Kestrel glanced away from the fire and grinned as Aoife emerged from Gray\u2019s shadow as they came into the main hall of the lodge. The building housed a dozen survivors of the end out here in the woods of northern Pennsylvania, including a widower and his two teenage children and a group of college students who\u2019d been enjoying the parkland together before school started up again.<\/p>\n
I never thought I\u2019d stumble across a group of people who would accept a raving stranger so willingly. I\u2019m lucky.<\/em> Aoife smiled back. \u201cSmells like venison.\u201d<\/p>\n Kes nodded. \u201cThat\u2019s because it is. Wat and Gray took down a deer this morning. Gray didn\u2019t tell you?\u201d<\/p>\n Gray looked at Aoife for a long moment before he answered. \u201cWe were talking about other things. Besides, she\u2019d have figured it out after the first bite.\u201d<\/p>\n Aoife forced a smile. \u201cHe\u2019s right, I would have.\u201d She came over to the fire. \u201cIs there anything I can do to help, or are you about done?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou can hand out bowls,\u201d Kes said, nodding toward the stack sitting on the hearth. \u201cThat\u2019d be a help.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat were you and Aoife talking about?\u201d Teca Ramsay asked, her dark brows knitting as Gray seated himself on one of the benches near the fire. \u201cSomething wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n Gray shook his head. \u201cNo. Just rehashing an old discussion.\u201d<\/p>\n At least he\u2019s not screaming it from the rooftops that I\u2019m thinking about leaving,<\/em> Aofie thought with a grimace, picking up the first bowl and holding it near the stewpot for Kes to fill. Thank the powers that be for small favors.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re worrying about your brother again, aren\u2019t you, Aofie?\u201d<\/p>\n She winced at Teca\u2019s question and barely managed to suppress a sigh. \u201cWouldn\u2019t you be in my shoes? Look at everything we\u2019ve seen and look at what we had to do to help him\u2014to help them. Trouble finds him whether he goes looking for it or not. Of course I\u2019m worried about him.\u201d<\/p>\n Teca grimaced. \u201cAfter dinner, we can look if you want.\u201d<\/p>\n I don\u2019t want to scry him again. I want to be there.<\/em><\/p>\n Still, she nodded. \u201cI\u2019d like that, Teca. Thanks.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnytime,\u201d Teca said softly. \u201cAnytime, Aoife. All you have to do is ask.\u201d<\/p>\n If only everything was so simple.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Kestrel glanced away from the fire and grinned as Aoife emerged from Gray\u2019s shadow as they came into the main hall of the lodge. The building housed a dozen survivors of the end out here in the woods of northern … Continue reading