91 - Wait at the Wadi

Dag drew another veil out of the bag behind her saddle and sighed in relief as it cut down the relentless dust.The relief flock had loaded up and headed up, out of the shelter of the canyon, onto the flatlands, heading for Nadumon around the lake. 

The winds howled day and night,and the fall winds from the south were starting up, loaded with water. Silly's eyes were all but closed and his feathers were fluffed. He kept up a non-stop flow of cheeping complaint, but almost never refused what she asked of him. The silk band hung sodden from his beak and every one of his hair-feathers was coated with dirt. 

Dag coughed and managed to clear her nose and eyes by running her hand up under the new veil. There was so much mud in the air it was hard to breathe. The wind had never truly ceased since the air-strike and the last lin message from his Radiance had said they would bring the survivors down to the dry river. If they didn't get to the meeting point soon, the river wouldn't be dry any longer. The autumn rains would start with punishing force. They had to get everyone back before the rain began pounding down, floods in every one of the karst cavern-towns as the water moved from the south, back up to the north poles. 

It was the second time of year that Lainz had its chance to catch and keep water. In reservoirs, in basins, in caverns and caves and sips and rivers, behind bee-built dams and sluice gates. But when the weather changed it was crazy to be out in it. She hoped they could get the Nadu back to the main canyon before the rains started. 

She reached ahead, in code, searching, feeling other zardukar struggling to connect with the Lainz featherspitters so far ahead of them.  

*Bee connections established. Queen larva mother queen. Brooder, worker. Support. Radiance... exhausted... Milar tiger giving.*

*Kyrus? Is that you in this code? Kyrus?*

*No, Nasera... Ilax... Ilax here.* His code connection was thin and shaky as if he were working on the ragged edge of his energy.

*How far away are you? We are at Otvee Arstah Wadi.*

*Two days north of there. Coming fast. Wait there.* 

Dag reached to shake the silk in Silly's beak. “Come on, bird of mine. We need to catch up with Director Raghnall. Raghnall,” she repeated as Silly tried to shake the damp dirt off by fluffing and stretched his neck to run. 

“RAWWW,” was the noise he made.