Fantasy Lynxed [Teeth, Nails and Tails] - Brynn Paulin

[raone453k]

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Emmie was already at the center when Summer arrived. “Are you okay?” Summer asked after they’d hugged. She normally wasn’t much of a hugger, but just seeing Emmie, she wanted to hold on and not let go for a while. They hadn’t known each other before, but Emmie represented home and all the familiar, non-shape-shifter stuff Summer knew. “Okay, I suppose,” the other woman replied, suddenly moving back to the pile of things that had been salvaged. “It’s rather…intense here, isn’t it?” Summer tilted her head, raising her eyebrows in humor. “You could say that. Intense. Yeah.” “So…” Emmie twisted her hands and stared out the window at the snow-covered landscape that seemed to sparkle under today’s clear, sun-filled skies.

“Kelsey wants to leave ASAP, but I think I’m going to stay. I was heading out to teach at that village, but now, well, they need a teacher here. There aren’t any, and there are several at Sisuaq Ablu.” “So you’re going to stay with the two who rescued you?” Summer asked, feeling a stab of guilt. Why couldn’t she be as sure as Em? The other woman gave a single, breathy huff of laughter. “I didn’t say that. Caribou Run needs me more than Sisuaq Ablu. Their only teacher left here last spring, and the children should have been back to college a month ago. No one will come here to work, but it’s just what I’ve been looking for. Kane and Aron have nothing to do with it.” Summer offered a smile, wondering what exactly Em wanted from life. “I’m glad. I really am,” she told the woman. Deep down, she wondered how long Em would be successful in fending off the two who’d claimed her.

If they were anything like Bar and Mika, it wouldn’t be long at all. It didn’t take much time for Summer to separate her things into a pile near the door. It wasn’t a lot. Two suitcases, a trunk, a computer and case, her purse and the bag with her two cameras. A somewhat pathetic representation of her life, she decided, but then, she’d never been one to have a ton of things. A lot of baggage wouldn’t have been welcome at Sisuaq Ablu anyway. From what she’d been told, they were simple people without a lot of extras. “Do you think Kelsey will come for her things?” Em shook her head. “No, she said they could do whatever they wanted with it. Most of her personal stuff was already sent ahead of the trip. She was just bringing medical supplies. She’ll arrange for a new shipment.” “Since you’re staying, maybe, you can see that these get to the town’s doctor?” “You’re not staying?”

The rock that had settled in Summer’s middle pressed harder on her chest. “I don’t think so. There’s nothing here for me.” Except Bar and Mika, but she couldn’t give up everything for them. Could she? “It would be great if you were, but I understand.” Yeah, it would be nice if I did, Summer thought. Emmie would make a good friend, someone from home. That wasn’t happening though. She forced a pleasant smile on her face as she wished Emmie all the best.