"If I hear your voice one more time, Ryx, I swear I'll break your jaw myself," Avanya snapped, not even sparing him a glance.
Eryx flinched, his mouth falling open in indignation. He mouthed, "You wouldn't dare," but wisely kept the words buried in silence.
Avanya softened immediately as she turned back to Sumaya, her hand hovering reassuringly near her. "Sweetheart, you're doing it wrong. Don't tense up. You're trying to force it, to wrestle it into shape, but this isn't something you control like that. It's like breathing. Like stretching after a long sleep. Close your eyes again. Relax your shoulders. Let it rise instead of shoving it down. Feel it build."
Her voice softened into a coaxing hum. "Picture moonlight pouring into your chest. Picture the wild around you, its heartbeat syncing with yours. Call to it as you would call to a friend, not a weapon."
