Chapter 174
The windstorm came out of no where.
One second Dron was in a state of near panic after realizing that Tempest had just walked into an enclosed space with other alphas after their intense and private phone conversation to sharp shards of dust and rock smacking him in the face.
"We’re not going to make it through this!" Verux called out as he tried to cling to the wall of the cliffs. The winds were so strong they were pushing some of the smaller individuals off their feet.
Dron initially tried to call Tempest right back, but the sudden change in weather caused his communication not to connect.
He had to hope that she would be safe. He was truly putting a lot of faith in Rynax. Faith Dron wasn’t sure the man deserved. Still, Dron knew if Tempest wasn’t unharmed when he got to her, Rynax would have to pay. Dron had already promised the alpha that when he left Tempest in his care.
After his failed communication attempt, Dron had gone back to the group to see them struggling to stay together.
Some people had dropped to the ground and huddled into a ball to try and keep the sand from pelting them in the face. Others tried to hold onto the wall of the cliff like Verux was doing.
The rest simply did their best to cover their face with any fabric they had and stand their ground.
It was a bad situation all the way around. Not only were they at the mercy of the winds, but the weather made it almost impossible for Dron or anyone else to see if there were any dangers coming their way.
They were too exposed.
"Everyone get together." Dron shouted as loud as he could so his voice would carry over the roaring wind. Just as he was about to continue his instructions. A loud, booming crack sounded in the distance.
Great. Just great.
It was about to be a storm. They weren’t prepared for this, and no one was shielded enough. If one of the strikes got close to them, it was possible that someone could be killed.
"Get as close together as you can." Dron ordered. The people all huddled up together, their heads down, arms around eachother.
Dron didn’t join in the huddle. He had to figure out a way to find a better shelter. He didn’t know what he would do in the time that he had but he knew he had to try something.
He looked over to the side, there was nothing there but rocks. He looked to the other side, more rocks and some dead trees.
That would have to do. Dron took off in a run and in the distance he could hear someone calling out for him.
It was Mikael.
Dron hoped the young kid wouldn’t try to follow him. Dron could for sure use the help but he didn’t want to risk something happening to him.
He stopped right in front of the last crevice that they had to get over. He could see the bottom of it, but it was still a long drop. If his idea was to work, he’d have to lessen that drop.
Dron roared once, trying to force his alpha instincts to take hold. Without Tempest or any true enemy, it was harder than he wanted it to be.
He needed it, though. Needed the extra strength being in that state of mind brought.
Dron punched at the rock, the pain in his hand was near excruciating, but he didn’t stop. This was another way to force himself into that state of mine. Pain.
He punched the rock over and over until large chunks started breaking away.
Finally, he could feel the strength of his muscles increasing, and he was able to lift larger pieces of the rock until he was able to lift boulders.
He grabbed the biggest ones he could find and began dropping them into the large crack in the ground. He piled them up as best he could, like bricks. It wasn’t secure, and there was no way that he could fill the entire crack.
Still he filed it enough that there was a small shelf of sorts for the people to be able to jump down and get out of the wind. They wouldn’t be comfortable. But it was a start. The lightning was starting to get closer to them. Dron had to move faster.
He ran as best he could to the other side, where there were a few leafless trees. He grabbed hold, one by one and wrenched them out of the ground, roots and all. Thankfully they were so dead that it wasn’t as hard as it should’ve been. The land just released them when there was enough pressure.
He ran them all back to the crevice. By the time he’d finished collecting the trees, he had fifteen of them. He reached into his bag and pulled out a cord. It was enough to hold a person dangling from a cliff and he hoped it would be enough to hold the trees together.
It was a sloppy job, but Dron could feel the weather getting worse and worse. He could hear the people he was supposed to be leading crying out and grunting with pain and effort.
He lashed the rope through the trees, creating a flat surface. It would be the roof. It wasn’t strong enough to endure a lightning strike. In fact, he knew if any of the trees were struck, they would likely burst into flames. He prayed that they would catch a break, and that wouldn’t happen.
With the makeshift shelter built, Dron rushed back to where his group was. Most of them hadn’t moved, though there was one on his side, hacking hard. He was having a hard time breathing.
"Let’s go!" Dron shouted but the wind was so loud by that time the people couldn’t hear him. He reached down for Kraznek and gestured for him to get the rest and follow.
Within moments, everyone was up in a single line and stumbling in the direction of the crevice.
Everyone hesitated.
Dron looked to Mikael first and even through the thick sand that was swirling around them, Dron could see the fear in the boy’s eyes.
He hoped his construct would be strong enough. Hoped that the rocks would stay firm.
Leaders lead.
Dron didn’t say another word, he simply turned and gently lowered himself down into the pit on top of the rocks. He was still for a second almost expecting for one of the rocks to give way and send him tumbling down into the darkness below. They didn’t.
He hopped a little. Nothing happened.
Dron jumped harder. Still nothing.
That was all it took.
Krex was the next one down. Then Mikael. The rest followed one by one until everyone was in the tight space. There was only enough room for people to sit.
"Help me!" Dron ordered. The walls on the inside of the crevice acted as a shield against the wind going on over their heads, but Dron knew it wouldn’t be long before the sand found its way inside. He reached up and grabbed the edge of the flat roof he constructed out of the dead trees. All tied together, it was heavy.
All of his men stood and grabbed a piece and gently slid the roof over the crevice as best they could.
The wind was still howling up above, but it was considerably quieter where they were now.
It was quiet, and dark. Very, very dark.
With everyone in the group being alphas Dron was sure they could see but he lit a torch and found a small ledge in the wall he could leave it. The fire was just a comfort.
He looked around the group. People were still uncertain, but at least they weren’t yelling in pain anymore.
His eyes landed on Kraznek who was staring at him. A strange look on his face.
"What?" Dron snapped.
"Quite impressive, Mark Chief." Kraznek bowed his head in respect. One by one, the rest of the alphas in the small space began doing the same.
It was the greatest sign of respect an Alpha could give another besides completely submitting to them.
Dron’s eyes jerked to Mikael; his head was bowed too.
Dron didn’t really know how to receive this. He wasn’t used to it. He was used to being disrespected. This sudden reverence made him feel a bit uneasy.
Since he couldn’t figure out what to do with the feeling, he decided to ignore it all together. "Don’t move too much. The shelf is stable for now, but it may tumble. Those that can get rest, do so. We have a long walk in the morning.
There was slight murmurs. People talking amongst themselves.
With every crack of lightening or stronger gust of wind, the people in his group along with Dron all held their breath. They were waiting for the unthinkable to happen.
It never did.
Dron was finally able to relax a little. He found a spot near Mikael and sat. There would be no sleeping for Dron tonight. He had too much on his mind.
First he didn’t know how long this windstorm would last. On Thraqe storms could last only minutes, or they could last days. They couldn’t stay in this makeshift shelter for days.
Secondly, he was still worried about Tempest, he knew that worry wouldn’t abate until he was at least able to talk to her again.
Lastly, in the effort to build the shelter quickly, he hadn’t taken a major problem into consideration. The windstorm was pushing sand all around. Making dunes and ditches.
Dron could hear the sand pounding on top of the roof. Collecting.
If this went on for much longer, they would all be buried alive.
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⏸ PAUSE■ STOP