The Sentinels To the lepers in your head

deirdre wondered if she had ever met such a being as osprey spoke of, and felt she had not. forgotten was the beastly ogre, though if ever deirdre saw a woman such as she again surely she would remember. osprey's point was one deirdre would not soon forget; the eloquence and wiseness proferred was absorbed quietly, to be remembered for her own All Time.

they give us their everything, deirdre remarked, stories of those that had nested within or upon them... shelter... shade... she sighed and looked to them. i see their heart in all they do. they give it freely. they have seen so much, and still they trust! it brought hope to her heart. that for all they had witnessed, they knew there was more good in the world than evil. they knew that others would sooner protect their hearts than rip it from them. she looked to the tree, and hummed. they keep us safe. i would keep them safe, too,