Chapter 198: Like refugees.
The irrational request turned even more absurd a minute later, after Sienna finished recording the words Mija wanted to hear.
The snake woman boldly declared, "Since you love me more, then you should host my family because you have hosted some royals before. Serenya is always coming over to freeload. When she can’t she send her attendants to pack containers of meats and fruit. She is really taking advantage of us because of her position."
"Us!" Mrs. Miller exclaimed.
Ali whimpered on the bed.
Ignoring the fact Sienna’s attention was suddenly focused on the cub, Mija continued. "Next month, I have a five day vacation booked at Ma-Lady Ski resort. We are going together." Her eyes flicked to the cub. "I am hoping for a ladies trip, but if you must, bring the cute burdens."
"Burdens!!" Mrs. Miller screamed.
Sienna shook her head. Mija would be Mija, and trying to correct her way of talking was a waste of everyone’s time. At the end of the day, she was not a blood relative, so the children did not care either.
A seven day trip to a ski resort sounded tempting. "I will consider it." Sienna moved Ali, strapping the cub to her back again. "I don’t have time for this right now Mija, the first ships with the tribesmen who were able to return has landed. I have to go out and give them the rules."
The hospital they were standing in was the very one that would house the fox beast men and women fleeing the plague. She put on her face mask, while her mother helped Ali into a breathing mask, and covered the little one, leaving only a small gap for her eyes.
The women left the ward, and stepped out of the hospital. The smell of disinfectant was already heavy in the air. Tents for decontamination were standing in the empty vehicle lot. A large fire was going somewhere in the back, prepared to burn all the clothes on the bodies of those who had returned. If necessary, all their luggage as well.
Fox guards from the vanguard, in masks, fully armed, formed a blockade. Steps descended from the flying ship. One by one, fox beast men and women descended,
Sienna’s eyes widened. She had expected orderly travelers, perhaps carrying sleek suitcases, with that airport chic kind of look. Instead, they came empty handed. No luggage, no travel bags, not even cloaks for the majority. Their faces were streaked with tears, their shoulders hunched as if the weight of the plague itself clung to them.
It was not a return--it was an exodus.
"What is going on?" She turned to Timothy, who was just as exhausted as she was. "They look like refugees."
Timothy shrugged. "The airport in HoundFang is crowded. Thousands of people are trying to flee. As we speak, the city has officially been closed until the king makes a statement. We are expecting one last ship. Those who decided to waste time have been left behind."
Elder Tomlin bounced over, veins throbbing in his neck. "See what I was saying?" He bellowed under his mask. "Look at their condition. It is as if they have not eaten for a month. The sickness is clinging to their bones."
Sienna glared at him. "Shut up. If your children were part of the group, you would not be saying this."
They heard a scream, and saw a fox guard shocking one of the refugees that was attempting to leave. The action shocked others that were planning to do the same thing.
Mrs. Miller touched Sienna’s arm, lines of worry marking her forehead. "We should not be here. What if you catch the sickness? What if Ali gets it?"
Sienna pulled her phone out. "Mom, transportation in and out of HoundFang city has not been blocked until now. If the sickness was there two weeks ago, then I reckon it has also spread through the kingdom because people have been going in and out freely. If the royal family is not panicking, we should not do the same. My biggest reason for pulling them out was because the lions were doing the same. If people are running from a fire, you don’t stay and burn."
Two more ships arrived, bringing fox beast men and women. In the mix were a few other races that were family to the foxes.
Sienna tapped her phone, activating a microphone app, and cleared her throat. Her voice boomed across the area, magnified until even the pilots in the flying ships flinched.
"Attention!" She declared, sounding like a general about to announce battle plans. "For those of you who don’t recognize me, I am Lady Sienna Veythar, your matriarch. I sat with the council of elders today and we decided to send ships to bring you back home if you wished, during these trying times. Looking at your number, it seems this was the right decision."
There was some cheering.
Sienna waited for it to die down and she continued, "This is a hospital, so I believe you are safe here. This hospital will be your home until we are certain that you did not bring any illness back with you. The safety of this city and your families remains our primary concern. But safety requires rules, and rules require obedience. And obedience requires...well, listening to me."
The crowd stirred, some blinking at her, others wiping their eyes.
Sienna raised her hand dramatically. "Rule one: No wandering beyond the hospital. If you wander the guards will shoot you."
A ripple of gasps went through the crowd.
"Rule number two: Hygiene. You will bathe. You will wash your hands. You will not sneeze on your neighbors."
Coincidentally, someone sneezed, setting off a wave of panic that did not stop until a team of doctors in hazmat suits took the man away.
Sienna’s sigh could be heard in every corner. "I know flu is one of the symptoms of this illness but you should all try not to panic when someone sneezes. It is winter, I am sure a lot of people are sneezing. But like I said, if you must sneeze, don’t do it on your neighbor. Do it in a tissue that must be dumped in an incinerator.
Rule number three: Cooperation. You will do as the doctors say. You will follow the nurses. You will obey the guards. You will obey my words, or the words of the fox lord when he returns. If you cause trouble because you think there is strength in numbers, I will send my bees to to discipline you. And they are very democratic--they sting everyone equally. I don’t know if any of you has been stung by a bee before but it hurts and sometimes, it kills."
The refugees exchanged glances. Some laughed weakly, others looked horrified at how serious she was whenever she mentioned their death.
Had she brought them home to be saved or to die?
