Page 55

The women filed into the meeting room. They were all adults, only women who had experienced their first change were admitted to the council room, though some carried babies on their hips. They took their seats as Kelly moved to take the alpha’s chair.

She waited for quiet, something that came automatically, with the exception of one fussy baby. The alpha smiled as the mother tried to hush the child with a series of jiggles and pats.

“You know why we’re all here. We’ll need to admit the outsider soon, so things need to be clear before Julie takes her place within our numbers. I need to reiterate that it is expected that we all adhere to the agreed path of action.”

Not entirely agreed upon, which became evident. Kelly watched many of the women shift in their seats, turn to those next to them to pass comment. This was the lot of the alpha, to witness the concern and dissension, and then lead the group.

“More outsiders are coming. The scattering times are drawing to an end. One way or another, our peoples are going to become one.” The noise only grew louder, shriller at that.

She heard their anger and their fear, and nodded, not speaking until it settled.

“This is what our mothers and our mothers’ mothers have prepared us for, since time immemorial.

We can do this. We are strong. We can reclaim our ancestral lands, and defeat those who would enslave us, once and for all. ”

“Isn’t this a lot to put on one outsider girl?” Janice asked.

Kelly acknowledged that and leaned back against her chair. “It won’t be just one girl. We will all have our role to play, but in the new outsiders, there will be others who’ll play key roles.”

“Who will remain ignorant of their path.”

“I wish there was another way, really I do. But in the end, all we can do is trust the messages the seers left us. May the line remain unbroken.”

“May the line remain unbroken,” the women all repeated.