Vision in Silver(190)

            “Arroo?” Simon hobbled to the pump, followed by Nathan. “Arroo?”

            Meg looked at the pump and then at the garden. She limped to the pump. “You think the plants need water?”

            He didn’t know about the plants, but the Wolves would sure like some.

            Nathan whined, then licked the pump’s spout.

            “Oh, you want water.” Meg studied the pump for so long the Wolves sat down to wait.

            “I wasn’t paying attention to the water when we planted the seed part of the garden, but I think I can do this,” she finally said.

            Well, yes, she could work the pump, and water did come out. It wasn’t a trickle that could be lapped, and the bucket that should have been under the spout to catch the water wasn’t there. Eventually they got their drink, mostly from licking the water that was dripping off each other.

            “Sorry,” Meg said. “There must be a trick to it.”

            Simon stood there, unable to shake off the water because the movement would make his shoulders and forelegs hurt.

            Someone coughed lightly.

            He tried to pivot and almost lost his balance.

            <It’s Vlad,> Nathan said.

            Vlad let out a gusty sigh that sounded more like a laugh. “I leave the three of you alone for just a little while, and look what trouble you get into.”

            <Didn’t get into trouble,> Simon growled. <Just got wet.>

            “The bucket gets blown around, so it’s kept in the toolshed,” Vlad told Meg, pointing to the small structure.

            “I wasn’t coming out to do anything except look at the garden,” she said. “But Simon and Nathan wanted a drink.” She looked at the Wolves. “You’re very wet.”

            “They’ll dry,” Vlad said.

            <See how much sympathy you get when Meg dumps water on you,> Simon grumbled.

            <Meeting has been called,> Vlad said, no longer sounding amused. <There’s something you need to see before we decide what to do.>

            <I can’t shift today.>

            <No humans are invited to this meeting, so you don’t need to look human.>

            <Meg shouldn’t be out here alone.> A Hawk passed over Simon, a reminder that there were terra indigene keeping watch.

            <She won’t be alone. And we won’t be far. We’re meeting in my apartment.>

            “Vlad?” Meg said, looking from the vampire to the Wolves.

            “Business meeting. Simon is needed,” Vlad said easily.

            “But he should rest today,” she protested.

            “I know, but this can’t wait.”

            She wanted to protect him, and that pleased Simon in all kinds of ways because he wanted to protect her too. But a leader couldn’t always be protected, so he started back toward the Green Complex and Vlad’s apartment.

            Vlad talked to Meg for another minute, then caught up to him.

            <Nathan will stay with her,> Vlad said.

            <He can’t protect her against intruders.>

            <No, he can’t, but he can sound the alarm if needed. And several of the ponies just showed up, including Tornado and Twister. No one will get near Meg while they’re grazing around the complex.>