It was time to leave Dunee. And those that had stayed behind soon found the deputies knocking on their doors and giving them maps to the location of the refugee camp.

Molk's family had piled their things into an old cart while his father took him towards the shore to fetch their pekiki. She was let to wander and forage as she liked, and would always return home when she was full.

They carried her tackle with them.

It wasn't a long walk and soon they were marching down the fenced path to see the shore. Passing evenly spaced soldiers at large intervals, respectful and at a distance. It made them feel safer that they were there.

Standing on the stony beach, Rahm, his father, shouted out towards the waves.

"Ketti! Get your fat butt out of the water!"

A moment later there was a stirring on the surface and soon a large bearded head emerged, mouth filled with kelp and four eyes seeking the source of the noise. Upon spotting them, it slowly made its way back, but seemed to pick up speed, as if sensing the family's distress.

Using her fin-like forelegs, she crawled forward until she got proper footing with her back hooves and stood up to her full height, lumbering over to give Molk a quick nuzzle before sniffing at the tackle.

She was shaggy beast with only a few calving years left in her, and Rahm often joked that they were going to eat her after. But the family had grown fond of the pekiki, using her to pull their wagons or carry supplies.

She was easy to feed, the ocean and forest were full of her favorite snacks. Which more than aided the family's pockets.

Her milk was good for baking, helping her earn her keep when they sold it to the shops. Her calves too were easy to sell off for extra cash at the same meat market where they had purchased her. Though they felt they might keep the next calf.

Rahm quickly set about dressing her. She had settled to the ground to make it easier, having done it countless times. After the blankets were in place, Molk found himself deposited upon her back while his father pulled the leather lead.

"Where is the camp?" Molk found himself asking as his father lead the beast of burden.

"Its a good day's journey," Rahm patiently said. "We'll likely reach there around midnight. If all goes well."

"Oh," the fawn said, ears drooping. That sounded way too far. He had no memory of ever being so far away. Any other time this would have been exciting.

Now, all he could feel was dread as he looked to the Thing in the Sky. It still had done nothing.

No sounds, no lights, no movement. The MAC fleet had effectively surrounded it by this point. Their lighter-than-air fighters continously circling it.

His stomach rumbled, distracing him a moment to realize he hadnt eaten in a while. Perhaps some of Ketti's milk would ease his hunger.

Voicing his thoughts, his father agreed and they both paused to take a break in the shade of the nuua trees.

Only a short one. They had to get back soon to connect her to the cart and beging the journey.

Rahm watched his son pityingly. This was something a child should never have to go through. He turned his eyes upon the thing and scowled.

---

Oora of the Medley Militia Engineers Corps hummed to herself as she applied the second layer of build-a-home foam. Or brick-in-a-can as the engineers liked,to call it. The stuff was fantastic, invented by a brilliant architect.

By brilliant, he was one who was never given the proper recognition he deserved. His invention was supposed to give anyone the freedom to build the house of their dreams for a fraction of the price of an average house.

So long as that house only had one floor, and the rooms didnt have too big a diameter.

The military was his primary customer, seeing value in such housing. They were well insulated and super customizable to fit their needs.

Just needed to lay down a ring of cinderblocks for the first layer to cling to atop of a laminated plastic floor. Acting as a foundation and keeping the ultralight structure from blowing away. Then you simply carved out doors and windows and ventilations, maybe coat the end product in cloth that had been dipped in concrete for extra protection if needed.

They had been working for days, thankfully the system was simple rinse and repeat. And she had a couple of her brothers there too. That that kept things from getting boring.

She felt bad for the villagers though. The emergency housing was nice, but nothing she would ever call home. She could already imagine their faces.

Crying fawns carrying their toys. Pets and farm animals put under the stress of moving as well. And she'd have a front row seat of it.

She frowned as she stopped humming.

"I've really got to stop thinking so negatively."