Page 111 of A World Enough

Brogan nodded. “It’s a perfect defence system. They don’t have to worry about any passersby coming down. Koda told me that anyone who approaches the atmosphere is immediately scanned and sent a request for communications before they ever get down here. Then they know where they are with people.”

They walked over to the edge of the forest.

Brogan looked around. “It’s quite dark, are you sure you want to walk in the forest?”

“Yeah, I’ve got my own big werewolf to protect me.” Camber smiled.

Brogan offered her arm, and Camber took it. They walked for about five minutes, taking in the sights and the sounds.

“Look at the wisps.”

The nighttime made the wisps silvery white, as they flew through the trees.

“I know it’s your people, Brogan, but they make me feel kind of creeped out,” Camber said.

“They won’t hurt you, I promise. Now where’s this tree…?” Brogan said.

“The portal we saw on my map?”

“Yeah, Koda said it was in a tree in the Great Forest. Leo said he’d help me find it tomorrow, but maybe we could find it.”

Camber said, “Kanni told me that the tree finds you.”

Brogan stopped and took both of Camber’s hands. “I’m sorry about the bad feeling between us.”

“It’s not that bad a feeling. It’s just two people not being honest with themselves. Since we are here on our own, let’s take the opportunity,” Camber said.

Brogan cleared her throat nervously. “You know how bad I am at this.”

“That’s just a stupid dominant wolf stereotype. You’ve talked to me about your family, sad things, happy things. So don’t hide behind that image. Tell me.”

“Okay, okay. It’s hard to take what’s in your head and form it into words.”

Camber put her hands flat on Brogan’s chest. “Look into my eyes, and speak from your heart.”

“My heart says that I love you, and I don’t ever want to leave you.”

“I love you too, Brogan.”

Brogan cupped her cheeks and kissed her. It was a kiss of love, of honesty laid bare at last.

When they opened their eyes, a tree was right behind them that hadn’t been there before.

They took a step back, as the tree was big and wide, different from the super tall trees they’d already seen. In the centre of the tree trunk was a old fashioned looking door with an arch at the top.

“You think this is the tree?” Camber said.

“The pack did say the tree would find us. What should I do?” Brogan said.

“I don’t know. Knock?”

“Knock on a tree. Do you know how weird that is? No, everything’s been weird since I landed in this realm.”

She leaned over and knocked three times. After a few seconds the door swung open with ferocity, and a beam of white light shot out from it.

“Whoa,” Brogan said.

The light settled, and an ethereal looking woman was left.