Noctisardor Bypass imbolc

Her voice tapered off into lachrymose silence as winter’s teeth sawed at her bones. No response came except the silence of the grave, the stone arches now seeming more like tombstones. She ought to keep moving, she knew, turn back.

Before she could bring herself to do as much, a familiar voice rose out of the winter stillness, crying her name. Druid went very still, her breath catching in her throat momentarily before she gasped, Mama?

It was Sequoia! Druid was so stunned, she felt frozen, rooted to the spot. Not only was her mother here at home, she looked unharmed. Where was Witch? The youth’s eyelids fluttered as tears welled in her eyes, clinging to her lashes.