For a moment, she forgot where she was. Her hand reached for the edge of her mat, expecting the

mat. No clay fl

dy crackle of a fire, and the deep, ancient

me

er's eyes, wide and gla

ted. She pressed her palms against her face, tryin

as

nd her like a rough blanket. She looked up to see Kael sitting on a log ne

t but unyielding, like

afe now,"

a

oreign in her m

of pine grounding her in the present. Her scar pulsed softly, no longe

" she asked, h

rest around them. "Deep in the Northern R

ed, bitterness cree

ch. "They'll com

he cold sinking into her bones. The fire crackled, and somewhe

distance between them, ho

" he

of herbs and meat making her stomach twist painfully with hunger. Slow

e whispered, su

k to give her space, sitt

ing thing, filled with the soft rustle of leaves, the distant

verything-the forest, the wind, the crackle of the fire. His eyes were sharp, but the

about?" she asked befor

f his mouth twitching in what mig

he sai

at the bowl in her hands, the broth rip

she said, so softly she al

he

. When he finally looked back at her, his eyes were s

ed eating, Kael stood, brushing off hi

"There's somethin

hat lay beyond the safety of the fire gripping her for a moment. But som

he trees growing thicker, the air colder. The scar on her wrist tingl

to a clearing,

one, smoke rising from the chimneys into the morning sky. People moved through the paths between the

ey turned, had eyes that

k," Kael said qu

others cautious, but none were unkind. A small child with dark braids peeked out

ys, Elara felt something

of herbs and smoke heavy in the air. Inside, a woman with long silver hair

es-sharp and gold-softene

chosen," the woman said

. "I didn't ch

rved in a sad smile

this is Nana Isha. She's the

"Not so old that I can't pu

a

sit, taking her hand gently, tur

l," the old wo

, confused. "

softly, tracing the mark with a finger

ck, clutching it to her

rm hand on Elara's cheek. "Want it or not, chi

eyes, and she turned a

dy. "You don't have to accept it all a

nesty in his gaze, and for a mome

heir stories. Some had come as children, found in the forest, marked by the moon. Others

They were strong, but they were also kind. They were a family

ring in soft gold, Kael led her to the edge of the

cool against their skin, watch

do this," Elara whisper

s catching the last rays of

redness in his eyes, the weight he carried, and

u," she w

ce as the stars began to appear, o

first time since t

low over the forest, and of wolves running benea

wrist was warm, not burning, a qu