Shadow Slave

Walking toward the broken transport, Sunny was deep in thought. If the blizzard was really returning... things were going to get ugly for the convoy

Sure, the snowstorm would hide their location from the roaming swarms of Nightmare Creatures, but it would also all but destroy his own ability to track the abominations and keep his map up to date. Sunny and his shadows could see through the darkness of the polar night, but they could not see through the impenetrable wall of billowing snow.

Additionally, the mundane drivers were going to have even more trouble with keeping their vehicles on the road. The vehicles themselves would suffer more stress, as well...

Should he insist on continuing to drive through the blizzard, or find a place for the convoy to wait it out? Sunny did not like the thought of traveling across treacherous old roads in such hazardous conditions, but neither did he like the idea of being stationary, holed up in some cave like a blind rat, with no way to escape should things go south.

'Damned blizzard... damned rustbuckets... why can't they all be like the Rhino?'

Of course, that was not a fair comparison to make. His Rhino was a state-of-the-art military carrier, while the civilian transports were just that - some of them could barely be used to carry people, even, since they had been hastily refitted from industrial cargo vehicles in preparation for the evacuation campaign.

It was a miracle that they were able to move, honestly.

Approaching the cause of the current setback, Sunny had to walk around the massive body of Abomination, who was laying on the road and staring east. The massive beast seemed to have sensed the approaching blizzard, as well, considering how intently it was looking at the sky. Snowflakes were falling on its rugged fur.

The smaller Echo... Blackie, or whatever the Awakened Beast was called... was there as well, leaning against the larger one. It had a habit of following the stronger monster everywhere, while Abomination mostly ignored its existence.

'Damned mongrels... would it kill you to make way for me? I am the master of your masters, you know! Show some respect..."

Shaking his head, Sunny reached the transport. Samara, Kim, and Quentin were already there, running diagnostics with grim expressions on their faces.

He did not like the look of that.

"What's the situation?"

glanced at him with a deep

the hub relay, causing the main battery to be cut off from the rest of the systems. Usually, that wouldn't be too debilitating, but this transport already lost both the support battery and the backup accumulator. There's... a lot of melted wiring. Quentin can restore

again, he did not need to. That was the whole reason

become a

how long is it going to take to get

and Quentin,

if

closed his eyes for a

was not impossible, although cutting it close. Their window of opportunity to drive past the nearest horde allowed for such a delay, but not much more. If he let the convoy stall

that? Or should he abandon the transport and relocate people to the remaining ones, thus overloading the struggling vehicles even further and increasing the risk

with this amount of nonsense during her short stint

revolt and a suicidal crusade might have been a bit harder than he had

hundreds of people was not at all

understand why the Sovereigns were all suffering from some sort

He sighed.

done until then, though, we'll load the refugees on other transports and

warm interior of the Rhino, but decided against it. He had been cooped up inside it for a while,

not seem too discouraged, especially after soldiers brought a portable heater. The Sleeper was there too. His lantern Memory chased away the darkness, helping

speaking of

I can just reassign the passengers there. That can be a good stopgap solution. There'll be trouble when

thoughts were interrupted by Abomination, who suddenly let out a low growl. Considering the size of the massive monster, its growls reverberated through one's very bones, and

turned and looked at the Echo with a

up with him... her... whatever. What's

of terrifying fangs. It was still laying on the road, staring at the eastern skies.