SIAN TURNED BACK TO SEE Cat gaze at Alek in a somewhat awed manner.

Ooh no, she thought and marched over, giving Cat a shake to snap her out of her reverie and shot Alek a hard look.

'You'll have to forgive her, she's useless with lack of sleep. We're digging our packs out of the shelter we'd been sleeping in when those things attacked.' She indicated to Loi who'd just retrieved a bag and tossed it over.

PACKS. ATTACKED. RIGHT. NODDING, I got a grip on ...