TEN
A THRUM OF EXCITEMENT traveled through the encampment, as news passed through the crowd. Ande balanced the thin log he carried on his shoulder, watching as several people rushed off after hearing whatever it was—probably more of Running Water’s missing, finally regrouping with the rest of their people. He had become accustomed to the feel of this, the mixture of joy, hope, and desperation while Running Water’s citizens waited to see if their loved ones would return.
He spared a moment to be grateful, on these people’s behalf, that more of their own had survived. Then he tightened his grip on the piece of wood he carried, and got back to work. Following Raes’ lead, he and his men had started contributing to the manual labor around the camp, when they weren’t on patrol or sentry duty.
