There’s plenty of time to decide, though. We have all the time in the world.

Epilogue

VIVI

Flor’s wedding feast is the biggest party that they’ve thrown on the beach, Elly tells me from our spot at the edge of the group. Elly’s like me in that she likes to quietly hang out on the fringe of things, and I’ve noticed her and her mate saving a spot for us near the back of the seats around the main fire. It’s nice to have a friend, and even nicer that Bek and Skarr get along well. It’s also nice to know that others get exhausted by being social and aren’t afraid to leave a party early.

Skarr is in his element, though. I watch from my seat near Elly, sipping a bit of hot tea as he gestures, telling a story about a battle he won. Pak and Rukhar are seated in front of him, listening intently. Z’hren has his thumb in his mouth, one of his other hands clutching his tiny spear as if he can’t decide whether or not he wants to fight along with the story or if it scares him.

Bek returns to Elly’s side, their daughter tucked under his arm. He brings her a bowl loaded with food and sits down with a scowl on his face. “I still do not understand why everyone keeps calling it a ding ding feast.”

“It’s because of Liz,” Elly tells him in her soft voice.

“Enough said.” He settles his daughter on his thigh, pulling a chunk of root out of Elly’s bowl and blowing on it before handing it to little Emma to gnaw on. He glances over at me. “You and your mate did not see any of the Ancestors when you were out in the mountains?”

I shake my head. “All we saw were snow-cats.”

It’s a bit of a lie. We only saw the one snow-cat, and less of him than I’d liked. We’d remained out in the mountains for another day, looking for the wounded cat. When we’d returned the next morning he’d been gone, a chewed leather strap the only thing remaining in the spot we’d left him at. I’d fretted over that, worried he was going to chew off the splint and ruin our hard work. I haven’t seen him since, but I’ve been out in the hills, looking for tracks every day since. And while I don’t know for sure if my snow-cat is still in the area, I haven’t seen the drag-marks again. Once, I saw snow-cat tracks that looked as if it was favoring one leg slightly, the spacing between the paws off, but not necessarily injured. I like to tell myself that it’s him, and that he’s doing better. I might never know the truth, but I’m at peace with it.

We gave him a second chance, it’s up to him to take it.

Skarr and I expected to get a lot of grief about being away from camp for days, but not long after we returned, more strangers arrived. Two of them were missing tribespeople named Tia and R’jaal, and they brought with them a handful of four-armed strangers. More aliens, these from an underground village. It’s enough to make a human’s head spin. They’re here at the feast, too. They don’t speak the language, so there’s a lot of gesturing to try and include them in conversations.

“Do you want a wedding feast like this, Vivi?” Elly asks me, taking a delicate bite of meat.

My eyes widen at the thought. “God, no. Flor likes attention, and I bet she loves this party. That’s not my thing, though.”

“Yeah, that’s how I feel, too.” She gives an encouraging smile to her mate as if trying to point this out. “I don’t like a fuss.”

“I would fuss over you if you wished it,” he tells her in a low, intense voice.

“Oh, I know.” Her hand goes to his thigh.

I glance over at my mate, amused. My khui hums a gentle song as our eyes meet and he jogs over to my side. That’s another change in the last few days since we returned and others arrived—our resonance song has lost its frantic edge. I think that means I’m pregnant now, but I haven’t approached the healer to find out. I figure I’ll give it a few more days before confirming. I sure don’t want to bring it up tonight, not with a party on.

Tonight is all about Flor and I’rec, and I’m happy to keep the focus on them.

Skarr collapses dramatically at my feet. “Did you catch my story, Vivi? It was an excellent one, and you haven’t heard it yet.”

“It’s too noisy,” I tell him, running my fingers through his floppy curls as he rests against my legs. “I can barely hear myself think.”

He nods agreement, his gaze moving over the crowd around the fire. Everyone’s here tonight, with bowls of food piled high on every surface. Raven and U’dron have their musical instruments out and Flor and I’rec are seated at the front of the group, wearing crowns made from leaves. I’rec is watching his mate with unabashed devotion, as if nothing exists but her. Flor is eating all of this up, as I knew she would. She chats excitedly with people as they hand her presents, and there are so many faces and voices around the fire that they all blur into one.

“Does anyone know why Sam and Sessah left?” Bek asks, eyeing Skarr. “You are friendly with Ash-tar. What have you heard?”

My mate shrugs. “Just that they wished to visit his family in the Coldtown village.”

“Croatoan,” I correct gently, grinning.

“Bah, as far as I am concerned, it sounds like Coldtown. A bunch of huts inside an ice crevasse? You will catch me dead before I go there.” Skarr leans back, gazing up at me. “Would you like a plate of food, my fierce warrior?”

I nod and he hops to his feet to make me a plate. He’s not wrong, I realize. We’ll never go to the other village, Croatoan. It’s in the mountains, where the weather remains far colder than the cove here at Icehome. It would be dangerous for Skarr, and I’m not about to risk him for anything. There’s nothing over at the other village for me anyhow—just more strangers.

Someone passes me a skin and I sniff it. Fruity. I shake my head, passing it on to Elly and Bek. That drink got me into trouble before. Besides, I might be pregnant now. That changes everything. I resist the urge to touch my stomach to see if it feels any different and look over at Elly and Bek instead. Their little girl is seated happily on her father’s lap, chewing on baked roots. Elly reaches over and brushes a lock of dark hair out of her face, smiling, and Bek gives his wife a look that could melt stone. They’re so happy together.

That’s going to be us, I decide. We can even make a tiny set of skis for our baby when she gets old enough and she can go out into the hills with me and her father. I like tracking, but more than that, I like exploring. I’m not going to be one that stays at camp and never leaves. I want to wander around in the fresh air and snow and enjoy nature.

My dad would have loved this place. The thought of him makes me fond instead of miserable. Maybe if we have a boy, we could name it after my father…if I ever remember his name. If not, well then, we pick something else. I’m not going to stress over who and what I am any longer.

The music gets louder and someone—Vaza—starts singing in a low, ululating voice that decides it wants to hit all notes at once. I try not to wince, because Vaza is giving it his best, but alien singing is definitely an acquired taste. Someone claps their hands and two of the children get up and start dancing by the fire, which makes Flor laugh with delight. She’s having a wonderful time at her ding ding feast.

I look for my mate, wondering if Skarr is much of a singer. He’s not paying a bit of attention to the antics by the fire. He’s busy loading a plate with food from several bowls while deep in conversation with Valmir. The cat-like splice has been slinking around camp in a crappy mood for the last few days now, and Skarr told me this morning he resonated to April, who refused him. I scan the people by the fire, but I don’t see April. No doubt she’s avoiding resonance.

She’ll get over it soon enough. I think about how hard I tried to get away from Skarr at the beginning, not realizing that underneath all that bluster was a very tender heart and a man who turned out to be exactly what I needed. She probably won’t want to hear from me, but maybe I’ll find her in the morning anyhow and offer moral support.