Astrid went back to Goldenridge alone on a Wednesday.

Not the first group. Not with escorts or council representatives or any of the practical apparatus that pack returns had involved for the other territories. She left before dawn with a pack on her back and told Lyra where she was going and walked.

Marina knew because the broadcast told her. Not in specific information, just the directional awareness of Astrid's Goldenridge root frequency moving away from the camp toward its home territory.

She let her go.

Some returns needed to be private first.

Astrid reached Goldenridge by midmorning and sent a brief message to the council channel that afternoon. Two...