Alex Morgan

In the 22nd century, Earth has been harvested by a race of aliens known as the Xini. In the aftermath, all the planet’s resources have been stripped. Dakota sets out from Dallas in search of his lover, Grayson, who vanished on his way to St. Louis after the invading fleet departed.<br><br>Dakota faces unknown dangers in the devastated plains of northern Texas and southern Oklahoma as scavengers -- human beings reduced to shells after the Harvesting -- roam the earth attacking anything that moves in an effort to survive.<br><br>He finds a group of survivors struggling in what little remains of Oklahoma City, led by the tough, handsome Colonel Welch. While Mother Nature unleashes a fury of natural disasters to purge herself of the Xini rape, Dakota must decide whether to stay with the colonel and help him make the colony viable, or continue onto St. Louis to find Grayson.

Harvested

How had he fared during the ice and snow last night? And the poison cloud today? The colony animals had the advantage of the shelters which gave them some modicum of protection, but Buddy had nothing, nowhere to go, nowhere to hide. 


Maybe I’m underestimating his resourcefulness, Dakota thought. I’m sure he found a cubby hole or somewhere to escape the fog. And he’s got enough fur to keep him warm.


Dakota and Chip left the colony, heading south. Chip seemed ebullient as he walked next to him, almost skipping. He chatted about the projects that he planned to become involved in. Warren had introduced him to a number of the colonists, and through the introductions, Chip found areas where he could contribute. Howie ran in circles around them, sniffing the ground, tail wagging.


Chapter 31