Morning came softly, pale light filtering through the mist that clung to the trees. Nicole left Jasper resting behind and went in search of Chatan, her heart heavy but determined. Whatever lingered inside her from the night before, she needed grounding something ancient, something hers.
Chatan met her near the forest's edge. His presence was calm, steady, the kind that made the world feel balanced simply by standing near him.
"My mother's spirit animal came to her when she had to fix witches," he told her as they walked. "When their power fractured, she guided them back into themselves."
Jasper watched from a distance, arms folded, senses sharp. He didn't interfere. This was Nicole's path.
Chatan led her to a clearing where the earth felt alive beneath her feet. He showed her how to sit, how to breathe not just air, but intent. How to let her body become still enough for something older to answer.
