8 YEARS AFTER REAPPEARANCE
# 16

Shards # 16 "The New Beginning"
The shell flies above the crumbling citadel. Rayek is filled with pain and can no longer be master of the Palace. Timmain and Skywise will do it. Cutter wants to go to Ember's tribe. In an instant, they land at Howling Rock in the shape of the Palace. Ember's tribe runs to meet them. Leetah and Cutter embrace, as do Strongbow and Moonshade. Krim and Pike share a lifemate's loss and a new cub's beginning. Mender sees recent farewell in Ember's eyes. They head off to the Forevergreen, guided by Suntop's call. They take Dart's band away from the ruins of a human city. Dart, Kimo, Shenshen, Suntop, and Yun enter the Palace. Dart goes to his parents, Strongbow and Moonshade. He's ready to be a Wolfrider again. Cutter's family is reunited. Suntop asks where Jethel, Chot, and Dodia are. Timmain says they decided to stay by not answering their call. She beckons Suntop and Skywise to the scroll. Yun comes to Skywise, only wanting a good look at her father. If he's away from the World of Two Moons, a part of him remains. He, Suntop, and Timmain join, sending the call to the Sun Folk. Savah answers from underground. They land and Ekuar brings them to the surface. They go to find the Go-Backs. Krim and Yun recognize none of them. The four tribes are represented, as are the trolls and preservers.

Shuna is overwhelmed. Leetah, the one who once healed her, goes to her, healing her pierced hand. Venka asks the Go-Backs of her mother Kahvi. She'll join their search. Aroree will come. Door's fate is uncertain and Tyldak would be with Kahvi. Two-Edge says Venka is all that is left to him. He goes with them. Ember must return to Howling Rock. Mender, Scouter, Tyleet, Dewshine, Pike, Krim, and Yun follow her. Drub and Flam go to plunder the citadel. Shuna stays with Leetah and Cutter. Rayek walks out, a dungeon keeper on eternal watch. Ekuar pursues him alone.

A reshaped tribe remains: Cutter, Skywise, Treestump, Clearbrook, Strongbow, Moonshade, their son Dart, Redlance, Nightfall, and Newstar, forest-born Wolfriders. From the desert, Leetah, her sister Shenshen, Newstar's son Kimo. Where to next? Cutter is unaware the Palace left the World of Two Moons. He senses his parents telling him to be concerned not with Cutter the chief, but with Tam. The walls and floor become transparent and Cutter collapses. It changes back. Skywise wanted him to see how beautiful it is. Cutter misses the living things. The river of he and Skywise's dreams forks here. He chooses the way, the Wolfriders, the World of Two Moons. Redlance has a seed from Father Tree. Skywise says, "Forests grow back. Everything comes full circle. Come on! Let's go see!"

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