A small fire burned, surrounded by stones. Crystal placed a piece of raw meat on a stick she had whittled down. Violet did the same, and they placed their skewers over the fire. Violet cooked hers from above the flames, and Crystal did the same. Without warning, Crystal pushed her meat skewer into the center of the flames. The morsel lit on fire.

Pulling her burning meal from the fire, Crystal watched the fire cackle. For a few moments, she lost herself in the flames. The tendrils would pop and then disappear only to be replaced moments later. The fire would rise, sink, and then rise again. Crystal had never been to the ocean, but she had heard tales of how the tides would come in and leave. She imagined the fire must be like that.

Crystal blew the fire out. In a moment, the brilliant light disappeared, gone in an instant. Violet laughed. “What?” Crystal said.

“You still burn whatever you cook?” Violet asked.

Crystal gave a half smile. “At least I burn it on purpose now.” Her dinner was thoroughly blackened. She gave it a gentle poke, and a bit of the char fell off. She nodded.

Violet shook her head. “I don’t understand that.” She continued to cook her meat just above the flames. Violet had caught and skinned the deer earlier. It had taken quite nearly the whole day, and Crystal had felt her stomach clawing at itself. She was having a hard time not biting straight into her well cooked dinner.

“How are you holding up?” Violet asked.

“What?”

“You’ve been staring at your meat, not saying anything,” Violet said. “You okay?”

Crystal nodded and gave another half smile. “Sorry. It’s been a while since I was without regular food.”

Violet smiled. “The princess is having a hard time in the real world?”

Crystal looked down. “A little bit.”

Standing up, Violet moved over to Crystal and sat down next to her on a log. “Sorry, that was harsh.”

“Maybe, but it is still true,” Crystal said. “I…can’t shake the feeling that I shouldn’t be here.”

“What?” Violet asked.

“Why am I the the heir?” Crystal continued. “Why should it be me?”

“Because your mom is the chief,” Violet stated.

Crystal let out a chuckle. “Delenthal was not Avon’s son. Nor was my mother Delenthal’s daughter.”

Violet was silent. Crystal stared into the fire again, watching it pass in and out of existence. “Your mom chose you,” Violet said.

“But why?” Crystal demanded.

“Do you not want to be chief?” Violet asked.

“What?”

“Don’t you want to be chief?”

Crystal paused. She looked at Violet, and Violet met her eyes. Violet’s expression was intense, the fire casting shadows across her face. Behind her eyes, Crystal could see…anger? It was not clear, but Crystal felt as if she had struck a nerve. She looked away.

Crystal continued, “Of course I want to be chief. It is what I’ve worked towards my whole life.”

Violet nodded in Crystal’s peripheral vision. “Then that’s why. You’ve been groomed for this, Crys. No one has been more prepared for this than you.”

“But—“

“No,” Violet cut off. “Crys, you are the best for this. Do you understand?”

“Yes,” Crystal allowed. She took a bite of her skewer.