Shifting Currents Read Online Free

had long ago come to terms with the fact that she’d never be a beauty queen. And she cared too much for books and gadgets to ever take the time to make herself up properly. She had long, ragged brown hair that she kept in a messy ponytail most of the time, and equally boring brown eyes. Nondescript was a nice way to describe herself, but mousy and plain would probably be more accurate. Most of the time she told herself she didn’t care when she was accepted as just one of the guys. That was why when Keith, the tribe’s main hunter, wanted her, it was like a fairy tale. Only he was Beauty, and she was the Beast. She chose the Bluff tribe because they promised to build her a home and provide food for her so she wouldn’t have to hunt or garden for herself. She was abysmal at both.
    In return, she would use her mind to heat the water in the morning, or run the computer for a few hours, or the printer to gather information on the other survivors through radio. Bethany even provided nightly entertainment via any DVD players that had been repaired or still worked. She was a giant battery. Her brother called her the Energizer Bunny, and she still had no idea what the heck that meant.
    The dog barked again, and Bethany turned around, half expecting to find Keith but was surprised to see Rene, a doctor, from her old tribe.
    “I didn’t know the Orange Grove tribe would come all this way to the Northern conclave,” Bethany said and hugged her.
    “We had a record-breaking crop this year, and we figured it was worth the trip to trade instead of seeing them rot. Besides,” Rene said, glancing around, “one of our looters found a few cars with gas in them.” Rene pressed an orange into her hand.
    Bethany smiled. “I bet it was probably Ned and his boys.”
    “You remembered.” Rene smiled back. “Yes, it was them. Anyway, it cut a few days off the journey—for the leaders anyway. Chris won the lottery and got to ride in the back seat. It was like he got invited to ride on a spaceship.”
    Bethany smiled, remembering Rene’s little boy.
    “Do you still ride that iron horse?”
    “Keep it up and I’ll start calling you medicine woman instead of doctor. I still have the hog, but even I can’t keep it in gas. Besides, it doesn’t do well at all climbing all the way up to get to the Bluffs.”
    “How have you been? Are you happy?”
    There was the million-dollar question. Was she happy? “I do all right,” Bethany said. But the truth was, no, she wasn’t happy. While the Bluff tribe had helped her settle in, it was never her home. Keith’s harsh words just underscored what everyone else felt. And now, she’d have to go back and see Keith and whatsername every day. Well, that could be too much to bear.
    “Look, I wanted to tell you. The hunters…they never found your brother.”
    Bethany felt light-headed. “Daniel’s still alive?”
    “I don’t know that,” Rene said. “But he wasn’t executed by our tribe. I know that’s not much. But it’s all I have.”
    “Thank you,” Bethany whispered.
    Rene shifted uncomfortably and said, “I’d better go. It was nice seeing you again. You’re always welcome if you want to come back to the tribe.”
    Bethany hugged her again with more enthusiasm. “Thank you.”
    She could go looking for Daniel. But it had been about five years since she left. He wouldn’t still be in the Panhandle area. Where would he go? What form would he be in? Bethany scanned the air for the eagle. Was he her brother? She ran into the woods searching for the bird, any bird—the dog barking happily after her. Almost falling on her face after tripping on a root, Bethany decided that she was probably jumping to conclusions again. Not every animal was a Shifter. Poochie over there proved that. And not every Shifter would be her brother.
    Bethany sat down against the tree, and the dog happily plopped down next to her. “I suppose I should come up with a name to call you. I mean I’m sure