Vin hoisted the sack of supplies onto his back and picked up Kerri’s staff. “Can you follow his trail?” he asked.
“Easily. He went south after running away from the fight. I don’t know where he’s going, but I can smell his fear.”
Vin followed her lead across the rolling grasslands that stretched as far as the eye could see. With an easy jog, Kerri felt her strength and confidence return, changing her mentality as a new fire began to smolder in her belly.
They stopped to drink and later, to eat, but rest was never discussed. The jog became a steady run through the day and into the night. The more she ran, the stronger she felt, and the more determined she became. For her, there was now only one aim in life; to find Sonny.
By noon of the second day, they crested a hill to be confronted by a wide blue ribbon stretching across their path. At the bottom of the valley, a river cut across their route that reflected the sun in sparkling silver stars. They both dropped to the ground.
Searching the valley below, Vin said, “It looks quiet. Can you smell anything?”
“Only Sonny and the injured ape we’ve been following.”
They moved on, following the river valley west, the smell of the moving water filling their senses. Rounding a bend in the river, Kerri pulled up sharply.
“Vin, down!” she hissed.
He immediately dropped to the ground beside her.
“What is it?”
“I saw a flash of light, a reflection from something in the distance.”
“How far away?”
“Can’t tell. It was only for a moment.”
“Keep low and climb that slope,” he pointed to his right. “We’ll get a better view from the top. No one knows we’re following, so they shouldn’t be looking for us. We can drop below the hillcrest for cover if we have to.”
“I’ll go first and check. I’ll give you a signal,” she said.
Kerri ran for the side of the valley before Vin could argue. From her position at the top of the hill, the sight ahead took her breath away. She waved for Vin to join her. Vin clambered up and lay beside her. He, too, had to catch his breath. In the distance, the sunlight reflected off the domed roofs and spires of a town spread out before them. The town walls glowed white under the high sun, and the roofs sparkled where their polished tiles reflected the sunlight in a hundred different directions and a thousand different colors.
“I’d never have believed a town could look so beautiful,” she said.
“I’d never have believed such a place existed if I hadn’t seen it for myself.”
“Now we know where he’s going,” Kerri said.
They stayed below the hill’s crest, following the river valley into the afternoon sun.
“It looks very quiet down there,” Kerri said.
“There should be some sign of life, some sign of movement,” Vin said.
“I can’t see anything,” Kerri said.
They stopped on the outskirts of town, concealing themselves below the far side of the valley’s ridge, looking down on a lifeless city.
“Something must’ve happened here. Maybe there was an earthquake? Look at all the damage.” Kerri pointed to the tumbled-down walls.
“If the injured ape came here, then others probably did too, and they always leave death and destruction wherever they go.”
“What is this place? Is this the apes’ town you told me about?”
“I don’t think so. It’s not like the description I read. Their town is on the edge of a desert,” Vin said.
Kerri pointed to the sandstone walls. “The town walls have been pulled down in places. And some of those buildings are ready to fall. It looks like there was a battle here.”
They crept through the outskirts of town, keeping to the shadows, staying off the roads, and skirting around the rubble and debris in the streets. There was no sign of life but many signs of death.
Vin stopped, grabbing Kerri’s tail to hold her back. “This place was attacked by apes,” he said.
“How do you know?”
Vin pointed to a body lying in the road. “Something’s been eating that.”
“Oh no!” She turned her head away in disgust. “Maybe it was wild dogs?”
Vin shook his head. “I’ve got a bad feeling about this, Kerri.”
They followed Sonny’s trail deeper into the city until they turned into the central square. The smell hit them like a blow to the face. It took a moment for them to understand what they were looking at. Crows hopped and squabbled over bloated bodies while swarms of fat, black flies buzzed around them. The flagstones of the piazza were blackened and littered with ash and charcoal. The remains of roasted body parts littered the square.
Vin put his paw on Kerri’s shoulder. “Are you gonna be okay?”
She nodded, not trusting herself to speak. She felt her stomach lurch into her throat.
“There are three ways out of here. Let’s circle around and find where Sonny left.” Vin led them around the piazza. On the opposite side, Kerri picked up the trail again. She pointed to a tree-lined avenue.
“You’re sure?” Vin asked.
“It’s not difficult. I’d know his smell anywhere. It’s the smell of cowardice and the stink of betrayal.” She couldn’t help her jowls rising in a snarl when she thought about Sonny.
“Wait, Vin!… Something’s not right?” Kerri said, moving her nose from side to side to catch the scent.
“What is it?”
“It’s just—I can smell something familiar. Something I recognize.”
Vin watched her trying to pull a memory from out of the reek of death around them.
“It’s the scent of my clan. Salli’s been here,” she said.
“Salli? It can’t be!”
“It’s her, I’m sure of it.”
“Salli came to our land by boat. She left in search of the apes’ town before I got back. How could she be here?” Vin looked around, but the town lay deserted. “Can you follow the trail, see where it leads?”
She nodded. “Sonny and the ape are going the same way.”
Leading them down a tree-lined avenue, Kerri jumped when a flock of circling crows broke the oppressive silence with their cawing. Everywhere they looked were signs of death. Then a scream rent the air, turning their blood to ice.
“I’ll check it out,” whispered Vin.
She followed him, continually looking back over her shoulder.
Ahead, a grand house stood beside the river. Its window shutters and doors lay scattered around the garden. They crept around the back of the house and saw an ape circling a frail old man. He held a stick, trying to fend off the ape that stalked him, salivating, its lips curled back to reveal its glistening fangs. As the ape moved to the far side, it saw Kerri and Vin watching. Kerri noticed the side of its head was caked with dried blood, and one arm was hanging limp at its side.
“It’s the one that ran away after it ambushed us,” Kerri said from the side of her mouth, not taking her eyes from the ape. “They all stink, but some stink differently than others. It’s definitely the same one.”
“That means Sonny may be close by. I’ll deal with this thing, and you keep an eye out for the cat.”
The ape, forgetting his captured prize, turned and charged. Vin stepped in front of Kerri, leaving the ape only one target. Spreading his stance, centering his weight, Vin held his arms close to his body, with his enormous paws clenched tight at his waist. The ape continued its charge; its only thought was to attack. It took a flying leap at three paces away, aiming for Vin’s face with outstretched hands. Vin stepped forward, punching both arms forwards together. His right paw hit the ape on the jaw. At the same time, his left fist punched the ape in the soft spot below its ribcage. The ape flew backward with a grunt of foul air as the wind was knocked from it. It rolled over the ground, gasping for air. Vin stepped forwards, putting his foot on its chest. He reached down, and with a sharp twist, snapped the ape’s neck. He looked down in disgust at the dead creature beneath his foot.
Vin turned to look at the cowering man the ape had been ready to attack. He held a stick, pointing it at Vin. “Keep away! I will hurt you,” the man said.
Vin saw his eyes moving in all directions, unable to focus on one place, continually looking around him. The ripped and bloodied clothes he wore and the dirt-encrusted hair and beard made him a sorrowful sight.
Vin suddenly swung his arm, knocking the stick from the old man’s hand. Shocked at the speed of Vin’s strike, he fell to his knees, his arms covering his head. “Don’t hurt me, please do not hurt me!” he cried, shaking with fear.
Vin looked down at him. In his deep, booming voice, he said, “What’s happened to your city?”
The man looked up in shock, seeing Vin’s bulk standing over him. “You can talk?”
“Of course I can talk,” Vin said.
With a shaking finger, he pointed at the dead ape on the grass. “They came and killed everyone. Please don’t hurt me.”
“I’m not gonna hurt you. Are there any others still alive?”
He shook his head vigorously. “No, only me. I’m the last.”
Kerri stepped forward, “Are the apes still here?”
“You can talk, too?” He looked in amazement at Kerri’s wolf form standing in front of him. Her piercing eyes, strong shoulders, and thick fur made her look like a savage animal.
“Of course I can talk. Where are the others?” she said.
“What others?” he stammered.
“Is this your house? Where’s your family?” Kerri asked, suddenly suspicious of the trembling form begging on his knees.
“My family is dead. All gone.”
“Where are the rest of the apes?” asked Vin.
“Gone.” With another trembling hand, he pointed to the west. “All gone… with Him.”
“How many were there?”
The old man shook his head, “Too many to count.”
Kerri looked at Vin. She saw his shock and guessed he saw the same.
“What do you mean, too many?” Vin asked.
“They passed here. They just kept coming. The dust trail lasted all day. They went that way,” he said, pointing.
“Did you see a large cat with them?’ Kerri asked.
“Yes, yes, it passed by here a few hours ago. Going in the same direction as the apes.”
Kerri turned to Vin. “We’re close, Vin. We can catch him.”
“Get your things; you can come with us,” Vin said.
“With you? Following the apes? No, I’m not going.” He started to back away, shaking his head and shaking his hands. Vin could see he was ready to run.
“There’s nothing here. You’ll die if you stay.”
“You don’t know what you’re doing. He’ll kill you as easily as He would a passing fly. His apes will devour you.”
“Did you see a lady come through here? Tall, with dark hair and a very regal appearance? Salli is her name,” Kerri asked.
“Sallinia? No, no,” he shook his head, backing away from them, “I’ve seen no one.”
The old man waved his hands in front of him as if unwilling to hear any more of their questions.
“We can’t do anything for him,’ Vin said to Kerri.
‘I’m sure that’s Salli’s scent in this garden,” she said. “It’s the strangest thing.”
They both turned, walking through the remains of the entrance gate.
“How is it only one old man survived this? It seems weird,” Kerri said.
‘He’ll not survive much longer. If hunger doesn’t kill him, his madness will.”
They followed the road through the destroyed West Gate, out of the town, and through the fields of rotting vegetables lying in untended furrows. The road became a trail and eventually faded into an unused track. Keeping to the high ground, they ran steadily through the darkness. Reaching the brow of a hill, Kerri pulled up to a stop.
“Wait up, Vin. The old man said Sallinia! I told him her name was Salli. He knew who I was talking about. He lied!”
“Well, I’ll be—You’re right! Do you think you can find him in the dark?”
“Sure I can. Let’s go back.” As she turned towards town, she saw a glow in the valley. “I can smell smoke,” she said.
They saw a flaming torch in the darkness, zigzagging through the streets, with fire rising quickly in its wake.
“He’s burning the city,” Kerri said in alarm.