The Sentinels Be your own light, they said, but he needed others to help him illuminate the dark.

deirdre was not noticed by the duo, which was fine by the girl protected by the forest. it knew her as well as she knew donnelaith, and a particularly broad leaf was before her, keeping her hidden and out of sight. though the wind did not wind favor her, as it so often seemed to, she knew she would not be found if she did not wish it. but deirdre willed herself to not be afraid, and to come before the others and to know them better. the nymph emerged from the protective cover donnelaith had blanketed her in, and removed the cloak of invisibility the forest offered to her. one was kurai, and this one she knew was aria, aria january. who was she? deirdre stella mayfair, witch, daughter of donnelaith, of lasher, of blue willow. a seed that had been planted and that bloomed, and that grew larger than the damage dealt upon it.

for all the power she wielded within her, she was unassuming as she approached. she was humble, kind, and quiet, looking at kurai beneath thick lashes and from shy emerald eyes. bonjour, i am deirdre stella mayfair, she introduced, and when she spoke the forest seemed to bend its ear to listen. the birds gazed upon her, and the chipmunks and the squirrels ceased their chatter to catch the thread of her melodic voice that did not quaver when she spoke, despite her trepidation. that could not be masked, but the child had heard the pride aria had spoken with, and felt a certain, inexplicable measure of pride when she thought she ought to follow their lead.