Ricahh watched the horizon, anxious, unsure of what she would do without Almaa. Raff, sensing her apprehension, put a hand to her shoulder and watched with her. A young legionnaire sat beside Jerredd, binding his wounds as best he could.
"The slug was clean and straight, buddy. You're lucky."
"Thanks," Jerredd said, bounding away from the legionnaire on all fours and perching behind Aricc, who was drawing large circles in the sand with his black claw. Jerredd asked, "You okay, Arrricc?"
"Just fine, Jerredd. Just fine." Aricc looked up with a grin at the trio walking towards them from over the slope of a hill.
The wanderer and the legionnaire walked slowly, supporting Almaa on their shoulders. The legionnaire threw a glance to Ed and then to Almaa before pulling her arm farther over his shoulder and taking more of her weight. Ed stared directly ahead of him, his eyes on something else altogether.
When they brought Almaa to rest on the ground, Ed turned to Walkerr and said, "Thank you."
"Thanks for what?" Walkerr cocked his head to the side.
"You took good care of my kam'dass." Ed patted the creature on its side and it leapt out of the rear of the jeep with an annoyed grumble before being led into the wastes once more.
Walkerr merely watched the young man as he followed the train tracks over the horizon and into the vast expanse.