THE THIRD REALM: YELLOW — Sharing the light

The fugaíns in this part of the realm came in different shades. Some still had reddish streaks; others were orange, and many shone a brilliant yellow. Their fire did not leap at their neighbors. When they came close, they shared their light, and both glowed more brightly.

Skyblue watched two of them. She expected one to grow smaller, as the others had when she seized their fire. But neither diminished. They parted just as alive as before, and the space between them was filled with light.

She met several fugaíns there who became her friends. She didn’t hide what she had done on the other side of the realm. It was hard to tell them without either condemning or excusing herself, and more than once she had to stop and begin again.

They listened. Some knew that struggle because they, too, had lived it. They taught her to distinguish the burning urge to seize everything from the warmth she could share without fear.

Skyblue showed them the torch.

During the first few days, simply holding it brought back the memory of her unchecked power. Before picking it up, she had to breathe, plant her paws firmly, and feel the little flame in her chest. Her new friends stayed nearby without hurrying her.

She learned to release the energy she had gathered without directing it against anyone. The light spread over the ground, warmed the earth, and met other fires. The torch gradually returned to its former size. With growing, joyful surprise, Skyblue discovered that giving up the excess did not make her disappear.

The original flame, the one the dwarves had entrusted to her to light her way, remained intact.