Free Crusade Across Worlds by C.G. Coppola

were living on
Harrizel. But after landing here with Vix, Walker completed the
three tasks and earned himself a place among the Zingfinolds, and
the boys have more or less warmed up to him. Except Reid. Even
though it was an order from the Kings, Walker slept with Ansley
while she was dating Reid, causing Reid’s eventual resignation from
the Rogues. He’s become part of our group, and there is a
possibility he could continue to be. If only Reid didn’t hate him
so much.
    Walker lets go and pulls back. “Sorry I
wasn’t there earlier. Wish I could’ve seen you with the others.” He
huffs and then rolls his eyes. “Hozfin needed a second opinion on
something.” He leans in with a whisper and a wink. “He doesn’t
always agree with Warze.”
    “Good thing he has ideas to bounce off of
you.”
    Walker winks again.
    Like Reid, Tucker and the rest of the
Rogues, Walker is dressed in the traditional brown Zingfinold gear
that hangs from his hips to his knees. His chest and arms are
exposed, and like the others, tribal ink runs the length of his
right arm. “It’s good to see you, Walker.”
    “It’s really good to see you,” a genuine
smile works its way across his face.
    “And it’s good to see me and Jace and Pratt
and everyone else,” Werzo nods, licking his lips as he scans the
bountiful selection on the floor. “But most of all, it’s good to
see all the food. So uh… can we hurry this up?”
    “Are you never not hungry?” Walker
huffs.
    “Nope. Never.”
    “Why don’t you cool it there, Werzo,”
Clarence sighs. “This is for Fallon’s homecoming. Let her say hi to
everyone.”
    “I don’t want the food to get cold.”
    “It’ll be fine,” he rolls his eyes, looking
to me with a grin. “Fallon—anywhere you want to sit.”
    I select a spot in front of a huge slab
piled high with roasted meat. Reid immediately snags the seat on my
right while Pratt selects the space to my left. The Rogues,
Dofinikes and Zingfinolds all situate themselves in an oblong
circle around the impressive display that takes up nearly the
entire floor space. I inhale the delicious aroma, eager to dive in,
when I look up and realize that this is the first time I’m
reuniting with everybody at once.
    My chest constricts with glee.
    With the little I’ve said to the Dofinikes,
it pales in comparison to the nothing I’ve shared with the
Zingfinolds, the tribal occupants of Nerwolix’s southern terrain.
This is the first time I’ve seen any of them since I left three
months ago. King Hozfin and I never got particularly close, but it
is nice to see Warze—his bulky second-in-command. If not for Warze,
then Jace, Booker and I would’ve been dead during the Vermix
invasion. Multiple times. He led us through the infested forest and
high up into the trees so we could find a moment of shelter while
Reid found his way to us. It’s nice to see the warrior’s furry
face, even if it isn’t smiling. Zeed—I think it’s Zeed—sits next to
Warze but chats with Pratt on his right, the two lost in secret
whisperings. A low buzz of casual conversation hovers in the air
and my chest tightens again at the sight.
    This .
    I’ve missed this. I’ve missed being here
with everyone. Being part of it. If not Reid, then this is
what I missed most while away on Arosin. Being part of this
family.
    “With your permission,” Sampson turns to the
Zingfinold king, “I would like to say a few words.” He nods once
and the Fychu looks around at the rest of us, the corners of his
mouth lifting. “It has been three months since Reuzkimpart invaded
Nerwolix. A dark time for us all, we lost many friends and continue
to mourn for them daily. The worst of this war is yet to come, and
we must prepare for that soon. But today, we welcome back not only
a friend, but a family member that has been gone far too long. She
has helped guide us, inspire us, and has played a crucial role in
our survival since Clarence first brought her to Harrizel,”