The sun had set. It was almost time to depart. All that remained was for Bali to haul himself out of bed and onto her shoulders. Hi Shri shook herself one last time, trying to settle her Challenge harness and the packs secured to it more comfortably, but the harness remained as uncomfortable as her thoughts.

Her meeting with the Talon had been disturbing.

In addition to the identities of those she would be living with for many seasons to come, there had been information about air currents, weather, and the living conditions Hi would encounter during and after her journey to Doom Lake. Her meeting with the Talon and her fellow Hooark Initiates had also covered a bit of mislaid history. Lu had kept more secrets than she’d realized.

As Hi waited for her new partner, her mate, and his partn...

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