ning came wi

ied to rest, the images wouldn't leave me - my younger self, my mother's final smile, the frag

n't knock. S

nside, her voice gentler this t

the thin blanket. "We did water

that was more answe

urse

l torch stood at the center, unlit. Around it were symbols carved into the earth - moon p

e - though you know that well. This is the fire of will. Of voice

rch. "And I'm supp

s. Without flint.

"That's i

g rejection and

n't expect. I looked at the to

"Breathe. Feel the place in your

hum of trees, the low rustle of wind. Then I focu

t was -

ckering...

who they t

se brig

e than wh

rom the center of my

roken. I am

osh snapped

ch was

ing like a serpent. I stepped back

said. "The fire

ed anything. But the heat I'd summoned was real. I

could do that,"

plied. "You remember

dancing across the clearing. She spoke little, lettin

did the Moon choose me and not s

those who suffer deeply often rise highest.

indifference. The way he had looked at me a

still ach

severed the bond compl

op?" I whispered

ou will grow around it. You will wear you

ight, I stood outside the hut and looked up at the sk

in me," I murmured aloud, "

tirred, so

howl broke the night - no

irst time in