The grass beneath the Heart Tree was softer than Elysia remembered.
Maybe it was the season. Maybe it was the way the light filtered through the red-tinged leaves, scattering warm shadows across the ground.
Or maybe it was simply that this time, she had Kaelith tugging at her hand and Malvoria walking at her side, carrying the picnic basket like it was a treasure.
"Here," Elysia said, choosing a spot where the roots dipped into a shallow, natural hollow. "This is perfect."
Kaelith immediately flopped down with the full commitment of a child who had no concept of dignity, arms spread wide, staring up at the branches.
"It's so big," she whispered, awed. "Like it could touch the sky."
"It almost does," Malvoria said, setting the basket down and spreading a thick, dark blanket over the grass.
They settled on the blanket, the three of them close, knees and shoulders bumping.
