THE SIXTH REALM: INDIGO — The oak's shelter

This time she kept her eyes closed and turned her attention ahead. First she sensed an outline, then branches. Before her appeared a broad, welcoming oak in bloom, which had been hidden behind the mist.

“Good afternoon,” she whispered, her eyes still closed. “May I live with you while I’m in this realm?”

A shower of tiny flowers fell over her wings.

She went into the oak’s shelter, put down her satchel, and prepared to have supper. The moment she opened her eyes, mist filled the interior again.

“You’ll have to learn to see this way with your eyes open too,” said Helio. “The clarity you’ve found doesn’t depend on closing them.”

Skyblue spent a long time passing between light and shadow. In the end she fell asleep before she could decide whether this had been a good beginning or a complete disaster.