street and somehow vaulting it. Clare looked back at Calvin, who was loading a grappling hook and line into a sizeable handgun.

“There’s a watchtower a few blocks down,” Raven observed. “We’ll have to move fast.”

Calvin grunted and led the sprint across the street. Halfway across, he fired the hook over the wall. With the line secured, he motioned to Raven to begin her ascent first. The militia in the watchtower spotted them and opened fire with their bows and arrows as Clare wrapped her arms around Calvin and he began his own labored climb. Raven reached the top and flipped over, landing gracefully on the other side.

“Hurry up, you two!” she shouted over.

Calvin was almost there. He finally took one hand off the line and grabbed the top. “Raven!” he shouted over. “Catch her!”

“Ready when you are!”

Calvin reached back, grabbed Clare’s collar, and flung her over the wall like a doll. Raven was there to make a harmless catch. Calvin began hauling himself over but before he could make it, an arrow found his unprotected hand and he fell to the ground, still within Refuge 49.

“Calvin! Calvin!” Raven shouted from outside the wall. Commotion continued, the only sign that he was still alive.

“He’s going to make it, right?” Clare worried.

Then Calvin reappeared farther down the wall, flying from the roof of a house, over the wall, and into the safety of the forest. Raven and Clare ran to his side. His hand seemed to be his only injury. “Let’s go,” he said, brushing off the others’ worries.

“We’re right behind you,” Raven responded. She jerked the arrow out of his back. Clare gasped, but it seemed the arrowhead had not fully pierced the armor.

They moved at a brisk pace in silence for a minute or so before Clare asked, “Where are we going?”

“Let’s see…” Raven looked up through the thick foliage at the sun. “South.”

The forest was luscious and glowed in a vibrant green. Twigs and leaves snapped underfoot as they traveled through thick brush until Calvin discovered an old dirt road that made walking drastically easier. Clare’s head never stopped turning. She started to wonder if the whole word was as overgrown as what she was witnessing. The peaceful ambiance was a culture shock. Gentle, cool wind rustled the leaves above. Birds occasionally chirped and insects let out their calls. The stench of Refuge 49 was replaced by the sweet scent of pine. It was wonderful.

Eventually Clare’s nerves calmed and her initial adrenaline rush ran its course. “Can we take a break?” she had to ask.

Calvin frowned. “Just a little further. The militia may give chase.”

Raven cut in front of Calvin and put a hand on Calvin’s chest. “Chase us out here? We’re outside the wall and out of their hair.” Clare had found a log and sat. “Are you okay?” Raven asked her.

“I’ll be fine. I don’t think I’ve ever run this long.”

“That’s alright. Just breathe in your nose and out your mouth, and keep your hands behind your head. Sit up. There you go.”

Clare followed the orders. “So, Calvin said I could be like you, a Protector,” she said to Raven.

“Oh, did he now?”

“Will I fit in?” Clare asked.

“Hard to say. You’re almost too pretty for our ragtag group.” She laughed. “No, I’m sure you will if you can prove your worth.” Her eyes widened. “Oh! Calvin, you never properly introduced me to your friend.”

“Raven, Clare. Clare, Raven.”

“Pleased to meet you, Raven.” Clare’s words were still labored.

“It’s nice to meet you too, Clare.”

Raven snatched the canteen off Clare’s pack and handed it to her. She graciously accepted and started chugging away.

“Slow down. You’ll need some for later,” Raven warned.

Calvin put his own pack on the ground and fished out first aid materials. “Can I get a hand, Raven?” He produced the little white first aid kit and the two began the stitching operation like they had done it a million times.

Clare closed the canteen and strapped it to her bag. “Why are we heading south?”

“Ever heard of the Great Tree?” Raven asked. “It’s our ‘homeland’ so to speak.”

Clare’s face brightened. “Wow! I heard that the Great Tree is ground zero of the Growth.”

“It sure is.”

“Walk and talk,” Calvin cut in. He was already bandaged up and secured his bag.

“So pushy,” Raven commented as they resumed their journey. They gathered their gear and moved at a steady pace.

“Is Calvin in charge of you or something?” Clare asked. “He’s giving all the commands.”

“No, he just knows the fastest way. A man with a sense of direction. That’s a first! Am I right?” Raven laughed.

“Sorry, I don’t get it.”

Raven sighed, “Don’t worry about it.” Calvin chuckled from ahead. “Shut up and focus on the road.”

“Is there any one Protector in charge?”

“The Master is in charge, followed by Champions, then Braves, and Initiates at the bottom.”

“I’d be an Initiate, huh?”

“When we get to the Great Tree, maybe. Until then, you’re just our little recruit.”

“And you two?”

“Calvin’s a Champion. I’m a Brave. For now.”

The conversation shifted to the wilderness. Raven answered Clare’s many, many questions about almost everything as Calvin generally maintained his silence, only adding words of confirmation or small corrections. Occasional breaks were taken over the course of the day as well to accommodate Clare.

The daylight eventually dimmed and the sky turned a brilliant orange. Raven recommended stopping for the night. Calvin took it upon himself to teach Clare how to set up camp and all of the best locations to do so while Raven searched for firewood in the surrounding area. Making the fire itself was a different story. Calvin insisted that Clare make it using only sticks, while Raven suggested simply using her matches this time. Matches won. But eventually a campsite was built and the three travelers enjoyed the rest. Crickets chirped in the night as Clare tinkered with sticks to make a pretty pathetic fire spit as she cast glances at the other two.

“Why are your eyes like that?” Clare asked, looking back and forth between the Protectors across the small fire. Their eyes were glowing from the reflection of the fire. It reminded Clare of the wolves that stalked around Ryker’s camp.

“They don’t scare you do they?” Raven responded.

“They’re kind of pretty. You know, when we were walking around the Refuge no one would look you in the eye, Calvin.”

“It’s hard to say if that was because of my eyes, or just because I’m a Protector.”

“Can you see like animals?

“What do you mean?” Raven asked.

“Is your vision better? Can you see in the dark?”

“Yes, and yes.”

“Must be handy.”

“It sure is. If you end up joining us, you’ll experience for yourself what other gifts we have been blessed with.”

“At the cost of my pretty blue eyes?”

“It’s a small price to pay for all the benefits you’ll get in return. Besides, your eyes aren’t that pretty,” Raven mocked.

“You’re going to have to repeat that one,” Clare replied.

Calvin chuckled and nudged Raven. “I’m just joking,” Raven assured.

Clare abandoned her fire spit project and stretched out on her bedroll with a groan. “I don’t know how you do this. I’m exhausted.”

“You’ve just been cooped up too long. We’ll whip you into shape.”

“I hope so,” Calvin remarked. “We aren’t making good time.”

“We should take our time,” Raven said. “The Great Tree is far away and it’s not like we have a deadline.”

“I agree with Raven, but for now,” Clare slipped into her bedroll, “I’m getting some rest.” She closed her eyes. “Just make sure Calvin keeps it down.”

Raven smiled. “Will do.”

Clare slept like a rock, but woke up quite sore. Calvin and Raven were kind enough to let her sleep in as long as she wanted but that only helped so much. She stretched and slowly crawled out of her sleeping bag, bones creaking. Her travelling companions were already working on breakfast in the crisp morning air. Birds chirped overhead, doing some waking up of their own.

“What’s cooking?” Clare asked.

“Rabbit,” Calvin said. “Big, fat rabbit.”

“I’d love some.”

“Glad to hear you’re not against fresh meat,” Raven said.

Clare situated herself beside the fire. “It’s chilly out here.”

“It won’t warm up for another hour or two. And then you’ll wish it was chilly again.”

“Great.”

“You’ll get used to it,” Raven assured her.

Breakfast was eaten rather quickly. Clare asked the occasional question about the dos and don’ts of outdoor cooking. Then the group packed up and started walking again right after the last bite. The trek led them to a road, which then led to a river. Clare ran ahead to its bank.

“Wow,” she uttered.

“This is the mighty Mississippi River,” Raven said. “We’re going to follow it south, most of the way to the Great Tree.”

“How?”

“Like this.” Calvin started walking again. Clare huffed and followed. They walked along a wider dirt trail that before with the river on their right and the forest to their left.

“I wish we had a boat,” Raven said.

“We’ll find a ferry in Memphis.”

“What’s Memphis?”

“Do you know what a city is?” Calvin asked.

“A Refuge, but bigger?”

“Way bigger. You’ll see for yourself when we get there. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.”

After just a few more step, Calvin grabbed Clare’s shoulder, indicating her to stop. Raven readied her spear for a throw.

“Hey, Clare. Want to see something cool?” Raven asked.

Clare was confused, but replied, “As long as it doesn’t involve extra exercise.”

“Not this time.” Raven threw her spear a good forty yards into the branches of a distant tree. There was the sound of impact, then a branch fell to the ground with the spear embedded in it.

“We yield! We yield!” a man’s voice called out. A large, bald, muscular man and slender long-haired woman dropped from the foliage. The man picked up his branch-shield and pulled the spear from it before following the woman into the open. They wore camouflage similar to that of Refuge 49’s militiamen, but these two showed no other signs of being part of the militia. The two groups reached each other, and when the man was close enough, he tossed Raven’s spear to her feet.

“You weren’t planning any kind of ambush, were you?” Calvin asked.

“We weren’t ambushing anyone,” the woman said. “We thought you were following us, so we hid.”

The Protectors did not reply.

“It’s true.”

“Right.” Raven picked up her spear with her eyes glued to the strangers. “Are you heading to Memphis?”

“Yes.”

“So are we. Let’s just keep our distance from each other and we’ll get there with no problems.”

“Agreed.” The man smirked. “We know how it is with you Protectors. Always bringing trouble, right?”

Calvin and Raven abruptly turned and peered through the trees. “You were right,” Raven declared. “You are being followed.”

“Damn. Back to the trees.” The man and woman clumsily clambered into the foliage.

“Shouldn’t we help them?” Clare asked.

“Lesson one, Clare: Never trust strangers.”

“Yeah, but…”

“Come on. We’re getting out of here,” Raven only took a few steps and then stopped.

“Shit. Too late, we’re surrounded,” Calvin confirmed.

“How do you know these things?” Clare asked.

Ignoring Clare, Raven asked, “Shall we climb?” She made for the nearest tree and shot up as efficiently as a squirrel. Calvin did the same. This left Clare alone and frustrated on the ground.

“Wait! Don’t leave me!”

A sudden brightness engulfed Clare’s vision. She was stretching out her small childhood hand, trying to reach the battered brown pants of a departing man. Her meek voice called out, “Don’t leave me!” Then as suddenly as the image appeared, Clare blinked and was back in the forest with a single inexplicable tear in the corner of her eye.

“There’s no better time to learn to climb,” Raven called down.

Clare wiped the mystery teardrop away gave it a go. She tried imitating the Protectors as best she could, but her strength was far from adequate. Then leaves rustled and twigs snapped all around her. Clare ran underneath some bushes instead.

A pack of eight massive, beautiful wolves strode into view. On all fours, they were at the height of an adult human being. The largest one in front, the alpha, inhaled deeply with its eyes closed.

“We know you are here, humans,” it growled upon releasing its breath. “Come out, and we may spare your lives.”

Clare was dumbfounded. She had heard that the Growth had its effects on animals, but this was beyond her expectations. Another stick snapped right behind her. Clare slowly turned and saw four big paws just outside of her cover. A warm mouth suddenly grabbed her up by her clothes and tossed her into the open.

“I found one,” the wolf said.

The wolves gathered around. “Is that the one?” the alpha asked. It had more bulk than its kin and its coat was noticeably more glorious.

A wolf squeezed through the others and gave Clare a long sniff. “No, but his scent is still here.” Clare crawled toward the closest bush to hide but was immediately dragged away from it and left at the feet of the alpha.

“Spread out,” the alpha ordered its pack. The wolves obeyed. There could be no escape with such animals patrolling the forest. Then it addressed Clare. “Have you seen other humans?” it asked.

Wide-eyed Clare opened her mouth but could utter no words.

“That human is petrified. She will not answer,” a nearby wolf said.

The alpha thought for a second, then looked up. “They are not hiding on the ground,” it announced. The report made the wolves look upwards.

While the beasts looked skyward, Clare crawled around the other side of Calvin and Raven’s tree. Just when she thought she was out of sight, another wolf walked into her path. It shook its head, lifted Clare in its jaws, and set her before the alpha again.

“Stop moving, human,” the alpha said. “It may save your life.” It then made a curious expression and began sniffing Clare all over. Clare was too terrified to react.

“Aha! Here!” one wolf called. The others ran to it and stared into its tree. Clare recognized it as the tree the strangers had climbed.

“I smell it,” a wolf said. “My pup is here!”

“Back off,” the woman said from above. “If you try anything, I’ll kill it.” Clare peered through the leaves and spotted the woman. She had a bag in her hand with something moving inside of it.

“And if you try anything, we’ll kill you,” mother wolf swore.

“We can wait a long, long time,” the alpha said to the humans. “But if you return our pup, we can promise that one of you will live.”

There was a struggle in the branches, then a cracking sound. The woman fell from the tree. The wolves were upon her in seconds, but she held the bag in front of her in one hand, and held a knife close to it in the other.

“Get back!” she yelled. The wolves spotted the knife and complied. “You aren’t getting this thing until I’m out of this forest.”

The pup poked its head out of the pack and let out a call for its mother, who began to tremble.

“I know that the second it’s out of my hand you’ll jump me. The pup is coming with me.” She looked up into her tree. “You. You stupid traitor. I have the only ticket out of here.” She laughed at the man. “Stay and rot up there.”

A gunshot fired. The animals and woman jumped in surprise. The line from Calvin’s grappling gun could be seen protruding from the pack. The backpack and its valuable cargo flew up into the branches and into Raven’s arms as Calvin landed on the ground with the other end of the line in his hands. Within that second, the wolves were upon the woman. She had no time to react.

The mother wolf was not part of the slaughter. She walked to Calvin and waited. Raven dropped to his side and returned the mother’s treasure by gently setting the pack at the wolf’s feet. The pup shot out and hugged its mother’s leg, and she licked him from his head to his toes.

“You are Protectors, are you not?” the alpha wolf asked as it neared.

“We are.”

“Hm.” The beast seemed overall indifferent. “Here is your human back.” It scooted Clare along the ground toward them. Clare was stiff as a board and stared at the ground.

“For your help,” mother wolf cut in, “you are permitted to leave the forest unharmed. It is the greatest gift I can give in exchange for your kindness and I insist that you take it. I do not find myself in a very good mood right now.”

“Then we’re off. Thank you.” Calvin pulled Clare to her feet and the three continued on their way. Clare cast one last look back and watched the wolves make themselves comfortable around the base of the man’s tree.

The three continued down the road at a fast walk until Calvin felt comfortable enough to slow down. Raven let out her breath. “Whew! Couldn’t get out of there fast enough!”

Clare’s shock turned to anger. “Hey! You couldn’t carry me up that tree on your back? You did it in the Refuge!”

Calvin shrugged. “I thought you’d do better.”

“What!? This is day two! How much improvement do you think I’ve made? You just left me there!”

“Relax. If the wolves had tried anything, we would’ve saved you.”

“Ugh! Leave me alone.” Clare sped up to stay a good twenty yards in front of the others. This continued until Clare’s poor fitness allowed the Protectors and their regular pace to rejoin her.

“Let’s take a break,” Raven said out of pity. They found a big log and sat their butts down. Calvin got a small fire going in record time over which to cook leftover strips of rabbit meat.

“Why did those people kidnap the wolf pup?”

“Money,” Raven responded. “Tamed animals will earn a pretty penny in some places. They’re good for physical labor, too. Or maybe it was for the meat and fur. Who knows?”

“That’s terrible.”

“It is. No infant should be torn from a loving mother.” Raven poked at the fire with reminiscence in her eyes. “I hope you are starting to understand how it is outside the walls. Anything goes. There were rules long ago but now there isn’t enough man power for there to be law and order between settlements.”

Travel resumed. They had another quick meal a few hours later and then kept on going after that. As the group came around a group of trees, the city of Memphis, Tennessee came into view in the distance. There was a bridge crossing the river as well. Pieces of it had fallen into the water below, but enough basic repairs had been made to make it crossable.

“That’s a city?” Clare asked.

“It is.”

“The buildings are so high!”

“Across the world there are buildings that are even higher than those.”

“You don’t want to go into those anymore though. They’re likely to collapse at any time.”