resisted as my grandmother led through the forest. My home was being
destroyed, and I didn't know who to blame or how to stop them.
The dark smoke grew thicker, and my chest burned. I began to cough. I fell to my knees, unable to go on any farther.
"No, get up. We are almost there." Gram ripped a piece of fabric from her dress and wrapped it around my mouth.
When the coughing stopped, she tugged my hand and encouraged me to
stand. When I complied and she propelled us onward, our pace was even faster.
Just when I thought I would collapse again, Gram stopped in front of a broad oak
tree.
She looked around, though I wasn’t sure why. There was not a sound in the
forest. We were alone.
Suddenly, she ducked into the overgrown plants. Her hand trailed the thick
trunk of the tree. When we reached a split in the bark, Gram pushed me forward
into the crevice.
"Hide here," she commanded.
I resisted and grabbed onto her. Choking back my tears, I begged, "No, let me go with you."
She hugged me and smoothed my hair. "Mara, my little one, always
remember that you are my treasure. You must prepare to be strong for when the
darkness appears."
"Don't leave me," I sobbed.
"Hush. You will hide and survive, Mara." She pressed a cold metal object into my hand and kissed my cheek. "This ring will be your guide when I am not
here to remind you.”
I wanted to ask her where she was going and what I needed to be reminded
of, but I never got my chance. With those words, she shoved me into the hiding
spot and left. I struggled to hold back my tears. I resisted the urge to follow my
grandmother away from the safety of trees and back towards the smoky flames
of the burning buildings.
Clutching the ring, I could feel cold energy releasing from the blue stone.
The surrounding silver calmly pulsed small, almost indistinguishable bursts of electricity like a heartbeat. The charm slowly chanted, “Go there, go there.”
But where? I wondered, closing my eyes, and centering my thoughts on the
stone.
I saw the Starten Forest with its deep green and lush trees. The bright full moon shone above a nest. It was like none I had ever seen before. The large nest
was made of silver twigs with a lavender glow in the center.
“I know where to go now, Gram,” I whispered.
A loud crash sounded, and I heard the cries of a child.
It was my sister, Meg.
She needed me, but I could not see where she was. I fumbled in the darkness,
trying to reach her. My heart was racing as I frantically searched for my escape. I
banged my shin on something hard and fell to the ground.
As I lay writhing in pain, a small crack of light appeared. Awareness washed
