Embattlement: The Undergrounders Series Book Two (A Young Adult Science Fiction Dystopian Novel) by Norma Hinkens

back and carries her over to the others.
    Panju kneels down to inspect Izzy’s leg. “This looks deep.”
    “It could probably use a few stitches,” I say. “Got any medical supplies?”
    Panju pulls a face. “I can give you something to wrap it with. That’s about it.”
    “It’ll have to do.”
    She digs around in her pack and hands me a roll of sterile gauze. I carefully wind the bandage around Izzy’s leg and secure it in place. If it gets infected, we’re in trouble. I hope I haven’t underestimated how much of a burden Izzy could become.
    A strained silence hangs like a veil between us as we load up our gear. With so few of us left to defend ourselves, there’s a heightened risk to our already hazardous hike to the city, especially with Blade still on the prowl. It won’t be long before the deserters reach the Council’s base and Big Ed and Jakob find out what happened. I’m sure Jett will make me out to be an utter failure as a leader, but Big Ed will know there’s more to the story. I’m not so sure about Jakob. He might feel bad about what happened, or he might feel vindicated that he washed his hands of the mission.
    “Ready?” I call to the others.
    Trout picks up Izzy and falls in behind me with Panju, followed by Buck and Elijah. Sven brings up the rear, herding Won and Rummy in front of him. I pull out some jerky and tear off a piece for Tucker as we get underway. I’m relying on his nose to warn us of any unwanted company.
    We hike for most of the day through matted forest undergrowth, until the pines give way to chest high scrubland and fescue grass. Izzy dozes fitfully on Trout’s back. He turns down Sven’s repeated offers to take a turn carrying her, insisting it’s because he doesn’t want her being scared around Rummy, but I suspect there’s something comforting to Trout about the feel of her little hands linked around his neck.
    We only make camp once, long enough to cook up a hearty dinner of rabbit stew, and rest for a few hours before we set out again.
    Under the moonlight, our shadows float in front of us, luring us forward despite our fatigue. Conversation is sparse; even Rummy has given up grumbling and adopted a hypnotic gait. Only the periodic hoot of a screech owl filters through the foliage.
    I’ve walked through this forest lost in my thoughts before, but tonight I’m all too aware that the smallest mistake could cost us our lives. There’s a good chance Blade’s hooked up with the Rogues who killed Izzy’s parents by now. And if that’s the case, it’s only a matter of time before he comes for me.
    “Think we’ll catch this Rogue you’re looking for?” Panju asks, coming alongside me.
    I grimace. “I’ve underestimated him more than once. He might make it to the wilderness before us, but if he does we’ll move to plan “B.”
    “What’s plan “B”?”
    “We send Won in to make contact with the Rogues.”
    Panju hikes a skeptical brow at me. “That doesn’t sound too promising. He’s not much of a communicator. Most of the time I can barely understand him.”
    I laugh. “He only needs to deliver a very short message. Once Blade realizes we’re holding Rummy, he’ll do everything in his power to convince The Ghost to strike a deal with us.”
    “You’re placing a lot of weight on the bond between Blade and Rummy,” Panju says. “Even brother will sacrifice brother, under the right circumstances.”
    I stiffen, but catch myself before I respond. She wasn’t trying to provoke me. She doesn’t know what went down in the landing dock when I left Owen. And anyway, she’s right about brother betraying brother. I can’t count on the strength of Rummy and Blade’s relationship alone for the success of this mission. I need another angle.
    A few feet ahead of us Tucker freezes, hackles raised. I raise a hand to halt the group and listen for a minute, my breath shallow in my throat.
    Tucker begins to growl, throaty and low. A red alert I don’t