Raven Meadows's Arc

Chapter 7 of 25

The huts had roofs now, all three. Torryn's flame had dried the last frame two days back. Raven should have felt done. Instead she stood at the edge of the marsh at dawn, watching Finn. The pup had frozen mid-step, nose up, ears flat. "Someone's out there," Finn said. His voice went short. "Wolf. I know the scent." He didn't say more. He didn't have to. His pack had thrown him out. Now one of them stood past the reeds, sniffing the wind. Willow came up beside her, gold wings folded tight so they wouldn't catch the mud. The elf had watched Raven for three days before she ever helped, and she still saw too much. Her curse made her speak the truth aloud whether she wanted to or not. "They heard about the food," Willow said. "And the shelter. Word travels." She paused. "He's a scout. He came to see if it's real." Raven's chest went tight. A scout meant a pack. A pack meant they could come and take Finn back, or worse, decide the haven was theirs. "Stay here," she told Finn. "Both of you." She walked out alone, boots sucking in the wet ground. The scout stood by an old stone well, a tree grown up through its middle, roots gripping the rim. A lean wolf-man, gray-furred, watching her come. He didn't crouch to spring. He just watched. "You're feeding a runt," he said. "The elder wants to know why." Raven stopped an arm's length off. "Because he showed up. That's the only reason anybody needs here." She held his stare through her round glasses. "You want him back?" "No." The scout's mouth twisted. "Nobody wants him back. I was sent to see if a marsh witch was building an army." He looked past her at the huts, the greenhouse, the smoke. "It's just huts." "It's a home," Raven said. "For anything the world threw out. You included, if you ever get thrown." The scout went quiet. Something moved behind his eyes. Raven knew that look. She'd worn it herself, the first time she came here with nowhere left. "I'll tell the elder there's nothing to fear," he said. "A soft-hearted girl and some strays." "Good," Raven said. "Tell him." He turned and slipped back into the reeds. Gone. Raven let out the breath she'd been holding. Finn came up behind her, book clutched to his chest. "He's leaving," he said. "For real." His voice cracked on the last word. "For real." Raven put a hand on his shoulder. He didn't pull away. Willow joined them at the well. She looked at Raven, then said the thing Raven hadn't. "He'll tell others too. Not the pack. The lost ones." Her wings shivered. "More are coming now. Because word spread that you don't turn anyone away." Raven looked at three finished huts and knew they were already too few.