THE JOURNEY BEGINS — Just what she needed

Near a stream, Helio told her it was time to eat.

She heard the eagle’s voice clearly within her, as though the two of them had no need of sound. Skyblue sat on the grass and opened Evarista’s satchel.

Inside, she found fruit, berries, and some herbs with unfamiliar shapes.

She stared at the food. She had left the village with no provisions. She took a berry, smelled it, and put it in her mouth.

Silently, she thanked Evarista.

She ate slowly, surprised by every flavor. There was exactly what she needed. When she had finished, she went to the stream and drank. Watching the water flow between the stones, she thanked the undines for tending the waterways.

Until recently, the river had simply been a place to quench her thirst. Now she could hardly look at it without sensing the life that flowed through it.