That evening, in accordance with Amahle's traditions, Talauia and Heila joined the Mother of Thorns at her home for a family dinner.
Heila had been delighted to learn that the colorful peppers that Talauia guided her to were sweet rather than spicy. Each of them was the size of Heila's diminutive fists which she felt made them perfect for stuffing. After packing each pepper with soft, fluffy rice and succulent, slightly fatty sausage, Heila carefully set them in an iron pot directly on the coals of the fire for roasting, letting their warm, sharp fragrance fill the air.
"So, Heila, honey, Tala was telling me that you weren't too sure about what you desire as a witch," Amahle said while stirring a rich, creamy chicken and vegetable soup. "Ain't that right, sugar?"
"It is, it is," Talauia said as she carefully scrubbed at the tender okra pods she'd picked. "Can you tell her the tree that Auntie Ashlynn picked for her?"
