by B.J. Keeton
***
While Harlo resigned herself to being kidnapped by a giant, purple angel-creature, Swinton just took a moment to deal with what had happened. When his shock subsided and his brain was once again able to make sense of the world, he began to pack up camp. They hadn't made a fire, but he folded their foil blankets and packed them away in the supply bags. His soldier training had kicked in like Bryt always said it would, and he realized that despite being stuck here alone in Purpleland, he had been taught what to do in this kind of scenario.
Well, not this scenario specifically, but in a no-win scenario in hostile territory. He must have missed the classes on how to respond to giant angels making off with his teammates one by one, but he figured that he would improvise and make a win-win situation out of it all.
It took him less than three minutes to grab all their supplies and buckle them together. As he finished, Swinton realized that Harlo had none of her gear with her, and he frowned. He prayed she wouldn't need it.
Giving one last glance to make sure he had not left anything lying around that could lead one of those things to him, he set out toward the kidnapper. He knew that he was too slow to do any real good in the short term, but he hoped that he could find them all eventually. Maybe that would count for something.
