The night was heavy with snow, and the wind whistled like a chorus of spirits watching. Nicole pulled her hood tighter as she cradled her twins, Juliet and Vincent, close to her chest. They stirred softly but did not cry, their tiny faces serene in the folds of the blanket. Her heart raced with every step, knowing she should not be doing this not without telling Jasper. But she also knew this was necessary she had told her brother in advance for the blessing which he was more than happy to do.
She needed her children to have the tribe's blessing.
Her brother's people ,her people were waiting. Out on the outskirts, past the broken trees and the scars of war, a small fire burned in the distance, marking the gathering. Nicole approached the huts with slow, reverent steps, her arms aching but her soul alight with conviction.
