“Oh,” Twelve said cautiously. “Isn’t it better you both know where you stand though?”

Five shrugged, but Twelve saw uncertainty beneath the casual gesture. “I hope so. I can’t lie about who I am.”

Twelve nodded, feeling on more solid territory. “No, you can only be yourself. No one else will do it for you.”

“Easier if you know who that is though,” Five muttered.

Twelve thought of her da and Elder Silver. Think about the person you want to be.

“You get to decide, you know,” Twelve said slowly. “I have.” A liquid warmth spread through her as she spoke.

Not too late . . .

Widge bounced back onto her lap, happiness radiating from him as he gazed up at her.

“What have you decided?” Six called across the fire. “Your Hunter name?” He hurried around to sit next to them.

“Not what we were talking about,” Five said. “Your Hunter name is obvious though—Hare. Big ears for eavesdropping.”

“And yours should be Shrew, in honor of your bad temper,” Six grinned, without missing a beat.

“I was actually thinking of Wolf,” Five said with dignity. His face fell as Six burst out laughing.

“W-what about you, Twelve?” Seven asked, sitting next to her. “Any ideas?”

Twelve frowned into the fire and thought. “Not yet,” she said, shaking her head. “I never expected to become a Hunter, so I never thought about it.”

“How about Scorch?” Five said promptly. “What?” he asked, when they all skewered him with a dark look. “It would be a warning not to mess with her.”

“Spark?” Six offered. “A bit less obvious?”

Five rolled his eyes.

Twelve shook her head. “It’s an easy no to both,” she laughed.

“I h-have an idea,” Seven said a moment later. “W-what about Phoenix?”

“Phoenix?” Five scoffed. “That’s a magical creature. Hunters never take magical names.”

“Twelve has magic though,” Seven said. “And I c-can’t think of a more perfect Hunter name for her—a creature of fire that r-rises from its own ashes.”

The others fell silent and a strange electricity ran through Twelve. Phoenix. It would be an unusual choice, a bold one. A title she would have to earn, have to live up to every day. She wouldn’t end up like Victory, with a glorious name she didn’t deserve.

“Phoenix,” Twelve said, tasting the word and liking it. “I’ll think about it.” Her eyes met Seven’s and the other girl smiled.

“So you . . . you will stay with the lodge, then?” Six asked, his expression hopeful.

“Yes, I’m staying,” Twelve said slowly. “Everything feels different after what we’ve done together. I think I could be happy here now.”

Happy. The word felt odd in her mouth.

Six nodded, a smile spreading over his face.

“Life will be different now too,” Five added, a shiver of excitement passing over him. “I’ve always wanted to meet the mountain clan.”