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home. We can spend all
winter snuggled in our cabin.”
    “That will be nice.” He smiled
    “Of course, by the time winter comes, I’ll be
as big as a cow and all I’ll be able to do is lay around.”
    He chuckled. “You’ll still be beautiful.”
    “I wonder how long you’ll carry for,” added
Luke who was standing behind us.
    “Hmm. I don’t know. Dawn carried for six
months, or was supposed to anyway. Is that typical of all
shifters?”
    My brother-in-law nodded. I turned to Tara.
“How long are Wedelves pregnant for?”
    “Thirteen months.”
    I wrinkled my nose at the thought.
    “What about humans?” asked Jasper.
    “Nine months.” I smiled. “Let’s hope it takes
after you.”
    Jasper cut pieces of meat off of the deer and
placed them in our bowls. We went to our blankets and I passed him
some cheese from our packs. Dodge came walking toward us.
    Hayden?
    “Hmm? What is it, Bud?”
    Before we crossed, when we told you about
the fight in Sageden you were so upset, I didn’t think I should
mention it… Dodge swished his tail. The thing is that, well
I suppose there isn’t going to be a good time to tell you. He
looked to Luke as if asking for help. When Luke sat beside Jasper
and put a hand on my mate’s shoulder my horse blew out of his nose. Honestly it slipped my mind what with everything that happened
since you crossed back. And you did just wake up again…
    My stomach was doing flips and my heart was
jumping in my chest. “Spit it out, Dodge.” Jasper put a hand on my
knee.
    When the humans came to Sageden, the first
place they looked for you was your cabin.
    I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.
“It’s gone, isn’t it?”
    I’m sorry, Hayden. I was with Luke and Mel.
We saw the smoke, but by the time we got there, it was too late. We
were trying to put it out when the blue bird flew to us from
Sageden to tell us it was under attack.
    Tears flowed down my face and I found it hard
to breathe. “What about Tiny? Where was she?” The thought of my
little white Tairat perishing in the fire had my chest tight with
fear.
    “She’s fine.” Luke leaned over and put a hand
on my shoulder. “The twins have been taking care of her since
Tantara and Roben left to meet you. She was at the cave.”
    Jasper pulled me to his chest and rested his
chin on my head. “Shush. It’s alright, Shlova.” The words were
reassuring but his voice was tight and I could hear his heart
beating hard under my ear. I looked up and had to keep back more
tears that threatened to come at the sight of him. His eyes were
closed, his jaw clenched.
    “I’m so tired of this,” I whispered.
    He took a deep breath and let it out. “It’s
almost over.”
    Dodge moved closer and nuzzled my face. I’m sorry, Hayden.
    I brushed the tears from my face and rubbed
his nose. “It’s not your fault, Bud.” I heard a chirp from up above
and I looked up as a blue bird flew down to sit on my knee. I pet
the little head. “Hey, you.”
    She looked from me to Jasper.
    “She says there are no packs of any kind for
a day’s travel in any direction.”
    “Thank you,” I said. “Could you do me a
favor? I need to get a message to Melana.” I could feel everyone
looking at me. I focused on the bird so I wouldn’t change my mind.
“Could you let her know that we are heading to Howel to see if I
can help heal Damian? Tell her we’ll be marching straight from
there to Paradin. Enough is enough. I’ll let her know when we leave
Howel and we’ll meet her somewhere.”
    She bobbed her head and flew away.
    “Hayden?” Tara’s caramel colored eyes looked
straight into mine. “Are you sure?” I knew she’d been secretly
hoping we could delay the fighting until after the baby was
born.
    I nodded and looked up to see Jasper’s
reaction. His eyes were closed. I watched as he swallowed and took
a deep breath. He opened his eyes, looked at me and nodded.
    “Tomorrow, Hayden, Dodge, Matthew and I will
head to Howel with