Silver Creek and watched as the smoke floated magically like you left me

for the second time in her short life indra had awoken in fear, her skin clammy and breath shaky. in the den all she could feel was cold, and a cool type of terror that liquified her inside. she wanted saena -- she wanted her mom -- and fitfully, the small child wriggled close to laurel's sleeping form. for a while she tried to sleep, but every time she closed her eyes and the darkness embraced her she felt a harrowed sense of fear seize her -- with a choked sob the girl pulled from the den and started to walk -- and walk -- until she was at the small clearing she had last seen saena. "mom!" the small girl cried pitifully into the woods, her ears and eyes strained forward. nothing but the quiver of leaves and the silent hum of the night replied. "mom," the red girl choked, collapsing in a small and defeated huddle -- a lone and shivering form under the crushing black veil of stars above.