Page 26 of The Orc Outcast's Mate

Miranda gulped and pushed the memories deep. Away. “I can’t believe you built your houses into the trees. It’s really amazing. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Savrah, a young woman close to Miranda’s age of twenty-four with light brown hair and even lighter eyes, finally found her voice. “It is, isn’t it? I’ve lived here for a whole season now and I still marvel at it.”

“They are a marvel,” Maythra said, sweeping her hand toward one of the nearer dwellings. Firelight flickered through the carved-out windows and Miranda could see a table and chairs within, but no occupants. “There are many homes without owners, Miranda. I would be glad to find you one to stay in while you are here.”

“Govek’s home will be fine. Thank you.”

“You’re safe now,” Maythra insisted. “He can’t hurt you anymore. We can protect you.”

“I don’t need protecting from Govek and he didn’t hurt me.” Miranda tried to keep the snap from her tone but wasn’t very successful.

“Then what happened to your clothing?” Maythra asked with narrowed eyes.

Miranda hesitated, unsure how to answer. Her first set of clothes had been irradiated and left behind on Earth, more was abandoned next to the spring since it was too worn out and dirty to use, Govek had ripped up others in haste she couldn’t blame him for, and the rest... got sucked up by a tornado.

“Where are you from?” Savrah asked. “Govek found you? Where?”

“In the woods. I’m really not sure where. I was... I guess you could say I was lost? There were dogs...”

Her throat closed up despite herself. It was so hard to talk about Earth, but these were humans. Humans! She wanted to talk to them. For a moment she thought she might never see another human again.

She’d known Govek’s plan to stay away from his clan probably would fall through. She’d prepared herself to talk about this. And yet, now the time had come, and nothing would come out.

“What village are you from?” Savrah asked.

“I . . .” Miranda swallowed.

Maythra’s hot gaze struck Miranda again. “You are safe now, dear. You are past the pain.”

Miranda’s stomach twisted. “I wish that were true.”

“It is true. We can offer you support. We all have painful pasts. The Waking Order and their war has touched us even here,” Maythra said, her pace slowing slightly as she examined Miranda. “You wouldn’t have to do with the war would you, dear? Could that be why you are fleeing your home?”

Miranda gulped, voice thick. “I am fleeing war.”

She could feel Earth’s destruction in her veins. See it every time she closed her eyes. Smell the char, feel the blistering heat, hear the dogs howling.

Her gut rolled.

The bank she’d been trapped inside when the bombs hit was three miles away from the Riverside Daycare but still, she should have gone back to check. To help. To look for them.

Her babies.

The little toddlers she’d cared for almost every day. With their endless chatter and constant energy. She could feel their warm bodies in her arms. Smell their sweetness. Her throat closed.

She’d abandoned them. She’d left them to die. She should have died with them.

Breathe.

She did, sucking in cold air through her clenched teeth.

They might have made it. Her babies and their parents could have been the ones that lit the road signs to the ocean. They could have fallen off the cliff into Faeda just like her.

Her memories were hazy and distorted. Hope burned in her chest like a blazing fire, consuming all logic.

And she let it.

“Miranda, what is wrong?”

---