Blackfeather Woods I felt your shadow on the way home.

She observed this strange, tentative dance, afraid that he was about to offer some kind of rebuttal. Instead, her shoulders sagged in utter relief as he pressed his nose into her fur and drew closer. She weaved herself, catlike, into his embrace, feeling the tears come again. They were soundless this time, though, and barely shook her bony frame.

They slid down, down, to mingle in his fur, to cloak him in her scent once more.

Little Anansi is dead, Maegi whispered, and so is Cassiopeia. Trees fell on them both and crushed them. We live in the meadow, away from that danger. But it's not the same. . .it never will be the same. . . But maybe it could return to normalcy, if he were to stay. If he were to stay with her.

I still love you, she breathed, and meant it.