A Tail Tale

Chapter- 06

        The bright yellow-red sun climbs the cloud filled light blue sky steadily as morning arrives. The dew on the leaves could be observed to be still fresh, and the sight of dark grey smoke had faded to a light grey. Tyler sat up in his tent to a similar scent. The scent of bent steel, burning clothe, and iron could be smelt heavily in the air. The teen clad in now dry dark blue jeans, a weathered white T-shirt that he borrowed from another camp member, hand-me-down civilian combat boots, and a leather jacket quietly exited his camouflaged tent, as to not wake anyone else up in the process. As he exited the tent, a new, but familiar sight could be seen. The campsite was busier than the previous day, hunters clad in plaid button downed shirts carried two 0.308 hunting rifles, two shotguns, and what military ammunition cases they could towards the now parked Red Pick-up truck. A new smell met Tyler's nose unlike any he had smelt before, but familiar in the same sense. It was as if he could smell a person that was close, but the closest person were the two hunters who were now loading the rear of the truck, too far away to smell. The bushes rustled behind him as he deciphered this new scent. His Fox-like ears twitched as he heard footsteps within the bushes as they started to rustle faster, as if something were coming towards him. Turning around, the rustling ceased, and no one could be seen within the bushes.
"Hey! Tyler!" A woman yelled vigorously from across the camp.
Tyler turned towards the woman who stood near the now put-out campfire which had been set ablaze just the previous night. A soft, light grey-white smoke could still be seen protruding from the now light grey ashes. She wore a darker red t-shit, lighter blue jeans, a dark blue bullet proof vest, and light brown work boots. Holding a light brown wooden crate, she yells towards Tyler once again.
"Get your stuff packed up, we're going for those helicopters, then the city!"
Tyler nodded slightly, then started to pack his items into his backpack. The sound of the camp was like that of a busy street within any city, although without the talking. The silence was only broken by the footsteps of each person. Like wolves of a pack they simply gave signals rather than spoke. Another Lupman walked towards the rear of the non-infected woman quickly after she yelled at Tyler.
"Don't yell, it'll attract more of those....things..." The man whispered with fear in both his eyes and voice.
"Alright....sorry, but how do I know if one of you isn't one of them..?" She replied in a softer tone than before.
"I-...You saw them right...?" He asked quickly.
The woman swung her head from side-to-side.
"What do you mean no? You were on the truck right...?" He asked quickly, though with an aggravated tone now.
"I-..didn't go with your group...sorry." She replied hastily.
As the two discussed their whereabouts, and the next course of action, Tyler stood against a small oak tree trunk, listening in on the conversation partially unintentionally as he waited for the truck's depart.
"That's enough brother." A taller Lupman with silver fur said as he placed his hand on the other Luman's shoulder.
"But....if she's not part of the group....we should do something, she could give our plans away to others....or worse..." The Brother replied.
"You're afraid of those Cleansers aren't you brother?" He asked calmly
"Wha-? I-...Yeah....Rumor has it that they have been defying the government and others in their campaign to cleanse this...." He hesitates before continuing his thought, as if he remembered something from the past.
"This 'infection' brother?" The other Lupman asked.
"Ye-...Yeah..." The Brother replied.
"Chdrr Chdrr" The two were interrupted as the sound of distant gunfire could be heard. The group looked towards  the direction of the seemingly infinitely distant gunfire, towards the four pillars of smoke which rose high into the bright blue sky. The sounds ceased as a single scream could be heard. The camp grew ever quiet as they listened, but only the sound of the wind against the resisting tree leaves could be heard. Like the signal of an alarm, the scream made the camp soon work faster to pack up. Tents fell quickly as guards could be seen vigorously  scouring the seemingly clear perimeter.
"Alright! The truck is all packed up and ready to go!" A young man yelled to the camp before being slapped in the rear of the head by another man.
"No yelling." He instructed.
"Right..." The young man clad in a light yellow t-shirt, black jeans, and boots replied while rubbing the back of his head.
The group quickly started to migrate towards the now turned on truck.
"Keep your weapons readily available, we wouldn't want anymore casualties..." Musan instructed before opening the passenger seat to the truck, and getting inside. Like bees to the hive, as Musan closed his truck's door, the group pilled into their respective seating arrangements; with weapons drawn. Tyler climbed onto the bed of the truck, and rustled through the sheet of empty shell casings which were left from earlier engagements. He sat with his against the rear of the cabin, with his pistol in one hand. Two Lupman carrying semi-automatic rifles could be seen loading their magazines into their rifles, and pulling the hammer back on each as they climbed into the bed of the truck.