It was just the two of us.
Purple clouds botted out the sky and my bird was gone. I fought the dark mood which tried to swallow me.
Gisael reached for my hand and I lifted her easily. The sight of her - her beauty and strength - was like food to the starving.
I smiled at her. "Just us now."
She looked behind at the mountains. "She is there. She is not gone." Then she looked at me. "I will miss her too."
We ran to the mine as a stopover before heading south. I walked the perimeter and searched for signs of activity. Gisael followed with her bow in hand.
"No one's here," I said. "I would see their cores."
"Even in the mine?"
I titled my head to the side. "Depends how deep and how big their core is. Think of it like a fire. Some people have a tiny candle and others have a raging bonfire."
"Who will work the mine?"
