TOTU: The Territory of Tribe Two

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Ellooooooooooooo.

Day 22

"We're very high up," Carter said happily, leaning against the window looking across the city. "This would be fun to jump off."

"Fun to—" Jack began to exclaim, and then broke off. "Oh, right. You have wings."

Carter drifted away from the window, inspecting the furniture decorating the living room. Michael Tanner hadn't had long to talk to them before having to rush off. He'd seemed excited enough to have a Tribe member with him, but had seemed inexplicably distant until he explained that the government was concerned about having a Tribe member in the centre of the city.

Tanner had explained that everyone who had returned from TOTU would be spending some time in quarantine, getting some tests on and off. No-one had said anything directly, but Milo could guess that there was some sort of legal conflict surrounding Carter being brought into Canberra.

Carter settled on the lounge, rocking uncertainly as the pillow dipped beneath him. He folded his wings around him, draping them over his shoulders like a blanket. He watched Milo, who was sitting on an armchair with his chin on his chest, from under his long eyelashes.

Misha was sitting at Milo's feet, brushing her hair. She had changed when they had got up into the apartment, and was now wearing a long, baggy grey shirt with black tracksuit pants. She casually passed the brush to Milo, who sighed slightly but diligently started running the brush through her hair.

Milo clicked his teeth together, feeling his stomach roll. Tanner had taken him aside and quietly told him that the four bodies of Milo's team had been found and were going to be flown to Canberra for separate funerals.

Milo had lost his voice for a little while after that, and Misha had stayed close to him while Jack looked after Carter. Milo had flopped onto the armchair once he, Jack, Carter and Misha had reached their apartment, and had stayed there while Misha gave Carter a tour of the apartment, showing him what was to be his own room.

"Is the room you gave me always kept empty?" Carter asked after a moment.

"It used to be Lochie's," Misha said, leaning against Milo's knee. "He was..."

"He came to the camp," Carter said, casting a careful look at Milo, who hadn't looked up. "He was the chief of your group."

Milo began braiding Misha's hair, twisting strands into a swirl.

"Did you have your own room in the camp?" Milo asked, glancing up. Carter seemed relieved he was talking again.

"No. I shared a room with... with Zuzi." Carter let out a slow breath through his teeth, then appeared to steel himself. "Why do you live without your families?" He looked between them, suddenly frowning. "You're not... a pair?"

"No." Misha shook her head, laughing. She patted Milo's ankle. "No. He's like my brother."

Milo finished braiding her hair and tied it, then threw it over her shoulder. She examined it thoughtfully.

"Then... you just don't... have families?"

"No," said Misha. "No... it's just sort of complicated."

Carter looked at Milo, cocking his head.

"I... don't really get along with my close family," Milo admitted. "Just—just family problems."

Carter's brow furrowed again, and Milo could see he didn't really understand.

"My family just lives far away," said Misha, almost obliviously.