I admire the way the meteorite glass shimmers in the sunlight, so I crouch next to it. It shimmers as I look at it from different angles, a rainbow of colors overlaid on a darker background. Beautiful. I carefully brush away the sand around the unusually colored glass, picking it out of the hole made by the meteorite. I rub my fingertips over the smoothness of it before adding it to the small collection in my backpack. A few sentimental mementos of my first time with Errol. I never thought I would be so sappy, but here I am. I look up from my bag, my smile fading. I never expected this to happen, not with Errol or anyone else.

I'm definitely on that terrifying, uncertain path I've always been careful to avoid. The one that leads to emotional intimacy...and love. Though that's not right either. I need to be honest with myself. I'm not just on the path that leads to love. I'm already there. I've already fallen head over heels for this honorable, sexy, brave Zmaj. I'm sure it's love, even after knowing him only for a matter of days.

Just as I'm certain in my very bones that Errol is serious about me. And loyal. He's a deeply loyal person I can always trust. As uncertain as I am about everything else, I know Errol's character is beyond reproach. That trust is enough to force me past my internal protections, enough to let myself hope that this thing between us will work out. Will last.

"Kate?" I turn at Errol's voice. "It is time to leave."

I smile at him, I shoulder my backpack, and head over. He smiles back, taking my hand as I reach him. We walk back towards the rover, the sand around us glimmering with pockets of more glass. It really is a sight to behold.

"Is everything fine?" he asks as we slide into the vehicle, his eyes on my face.

"Yes," I reassure him, leaning over to kiss his cheek. "Everything's fine." More than fine. I feel alive in a way I never expected to. He nods, a slight smile curling his lips as he settles back in his seat.

The journey back to the city is vastly different than the one to the rover. For one, it takes a fraction of the time now that we're driving rather than on foot. For another, when Errol and I fall silent, the quiet is comfortable rather than tense.

He holds my hand the whole way back.

When we do arrive at the city, Errol comes with me to go see my friends first. I want to let them know I have the rover back on line. I also let them know that I'm planning to go back to Errol's home with him.

"Oh, cool. Can I come with?" Fallon asks. "I want to see what else is out there."

I look up at Errol. I don't want to invite more people to his little community without a go ahead from him.

"I know anyone who wants to come will be welcome," he reassures her with a smile.

"Can I come too, then?" Nora speaks up in her quiet way. "The city is great, but it's also a little overwhelming."

"Sure," I agree now that Errol has approved. I look around at the assembled group. "Does anybody else want to check it out too?"

"I think I want to stay here. There's so much amazing Zmaj tech here that needs to be fixed!" Addison explains excitedly. "I really want to work on it, if I can."

It turns out Ashlee wants to stay as well, to help with beautification. When all is said and done, only Fallon and Nora want to tag along. Seems like our little group is already disbanding. The thought is bittersweet, but the small regret isn't anything compared to the brightness of the future we're all looking at now. And I'm so happy to see all of us doing so much better, both in physical health and psychological. I haven't seen everyone so excited in a long time.

"All right. I'm going to meet with Rosalind to update her on everything, and then we'll get ready to go," I tell them. "Be ready."

Errol has already been away from home longer than he expected to be, and there's nothing really holding me here, so we're leaving as soon as we can. The women start to get ready as I leave.

Errol comes with me to seek Rosalind out in her office, but he stays quiet for the most part while we're there.

"I just wanted to thank you for all your help," I say after I hug her. "We wouldn't have made it without you. And Errol," I add, smiling at him.

"It was no problem," Rosalind reassures me. "I'm assuming the rover is up and running?"

I nod, my smile turning into a true grin. "Yes," I say. "Purring like a kitten. Which brings me to the next thing I wanted to tell you—I want to go back with Errol, to the caves. And Fallon and Nora want to come along as well."

Rosalind's incisive gaze shifts from me to Errol and then back again.

"I see." And I think she really does. Then she smiles. "At least you now have a quicker and safer means of transportation."

I relax a little at her easy acceptance. I didn't know what I expected. Probably I was still too used to Annabel's style of leadership, which had been more bullying than anything.

"True," I agree. "And let me know if you need to use it for something. I'll be more than happy to lend it to you."

"That's a very generous offer. One I'll likely take you up on at some point." Then she cocks her head slightly to the side. "I also wanted to ask...is there anything else you'd like to tell me about how you survived for this long on Tajss?"

Errol spoke to me about Rosalind's desire to know more about our time here and the reasons why. Now that I've experienced having to lead a group myself, and the responsibility it entails, I'm more sympathetic to her desire to keep everyone under her care safe. Heck, I can't imagine having to deal with people on this massive a scale. It would be a whole other ballgame. After seeing how she's dealt with everything so far, I think I can trust her with this.

"We were rescued by a Zmaj after we were attacked by the animals here," I admit. "An elder, one who keeps to himself—a loner I guess. He was generous enough, kind enough to look after us, give us a place to stay and food to eat, though Annabel played the larger regulating role for our group." I pause, considering how my previous reticence may have come off. "I'm sorry for not telling you the whole story before. But I just didn't want to place Gomul in any danger if I could help it. We owe him our lives."

Rosalind sits back in her chair, her face softening as I fill her in.

"I understand," she says gently, seeming disarmed by my open confession. "And I'm glad you feel comfortable enough to tell me now."

I nod, even while I can tell she wants to ask more questions, but she holds herself back. I'm sure she would like a map drawn, to know exactly where this Zmaj is, where the rest of our group are. She’s an information junkie, and for good reason, but she doesn't ask for more. I really appreciate that. I wouldn't be comfortable leaving Gomul and the rest of the group so vulnerable. It would feel like I was betraying everyone.

On the other hand, from what I hear, Rosalind wouldn't have a whole lot of time and resources to devote to tracking them down anyway. She apparently already has her hands full dealing with an offshoot of other survivors in a more distant camp, a group that is proving difficult to negotiate with regarding some kind of mining operation. Yeah, I really don't envy her position. We say our goodbyes, and Rosalind wishes us a good trip.

After that, we immediately pack our things, and all the women come with us out to the rover. Those who are staying in the city take the last of their things out of the vehicle. The goodbye is more emotional than I would have expected, all of us hugging each other tight. Venturing out of the tunnels was scary. It's bonded us in a way that I don't think will ever fade, even though we're going our separate ways.

The girls wave at us as we get into the rover and drive away, Fallon and Nora in the back seat. Fortunately, the mood is different from the way we felt when we first left Annabel's tender care. Where the drive out from the tunnels was infused with a lot more fear, this trip feels more like an adventure. Part of it is because we have an actual destination in mind, I'm sure. Mostly it was because I feared the others might all be dead, that my feeling they weren't was just wishful thinking.

I'm sure the others felt the same. But so many people are very much alive! I still can't wrap my head around the people who are here that we didn't know about.

And the communities that have popped up in different areas of Tajss, in a way that gives me real hope for the future, despite the political issues that seem to be looming on the horizon, judging by the events I've been filled in on. Political strife is a part of any society, I guess. We had some on the ship, even. But that right there is the important part, isn't it? We have an actual society in progress here. Somewhere to build a life.

I don't realize I have a smile on my face as I think of that until Errol reaches over to take my hand when I let go of the wheel with one.

"What is it?" he says. "What's made you happy?"

Before I can answer, Fallon and Nora gasp behind us, and I realize this is the first time they've seen an affectionate gesture between the two of us.

"Are you two together? Like together together?" Fallon demands, leaning forward.

I feel my face redden at the question even as my smile widens. "Yes," I say simply, turning my hand over to grip Errol's. "We are."

Nora squeals. "Oh, that's so wonderful! Congratulations!"

"Yeah, that's great!" Fallon agrees happily. "Wow, maybe we'll get some hunky Zmaj guys too," she jokes, both of them laughing in the back seat.

I laugh too, shaking my head. I'm so glad they're taking it so well, I can't help but grin. Why had I been scared?

Errol laughs at their antics too, raising my hand to his mouth and kissing the back of it in a gallant gesture that sums up who he is. Our secret is fully out. Not that I intended to keep it under wraps for long. I'm damn proud to be at Errol's side, even if there's a shy, quiet place within me that's only just beginning to inch into our union.

It'll come along. I'm not going to hold back living because of it.