March 7th, 2013

Wyoming, mid-state

1

Waking with the feeling that something very valuable had been stolen from him, Adrian listened first for the sounds of his flock - tents flapping, dogs yapping almost casually, a soft, calm crunch of footsteps, the moderate murmur of voices - and allowed himself to relax, the sounds were there and normal. He sat up, reaching for his cigarette pack.

Naked except for his green boxers, Adrian lit a joint, not cold but aware of the chill in the tent. His watch showed it was 5:33 a.m - time to get his busy day started, and he took an extra five to get ready. The day's list was almost double what it usually was, and everyone would be busy right up to the shooting contest after dinner.

He hit the joint hard and rubbed the sleep from his eyes, thinking his goatee needed a trim. He coughed at the lungful of smoke and smiled. Tonya sure knew how to grow it. Too bad that wouldn't be allowed when they settled down somewhere, but if he let in one, all the rest would follow. In the meantime, stashes and supplies would run out like everything else, forcing people off of their habits without him having to be a cruel leader.

Adrian inhaled harder, until his lungs burned. He was tired and worried, his usual state of being since the War, and it took only a few hits for him to feel the effects. He closed his eyes, lower mind planning the day, fitting things together for convenience, his higher mind searching for those he had to believe were still on their way. Maybe they were already here, just overlooked. Maybe he'd passed them by.

"I need help!" Adrian shouted silently, "I can't keep doing this alone!"

The leader let out a harsh sigh, knowing he would keep trying until he was used up, and probably even beyond that. He wouldn't give up as his father had. The guilt rolled over him at that, and behind it, came the overwhelming need to right the wrongs that he could.

Adrian got up, again listening for his people, something he did when he woke each morning. They were the reason he worked so hard, and he began to move faster, eager to be with them.

Pulling on his black jacket against the chill of mid-40's, he stepped out into the strong wind, and his eyes went immediately to the sky. Adrian frowned at the ugly look of it. Something was racing their way. Rain? Snow? Both? He would have to look, and that meant using his own magic, something all of those he was searching for would also have - to one degree or another.




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