"Well, it is time to prepare for the next step," Esmeralda said while having a hard time hiding her smile.
"You could at least pretend that you aren't excited for this," Branden furrowed his eyebrows. "People will question your judgment."
"We can do that, but we will need more people here," Rain said. "Besides, once we began to move, we won't return to this planet probably for a while… years perhaps."
As Rain talked about the subject of not returning to the planet for a long period, a clear tension gripped the assembled group. The prospect of venturing into the unknown stirred a mix of worry and apprehension among them. The realization that they might not be around to witness the events unfolding on their home planet brought a sobering sense of responsibility and concern.
