Twelve hesitated, then set the axes down gently in the snow. On her shoulder, Widge shrieked his alarm again and both girls winced. Twelve pushed him off her firmly. He gazed up at her, eyes wide.

“Enough, Widge,” she said sternly. “This is Poppy, my sister.” Words she’d never thought she’d say again. “Poppy, this is Widge.”

“Come on,” Poppy grinned, bouncing on the balls of her feet. “For once, I’ll be the leader!”

Twelve followed willingly as the girl broke into a trot, then a flat-out run, sprinting through the undergrowth and leaping over obstacles.

“Keep up, slowworm!” Poppy called over her shoulder, her hair catching in her mouth to be brushed away impatiently.

Poppy had always been fast and Twelve rejoiced that this was still the case. Whatever hardships the girl had faced—and there must have been many—somehow, she’d survived, maybe even thrived on them. Widge was speeding behind her, squeaking madly, but Twelve couldn’t risk taking her eyes off her sister.

“Keep up, Widge!” she cried, hoping he’d catch up.

Her heart was thundering in her chest and her breath was coming in great burning gasps, but still Poppy sped on, her feet barely seeming to touch the ground.

“Wait,” Twelve panted. “Too fast . . . slow down . . .”

To her relief, Poppy pulled up, laughing, and waited for Twelve to reach her. She stopped thankfully, doubling over and resting her hands on her knees while she caught her breath.

They were in a small clearing, the trees woven tightly together around them, the canopy very low and dense. There was an unpleasant smell in the air, like rancid meat. Twelve wrinkled her nose.

“It stinks here,” she said.

Poppy pursed her lips and said nothing, but stepped closer, her expression serious. “I think we need to talk, Starling.”

Twelve blinked, her old name sending a shiver through her. Poppy didn’t wait for her to respond, but plowed on, her fingers balled into determined fists.

“I’ve had a lot of time to think while I’ve been here and I want to know why you did it,” she said. Her lips pressed into a line, just as their da’s had when he was annoyed.

“Did what?” Twelve’s heart was sinking.

“Why didn’t you take me hunting like you promised?” Poppy asked. “If you had, none of this would’ve happened. I wouldn’t have been there when the cave clan came for us. I’d have been safe, with you.”

They were the same words Twelve had said to herself a thousand times, but hearing them from Poppy broke her. Her throat closed and tears stung her eyes.

“Poppy,” she choked, “I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry.”

The younger girl stepped closer, seeming taller suddenly.

“Is that really good enough, Starling?” she asked softly, her eyes burning into Twelve’s. “You left me there to die.”