Not watching where she moved, a tree root grabbed her unsuspecting ankle and jerked on it sharply. A soft cry, unheard in the clap of thunder, fell from rose-shaped and colored lips as she collapsed to the ground.

She did not rise immediately, but instead placed her hands upon her knees and cried, tears mingling with the cold rain greedily rushing down her soft face. She wrapped her arms around herself and bent over, sobbing. "Minna..."