“MUL HABANNATU DIN ZIKIA”

Mother’s voice, typically deep, was deeper and more clear than normal. Her black faceted eye flashed blue and the flower in her palm began to glimmer and shine slightly.

Mother leaned forward and pressed the glimmering flower lightly against the fabric of Mary's tunic.

"Kalu..." Mother whispered and the stem of the rose began to grow before Mary's eyes, twining and looping itself it grew gently right into the fabric of her tunic.

"Keep it with you, it will provide protection and guidance." Mother leaned forward, wrapping her arms around her youngest daughter and closed her eyes, savoring the moment.

"Stay close to Doni, I know you two will greatly aide one another..." Mother whispered before letting Mary go. With a soft clacking of the hooves, Mother stood.

"But Mother, I'm still confused. Why are you deciding this so suddenly? Or have you known?" Anger flashed through Mary's heart and she remembered Doni's reaction to learning that Mother had hidden the fact she hadn't sent for Garren.

'Betrayal' Mary thought, 'That's what this feeling is.'

Mother paused on her way across the room and looked lovingly on the sad cheeb still in bed. She hesitated but told her daughter the truth.

"I just decided last night, Mary. I am not yet certain what entirely this change will bring, but I am sure that this what we need to do. For the fate of the stars, I need you to attend the Academy with Doni..." With that, Mother left her room.

'Right, no pressure there!' Mary thought. In the here and now, the rain was starting to let up and the trees were getting more sparse. Mary looked at Doni, who had taken his hood off again.

'Stay close to Doni, I know you two will greatly aide one another...' Mother's words echoed in Mary's mind. 'What does Mother see?' She thought, shaking her head at her goofy friend splashing in the puddles.