“Twelve, can you hear me?” Six’s voice sounded as though it was coming from a long way away.

The scene dissolved around her, and Poppy was gone—but also not gone. Not like she had been before. There was a warmth in Twelve’s chest, a calmness that stayed even after her little sister disappeared.

“Twelve?”

She opened her eyes to find Six leaning over her, his face full of fear and hope.

“You’re awake,” he yelped. Then, raising his voice even more, he bellowed, “She’s awake.”

Twelve flinched and groaned, pushing him away, trying to hold on to the dissipating threads of the dream.

Not too late . . .

Something moved over her chest. She felt two paws on her chin and suddenly her vision was filled with a little copper face, bright eyes examining her beadily.

“Widge!” she gasped, raising her arms with difficulty to stroke him. “You’re all right! I thought . . . I thought . . .” She couldn’t finish the sentence, couldn’t say it out loud. Tears prickled behind her eyes. She sank her fingers gratefully into his fur, the cold knot of fear inside her finally relaxing. He was safe.

“He’s a real survivor,” Six grinned. “They must have been keeping him in the kitchen.” He frowned and shook his head. “Let’s not think about why. But, when it collapsed, he suddenly appeared. He ran straight to you and no one’s been able to get him off since.” His smile wavered. “I think he’s been really worried about you though. He’s been chewing your hair again. Quite a lot.”

Widge looked abashed as Twelve raised a hand to her head. Her hair did feel significantly shorter on one side than the other. She found she didn’t really care; it didn’t seem important. Not after she’d spent so long thinking she would never see him again.

“It’ll grow back,” she said, to her squirrel’s obvious relief. With a gentle chirrup, he nestled into her neck, content just to be with her.

“Wait.” Twelve frowned suddenly, wincing at a sharp pain in her cheek. “Six, what do you mean ‘when it collapsed’?” She looked around and her confusion only grew; they appeared to be in some sort of tent. She was lying on a cot with furs piled high over her. “Where are we?”

“Ah.” Six’s face grew somber. “Well . . .”

He was interrupted by a canvas flap being pulled back as several people rushed in. In the lead was Seven, her smile as bright as snow, then came Five and Elder Hoarfrost. Dog was too big to fit in so made do with poking his head through the entrance.

“I knew y-you’d be all right,” Seven said. The relief on her face told another story though.

“Course she is,” Six grinned.

“She’s obviously as indestructible as Dog,” Five added, punching her none too gently on the arm.