I nodded, grudgingly. “That’s probably true. Why? What did I forget?”

“Their coat of arms is a giant, black bird.”

“Oh.” I thought about that for a second. “So what does that mean? They’re all freaky bird lovers?”

“No. I don’t know what it means. I was just saying …” He shrugged.

“Well, whatever. Bottom line is, he’s annoying, sneaking around, and defending birds probably just to argue with me.”

“And he’s hot, funny, and in love with you, too. Don’t forget those things.”

My face went red. “I’m not sure about that last part, but I agree with the other stuff.”

“So let’s just give him some space and wait and see what happens. He’s a good person, and I really do think he likes you a lot. I’m sure things will work out one way or another.”

“Maybe he used to like me, but I doubt he does anymore, now that I’ve insulted his bird fetish.”

Peter smiled. “He’s not going to stop liking you over one little argument. I don’t think he’s the type to just fall for someone and then hate them the next day. We don’t live in that kind of world anymore, anyway.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, when there were thousands of possible mates to choose from, it was like being a huge candy store with a billion types of sugary things to choose from. You could sample one of everything and not worry about whether you’d like it much or whatever, because there was always another jar of candy nearby. But now, there’s no candy store. There’s a single jawbreaker that you found in the gutter. And there are no more jawbreaker factories. No more candy stores. No more refined sugar. That one jawbreaker you found could be the only one you’ll ever have again. You aren’t going to just eat it and say goodbye.”

His analogy wasn’t perfect but I saw where he was going with it. “So I’m like a jawbreaker. A dirty one you find in the gutter.”

“Yeah. And he likes that candy. It’s his favorite. So he doesn’t care that it has smelly feet.”

I scowled at him. “How do you know he likes jawbreakers so much?”

“I just know. I can tell a good match when I see one. He needs someone spunky and tough, someone different than other girls. That’s you.”

I smiled, liking how Peter had described me. “But what if he just decides to eat it real quick and then move on? I mean, there are other jawbreakers out there. They’re just more rare.”

“That’s not how he is. He’s methodical. A thinking person. He’s not rash. And he knows his odds of finding a jawbreaker of this flavor? Are pretty slim.”

“I’ve seen him do some stupid, rash things … like going after the candy at the Cracker Barrel.”

“That was all a very carefully-crafted way of making sure he had a good grip on his jawbreaker. He wants to keep the candy happy. Keep it sweet.”

I rolled my eyes. “Ugh. Your analogy is making me want to eye gouge you right now.”

He held up his fingers, turning them like he was adjusting dials on a stereo. “Just remember: titty twisting champion, eight years running.”

I resisted the urge to cover my boobs and was rescued from having to come up with a suitable retort by Paci joining us.

“Hey, Hot Stuff and her very small friends. Are you ready to go?”

Buster went bananas, running over to Paci and jumping up on his legs, begging for attention. Paci didn’t disappoint him, either. He bent down and baby-talked with Buster like he was an old hand at it.

I smiled in amusement. Paci was no wimp. He was almost as big as Bodo and ripped to the max. He had zero body fat, so Peter and I were able to admire his every muscle, which I noticed Peter was doing with unabashed curiosity.

I caught Peter’s attention and raised my eyebrows at him in a conspiratorial message of mutual admiration. He smiled in return, giving me a pitiful wink that made him look like he had something stuck in both eyes. It made me laugh.

Paci looked up at me. “Something strike you as funny?”

“Yeah. You baby-talking to a nude poodle.”

Paci turned his attention back to the dog. “I had a dog, but she died a few years back. I miss her.” He swallowed hard.

I wondered how many family members Paci had lost. Most of us didn’t talk about it. It was too depressing, and life was already pretty crappy most of the time. It had turned into some kind of unspoken rule to keep your family miseries to yourself. Peter was the exception, maybe since it hadn’t been the virus that had taken his sister.

“Time for the meeting,” said Paci, standing up straighter. “Where’s your boyfriend?” he asked, looking at me.

“He’s not my boyfriend, and I have no idea where he is. He took off on a walk or something.”

Paci’s eyebrows raised. “He’s not your boyfriend?”

“No. Why?” I wasn’t sure why I asked. It was kind of a loaded question, and I tried to avoid those, generally speaking - at least when it came to guys.

“Sure looked like it to me.”

“Well, looks can be deceiving.” My hands went to my hips, and I probably seemed defensive but I couldn’t help it.

He looked at me for a couple seconds and then broke out in a huge grin. “You don’t have to tell me that. The first time I saw you acting all tough I was expecting to see you on your ass in the swamp.”

“The only ones on their asses in the swamp when Bryn’s around are you guys,” said Peter, pride in his voice.

I glanced over at him and winked.

“I don’t deny it. But see, she’s making a critical mistake.”

“Oh, yeah? What’s that?” I asked.

“You’re teaching us all your moves. Eventually we’ll all be as tough as you, and then you’ll be the one taking a bath.”

“You might think so,” I said casually, “if you didn’t consider the fact that while I train you, I continue to train myself. So no matter how far you move forward, I’ll always be ahead of you.”

“Burn, Paci,” said Peter, his voice again full of pride.

Paci smiled. “I like your style, Bryn. I really do.” He walked towards the ceremonial hut. “Let’s go. The tribe is waiting for you.”

“Tribe, as in singular?” I asked, walking over to follow him through the trees.

“No. They’re both there. I’m just trying to get my head wrapped around the idea of us being just one now. It’s not easy.”

“It’ll get easier,” I said.

“Let’s hope so,” said Paci. He remained silent the rest of the way to the ceremonial hut, but he kept looking back at me from time to time with a weird expression on his face.

Peter came up to me as we reached the edge of the trees that ringed the hut. We let Paci pull ahead until we were alone again.

Peter spoke once he was out of earshot. “I think he likes you.”

I watched Paci join the others, noticing that he was still glancing at me occasionally, and watching other guys who were looking over at Peter and me.

“Really?”

“Yeah. He keeps watching you. Once he heard Bodo wasn’t your boyfriend, he was all over that.”

I sighed. “Shit.”

“Yeah. Exactly. You’d better not go around advertising you’re single. There’s not a hell of a lot of available jawbreakers if you know what I mean.”

My mind raced with the implications. It was stupid of me not to have been thinking about all this stuff before. I’d been so wrapped up in finding food to eat, a place to live, and companions who wouldn’t eat me, I hadn’t much considered the other human needs, other than on the most basic level. God, I hope there are no rapists in this group. The last thing I wanted to do was kill a guy in the swamp.

***

There were almost a hundred people jammed into every available spot in and around the hut. Some carried torches, but none were lit. Most of them were wearing regular clothes, no one bothering to get all dressed up like they had last time.

Trip and Kowi were talking together near the center. Coli was standing off to the side, behind Kowi, gesturing to me with her head to join the two leaders.

I walked into the center of the hut, making my way through the surrounding throng, arriving in time to hear them talking about what I assumed was the training I’d done with the guys earlier today.

“Yeah, very cool. You’ll like it. She knows her stuff. I’m dyin’ right now, man,” said Kowi, rubbing his bicep muscles.

Trip acknowledged me with a bland look. His bruises from our fight still hadn’t completely faded.

“What’s up, guys?” I asked.

“I was just telling Trip about your training … told him he needs to get in on it.”

“He can if he wants. I’ve got room for two groups a day of each tribe. One girl, one guy. Actually, I wanted to talk to you about that.” I changed my focus to Kowi. “I’m putting Peter in charge of the schedule if that’s okay with you. He needs something to organize so he doesn’t go nuts or drive me crazy. He’s already reorganized our pitiful pantry about a hundred times.”

“It’s okay with me,” said Kowi, looking at Trip.

Trip shrugged. “Whatever.”

I couldn’t get a read on Trip at all. “Whatever, as in, you’re okay with it? Or whatever, you don’t want to do the training?”

“Whatever.”

I rolled my eyes. “Again, Trip? Again with the rooster shit?”

“Rooster shit?” he said, looking a little angry now.

“Yeah. The strutting around with the feathers and stuff. Honestly, I thought we were beyond that.”

Kowi cuffed him in the shoulder. “He’s just pissed you kicked his ass in front of everyone.”

Trip scowled at him but said nothing.

“Don’t let it bother you,” I said with a totally straight face. “No one’s managed to beat me since I was twelve. You have a lot of company.”

Trip smiled in spite of himself. “Seriously?”

“Yeah. Seriously.”

“How long have you been doing this? The fighting stuff?” asked Kowi.

“Since I was three.”

“No way.”

“Yeah way. My dad was an instructor. He was kind of obsessed with it, especially after my mom left.”

Trip nodded, saying nothing.

I decided a change of subject was in order. “You guys ready to start? And what exactly are we doing here, anyway? I’m kind of clueless, actually.”

Kowi waved around to everyone, motioning for them to sit. “You ready, Trip?”

Trip nodded, scanning the crowd.

Kowi looked at me. “Just stay here. It’ll be easier to just explain as we go, if that’s okay with you.”

“Sure.” What am I going to say? No? Sorry, Chief, but it’s my way or the highway? I tried not to be frustrated with my place on the totem pole, which was much lower than I cared for. It made me feel out of control of my life and therefore, my safety, so it put my nerves a little on edge.

“Thanks for coming,” said Kowi to the group. “Trip and I have agreed to get all of us together to discuss uniting the tribes into one nation.”

“I agreed to this in principle only,” clarified Trip. “I know we’re stronger as one. But we still need to figure out who’s in charge and how it will work with sharing hunting grounds and other stuff. If I’m not happy with it, I won’t agree.”

“I thought we already talked about a combined ruling council,” said Coli from the perimeter, her voice clearly expressing how annoyed she was with Trip.

“We did,” said Kowi, “and as far as we’re concerned, it’s still the option we agree to go with.”