Page 107 of A World Enough

“Okay, okay. Why all this talk of friends?” Camber asked.

Brogan lifted the kit bag she had gotten from Margot and was filling it with her change of clothes.

“Because that’s what you think we are. Otherwise, why tell everyone I’m either going back to Earth, or I could just stay here with these new wolves.”

“I was just telling them what we originally planned, and you’ve given me no inkling of what you want.”

“If you haven’t noticed, we went straight from bed into a life or death battle. It wasn’t quite the time for declarations of love.” Brogan realized the meaning of what she had said. “It’s time to go.”

“Brogan, talk to me,” Camber shouted after her.

Is she really in love with me? I’m in love with her. It was clear now. Camber did love her, but there were so many complications. Brogan not wanting to talk, Camber not reading the wolf cues, Brogan having a planet and family in another universe. And of course, the Map Keeper couldn’t run away from the realm.

It would take a lot of love to overcome all these problems.

Chapter Twenty

“Two ships have approached and are asking for communication,” Margot said.

“Right, are we ready?” Brogan said.

“Yes.”

Brogan and Camber stood in front of the viewscreen. It was an important moment.

Wolves tended to handle pairs better than single people. It was just the make-up of wolf society—pairs gave them comfort.

A woman and a man in grey uniforms with fur capes appeared on the screen. Brogan stood slightly in front of Camber, in a protective pose.

“I am Brogan of the pack Filtiaran. I come from a planet very far away. We wondered if we could meet with your Alpha?”

The two wolves smiled, which surprised her.

“Of course. Follow us down, Brogan of the pack Filtiaran.”

The screen went black.

“That was it?” Camber said.

“I don’t trust them,” Thane added.

Brogan turned her head and said, “Wolves are honest and straightforward.”

“Let’s see which one of us is proved right.”

“Simmer down, Thane,” Jhosa said. “Shall I follow?”

Margot looked at Brogan and Camber. Brogan said, “Yes.”

Brogan walked forwards to the screen, which now showed the big, mostly green and blue planet. She gazed at it with wonder. “Look at that forest. It’s so big. Some lakes and seas and lands, but mostly forest.”

Behind her Camber said sadly, “Perfect for a wolf.”

They had landed a few minutes ago, and Brogan had shifted to pelt. That was her plan and what everyone agreed to. New wolves were best met as their wolf selves, as there was a strict cultural practice for meeting new wolves or wolf packs.

Everyone on the ship was lined up behind Brogan and Camber on the docking platform that would open out to this new world.

Brogan looked back and growled to Jhosa. It was agreed they would wait for her signal before Jhosa opened the ship’s doors.