63 The Return of Kestrel

Kestrel was welcomed back to the East Shore outpost by Parfit and his team with grandeur. The cheers and greetings were warm and plentiful.

The East Shore lacked a healing pod. Not every outpost could afford such advanced medical equipment.

Birdie, her arm still bound in bandages, dashed down the staircase to greet Kestrel. With her one good arm, she hugged Kestrel tightly.

"Kestrel," Birdie's head rested on Kestrel's shoulder. Kestrel patted her back, yet Birdie remained still.

"I thought I'd left you in there too," Birdie's voice was frail, barely louder than a whisper.

Birdie had left her mother, families, and childhood friends back in the Polluted Zone. This act had planted a thorn of guilt in her heart since she was a child.

Holding onto Kestrel, Birdie ignored Parfit's pointed cough. She was the alpha, after all, and Kestrel was a beta, a beta from the Tower.

Kestrel could only respond, "All is well now, isn't it?"