"Home?"
"Mm. Been away too long. If I don't show up soon mybrother's going to send out scouts."
"Dramatic."
"You don't know him."
"How long will you be gone?"
"Few days. Maybe a week." She glances at me. "I'll come back."
"I know."
"You could come with me sometime. See something other than trees."
"I like trees."
"Mel."
"What?" I look at her. "I'm not interested in traveling. Everything I need is here."
"Everything?"
"Everything that matters." I gesture at the cottage, the coop, the clearing. "This works. I built it, I maintain it, and it works. Why would I want more than that?"
Kestria's quiet, then nods. "You're right. I just—I'm glad you have this. That's all."
"So am I."
I should make extra paste tomorrow.
"Try not to adopt any more wolves while I'm gone."
"I don't adopt them. They just show up."
"Same thing." She pulls me into a quick hug—she's taller than me, and she smells like woodsmoke and pine—and then lets go. "Take care of yourself, Mel."
"Always do." I wink at her. "Tell your brother I said hi."
Kestria stops. "What?"
"You talk about him enough. I want to see if he's as dramatic as you make him sound."
"I'll... pass that along."
"Good. And tell him if he ever wants to send scouts after me, I wouldn't hate it." I grin. "Imagine. Big burly man crashing through the trees because he cares too much. I'd die."
Kestria's face scrunches. "Mel."
"What? A girl can dream."
"Go to bed."
"I'm just saying. If your brother has friends—"
"Goodnight, Mel."
She turns and heads down the path before I can finish.
