She gasped awake.
Something was burning on her collarbone. She looked down to find that the strange tattoo she had found there yesterday was glowing red-hot like a molten iron again, or like bright blood. When she pressed her fingers to it, she hissed and pulled them away. Her skin burned like fire.
As she watched, breathing shallowly, the tattoo cooled again to an inky black. The burning sensation subsided.
Abrial huffed a breath of relief. She threw herself back into the grass, puzzled.
Did that woman give me this tattoo? she wondered, frowning. It was burning after that weirdly vivid dream. Does it have something to do with the dream? Or is it just angry or something?
She breathed in deeply, calming her breath. The tattoo didn't hurt any longer. She'd ask that woman about it later.
Another curious thought flitted through Abrial's mind.
