24. The Menace

The field of crops was a mess. Tatum could hardly believe what he was seeing. Alpha Wally had not been exaggerating.

The plants had lost their vibrant green color. It was now a sickly dull brown with faded patches of discoloration. Most plants had fallen lifeless to the earth. Others were barely standing upright.

At least a third of the crops had gone bad, only a measly amount looked edible and worth harvesting.

He stood rigid as he stared at the dying plants left in utter disarray.

“This is a disaster,” he commented, shaking his head this way and that.

“Quite right, my lord.” Alpha Wally was carrying his daughter, Winnie, while his son stood by his leg, hugging it.

They were toddlers, about two or three years old. Winnie was staring straight at Tatum with open curiosity. She had her father’s brunette hair and straight nose. Winner looked more like their mother with his dark curls and oval face.

They were adorable, but from many observations, Tatum knew they could be quite wild.

Shift