Thera by Jonathan G. Meyer Page B

people. She had chosen to spend her time with the people from Earth. During the attack on Camelot, Toji had given his life while coming to her rescue. His funeral was still fresh in her mind, and circumstances prevented her from speaking with Jesse since that dreadful day.
    Al, Chris, and two additional security personnel accompanied them. Chris and Al had been friends with her almost since they landed, and it was Kira and Toji that had made first contact with the people from the roving star.
    She was torn and thinking about what to say to her family on the long walk down the tunnel providing access to the Caretaker outpost at ground level. When they reached the shuttles, parked at the end, she saw it was Jesse that was to be their pilot, and her eyes clouded over.
    “Hi Kira, how are you?” he asked as he helped her into the aircraft.
    “I am well Jesse. How are you?”
    “All things considered, I guess I’m doing okay.”
    She smiled, while his smile faded.
    “Kira, I am so sorry…about everything.”
    “Why are you sorry? You have done nothing wrong.”
    “I mean—.”
    “It is all right Jesse, the path of life sometimes makes unexpected changes, and there is nothing to be gained by dwelling on the past. We must follow the path given us. I will be okay in time.”
    They flew over Camelot on the way to the Sansi caves and found the place the Kuthra called home a shambles. All the sonic fence posts were down, and it was evident the Riktors, and the scavengers that followed them, had enjoyed tearing the place apart. It crossed Al’s mind to stop and try to salvage some items, but the destruction was so complete it appeared there was nothing left to recover.
    When they landed outside the cave entrance, two members of her tribe came out to escort them in. Inside the main chamber, covered in handmade rugs and the furs of successful hunts, the entire tribe waited to hear the decisions made on this important day. There were not that many of them left, with a grand total of only twenty-two individuals. The loss of six young warriors during the attack had been hard on them all, and they worried for their futures.
    Many discussions were taking place as the newcomers entered. When they reached the center of the chamber, the natives quieted. Kira’s father, chief of the Sansi, sat in his allocated chair with a regal composure and watched the visitors as they entered. Kira ran to her father who quickly rose for a hug.
    “It is good to see you, daughter,” he said in their language. Glancing down at her legs, he added, “I see you are becoming accustomed to the gift the Kuthra have given you.”
    She followed his gaze and replied, “Yes father. Sometimes I even forget they are not mine.”
    “How are you, my child? We have thought of you often. Are you and the Kuthra still hiding in the mountain?”
    Yes, we are, as you are hiding here. But Father, I have been to another world! There is a beautiful island, where people very like us are willing to give us refuge. I have come to ask you to go with us.”
    “Is it a world where we can live in peace—without fear?”
    Kira smiled as she recalled what she had seen on Thera.
    “It is wonderful Father, with a mountain on one end, and a village at the bottom where it is safe to be whether it is dark or light. There are no Riktors or Devil Dogs! We would be truly free at last.”
    He slowly grinned, but his eyes held a touch of sadness. “Our decision was made before you came. We agreed that if you came to us with hope for a better future, and a safe place to live, we would accept. The Riktors now hunt during the day, and their numbers are increasing. The Devil Dogs are growing much bolder, and now even the Flyers are hunting us. Avalon is no longer our home; it belongs to the beasts.”
    “What did he say, Kira,” asked Al.
    She turned to Al, her face alight, and said, “The Sansi are going with us. My people are going to come with the Kuthra to