The Stray

The sequel to the Snow Beyond the Wall

Summary

It is four years since the events of The Snow Beyond the Wall.

Luke and Nena have settled down in the hills as a hunter and gatherer. They are half a day's walk from Alucio. While still sometimes being subservient to him, she is gradually accepting her freedom and equality.

Susan and Emily are still at Elisal; the former is with Raf in a separate building while the latter lives with Fabra. Susan is pregnant.

Meg had been at Elisal for a while but her resistance against the Priestesses, although minor, had put the others in danger and she left, heading into the high inland area to start a rebel band, helping to free or de-program Bestia.

The capture

One day, when Luke and Nena are out, the latter is spotted by some Guardia. Luke is initially unseen by them and, when he attempts to rescue her, she drops into a sumisa position, indicating to him to remain hidden. He realises that he would only be captured as well, leaving no one to save them, and he stops while Nena is taken away.

He returns to his house. At first he considers going to Alucio but does not want to put him at risk again. The only person who could help is Meg but he does not know where she is. Consequently, he makes his way to Elisal where Meg used to live.

Elisal

When he arrives, he finds that Susan is pregnant. He asks her to help him find Meg but, although she wants to, Raf insists that she stays out of it, not wanting her even to give advice. But, when Raf is out of the room, she gives him a tip. She says that Meg returned in secret one time after she left Elisal and saw Susan alone. She said that, if Susan was ever looking for her, she should go to the Heartwild and look for "Kahlo" (from Frida Kahlo).

After a few days, he leaves, heading towards the mountains. He suspects he is being followed and, after a day, Emily appears. He wants to take her back but she says that Fabra, Raf and Susan agreed that she could accompany. He suspects that this is a lie but she says that, if he returns, she will follow him again. He reluctantly agrees to let her come.

The Heartwild

The trip to the Heartwild is in three phases (one chapter each?).

The first stage is heading up to the mountains, passing through familiar countryside. They stop at Luke's house.

• Here they encounter a runaway Bestia who wants to be left alone. She doesn't want to be helped.

The second stage is crossing the mountains themselves.

• They shelter with a family in the mountain who are ambivalent to the Priestesses.

The third stage is entering into the Heartwild.

• An encounter with the Pursuit Corps.
• Some evidence of Meg's network.