| previous chapter |
the end
|
With Wanderer back, life goes on the caves. She feels different, though. In her new body, she feels weaker. People also treat her differently, almost like a little child. Due to Pet’s angelic and innocent looking face, Wanderer also becomes a victim of constant hair-stroking and face-touching.
In addition, Wanderer admits that there is awkwardness between her and Ian, despite the kiss they shared when she woke up as Pet. The awkwardness is due to the fact that Wanderer isn’t sure if Ian still feels the same way about her now that she is in a different body. Wanderer also still has some leftover feelings for Jared, so she isn’t even sure how she feels herself. To top it all off, Ian hasn’t been physically affectionate with Wanderer since their kiss. Wanderer is simply confused.
It is Jamie who helps Wanderer and Ian resolve this matter. He arranges his mattress, Ian’s mattress and Wanderer’s mattress beside each other then proceeds to go to sleep, but not before announcing that he plans to move out of Ian’s room and in with Brandt and Aaron. Ian takes this opportunity to pull Wanderer close to him and he tells her that it wouldn’t be right for him to have a room all to himself, suggesting that she share a room with him –if she wants to. As it would turn out, Ian had been avoiding Wanderer because he was giving her time to sort out her feelings. Wanderer is amused as Ian expresses the doubts her had. At this, the confusion regarding this issue is shattered:
Wanderer: Jared is my past, another life. You are my present.
Ian: And your future, if you want.
Wanderer: Yes, please.
Ian and Wanda then share “the most unplatonic” kiss possible.
A few weeks past and the humans are ready to go on a raid. Wanderer is especially anxious to go on the raid with her new body, much to the dismay of her friends. They know that she is needed, however, especially since Sunny is useless and refuses to be away from Kyle (who in turn must step down from the raids, as well).
Melanie, Jared, Brandt, Aaron, Ian and Wanda make up the group, but while on the raid they experience a drawback as they are ambushed. Wanderer thinks it’s the Seekers and she readies herself with the cyanide pill, but then the group sees that they have stumbled upon another band of humans. The leader introduces himself as Nate and tells Jared’s group about the other human cells he knows of. He then accidentally reveals that they have a soul with them named Burns. Burns is able to recognize Wanderer as a fellow soul. He tells her that he thought he was one of a kind, but Wanderer, thinking about Sunny and herself, knows that this isn’t true and perhaps souls going native is more common than everyone may think…
Wanderer: It’s a strange world.
Burns: The strangest.
THE END.
