Chapter 79: Rally Point

The others are waking from their brief rest, stirring. Reid feels them and rises himself first, coming to stand at the

crest of the clearing near the water, making himself their rally point. He has to take this leadership thing seriously if

he wants to survive. Reid is surprised to feel a soft, wet nose under his hand and looks down. Minnie is glued to him

like she'll never leave him.

So Drew wasn't kidding.

When he looks up again the pack has gathered, some taking another drink, the rest looking at him, waiting for orders.

"What's the plan?" Joel's grumble is halfhearted but Reid knows it's meant to sow seeds of discontent and needs to shut

it down immediately.

"Good question." Reid looks around at the others. "More importantly, what was the plan?"

Emme speaks up. "To escape with enough dust to sustain us and make more."

"Why?" Reid needs them to wake up, to stop thinking like tools and start making decisions again. He gets the impression