“He’s hurt but talking,” the fey holding Adam said. “Uan met with a hellhound and will need Cassie’s attention.”
“I understand,” the new human said, his gaze shifting to me. “When the fey left this morning, they weren’t expecting to find people, but I’m sure glad they did. My name’s Matt, and I’m in charge of Tenacity. Let’s get you two settled in somewhere and take a look at him.” Matt glanced at the fey. “Do you mind tagging along, Brog?”
The fey grunted and fell into step behind Matt. I followed as we walked farther into the maze of houses.
A set of young boys ran between the houses in front of us.
“Caleb. Connor. Go help unload and organize.”
“Okay, Matt,” they yelled at the same time, not slowing but veering back the way we’d come.
“How are you all alive?” I asked, too stunned by the kids to filter.
“Perseverance, a whole lot of luck, and even more help. We wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for the fey.”
“How many people live here?”
“Three hundred and thirty-three, including you two. To save on heating and other resources, I’ve had to assign shared housing. It’s two or three people per bedroom, depending on the home’s size. But since you’re new, you’ll get a house to yourself for a bit to let you settle in.”
“How many of those three hundred and thirty-three people are fey?”
“Here? None, unfortunately. Over in Tolerance, there’s about two hundred fey and maybe seventy-five humans now? That sound about right, Brog?”
“Yes.”
Matt deviated up an unshoveled driveway.
“This will be your place,” he said.
It felt weird walking straight into a house. No hesitation. No listening for infected. Nothing. Open the door and go right in. I hesitated, and Matt gave me an encouraging smile as he waited for me to enter.
“You’ll get used to it,” he said.
“I hope not,” I said, reluctantly walking in.
“Any chance this guy can put me down?” Adam asked, sounding more lucid than he had during the whole trip here.
“That might not be the best idea,” Matt said. “You’re covered in infected blood. It would be better if Brog carried you to the bathroom.”
“Fine.”
The two of them disappeared into the bathroom. A moment passed as we listened to low murmured conversation. Then the door shut.
“Is he going to be okay in there?” I asked.
“Yeah, he’ll be fine.”
I looked down at myself. My sleeves were dirty, but the rest of me was okay. Setting my bag to the side, I shrugged out of my jacket and went to rewash my hands.
“Where did the fey come from?” I finally asked. “Adam and I heard a lot of stories that painted those…” I looked at the door. “Fey. Is that what they really are?” I shook my head. “What we heard painted them in a very unfriendly light. Why are they here? Here as in on this planet and here as in helping us.”
Matt chuckled behind me.
“Before I answer all of that, can you tell me where you came from?”
“A bunker Adam’s family had.”
“Adam’s the one in the bathroom?”