(Un)bidden

Mary and Gregory broke apart when I walked into the common room. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes glassy from his kiss. I grinned at her. She returned the grin until she saw the bag over my shoulders.

I didn’t say anything as my smile faded as well. Gregory turned from Mary and moved toward the door.

“Gregory,” I said. Just his name. The warning in my tone was clear.

He stopped and watched me move to the pump. I listened to the metallic screech as I filled my water container. When I finished, I turned toward the pair. They still watched me, Mary with concern and Gregory with a carefully blank expression.

“Charlene—”

“Mary, please,” I said with a shake of my head. I didn’t want those outside to have an idea that I meant to leave until I was out there. I made my way across the room, hugged her, then went to the door.

Standing tall, I pulled it open. Bright light blinded me as I stepped out and turned toward the drive. Men moved out of the way, their actions slow and expressions puzzled. It wasn’t until I walked halfway down the drive that one of them stepped in front of me.

“Where are you going?”

He was a face in a sea of faces. A man I might have met, but didn’t remember.

“I’m not sure yet,” I said.

“But you’re leaving?” he asked. Everyone watched me.

“Yes, I am.”

Growls arose.

“Don’t go,” another said. “I know I can Claim you.”

The man next to him pushed into him, and they both fell to the ground, fighting. Others started pushing at their neighbors.

“That’s why I’m leaving,” I said loudly. I stepped around the fighting men, intending to walk away, but a hand on my shoulder stopped me.

“I suggest you let go immediately,” I said without turning. My voice was low and steady despite my shaking. I’d hoped they’d just let me leave. Now, I saw they wouldn’t.

My determination to stop being a victim hardened and that piece of my will became my weapon. When the hand didn’t drop away, I swung it out in an arc. The men standing within four feet flew backward, as if pushed. They landed hard; and, too stunned by what had happened, they just lay there.

“You are not children, and I am not a toy to fight over.”

“We wouldn’t fight if you would allow one of us to Claim you,” a familiar voice said.

The men slowly got to their feet as I turned toward Thomas with a scowl.

“It is not my willingness that is preventing you from Claiming me. It’s your kind’s inability to Claim me, the human, that is preventing it from happening.”

“Perhaps it was your unwillingness that prevented the Claim from taking hold.”

I’d never before wanted to hurt someone as much as I did that man. His thickheaded persistence was beyond infuriating. I took a slow breath and made up my mind.

“Anton,” I said. The crowd parted until Anton moved forward. Thomas growled low. “You promised, if I allowed you to Claim me, you would be gentle.”

His eyes lit with understanding. “Not just in the bite, but for the rest of our lives.”

“Then, I willingly give you permission to Claim me.” He made to move forward, but Thomas spoke up.

“I challenge you for the right,” Thomas said. He would have stepped forward, but his friend with the merry grey eyes placed a restraining hand on his shoulder.

“Uh-uh,” I said, shaking my head. “You said it was my willingness preventing it, so your challenge is pointless…unless you’re saying you’re wrong. Because I’m only willing to let Anton try. No one else.”

Thomas snarled, his anger plain. He wasn’t the only one. I ignored them all and motioned Anton forward. He towered over me.

“Is it possible to bite the other side of my neck?” My hands shook with fear as I gripped the strap of my pack. I hadn’t forgotten the pain of the last bite. And the stitches still had a few more days before they could be removed.

“It is,” he said. He tilted his head and studied me. “We could wait, like Mary and Gregory.”

His compassion helped ease a little of my fear.

“No. The others beat you once, already. I don’t trust what they will do if we don’t follow through with this now.”

He nodded slowly and stepped closer. He wrapped his arms around me, supporting me as he leaned in. I let go of the straps, curled my hands into fists, and pressed them against his bare sides.

His breath tickled my neck, and I scrunched my eyes closed. For a moment, there was just his breath. Then, his sharp teeth broke the skin. A small noise escaped me, more shock than pain. As Anton had promised, he was gentle. His teeth had barely broken the skin. Before he pulled away, he placed a soft kiss on the spot. I let my hands drop.

We looked at each other for a moment.

“Well?” I said nervously.

His face fell slightly, and he shook his head.

“He barely bit you,” someone said.

I rolled my eyes. “And the one who gave me stitches didn’t bite deep enough?”

“You weren’t willing,” Thomas said again.

“Make up your minds,” I said, venting my frustration in a half-scream, half-yell. “Is it the depth of the bite or the willingness?”

No one answered. Neither did they move out of my way to let me leave. My head thumped with the beginning of a headache. I didn’t know if it was due to using my ability, the stress of the situation, or the fact that I was still recovering. But I did know I wasn’t ready to fight them all today.

“Fine. I’ll give you two hours to figure out what went wrong. Then, I’ll pick someone else. I think I still have an unmarked spot on my neck somewhere. That will be the last chance any of you will have. After that, I’m done; not because I’m not willing but because it won’t work. Ever.” I started walking to the door but stopped on the threshold.

“Don’t waste time fighting. Work together. I won’t accept the excuse that something wasn’t done correctly, again.” I turned and closed the door.

Mary stood in the common room with shocked, wide eyes. Gregory stood beside her, appearing equally surprised.

“What part of all of that upset you?” I asked as I let the bag fall from my shoulders.

Mary glanced at Gregory and then stepped away from him to move closer to me.

“Winifred wants to know how you knocked them down.”

“Ah.” I went to the table and sat down. “Does Winifred want me to stay?”

Mary came to sit with me and nodded.

“If this next bite fails, and they agree to leave me alone, it’s better if I keep my secrets.”

“And if it doesn’t fail?” Gregory asked.

I twisted in my chair to look at him. “It will. No one understands why this ritual of yours isn’t working because no one is acknowledging the obvious. I’m different. Winifred said it. They know it. Yet, everyone keeps trying to treat me like I’m one of you.” I shook my head. “If I’m not one of you, why would you think the same ritual would work?”

Gregory studied me in silence. Then he dropped his gaze to the floor. He stood still, and I wondered if he was talking to Winifred. Finally, he met my gaze.

“I’d like to join the others outside,” he said. “I have no desire to try to Claim you, but I’d like to help them come up with better ideas than what’s been tried already.”

“I promise I won’t choose you. Or anyone else who doesn’t want to be chosen.”

He nodded and left. I turned to Mary.

“Do you think any of them have a chance?” she asked.

I shrugged. “I have no idea. All I know is that I’ve been bitten four times, and one way or another, the fifth will be the last.”

“Want me to help clean that?” she asked, pointedly looking at my new bite.

“Sure.” She stood and fetched the supplies I’d brought back. When she started dabbing at my neck, I caught her worried frown.

“He really was gentle,” I said. “I’m sure Gregory will be gentle, too.”

“I’m not worried about that. I’m not as breakable as you are. I’m worried what will happen next time.”

I nodded.

“Me too. Has Winifred said anything else?”

Mary gave me a slight smile. “Yes. She’s upset with Thomas for pushing you like he did. She’s worried you really do mean to leave. Not that she wants to keep you here against your will, but she knows she won’t be able to protect you as well out there.”

I knew Mary didn’t mean outside these walls but out in the real world. I appreciated Winifred’s concern and that she hadn’t pushed for more of an answer about what I’d done out there.

Mary and I ate jam sandwiches as the sun climbed in the sky then sat in silence for the remainder of the time. When Mary let me know two hours had passed, I moved across the room and opened the door.

The majority of the men stood in an arc facing the door; yet many, including Gregory and Anton, waited back by the trees. The definite separation of groups made it clear that I should select from those closest to me.

I studied the faces before me. “Was two hours enough time?”

They all nodded confidently. I glanced back at Gregory. He nodded once as well, and I sighed. Such confidence begged to be shaken. The universe was fickle like that.

“Okay. One chance,” I said again, to make sure they all understood. Then I met Thomas’ gaze. “Prove your theory.”

He didn’t walk toward me but moved to the back of the crowd. He bent and picked something up. The men parted to make room for him as he walked toward me. In his hand, he held a small bouquet of wild flowers. My heart skipped a beat at the gesture, and I quickly looked up. He uncomfortably met my gaze. His grip on the flowers tightened as if he was ready to throw them or shred them, and I realized the flowers weren’t his idea.

At least someone in the group had some sense of what human women liked.

I stayed by the door, trying to quell my nervousness as he stepped from the men and stood before me. He held out the flowers. I took them and managed a whispered word of thanks. The discomfort left his gaze and something else crept in. Tenderness.

“Don’t be nervous,” he said softly. He reached up and gently brushed a thumb along my cheek. My heart skipped a beat—the traitorous thing—and his look of longing stole my breath. He didn’t move toward my neck, just continued to touch me.

“I will work every day of my life to deserve the gift you’ve given me.”

My heart beat faster, and my stomach twisted happily.

He leaned forward, not toward my neck, but toward my mouth. His lips brushed mine, surprising me. His touch was light and soft. A whisper of his skin, and a promise of more to come. My lids fluttered shut as I lost myself in the sensation. He kissed the corner of my mouth, my cheek, my jaw, then my neck. The light scrape of his teeth pulled me from my trance.

I stiffened, and his hands curled around my upper arms. Whether in comfort or to keep me still, I couldn’t be sure.

“Everything will be fine,” he whispered against my skin.

He kissed me several more times. I would be a liar if I said it didn’t affect me. It did. But my fear of what he meant to do next kept me from drifting into blissful ignorance like he probably wanted.

His tongue stroked my skin, startling me from my thoughts. Tingles spread over my arms as embarrassment crashed over me. We were standing in front of a crowd of people. A light kiss, I could take, but not that.

Before I could protest, his mouth opened. I inhaled through my nose as his teeth pierced me. He went deeper than Anton but not by much. I grunted and pushed against his chest when he lingered there. He didn’t budge. He slowly withdrew his teeth and kissed the skin. As if that would make it better. He’d just bitten me slowly. At least the others had the decency to get it over with. Angry, I shoved at him again.

He pulled back and studied me while I glared at him. I could feel a trickle of blood run down my neck.

“Well?” I said.

His expression changed to one of complete devastation, and I knew it hadn’t worked.

“At least, now you don’t have to worry about forgetting your responsibilities to chase me,” I said, still bitter about the bite. I faced the crowd. “Will you let me stay here in peace or should I move on?”

“Stay,” Thomas said through clenched teeth. No one else said anything. He appeared to be their spokesperson.

“To be clear, this means no more fighting to meet me. No more looking for ways to win my favor in hopes for a little nip. None of it. Because that was the last bite.”

“We heard you before. We understand,” he said.

“Then, thank you for letting me stay.” With a minute nod, I turned and went back inside. Mary was by the table, ready with the alcohol and gauze. I sat and let her clean my neck, grinding my teeth against the sting.

I’d done it. Won my freedom without trying to fight them all. Although it didn’t make the prior bites worthwhile, it gave them meaning. They weren’t for nothing. I could stay here safely now.

“There’s blood on your shirt,” Mary said. “I’ll go get the clothes from the line.”

I stood and moved to the double doors as she walked outside. Though the men had given their word that they wouldn’t pursue me, I didn’t want to linger in the room. The building was quiet as I climbed the stairs and closed myself into our bedroom. I dropped my bag beside the dresser and started to unpack.

In the hall, I heard the creak of another door and froze. Mary wouldn’t need to go into any of the other rooms. I strained to hear more and almost screamed when someone knocked on my door.

“Who is it?”

“Thomas.” His familiar voice held a note of impatience.

I crossed the room and opened the door. With crossed arms, he stood in the hall.

“I wanted to let you know that Gregory and I will be staying in the room next to yours. Henry and Paul will be in the room to your right. Several other men will be staying in the rooms downstairs. We wanted to know what we should work on next.”

My mouth fell open. They were moving into the building?

“Why?”

“I thought telling you would be considerate. And we have no idea what your plans are.”

“No. I mean, why are you staying here? I thought…”

“You thought we’d leave?” He gave a dry laugh. “Not after your pretty little speech about being different.”

“I didn’t give a speech. I said that to Gregory in the—”

“Main room where we could still hear. You said no more biting, and we agreed. That doesn’t mean we’ve given up. It means we need to figure out how to Claim you without using our teeth.”

I stared at him, and for a moment, I wasn’t sure how I felt about their intent. Knowing the biting would actually stop was a relief, yet I didn’t like that I had no say in their decision to continue pursuing me. However, their presence could be an advantage.

“How many are willing to help?”

“Seven, so far,” he said.

I glanced at the window. We had several hours of daylight left.

“Let’s meet in the main room after I change my shirt.”

He nodded and walked down the hall to his room. I closed the door, still slightly shocked by this new turn.

When Mary and I entered the common room, there were three rabbits roasting on the fire. My mouth watered at the smell. But I ignored my need for food to address the men who waited.

I knew Gregory and Thomas, and Henry and Paul, but not the other three. One I recognized as the man who’d arrived with Thomas. The other two I was certain I’d never seen.

“I’m Charlene,” I said, extending my hand to Thomas’ friend first.

He looked down at my hand, grinned, then wrapped his fingers around mine. It was less of a handshake and more of a handholding.

“I’m Grey, Thomas’ brother.” He released me. “These two are Bine and Zerek.”

“It’s nice to meet you,” I said politely. “Thomas said you wanted to know what I planned to do next.” They all watched me, even Mary. “Honestly, I don’t know what to do next. For me to live here through the winter…well, it’s a long list. And I don’t know what your plans are. Will all of you be staying too? It could change what we should do first.”

“What do you mean?” Thomas asked.

“If it’s the eight of us, we need to consider how we’ll feed ourselves. I’m guessing as hunters, you follow the food. If you’re staying in one place and the game leaves, then what? Also, if you’re living indoors without your fur, how will you stay warm? You’re going to need shirts, shoes, socks, and other things. We’ll need more bedding, a large supply of wood, and jackets, mittens, and hats. And we can’t steal what we need. If we mean to stay here permanently, robbing the surrounding homes and communities would put us at risk. We need to find a way to earn money. Money will buy us the food and clothes we need.”

“Bine, head out to find an ax,” Thomas said. “Zerek, pull any deadfall from the woods into the clearing. Enlist whoever is willing to help.” The two nodded and left, shutting the outside door.

That took care of the wood.

“Do you have suggestions for how we can earn money?” Thomas asked, turning to look at me. My neck ached as our gazes met. I tried to ignore the sensation and promised myself I’d take a pain pill before bed.

“There’s always the route Winifred took. Go out and get jobs.” He didn’t appear to consider that option, so I moved on. “There were some useful things at the junkyard. Perhaps more could be found there and sold in town. If we can spare any wood, we could also sell that.”

Thomas glanced at Gregory and Grey. As if Thomas had spoken an order, they both nodded. Gregory held out his hand to Mary, and she went to him with a grin.

“We’ll find something good,” she said to me, and Gregory led her out the door.

Thomas waited until the door closed behind them before speaking again. “I heard you had one of the buildings dismantled for the boards. How do you plan to use those?”

“To board up the windows with no glass. It should help keep the cold out.”

Henry and Paul nodded and walked out the door, leaving Thomas and I alone.

“What else?”

The way Thomas took charge and told everyone what to do bothered me. No. It wasn’t that. It was his arrogance while he did it that irritated me.

I crossed my arms to match his stance and arched a brow at him.

“Why the sudden willingness to help? I thought you didn’t want me making changes here.”

“Without some changes, you won’t be able to stay. Like you said, you’re different. More fragile.” He stepped closer, looking down at me with an expression that somehow crossed tender and domineering.

“I want you to stay.”

My heart skipped a beat, and I struggled not to blush.

“Why? The bite didn’t work.”

“No, it didn’t. But it doesn’t change what I know. You belong to me.”

I continued to stare up at him while I wondered what he had planned. He closed his eyes, breathed deeply, but didn’t move. We stood like that for several minutes until I finally uncrossed my arms and turned away from him.

The bags from Winifred still waited by the pump. I pulled out the top sheet and considered its length. A dress would be nice but given the thin material, probably impractical. Curtains would provide privacy; however, with the loose drafty panes, a thicker material would be better. What could I do with the material, then? Nothing inspiring came to mind.

“What is that for?” Thomas asked. He’d moved to stand just behind me.

“Whatever we need, I suppose.” Maybe I should just leave the sheets as sheets. If Mary and Gregory happened to find more beds they might be needed.

I unpacked the bags, setting all the items on the table. The pasta, dried beans, and rice lay in a small mountain.

“Can you ask Winifred to let Mary know that we could use a cabinet or shelf to store the food?” I asked, turning my head to look at him. Our faces were inches apart as he, too, studied what lay on the table.

“Do you always have to stand so close?”

His lips twitched. “If I wasn’t worried about being knocked on my back, I’d stand even closer.” He didn’t meet my gaze but reached out and picked up one of the items on the table. “And no, I don’t need to ask Winifred. I let Gregory know.”

“How?”

“Just like Winifred can communicate with all of us, I can communicate with the members of my pack.”

“Members of your pack. You’re Gregory’s…what? Leader?”

“Yes.”

“That explains a lot,” I mumbled as I turned away from him. Like why he was so domineering and why he seemed to expect that people would listen to him.

Long after the sun had gone down, I still sat on my bed, bored. I’d taken the pain pill, but with several of the men in the building, I couldn’t bring myself to turn off the lamp and sleep. Not until Mary returned, anyway. Then, as if my thoughts had conjured her, I heard her yell my name.

“Up here!” I called.

Her steps were light and barely audible on the stairs. The door opened a moment later.

“Come see everything we’ve found.” Her eyes were bright, her cheeks flushed, and I was sure it wasn’t because of what they’d brought back. There was a dark spot on her neck, a kissing mark.

I grabbed the lamp and followed her.

“It’s an odd collection of things, but I think we found some amazing pieces.” She paused at the bottom of the steps to wait for me.

From above, I heard Thomas’ door open and fought not to roll my eyes.

I’d returned to the bedroom after a very long, very uncomfortable afternoon shadowed by him. Even in my room, I hadn’t been free of his presence because seconds after I’d closed the door, I heard his door close, too.

“I’m glad it wasn’t a wasted trip,” I said, hurrying to get to the common room. I didn’t want to linger in the gloomy hall with him not far behind me. I pushed through the doors, then stopped.

Mary hadn’t exaggerated about what they’d found. An odd assortment of items littered the area. I set the lamp on the table and walked further into the room. Some of the taller objects cast shadows on other objects. It was definitely too much to go through with the poor light of night.

“Wow, Mary. How did you get this all back?”

“Winifred asked a few others to help us.” She moved further into the room and patted a large looking metal upright chest. “This is an old refrigerator. We can use it for storing food. Nothing will be able to get to it.”

What did she think would try to get to our food?

“And this,” she said, tapping something else big and metal and partially hidden in the refrigerator’s shadow, “will come in handy for cooking.”

I moved closer and grinned when I saw the old-fashioned stove. I vaguely remembered my grandparents having one like it. The metal beast had two doors and two removable plates on the cook surface. The smaller door, I knew, was for wood. When lit, it would heat the oven that was behind the second door and the cook surface above. It would also help heat the room. Mary had just made life much easier.

“That is totally amazing,” I said. Most older people, like my grandparents, replaced these things years ago with gas stoves.

“And check this out,” she said, waving me over to a small, potbellied stove. “This is for your room. In winter.”

I didn’t miss her use of the word your, however, I pretended to.

“I can’t wait to look at the rest of it tomorrow when we have better light.”

Mary nodded excitedly, said goodnight to Gregory, grabbed my hand, and practically dragged me from the room. I managed to take hold of the lantern on our way past.

As soon as we closed the door to our room, she grinned at me.

“That was the best evening of my life. We talked about everything. Did you know that he’s Thomas’ cousin? He’s only four years older than me—that’s a relief—and said he wouldn’t mind living here if that’s what I wanted to do.”

“He does seem pretty sweet,” I said, returning her smile. “I’m very excited for you. How much longer are you going to make him wait?” I just wanted to know when I’d be sleeping in this room alone.

“He asked the same thing today. I don’t have a set time. When it feels like it’s time, I’ll tell him.”

I nodded, kicked off my shoes, and crawled into bed with a yawn. Now that she was back, the need to sleep kicked in with full force.

“Good night, Mary,” I said softly.

She turned down the lamp. Mary saw better in the dark than I did, and there was less of a chance of her bruising her shin on her way back to the bed.

I closed my eyes and listened to her settle under her covers.

“Did you have a nice day with Thomas?” she whispered.

I didn’t answer. It wasn’t because I didn’t trust Mary with the truth. I did. But I didn’t want her to feel bad that she’d had such a great day when my day had been so awful. Plus, I had a suspicion that Thomas was in his room already. I didn’t want him to hear what I had to say.

“Good night, Charlene,” she whispered after a moment. “I hope you have a better day tomorrow.”

A smile curled my lips. Mary was smart.

The amazing mounds of goods that crowded the common room looked even bigger in daylight. There were small and large tables, chairs, dressers, cabinets, toys, lamps—not the gas kind—pieces of metal I couldn’t identify, bags filled with things—it looked like clothes—a pile of random tools, and many other odd items. None of it was in good condition. After Mary’s excitement last night, I’d expected a bit better than what I saw. Though, the stove totally was a find.

Paul, Henry, Gregory, Grey, and Mary watched me study everything. Through the open door, I listened to the thwack of the ax and the crackle and crunch of breaking wood.

“Okay. Let’s store the tools in the other building.” Mary and I hadn’t yet explored it, but it looked like it was in as good of repair as the main building. “Maybe take a table out there, too, so we can take stock of what tools we have.”

Thomas opened the door and asked for volunteers. A rush of men fought to crowd into the room. Thomas didn’t appoint someone to move the tools but looked at me. His deference puzzled me.

“Can you two start carrying the tools to the other building?” I said, pointing to two men toward the front of the group. “And you two carry a table over? Then maybe the four of you can organize them and tell us what we have?” I said everything as a question because I didn’t want to sound bossy. The four I pointed to nodded and got to work.

“Can everyone else grab the furniture and move it out to the yard? The stove and the old refrigerator can stay in here.”

Within minutes, the room was cleared of everything but the odd items and the bags. I sorted through some of the oddities and found several old window frames still with whole glass.

“If they don’t fit, I thought we could cut the glass to work in some of the windows here,” Mary said.

“Perfect,” I said with a smile. “Anton could probably do that since he helped us before.”

She shook her head. “He left yesterday.”

I gave Mary a puzzled glance.

“There was no point in staying. He already had his chance.”

“Then why is…never mind,” I said. I didn’t want to know why Thomas was being exceptionally persistent.

She gave me a knowing grin. “I’ll see if someone else is willing to come in and help with that.”

“Before you do that, what’s in the bags?”

“Clothes,” she said, confirming my suspicion.

“From the junkyard?”

“Yeah. Just as we were coming in, some church group was leaving. They had a sale and brought what didn’t sell along with some of the stuff they didn’t think was good enough to put out. We took the bags before they hit the gross stuff. Wini said that even if some of the items are stained, spare clothes are better than no clothes at all.”

I agreed.

“Let’s carry these outside before we check out the furniture. Maybe someone will be willing to help us sort the clothes.”

Four hours later, everyone seemed to have something to do. Two work groups divided the yard. On one side, men chopped or just broke the deadwood into smaller pieces and stacked it where the old shed used to stand. The other side of the yard, cleared of everything but the tables, functioned as a general work area.

The men surrounding two of the tables sorted clothes into gender and size, adult vs. child. When a folded stack grew too tall, the man would carry it to the front entry where another table was setup to hold everything. Only a few very tattered pieces were on the ground beside the table. Most was salvageable; I’d even found myself a pair of cotton shorts and a soft top to sleep in.

On several other tables, men worked to fix some of the odd items the group had brought back. The intent was to take those things to town and sell them the next day. The tools and the paint that were brought back from the dump came in handy at those tables.

As Mary and I moved around the yard to answer questions or help as needed, Thomas, Gregory, and Grey shadowed us. They never spoke a word. Gregory’s presence, I understood. He rarely took his eyes from Mary and growled at any man who looked at her for too long. Thomas and Grey puzzled me, though. I couldn’t be sure if they were watching me or just listening to what I was telling the men to do.

Seeing everything well in hand, Mary and I went inside to start a late lunch. Our shadows came with us. Three cleaned rabbits waited on the table.

“Dad and Paul went hunting,” Mary said, eyeing them with me.

“The rabbits are perfect. We should be able to make a stew for the group outside,” I said, moving to the pump. While we started to fill a pot with water, the three men moved around the new cook stove. Their quiet conversation was lost over the noise of the pump.

“Excuse me,” a voice called. I looked up from the pot to see a man and woman standing in the doorway. Though they were clothed, they were filthy, and the woman was very pregnant. The man wasn’t looking at me, but at Thomas.

“We heard about the changes here. My Mate wants to stay until the cub is born, if that’s all right.”

I didn’t give Thomas a chance to answer.

“Of course,” I said, dropping the handle and moving toward the couple. “My name is Charlene, and this is Mary.”

The man glanced at Thomas once more before his gaze settled on me.

“This is Ann, and I am Leif.”

“Mary, would you be willing to show Ann and Leif to one of the fixed rooms, and maybe Ann would like to pick a few things out from the stuff you brought back.”

Mary nodded and happily chatted with Ann as the three left the room. I turned toward Thomas. He watched me with an odd expression, not angry…more like confused.

“How long will it take to hook up that stove?” I asked. “Ann will probably want a hot bath and that stove will make the job a lot easier.”

“We need some kind of pipe to vent the smoke,” Thomas said, stating what I’d already guessed.

“Gregory, did you see any pipe at the junkyard?” I asked.

“We brought some back,” Grey said. “It should be around here somewhere.”

“See if you can find it and get the stove working. I’ll keep fixing lunch.”

I didn’t wait for them to answer but turned toward the rabbits. We needed to make the food stretch. It wasn’t something I was used to doing. I lugged the heavy pot to the fire and set it on the hook there. Then, I went back to the table and started cutting every bit of meat off the rabbits. After covering the meat with a cloth, I tied the carcasses into another piece of cloth. I tossed that bundle into the water.

“What are you doing?” Thomas asked from across the room.

“Making a broth for a stew base. My mom never used a shirt, but it should work the same and keep the little bones out of the stew while adding flavor.”

He didn’t ask anything else, so I turned back to our supplies. We had pasta, dried beans, rice, and canned vegetables. The beans would need to be soaked. And, even if I used the canned vegetables, I needed the carcasses to boil for a while before adding the meat.

“This won’t be ready until closer to dinner,” I said with a sigh. “I don’t know what to feed everyone for lunch.”

“Charlene,” Thomas said, turning me away from the table. I hadn’t realized he’d crossed the room. “We’ve fed ourselves our whole lives. You only need to worry about feeding yourself.”

He was back to studying me, again.

“You need to stop thinking like that,” I said. “Each individual only thinking about themselves…it’s not helping. Winifred and Mary said your race is dying. Stop looking at your little groups as isolated families and start seeing the big picture. You all need to work together to find a way to survive. If you want to survive.”

His expression never changed while I spoke. I wanted to shake him to see if he was still alive, and maybe, because he frustrated me a bit.

“Don’t you see?” I said with exasperation. “It’s not you who will suffer the most, but the generations after you, if you don’t change your ways.” He still gave no indication he understood me. I turned back to the table. “I need to get something ready for Ann to eat.”

“Whether you know it or not, you were meant to come here,” Thomas said. “We won’t change on our own. But maybe you will change us.”

He walked away before I could glance back at him.