REJECTED BY FATE, CURSED BY PROPHECY

forest long after her

roke the silence

avelers

ing goods to another land before winter closed the

an animal," t

lowed th

howed them

r spread over the leaves. Her eyes were c

ad," one

cry cam

e roots. Wrapped in cloth. Her sk

e," the wom

pped back. "This place is

opened

er e

the

elt her che

her," she said.

and left the forest

dead woman stay

child to their sm

man with a scar across his face

you find he

s," the woman answered

ouched the ch

" he said. "B

to one of

to the p

dge of the village. Bones and feathers hung a

e ground when

y did n

ted her hands and

re fli

d moved

hanged when

ld is not

sked, "Whose

tess shoo

one in he

ked at e

at mean?" the

s opened her

said. "Her fate is heavy.

filled

old man said.

ss shook he

o father. Only mo

her mouth and ma

ss looked d

," she said. "And t

l her?" one gu

ess stood

d. "You will

ice wa

he mark of the

tepped

call her?" the wo

ked at the moon t

she said. "She belong

r hand on the

me is N

aby b

ire c

, a wol

night, f

der d

ddess stood

oice

child sti

od walks

r woke s

whispered. "Sh

tered h

he Alpha'

Naira's bo

ound w

ha stoo

an elder said. "They

a did no

ed at t

with her," he said.

ders n

ie beca

all clan

ept in st

know her m

know her f

y knew

moon k