His lip curled as he stared at Twelve. “Look at you: a few hours ago, we were friends. I’m still the same person, but now you hate me because you know I’m cave clan. And you think I’m the monster?” He shook his head in disgust.

“Monster?” Blood was pounding in Twelve’s ears. “Not a monster,” she said carefully, picking the words that would cut the deepest. “Just a terrible brother.”

A sharp intake of breath. “I’m a better brother than you were a sister.”

Twelve felt her fist hit Six’s cheek hard, saw the moonstone fly from his hand. His fingers raked her face, trying to push her off as she flung herself at him. Widge squealed and darted away as Twelve rained blow after blow onto any soft part of Six she could reach, cursing the furs that were protecting him. A fist came out of nowhere, connecting solidly to her jaw, and her head snapped back.

Five was yelling and Surefoot surged away, but Twelve barely noticed as she fended off more blows from Six and threw in a few of her own.

“Stop this!” Dog barked, the snow groaning beneath his weight as he leaped forward to drag them apart. Twelve screamed as his teeth sank through her furs and into her shoulder. She tore herself away from him as his jaw slackened.

Blood slid down Twelve’s face from a split eyebrow and Six’s nose was gushing red down his chin.

“Twelve!” Dog yelped. “I am sorry! Are you all right?”

Her shoulder throbbed painfully in response and she couldn’t look at him. Six spat a mouthful of blood onto the bright white ground and Twelve felt her rage crystallize into icy determination. She’d already decided she was no longer part of Seven’s rescue mission. There was no reason to stay a moment longer.

She grabbed her pack, summoned Widge to her shoulder and, in a moment of blistering malice, stooped to sweep the moonstone into her pocket. Then she began to walk away.

She didn’t look back. With every step, a boiling anger pulsed through her, pushing out rational thought. She had helped the cave clan and betrayed her own family in the process. Twelve wrapped her arms around herself and walked faster, wishing she could outpace her raging thoughts. On her shoulder, Widge was stiff, silent with shock as her feet carried them back to the lodge.

The sun was diving behind the mountains, the light fading to a warm, orange glow. In the distance, Twelve could see figures on the skybridges, lighting the braziers. The familiarity of the sight warmed her in spite of herself and she walked even faster.