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to another country.
    “You look sleek. Apparently soft, alien ways have not made you entirely fat and slow.”
    “As being
Sena
has apparently done to you. Gained a kilo or two, Sister?”
    Leeth whickered. The Shadows were among the most dedicated of Vastalimi. They trained to keep their minds and bodies as close to peak condition as could be maintained. There were no fat, dull
Sena
. A fitter group of The People was not to be found, everybody knew that, too.
    Kay had always been able to make her sibling laugh; good to know she still could.
    “I didn’t expect to see you in this life again.”
    “Nor I you. I could hardly refuse our elder brother’s call in this case.”
    “Agreed. Can you help?”
    “It remains to be seen.”
    “And what of your human
pas
?”
    “He is not my pet, but a colleague. He has great skills as a medic, and he brings an unbiased perspective. As I am sure you already know in great detail.”
    “Unbiased? As opposed to . . . ?”
    Sleek, and her wit undimmed. Right to the pertinent comment.
    Kay smiled. “Tell me, have politics ceased to function since I left? No more power-hungry, self-serving, ambitious Vastalimi to be found here?”
    Leeth whickered again. “Would that it were so, Sister. But surely you don’t think somebody would use this illness to their advantage?”
    They both whickered at that one.
    “I take it you have not found such links.”
    “Not as yet. How is life among the humans?”
    “Better than many would expect. They have their own kind of honor, they can be brave and loyal. Slow and weak, generally, but they are matchless with small arms. You have heard, ‘Never shoot with a human’?”
    Leeth said, “A teat-tale to frighten cubs, I always thought.”
    “Not entirely. Two of my human team members can outshoot any Vastalimi I have ever known.”
    “Is that so? You are likely unaware that I am the current
Sena
pistol champion and ranked third with the issue carbine,” she said.
    “Only third?”
    Leeth looked away, a brief flash of embarrassment flitting across her face. “I had a bad match. I shall do better next time. I—” She caught the hint of Kay’s grin.
    “Ah. You pull my fur.”
    “Who better than your own sister to do so? I expect the third place was but a fluke. You always were the most driven and talented among us. But even so, there is one called Gunny who would defeat you eight of ten with any common sidearm or shoulder weapon, and
she
loses to Cutter by the same ratio when they vie.”
    “Interesting. I should like to see them shoot.” She paused. “Have you had Challenges?”
    “None so far. Perhaps those who might have offered such have either died or moved on, or perhaps, forgotten.”
    “Unlikely those directly concerned have forgotten.”
    “Well, I have been here but a few hours. Word is yet to get around.”
    “It will.”
    “I expect so. I have learned some new skills from my adopted pack that may be of use.”
    Kay caught the hint of another question in Leeth’s demeanor. She said, “I thought so at the time.”
    Leeth blinked, surprised. “To what do you refer?”
    “The question you did not ask: Was Jak worth it?”
    Leeth shook her head. “You could have been a great
Sena
, sibling. You have an uncanny knack for clawing to the heart of the matter, a clarity of vision. And
now
what do you think?”
    “Probably not. I have yet to see him.”
    “But you will.”
    “Of course.”
    “His alignment has changed.”
    “To be expected.”
    “I have never heard him speak of you.”
    “Also not a surprise. The questions I will need to ask him are not personal but about our problem.”
    “You think Jak is involved?”
    “I cannot say. But his uncle was the third to die from the malady.”
    “Yes. I recall.” Leeth nodded. “You seem . . . calm about things.”
    “The years away have given me a perspective I would likely not have achieved here. Humans do not see the world as we do. There are things to be