brigid

(sniffs)

(moves forward)

(pats ground with hoof)

Moo!

What is it? You find something?

Moo!

Caught someone's scent? Which way? Take me there.

We notified everyone in advance, and got the surrounding areas evacuated in time. The homes I saw on the way were mostly cleared out too, so if someone was left behind, we got a problem.

Moo!

This the spot? But there's nothing here.

(nudges rubble with snout)

Hey! Don't touch anything! Even if I can't see 'em, what if someone's down there?

Move aside, big one. I need to get past you.

Hello? Can you hear me?

I'm Brigid the nomad. If you can hear me and still move, then try to tap something hard like I'm doing.

There is a prolonged silence. Brigid starts to think her burdenbeast might have be mistaken. She looks around and sees the collapsed houses nearby, as well as the scattered supply packages.

It's been at least twenty-four hours since the Catastrophe. Finding any more survivors at this point is very unlikely.

Okay... no survivor then. Don't worry, big one, everyone makes mistakes.

(stomps angrily)

I know, I know! But I don't hear anything? Do you? Maybe you're smelling something else.

Moo!

Wait...

(lightly taps a stone brick)

(muffled voice)

...There IS someone down there!

I'm here! I'm here! Talk to me. Do you have any light? Are you alone? Or—

—daughter—

Brigid crouches down, pressing her ear to the stone, where the sound is clearer. She leans in close, trying hard to hear every syllable.

Help...

I need you to speak clearer!

Help... my daughter...

Your daughter? So two of you down there, huh? How's your daughter doing? She there with you?

After a series of faint sounds, the woman's voice becomes clearer.

It's dark down here. I can't see much... We're buried. She fainted. I don't know...

I beg you, save us—

Is your daughter near you?

Yes, yes... She's here in my arms. We're trapped under the rocks—

You're holding her? Take a deep breath, then listen to her closely. See if you can tell if she's breathing, or if she feels warm.

...ughh... Yes, yes!

Good. From here on out, you have to keep talking to me.

When people relax all of a sudden, they can quickly lose consciousness, so you need to keep talking to me, slowly.

About anything. Just.. tell me how old your daughter is, the color of your hair, whatever.

The nomad nimbly gets up from the ground, removes her bells, raises them, and steps toward a more open area.

Amidst the sound of the bells and wind, she sends a distress signal to her fellow nomads in the wilds.

...My daughter is 3-years-old. I have red hair...

What race are you? I'm a Perro.

Feline... My daughter and I are both Felines...

What's your name?

My name is Evelyn...

What's your daughter's name?

What's that? I can't hear you.

Nomad? Nomad? Are you still there?

I'm here. I'm sending out a distress signal for my buddies. You're brave. You've kept her safe. Now we just have to wait for my friends to get here, and you're as good as rescued.

What? We still have to wait?

No... no... there's no time....

Don't worry, there's time. You're still with me. Your daughter's still alive, right in your arms. We've confirmed your location, and there are no signs of aftershocks. You're going to be rescued. Trust me!

But I—I can't feel my legs. Even if you get me out, I'll be a cripple!

Wha—

So don't worry about me, or your companions. I beg you, nomad, just save my daughter!

I'm begging you!

Even without legs, you'd still have your eyes and your arms.

You'd still able to see and touch. You protected your daughter from the Catastrophe, and now you want to leave her all alone?

Why?

You don't get it, nomad. You don't understand...

Maybe I don't. So explain it to me. Remember what I said? Keep talking.

But slowly. No more yelling like before. You'll just tire yourself out before you know it.

No...

...Brigid?

Hm?

Nemos! Did you get my message? That was fast!

What message?

I taught you how to listen to the wind before, remember?

Of course you do. How else would you find me here? But that's not important. You're just in time. Over here, quickly.

Our mission is urgent, Wakewoman. We can't afford to waste any time.

I know, it's okay. This is my friend. She's a Taran nomad.

Nemos, who are those soldiers with you...?

The Dublinn rescue team. We're here from Na Saoirsí.

Oh.

So it's a rescue mission, right? The people on that wee nomadic city made it out safe, but some of the others didn't. I found two survivors here.

Right here, under this rubble?

Yeah, right where I was standing. A mum and her kid. The mum's still conscious and talking, and the daughter's alive, but unconscious.

So I take it you'll keep searching elsewhere?

Yeah. I already sent a message for my companions in the area. It's always faster working together, then we can move on right quick and keep looking for more.

Well, we're here now. You can go continue your search. Dublinn will take it from here.

Wakewoman, the mission The Brigadier gave us was to—

I know, but there are two Taran survivors down there, and last I checked Dublinn was a Taran movement. Am I wrong?

We'll take over the rescue mission here. Does that work for you, Brigid?

Of course. This isn't the first time we've worked together like this, it's not like you need me with all those extra hands.

Follow me. I'll show you the exact spot.

...We can split our forces. Some of you will stay here to handle the rescue, while the rest can come with me.

Wakewoman.

You sound worried. How are the mother and daughter doing?

The nomad gave a good summary of the situation before the nomad left, but even with all of us working together, it'd take a while to clear the rubble and give them some breathing room before we can rescue them.

Our main task is to save the refugees who've been encircled by the Victorians, and we can't put that off for long.

And we can't afford to split up either, or it'll take even longer.

Exactly. Also, the mother insists on speaking with you. She says she wants to talk to the person in charge.

Then let me speak with her.

Hmm... Haven't we already been through here? Isn't this where we discovered the mum and her daughter?

Looks like Nemos and the others have left, so they must've been freed a while ago. You sure your nose is working, big one? We overfeed you or something?

Moo, moomoo—