Thirty-Four
Cathal brought his new crew to a halt, in the passageway between the Medi-pod and the Deck. To his right he sensed the kin, massed in the garden. To the left, towards the forest, were fewer signals.
The forest called to Cathal. The metal curves of the corridor tunnel were too smooth and too enclosing. He wanted to have the night sky above him, and the freedom to roam. He wanted to feel the rain pounding his new body. And he wanted to taste everything the forest had to offer.
He’d always preferred being out there. He had memories of walking under the trees, behind others, where he could keep an eye on things while letting his mind wander. They’d walk silently, too, and that calmed him. Even when they encountered warths, they only needed to stay quiet, and maybe re-route, and
