“Orik is not in rut…it is not official,” Hrad says, even though it’s obvious because Orik’s markings aren’t glowing.
Bridget crosses her arms. “It’s official because I say it’s official and he can choose when he wants to go into rut. And if you don’t like it, you won’t get socks.”
Sabine covers her mouth with her hand. As the leader’s mate, she shouldn’t laugh at the others.
Hrad considers her for a moment. “You chose them both. You weren’t coerced into including Orik?”
His concern was well placed, and I send him thanks for his worry.
“I was not coerced. My intention was to take both, after getting to know Vari, but he messed things up. And then I was rushed.” She glares at Yva and then smiles at me. “It all worked out.”
Orik slides over and she sits between us, cloth held in her hand. He touches her hand and while I don’t know what he says, it makes her lips curve.
“Hrad and Yva have left signs for Aldit and Tiril. Tomorrow we will resupply the ship. You should be alright to sail the day after?”
“Probably.” The rut doesn’t last long with a willing mate, though the aftereffects will linger for a full moon cycle like the embers of a fire. “We will gather more grasses, because even if it is not suitable for socks, it will make blankets or cloaks.”
“Mia and Sunif, you are in charge of cleaning the ship and water supply. Yva and Hrad, meat. Sabine and I will gather roots and fruits.”
We might only be sailing up the coast, but sailing without provisions is inviting disaster, plus it buys us time to find a location, and set up, without needing to stop and hunt. With extra people in our tribe, there are more hands to do the work.
Bridget’s promise of a home makes me wonder if we will ever leave this land. What is there for us to return to?
I glance up at the stars, the fires of the banished that came before me, thankful that I chose to follow Edilk on the quest to chase the falling star. Without his faith, we’d all be fighting the tribes, and the other banished for survival.
This is a much better life.
I ask my brothers to watch over Aldit and Tiril and to guide them back to us. So they too can have a home for the first time since being banished.
* * *
