The book smelled dusty and old but also carried a sweet tang, a hint of something inviting. She opened to the first page and started to read, pronouncing the words in a reverent whisper.

My ma says a rock lasts forever, but people don’t, and that’s what makes them more precious.

Clearly she was expected to say something, but panic at having to speak stole the thoughts from her head.

Ani told them all...telling more than needed telling, the stories clarifying and unifying themselves in her mind as she let them spill out of her mouth.

Throwing herself into learning helped Miri ignore the painful chill of solitude around her.

Ani felt a stirring, a hope, a winged thing waking up in her chest and brushing her heart with it's feathers.

Razo hopped back up and adopted a posture that said he was completely unruffled, never had been, and in fact was ready to do something manly like lift boulders or swallow live worms.