The Chronicles of Moon

Car Ride

Moon stands by the SUV, trying not to let her nerves get the better of her. The urge to keep checking her phone had her stomach twisting in knots. She knew the drive back to her pack was going to be agony.

She kicks at a few pebbles, still looking at her phone screen and wondering if she should just text Em. Moon decides to just send her a short message that help is coming. When she looks up, she is surprised to see Chris come out of the packhouse and walk toward her.

“Chris, what are you doing here?” Moon questions, clearly surprised to see him.

“I came to help your pack. Johnny wanted to come too, but Doc wouldn’t let him. Needless to say, Johnny is less than happy. I told him I would go and look out for you. Though I don’t think you need me to look after you. I think Farrell has already claimed that job, and he doesn’t normally like anyone. Farrell barely tolerates me most of the time.” Chris smirks and gives Moon a quick once over, and she would have seen if she had been paying attention. Moon was too busy staring at her phone again, hoping Emily would reply.

“Hey, it’s going to be okay, Moon,” Chris tells her and Moon looks up from her phone. He smiled warmly at her, and his soft eyes and gentle smile were soothing.

“Thanks, Chris. I just hate that I don’t know what’s happening, and Em was so afraid.” Moon hangs her head and feels defeated.

Chris surprises Moon by hugging her to him, but Moon needs someone to hug her right now more than anything. She half wishes Colin would have. As soon as the thought of Colin popped into her head, she wanted to reject it, but it was too late. She did wish he was the one holding her. Moon is not looking forward to the drive. Her stomach hurts as it is, and she knows every curve will make it worse.

When Chris lets her go, he holds her out at arm’s length, looking at her. “Johnny said you get car sick. Is that true?”

Moon slumps and looks up at him sheepishly. “Yeah, but don’t tell anyone, please.”

“Why not? It’s nothing to be ashamed of. Chris is confused until Moon tells him what Zach had said and that she just didn’t want to be a problem. She didn’t want to give anyone more of a reason to leave her behind.

“Well, you know what that means? You get the front seat.” Chris winks at her, and Moon’s eyes widen as Colin and Zach come out of the packhouse, and Chris opens the passenger door for Moon. “In you go, Moon.” He winks at her. Moon puffs air out her nose and gets into the seat.

Colin and Zach throw a couple of bags into the back and join her and Chris in the car. Colin looks at Moon as he gets into the driver’s seat, and Chris pipes up. “I just thought she would be more comfortable in the front.” Chris shrugs.

Once everyone is situated, they start the long drive back to Big Springs pack. Moon feels so sick, and they just left the packhouse. She has no idea how she’s going to keep from throwing up at least once. Johnny had to stop three times just so Moon didn’t throw up in the truck.

Moon is starting to feel worse and worse every mile they drive down the road, and by the time they reach the highway, she thinks she’s going to have to say something soon as waves of nausea start making her sweat. Colin reaches over and grabs her hand that’s clenched in a tight fist next to her.

“Breathe please.” He says and her hand relaxes. He slips his fingers into hers, more to her surprise. Moon takes another deep breath, and some of the nausea passes.

“Thanks,” Moon mumbles. She expects Colin to let go of her hand, but he doesn’t, only squeezing it gently. Moon is embarrassed because she knows Chris and Zach can see and hear everything happening right in front of them, but Colin looks unphased by anything.

Moon glances at the side mirror to see the line of SUVs following behind them. Moon can’t even count how many there are. When she glances behind her, she catches sight of Chris, grinning at her. Moon turns back and tries to take her hand from Colin’s, but he won’t let hers go.

She tries again and Colin does release her. Moon checks her phone for the hundredth time in just the short time they have been driving.

“Chris, call David and find out what is happening. Zach, see if you can get a hold of Jess. I left her in charge of the Big Springs pack, and I want to know why none of them got in touch with us when this first started.

Both men get on their phones, and Moon’s stomach is in knots again and not the pleasant kind. She’s feeling worse when Colin retakes her hand; this time, Moon doesn’t resist it. For whatever reason, it helps. She still feels sick, but it’s bearable, at least.

“I can’t reach Jess,” Chris says concerned. “If she could have, she would have had someone call us Colin, you know that.”

“Yeah, I do,” Colin says, looking concerned for a moment. He even holds Moon’s hand a little tighter, and Moon starts to wonder if he wasn’t holding her hand just for her sake but also his.

Moon Just wishes they could drive faster and get there already. Every moment of the drive is agony, and she hates it.

“Just keep trying to reach someone.” Colin declares gruffly.

Zach is on the phone now, “Yeah, I’ll let him know.” Zach says sharply.

“What is it, Zach?” Colin demands, and Zach flinches. This time Moon squeezes Colin’s hand. Colin actually takes a breath collecting himself.

“What did David say?” Colin asks in a calmer tone.

“He is waiting for his people to let him know when they get there. He didn’t go. He had other things to do, but he’s sure his people could handle whatever is going on. He’s sure it isn’t as bad as we are making it sound.”

Colin growls a bit, and Moon huffs, “I knew he was worthless.” Moon Huffs and Chris joins her with a scoff of his own.

“You have no idea how worthless he is. I don’t think he has ever gotten his hands dirty a day in his life.” Colin growls out and pushes down on the accelerator. He had hoped that David would take the situation seriously, but clearly, he hadn’t.