Windchaser had been amazed that Ryder had even responded to her letter, and the wait until Thursday had gnawed at her gut. She worked herself almost into the ground, meaning to make Wolf’s favour something she deserved. It helped her to feel she deserved a permanent place here, and to honour Shadow’s memory. Shadow and the rest of the Tribe deserved that, all of her time and attention

But now, on the day she was due to actually see Ryder, she felt awful, her mind darting from possibility to possibility, but reality told her that his reaction to her when she had met him with Danni was probably the one he held to. The ‘Sorry, El, but you were just the help’. As long as he didn’t laugh in her face.

Windchaser talked ceaselessly to Cabello as she rode towards the cabin, hoping to distract herself, break the exhaustion that still plagued her, and hide in senseless talk from the thoughts that she was still worried might destroy her, heart and mind.

She preyed she was strong enough to survive what was said today, she was still needed, as part of a tribe now, and they needed a medic, needed her, and it was good to be part of a family again, even one as weird as this. She was determined that whatever was said today, she would stay.

Whatever was said, whatever happened, however hard things became.