73 Kate Johnston

Natalia searched frantically for her baby. The ground was hard and cold, and she scratched the palms of her hands on fallen twigs and stones. She listened for his cries, hoping that in her daze she had wandered and he was at the base of another tree. But the world was quiet, even the wind was a mere hush.

She stared up at the sky, where her daughters had flown away. She was torn over her children; what should she do? Search for her son or try to track her daughters? Panic rose within her, and she was close to breaking down in an uncontrollable fit. But she fought against the panic, striving to remain silent, knowing that if she were found out there, questions would be asked. Questions she didn’t know how to answer.

Natalia huddled against the tree. She needed to think of a plan. But, so many terrible things had happened in such a short span of time, she didn’t know who or what to trust anymore.

She forced herself to take deep breaths to calm herself. Regardless of the danger her daughters were in, she could only hope that reason and good judgment would prevail. Her son, however, was utterly helpless.

Natalia made her decision. She stepped away from the tree and headed north. As much as she hated to do it, there was only one being whom she could absolutely trust to help her.