Chapter 0436

I sigh sharply out of my nose and take my seat next to Jackson, giving my mom and dad a final glare for good measure. My mom nods to me, a small smile gracing her lips, letting me know that she isn’t fully happy about it either. But, she wouldn’t have let it happen this way if it wasn’t necessary.

With a nod from my father, Hank begins by telling Jackson all about his years in the northern provinces – about working hard to bring medical aid to impoverished communities there, both wolf and human. Then he begins to speak of the Community, about never being able to break into it – listing the things he does and does not know, the gaps in his knowledge.

“Do you know?” Hank asks, clearly very curious. “About the status of the medical facilities within the Community?”

“I don’t know much besides my personal experience,” Jackson says, still feeling a little cagey. “I was trained as a warrior – they didn’t…they didn’t want me to know anything except what I was supposed to know. Everything I know about the medical facilities I know from being patched up inside them but…” he shrugs, “I heal very fast. I only had to go to the medical facilities once and from what I remember it was very…bare bones. Just a cabin like most of the others.”

“What sort of supplies did they have inside?” Hank asks, eager, and from the way he leans forward I can see that it’s all professional curiosity shining in his eyes. “Do you think that if we offered more supplies – completely free – just dropped at the door – that the Community would take them? Use them?”

Looking down at the table Jackson shakes his head sharply, his shoulders tense. But he doesn’t say a word.