Caledonia stopped a few feet into the room. Silence cast a perfect net as the girls all turned to lay their eyes on her. She saw Tin, standing tall in the midst of the Mary sisters, her strong arms wrapped around the youngest. She found Folly snuggled beneath a blanket, a deep gash across her forehead. There was Amina, seated with one of Hime’s hands held between hers, wrapped in fresh gauze. There were girls clustered together and gathered around tables, there were girls tending to the needs of others and girls unable to rise from their cots. Ares crouched at Wen’s bedside, tying off a row of stiches in her side. There was no sign of Oran, though he’d been so badly injured he was surely in the med bay. And there, in the center of the room, stood Pisces.

For a moment, everyone stared. Then Hime moved, letting her blanket fall away as she crossed the room to stand before Caledonia.

Captain, she signed, tapping her own shoulder briskly.

Relief broke in Caledonia like a dam. A laugh of a sob escaped her lips and she went to hug the girl, but Hime reared back and slapped her hard across the cheek.

The sting of it was as much in her heart as on her skin. Caledonia let surprise linger on her face as she pulled her eyes back to Hime’s. The small girl breathed hard.

You left us, she signed. Anger was bright in her accusing eyes, and there were echoes of that same anger all around the room.

Caledonia nodded. “I deserved that.”

At this, Hime released a smile like a sunrise. We knew you’d come!

Hime stepped forward and wrapped her lithe arms around Caledonia, squeezing her tightly. She was too thin and so cold, but there was nothing more beautiful than hugging her sisters. Caledonia held her just as tightly and let her tears spill against the girl’s neck.

Amina was next, pressing her cheek to Caledonia’s and a kiss near her ear. “Captain,” she said in her quiet, steady way.

After that, it was all of them. Her girls crowded around her, hugging her and squeezing her hands, thanking her for coming or telling her they’d known all along that she would. She named them off in her head, trying to keep track and failing. She was just relieved to find so many still alive.

The only one who didn’t come forward was Pisces. She kept her distance, standing back to watch, but not approach. Caledonia understood, and while she was increasingly desperate to pull her sister away, wrap her arms around her neck, and tell her everything, this was not the time and not the place. Their reunion would happen later.