Blackfeather Woods you are young and life is long

All right, the silence was very helpful. Maegi waited a beat for an answer before turning away, resisting a roll of her eyes. She instead went to the nearest cache, nosing around--half-expecting the shadow to pop up beside her--before finding what she needed. The folded leaf tucked beneath her chin, she returned, placing it gingerly on the ground and settling on her belly in front of the girl.

"This will help settle you down, if you're still freaked out," she said, unfolding the leaf to reveal two small, dark seeds. Maegi looked up at the brat, a wry smile painting her face. "They're safe to eat, but you can't have more than this. Too many and your body will try to shut down, forever." A fine shiver ran through her as she vividly recalled her brush with death.

She pushed them with her nose toward the spiderling. "You don't have to take them if you don't want to, but they will help," she murmured. "Some plants are fine to eat. But not all, as you now know." There was a touch of pique in her tone in that last sentence, bundled up in a sort of sisterly concern.

Too late did she notice the arrival of Spirit, and the pale child had set upon her sister without delay. "Careful," Maegi warned, "she's not feeling well."