Fay turned around. She did not see darkness. She stood in a wooden cabin, pine walls warmed with sun.
Green pressed against the windows. Beyond it the sky was blue, with sea of leaves and summer light.
Confusion hit her in a slow wave. Then a boy's voice rang out, bright with pride.
"Mom. Mom. Come. Dad caught something, look."
Fay's breath caught. She did not know this place. She did not know who it was. Still, her feet carried her toward the door.
Outside, the boy ran up and tugged her robe.
"Mom, what are you waiting for. Hurry up."
Fay looked down at him and went still. Blue eyes. Thin lips like her own. His hair, however, was like fresh ash.
Then a girl tottered up behind him, two or three years old, giggling wordlessly, wearing the face Fay had worn as a child, with the same pale hair.
The girl lifted both hands toward Fay, asking to be picked up with the certainty of being loved.
Fay's arms moved before her mind did. Then Radeon was there.
