39 The Guard Pos

Taru hung from Kyrie's back as they watched the last of the students leave for the shelter. Kyrie turned to his left and asked James, "How are we getting to the guard post?"

James glanced at the others and rubbed the back of his neck. "Well, I've got a car. But it's only meant for five. And we've got twelve."

Kyrie shrugged. "I can run." Runs are nice. Way nicer than the calc homework he'd been doing before this.

James wasn't fond of the idea. That would be a lot of running. He turned to face the rest of the group. "Anyone else got a car?"

"I got a cycle over break." Andray's keys hung from his hand. "I can take Syra with me."

James nodded and said, "Okay, everyone else is with me." We'll make it work, somehow.

Caleb growled, "Nobody's sitting on my lap," as the group headed for the tiny underground garage.

♢ ♢ ♢

James popped his trunk and said, "So who wants to get in the trunk?"

"Me," Ren said as she glanced at Amity. Having someone sit on her lap or sitting on someone else's would be very awkward.

"I'll run."

James sighed and rolled his eyes at Kyrie. "Set Taru up to be touched and stick her in the trunk. Then Ren can get in."

Kyrie watched James stubbornly.

"Seriously Ky! If you run, we'll be there at least an hour before you. Your riding on someone's lap."

Kyrie glanced at the trunk. For a moment he was tempted but then he shuddered. There was no way he could ridein there. Kyrie channeled his aura into Taru than placed her in James' trunk.

Ren climbed in and took the other's weapons. She carefully stored the weapons so shewould have less chance of being injured during the drive.

James closed the trunk and looked at the remaining nine people. "Well I'm driving, so how about we start with the three biggest in the back?"

DJ shrugged and climbed in, he was followed by Ana in the middle and Rick at the other door.

Caleb climbed into the passenger seat in the front. The only thing worse than being in the dark was sitting on someone's lap. After Caleb got in the front, Malisa and Amity looked at each other and climbed in the back. Neither of them wanted to sit on Caleb's lap.

Casey wandered off to change forms behind a support column. When she returned, she was in her fluffy wolf form and claimed her spot.

James anxiously waited next to Kyrie. He wasn't going to let his cousin escape.

Kyrie glanced at James, sighed, and climbed into the front. Sometimes being small sucked.

Caleb tensed as Kyrie sat on his lap awkwardly. "Don't do anything."

Kyrie scoffed with his arms crossed. "Like I'd want to do anything with you."

Caleb turned to stare out the window. He bit his lip and met Ricks gaze in the reflection. It would be a very long ride.

James opened the driver's door and started the car. It wasn't that great of a car and it was a lot heavier than normal.He put his foot on the gas pedal and his car lurched forward.

Kyrie's palm hit the dashboard as he tried to keep his seat. "James."

"Sorry."

Caleb grumbled inaudibly and wrapped his arms around Kyrie's waist. It would be better to keep Kyrie from moving so much.

"Do you want some help getting this thing moving?" Kyrie asked as he grudgingly leaned against Caleb.

"Let's save that for later."

♢ ♢ ♢

They'd seen a few Tries during their drive, but the creatures couldn't keep up with the car. It was a tense and awkward ride to the southern interior gate.

The car had just rounded the last corner in front of the southern guard post when the passenger door opened and Kyrie dived out of the speeding vehicle.

Caleb grabbed the door and closed it. "Finally."

James rolled his eyes at Kyrie's antics. He'd already guessed this would happen. For some reason, his cousin wasn't a fan of most forms of travel. He'd use them when he had to but if he didn't have to Kyrie would walk.

James pulled to a stop and hit the trunk release. Thankfully, it was summer. His trunk release was a bit seasonal. DJ had offered to help James fix it. But James didn't use his trunk much, so he wasn't all that inclined to do so.

Ren and the others climbed out of the car. They had just finished unloading it when Kyrie and a member of the guard showed up, from different directions.

"I better not see that many people coming out of your car again young man." The guard's arms were crossed as he sternly watched James.

"You won't," growled Caleb. He hated the idea, but he might as well get something out of it. His chest tightened with panic and self-loathing. A car would be helpful, just maybe not worth it.

Caleb's hands trembled. He couldn't believe the thought had crossed his mind. He watched Rick with a sickness churning in his guts. He could really use help from his best friend right now. But Rick was distracted by chatting up Melissa.

Caleb shuddered he could never do such a thing.

"You okay?" Ren whispered from behind Caleb. Concern etched her face.

Caleb jumped, stuffed his shaking hands in his pockets, and grumbled, "Yeah." He'd switched to watching Kyrie join James and the guard. Did he really have to jump out of the car? Was being around him that bad? Caleb shook his head. "What the fuck, I'm the one who didn't want him there."

Ren cocked her head as she watched Caleb. It was clear something was wrong. Something he wasn't ready to talk about. She'd wait. One day she'll have waited long enough for Caleb to trust her and then she could help him. But that day wasn't now so she wouldn't ask him, just yet.

James turned and called out to their ragtag group. "Let's go in and figure out what's going on."

♢ ♢ ♢

A Sargent led the group of students to a quieter spot off to the side of the bustling lobby. Liza, Centra, and Jasper were waiting for them.

DJ grinned and swept his girl into his arms. After a moment he pulled back and looked her over. She was gorgeous and unharmed, perfect.

DJ leaned forward and kissed her.

Centra moved her hands from DJ's back to his head as she deepened their kiss. She was so glad to have DJ safe and in her arms.

James coughed into his hand and nudged DJ. The Sargent was glaring at them.

DJ and Centra meekly separated. But they still kept an arm wrapped firmly around their love.

"If you two are done. I need to know where you plan to go." The guard turned from Centra and DJ to focus on the group as a whole. "Kyrie Say and Ren Perdita please come forward."

Ren and Kyrie stepped forward, their weapons on their backs. "You two are to assist with preventing more breaches at the main force of what we've decided to call Tries. You'll continue to the southern outer gate." The guard frowned and said, "We've been instructed to let the hero be the main force for the battle upon arrival. And the frilly girl is to be his back up. The two," the guard paused and swallowed the words he was going to say. "Of you will spearhead our counter-attack."

Kyrie and Ren nodded calmly. But their teammates weren't calm at all.

"What?! They're students, kids, we can't even get married yet! And you want them to spread-head an attack?" DJ said, his hand tense and tight where it grasped Centra's hip protectively.

The guard snapped at DJ, "Listen here and listen well. I'm not any happier about these orders then you are. But," the guard paused and took a breath that eased the tension running through his frame. "Orders are orders. Even for a group as disorganized as the LegendSlayer guild."

"James Collin and his team are to go with the redhead over there. He's Sargent Lake. He'll be leaving soon to clean up smaller groups of Tries. You'll assist him and do everything he says. If you have a problem with that you go to the shelter underground."

James nodded. "Got it. We'll head over now." James squeezed Kyrie's shoulder. "Stay safe. I might not be able to watch your back this time."

Kyrie nodded and gave James a soft smile. "You stay safe too."

James nodded and headed for Sargent Lake with his team trailing their goodbyes as they followed. "The rest of you can join the group heading out to support," the guard paused to glance at Kyrie and Ren. "These two. Or you've got the same options as your friend there." The guard nodded towards James.

Centra glanced at DJ then turned to the guard. "We've already decided to support our teammate."

The guard nodded. "And the rest of you?"

Amity took no time to answer. "I'm going with Ren." They'd gone through so much together. She wouldn't leave Ren now.

Caleb glanced at Jasper. He was still worried. And he kinda liked Ren. "I'll go."

Rick nodded his head. "If Caleb's going so am I."

Ana nodded. "It's not like I can leave my teammates defenseless," she said it easily, but her hand was clenched around her sword. This was her chance to prove herself, to Ren and the family that had rejected her.

The guard nodded. "Right. We'll join the main group in the gym."

Centra called out, "Kyrie." As he moved to follow the guard.

Kyrie turned and watched Centra with confusion as his right hand tugged at the ribbon around his left wrist. "Yeah?"

"Here." Centra thrust an intricately carved box towards Kyrie. "It's from Professor Pele."

Kyrie carefully took the box. "Why would he…"

Centra shrugged and said, "I don't know." Then left to follow the others to the gym. She wasn't ready to stay at Kyrie's side. Not without the others there.

Kyrie opened the box and pulled out a glimmering necklace. "No way…"

From the necklace hung the shape of a dragon. But this charm was more than that. It was both a symbol of Kyrie's failures and a symbol of protection in chaos. Pele wanted Kyrie to come home safe and had gone to great lengths to say so.

But Kyrie couldn't do it. He couldn't put it on. So, he tenderly put it back in the box. Than he carefully hooked the box to his wallet chain. He'd keep it safe.

Protecting it from danger would cost little and was a price Kyrie would gladly pay.

Maybe one day, when he'd finally atoned for all the wrongs he'd done, he'd put it on without guilt. Until then it'd stay in his pocket.

♢ ♢ ♢

"Listen up. This guy is Kyrie Say. You've all heard of him. He'll be spearheading our counter attack so stick behind him a ways." The Sargent gestured to Ren. "She'll be his back up. Don't get any closer to him than she does. The rest of us will be split into squads of six to seven and we'll follow them from behind."

The Sargent paused for a moment. "We need someone to babysit their friends. Any volunteers?"

A guy at the back raised his hand and said, "We'll do it. We've got loads of experience babysitting the babies that think they know how to fight." He had a hungry looking grin.

The guard nodded with a similar grin marring his face. "Why don't you tikes head on over. We'll move out in ten."