The watches were settled, the clearing secured, and everyone had found work to get on with. Aurora wanted Brena's knowledge of the crabs; Lucille needed Della's herbs.
They'd spent days speculating about Black's household. Now they were helping make its dinner, and Della felt a happiness quite separate from the sight of the man holding Blossom.
She wanted to pull her weight, even while Tavi was making it very difficult to look respectable.
"May I borrow those?" Lucille asked, indicating the herbs.
"Oh. Yes, of course."
Della passed them over, then stayed to help.
...
By the time dinner was ready, the last sunlight had withdrawn from the clearing. Firelight reached the blankets spread around the cooking pit, where bowls were being passed from hand to hand.
