“You’ve grown,” she said, putting a hand on top of his head.
“A little.”
“It’s good to see you again.”
Lil’s words were warm, but Wren felt a gap between the two of them that he hadn’t expected. “It’s good to see you, Miss Lil.” His mouth was dry, and he couldn’t think of anything else to say.
There was a noise from inside the room, and Lil turned back to address it.
“Are you hungry, sweet one?” she said. And then, “Come here, there’s someone I’d like you to meet.” There were more shuffling noises, and Lil pushed the door open a little wider. In the middle of the room, a little girl was standing – brown-haired, brown-eyed, and a little chubby. She had some soft thing clutched to her cheek. She didn’t come any closer. “This is Wren. He stayed with us for a little while, a long time ago.” The little girl just stared, wide-eyed. “Wren, this is Thani.”
“Hi, Thani,” Wren said with a wave. Thani returned the wave, but didn’t say anything. Wren guessed she was probably about six years old.
“Was there something you needed, Wren?” Lil asked.
Wren shook his head.
“OK. I’m going to take Thani to get something to eat. Would you like to come with us?”
“I should wait for my mom.”
“OK. Well, we’ll be just down there,” she said, pointing down the hall towards where it bent to the right. “Around the corner, and at the end of the hall. You can join us there when you’re ready.”
“OK. Thanks, Lil.”
She nodded, and then turned and held out a hand to Thani. “Come on, sweet one, let’s go find you some food.” Thani took Lil’s hand. Wren stepped back away from the door to let them out.
“See you in a little bit,” Lil said as she closed her door. Wren nodded. He stood watching the two of them walking down the hall, hand in hand, until they disappeared around the corner. Then he walked back to his room and stood outside the door, waiting for Mama. And while he waited, he felt completely out of place.
Later that evening, after Swoop and Wick had come back in from their scouting, Lil had given them all a quick tour of the complex. It was larger than it had initially appeared, with several floors extending down below ground. Whatever its original purpose, the building was clearly built to hold more people than were there now.
Lil had originally told them that she’d put them up on the top floor so they could all be together. But as they’d gotten shown around, Cass couldn’t help but get the feeling that Lil had wanted to keep them separated from her own people as well. Everyone they’d met was cordial, but Cass could feel the distance between the two groups. And no one quite seemed to know what to make of Painter and her.
Mouse had clearly gained some favor amongst the people, having tended to the many wounded and having made improvements where he could. Even though Elan had counted eighteen able-bodied among them, it’d turned out that most of them had injuries as well; they were just too stubborn to let their wounds be considered anything more than minor. Mouse had come away impressed, both by the quality of the people and the skill they showed in medicine.
Afterwards, the team gathered in the mess hall, where a number of Lil’s people had prepared a meal. Cass recognized some of those that had escorted Lil, among the cooks. There were several rows of long steel tables with benches, and Lil directed them to seats. Though Gamble and her team had put up a lot of resistance, Lil’s people insisted on feeding them from their own stores. This place clearly hadn’t been some improvised shelter; it had been stocked well ahead of their need, and for more than had survived.
Two men brought trays over to their table, carrying bowls of stew on them. They placed these in front of everyone wordlessly, and then departed. For the most part, they were left to themselves, but Lil and Elan both joined them at the table, as did the little girl, who was introduced as Thani.
The stew was brown and thick, and though Cass couldn’t identify much of what was in it, she was surprised at how delicious it was. She’d expected something more typical of a survivors’ enclave: thin, watery, flavorless. Instead, the meal was hearty and nourishing.
“I have to admit, Lil,” Cass said. “I’m a little overwhelmed at your hospitality. You’ve done far too much.”
Lil shook her head while she finished the food she had in her mouth. “A poor reception compared to the welcome you would’ve received a week ago. We’ve suffered much. I’m afraid it’s made my people wary and suspicious.”