Light feathered over the village as the sun bled through the canopy`s edge. Sosa watched from the doorway as it spread, Talon beside her. Kala left Grammawe asleep by the wall, surrounded by children, to sit with them at the doorway.

　　Is it gone? The dark?` Kala asked.

　　I think so.` Sosa said, hoping it was true.

　　I`m sorry we disappeared for so long.` Talon slipped an arm around Sosa`s mother.

　　We came to help them. That`s what we did.` Kala leaned close until her lips were by his ear. And I saw what you did. You were incredible,` she whispered.

　　Mmawe. Your daughter is right here!` Sosa said. Kala flashed her a smile and a wink. Her mother looked tired. Sosa could tell her mother was only doing this for Talon.

　　What do we do now?` Kala asked. The answer came from an old woman behind them.

　　Protect us.` It was one of the Elders. Sosa`s tired brain didn`t even care which one. You have a duty to&`

　　Sosa shot up to her feet. She saw Talon tense, perhaps afraid she`d kill someone else.

　　Duty? Duty? You exiled us. Tried to kill us. We came back last night and saved you. We owe you no duty.` Sosa was in the old woman`s face and she backed away, looking around for help. No one was coming to her aid. People had seen and just as quickly forgotten how she plunged a spear into the old man`s chest, but none would be stupid enough to challenge her. If we want to stay, we stay. If we want to leave, then we leave. You don`t get to ask anything of us.`

　　The Elder stepped away, her eyes lowered in shame. Please,` she whispered, not even daring to look Sosa in the eyes. Please stay.` She waited like a child for a parental verdict.

　　Are we leaving then?` Kala asked.

　　Of course not.` Sosa turned away. But if one more person tells me what I should be doing I swear I`ll&` She returned with a huff to the door leaving the threat unsaid. Her spear had slid into Jode`s chest. It had grated against bone and gristle and& she was trying so very hard not to think about it. She wasn`t sure she could do it again, even if she needed to, but if she got angry enough, maybe she wouldn`t think about it at all.

　　That troubled Sosa. She pushed the thought away. This wasn`t the time to dwell on it. There would be plenty of time later to regret everything that had happened and everything she had done. Or maybe there wouldn`t be, and then it wouldn`t matter anyway.

　　The Elder sighed in relief, bowed her head and melted away. People began to filter out into the village, stumbling around the carnage and looking for hope. Sounds of broken sorrow filled the morning.

　　We`ll need a plan if we`re to survive another night,` Talon said. They`ll come again at dark, I have no doubt.`

　　Looks like the village is still safe in daylight,` Sosa said. we can come stay here at night. Everyone should be safe.`

　　They`ll still just pick people off.` Kala said. There was something in her mother`s voice. Something&

　　Sosa pulled her close. Don`t let it in Mmawe. It`s the dark. It does things to the way you think. The metal helps a bit, but&`

　　Even without the dark, there is still plenty to despair, she thought.

　　We`re together,` Sosa said, reaching for her mother`s hand, we can defend ourselves.`

　　Every night?`

　　Sosa shrugged. Yes, if we need to.`

　　Sosa, we can`t live like that.`

　　Sosa looked at her mother, the chronicler, the woman who had taught her to write, and frowned. Yes we can. If we have to. We can grow food in the day. We can cook food at night, just outside the door protected by the light. It will take time, but we can adapt.` Her mother was right, though. This might not be just about surviving tonight or tomorrow.

　　Why are they doing this?` Kala muttered to the air, as if none of Sosa`s words had been said.

　　The dark was in her head now. She had the armour, but it wasn`t dispelling the effect as much as it did for Talon and Sosa. The light spoke to them now as much as the dark did, but Kala had not been exposed to the light for as long and she had seen far too much of the dark.

　　Look after this for me for a while.` Sosa placed the spear in her mothers hands. Hopefully the extra light would help dispel some of the effects of the darkness. Perhaps tonight they could also get some sleep. Mmawe would feel better if she could rest. Kala`s smile seemed a little deeper. She hugged her daughter before heading off to help Raela. Keeping busy would help too, no doubt.

　　There were things that needed to be done before night came. She looked around at the huddled villagers. They looked frightened and tired. None of them looked able to see past the survival of the next few moments. If preparations were to be made it was going to be up to Sosa and Talon to plan them. She studied the building for weaknesses that could be barricaded. There was another smaller door which led to the outside. It should be blocked so they only had one entrance to protect. Sosa collected materials and started work on it.

　　She became aware of someone lingering near her.

　　I`m going to need help.` Raela sounded irritable and looked as exhausted as Sosa. She had claimed the room next to the main chamber for healing, kicking out the miserable refugees. Most had not encountered the bodaki and those who did were dead. As a result there were relatively few injured, but even a few were more than Raella could handle alone.

　　Of course, what do you need me to do?`

　　No, not you.` Raela glanced at the barricade Sosa was working on. You need to get that done, so I`m not inundated with more injured over night. Just find me some helpers.`

　　Raela was covered in blood to the elbow. She walked away, carefully not touching things. I need people to fetch things from my hut and then I`m going to need help with the patients,` she called back.

　　Okay.` Sosa called after her, uncertainly. Why had Raela come to her? She shrugged, glad to be able to help and reluctantly set down her tools to seek out some helpers from among the frightened survivors. They`d all feel better, she thought, if they got up and helped. Why wasn`t someone giving them jobs? Why wasn`t one of the Elders telling them what to do?

　　Talon had gone to gather firewood, food and water from around the village. Many had gone to help him. Others were still collecting their dead and were laying them out in the square. Flowers were collected and heaped around the line of bodies. Though she understood, Sosa knew there was much else that needed urgent attention before night came again.

　　If this night found them unprepared it might well be their last. Then, who would lay flowers on their bodies?

　　Sosa,` someone said.

　　I`m sorry.` Sosa said, realising she was standing and staring through the door when she had a barricade to construct.

　　Sosa?` The voice belonged Elder Nima, the woman she had shouted at earlier.

　　Sosa realised she wasn`t being reprimanded, the woman wanted her. Oh. What`s the matter?`

　　The people inside,` said Nima, they are frightened.`

　　Sosa waited. She was used to the way Jode used to dangle people from his pauses, but she didn`t have time for this now. Still Nima looked at her. Sosa realised there was no more forthcoming.

　　Of course they are.` Sosa snapped at her. Nima flinched back and grew smaller, her eyes dropping. Realisation settled on Sosa`s shoulders with a weight as heavy as the armour she wore. They did indeed need someone to tell them what to do, but it was not going to be one of the Elders.

　　They had watched Sosa fight off the monsters. While many had died, many had lived because of her and Talon. When the world was safe and predictable, people settled with the comfortable pomp and hot air from people like Jode. But when the world changed, they needed someone different.

　　I`m sixteen, she thought.

　　Sosa saw the faint glow of her armour reflected in the Elder`s eyes and wondered whether the old woman saw it too. Maybe she did, but just didn`t realise it.

　　I`ll speak to them.`

　　Nima bobbed her head slightly and withdrew. Thank you, Sosa-ses.`

　　Sosa started. What was&? She looked after the woman, but she was already gone.

　　Most villagers had gone, but those who huddled were the ones needing most reassurance. They were already hushing each other and looking at her. Grammawe had gathered quite the school of youngsters, minding them when there was no one else to, or keeping them safe while their parent`s worked. She hushed them and nodded her head towards where Sosa stood. A sea of little faces turned to her. Kala came from the side room where she`d been helping Raela. She looked tired, frightened and the smile she sent to her daughter was thin.

　　All faces had turned to her now, and fallen to silence.

　　Ahm. I.` Sosa paused. What could she say? What did these people need?

　　They needed someone to tell them it was going to be okay. They needed someone to keep them safe and make sure they survived the night. Sosa could provide none of that. She could not tell them it would all be okay. It wouldn`t. More of them would likely die.

　　So many eyes, all of them expecting, needing. She had nothing. Sosa shook her head and began to step away, feeling her mouth grow dry and her skin grow hot. One thought made it through.

　　They also need someone to tell them what to do. She could do that. If nothing else, she could do that.

　　Look, some of you need to see if Raela needs more help. If we`re going to sleep in here, last night was fine, but there isn`t really room for us all to lie down, so you need to clear out these benches and anything else that`s taking up room, make us more space. I think my father is collecting food, but he`ll need help too and there will need to be firewood and somewhere to cook near the doors, somewhere to keep the food and something to cook in. No point wasting time in the day cooking, we`ll do that by the door at night, it will be safe enough if one of us is there. What do you think?` She looked around but no one nodded in agreement. Her throat dried out and she swallowed hard on nothing. She fought the urge to cough.

　　Uh. Ah, there might be other ways in that need blocking. Use the good wood from the stores, the darktree wood, it`s strongest and it`s safe when it`s dead.` The words were coming out of her too fast, but she wanted to just get away from this. It might be an idea to get anything that could be a weapon and bring it here in case.` There was only silence and faces she just could not read. No one spoke. No one moved.

　　I`m only sixteen, she thought. What am I doing? They must wonder why I`m standing here, giving instructions. It wasn`t her place, she was no Elder, she was a child. Sosa nearly ran from the room, wishing she`d just waited for her father to return, or that her mother had come to her rescue, but Kala`s eyes were just another pair that stared at her, red rimmed and full of hopelessness. They were not running, talking or ignoring her. They were staring at her, soaking up her words.

　　She thought about Eleris and then again about what the people needed; just someone to tell them it would all be okay. She sucked her tongue for a drop of moisture enough to swallow.

　　It will be okay. Before it goes dark we bring everyone here. We can defend this place if we need to, we know how to keep the dark out and the bodaki can`t come in without it. The armour, the spear, you see it& it&` she trailed off, feeling her lip quiver, her legs weaken. What did she think she was doing? They wouldn`t understand. They didn`t care. They had all just lost so many friends and family members. She was making a fool of herself. Sosa stopped talking and was about to flee the room.

　　Yes&?` came a voice. Sosa`s eyes shot up. They were still looking at her, still listening. They were waiting, waiting for her.

　　Oh. Well, it, well it sort of glows&` this felt ridiculous. It gives off a light and the, well the bodaki don`t like it, like they don`t like daylight.` The eyes watched, but more than a few heads gave a small nod. They were listening to her. It hurts them, I think, so they can`t come too close and, well, we`ve killed a few now, so we, well we know how, I suppose. We& I& I mean, we`ll try and protect you, but you have to stay inside at night, you have to help us.` More nods and whispers. So, so, if you can think of a way to help then do it. You will be happier not sitting and being frightened. Maybe someone could help my grammawe look after the children and someone could help clear more space. We`ll need food and cooking tools and places to sleep, we need weapons, help my pawe fetch food and we need lots of water too. And, maybe, somewhere to pee so we don`t need to go outside overnight.`The author`s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

　　There was a pause where Sosa wasn`t sure if she should say more, or stop.

　　Okay, so&` she made an ushering motion with her hands and the room exploded into life. People got up to leave, or to move furniture in the large room. Other voices sprang up with suggestions, while groups began to follow the instructions. Someone gathered more of the children who clung to parents and herded them with reassuring words into another room. Someone suggested to the children that looking for water pots would make a fun game.

　　Sosa stood like a tree on a windless day, her eyes wide. She trembled, and if she had to write in the chronicle the reason why, she would not have been able to. Then her gaze settled on her mother whose hollow eyes were wet. Taking a breath, Sosa walked over.

　　I`m proud of you,` her mother said, reaching up to take her daughter`s hand.

　　I, I&` Sosa thought she was going to throw up.

　　I`m so sorry.` Kala placed her head into her hands.

　　Mmawe, what`s wrong?`

　　Kala shook her head and Sosa knelt down to gather her mother in her arms. The metal of Kala`s upper arms, clinked on Sosa`s breastplate. Kala sobbed and Sosa felt helpless.

　　In the night she had felt the dark moving around, almost as if she`d been able to smell it like smoke. She felt the same thing now. In fact she felt it when she spoke to anyone, but she didn`t get this close to the others. The dark had seeped into them all. She had to keep them together, had to keep them safe and away from the damn darkness otherwise they might not need the bodaki to kill them at all. It would be over anyway. How had she and Talon overcome it? They`d had the spear. That alone hadn`t been enough.

　　You have to tell me when you think things aren`t going to be okay,` Sosa said.

　　It didn`t really work, Kala gave her a smile but it was empty.

　　You can talk to me, I mean.`

　　I`m fine,` Kala said and hugged her daughter.

　　Sosa left her with Raela hoping that, like the others, the work would keep her mind away from dark places. Grammawe seemed less bothered, she`d brought some of her young charges who needed cuts and scrapes tending to, and was making them giggle while smearing something green onto sore limbs. Feeling an odd sense of satisfaction, Sosa made for her tools and the barricade that awaited, but before she could get back to work, there was another presence at her side.

　　Sosa.` It was a small child. They`re fighting outside.` The child pointed out the door. Sosa closed her hand over the boy`s extended finger before anyone saw and went to see.

　　Families wept in the square over the wrapped and flower laden bodies, but an argument had broken out. Sosa felt a flash of anger. How dare they do this in front of their own dead? It was upsetting the grieving even more and they were in danger of angering the ki. That was something they could not afford.

　　Why were they being so difficult? She had a barricade to finish and probably a dozen other jobs to do before nightfall.

　　Sosa! Please, tell them to stop.` The boy took her arm and was pulling her over. He probably had a parent or a sibling among the dead. It was possible everyone he knew was there.

　　What are you doing?` Sosa asked a man who was trying to lift one of the bodies.

　　They`re trying to take the bodies to the clearing,` said one sobbing widow. But it hasn`t been three days yet and they can`t be left out here alone.`

　　There was work to be done but Sosa understood the need to respect the dead. She understood the flowers, despite the amount of work that needed doing, but wasting time arguing about something like moving the bodies again was too much.

　　You won`t be able to stay with them tonight&` The gasps and looks of horror on the women`s faces was enough to know not to go any further.

　　The bodies will bring the bodaki in.` One of the men pleaded with her, as if it was her decision to make. Yesterday they had tied her to a tree and left her to die. How had they come to this?

　　It isn`t the bodies that will bring the bodaki in.` Sosa spoke to the man. If they`re coming, they come for us and they follow the dark.` Then she turned to the crying families who were trying to protect the bodies of their loved ones. But you cannot stay with them tonight, it isn`t safe, and I can`t protect you out here.`

　　But you must&` began one, but had the grace to stop talking when she saw the look on Sosa`s face.

　　I must? I`ve had a few people tell me what I must, but I don`t see anyone around here who knows, do you? Until I get someone who knows I think I will figure out what I must for myself. And what I must, is keep all the people who are going to spend the night in that building alive. If you`re in that building, then that includes you, is that clear?`

　　But Sosa,` it was a tearful young girl who Sosa knew from the fields. She lay beside one of the wrapped bodies. If people break fadi, just because they`re frightened, it will only make the bodaki more mad.`

　　Sosa opened her mouth to snap, but realised the girl was just making a point. It might seem silly, but the girl was right, that is what people were going to think.

　　We could bring them inside,` someone suggested.

　　No, there isn`t room.` It was a good reason, though not the main one. She had spent three days in a hut with Grampawe, and that was just one body. Sosa thought for a moment. I have an idea. We need the&` Sosa realised the person she needed was one of the dead lying outside with a spear wound in his chest. There might have been remorse or regret. If there was going to be it would come when there was time and now, now was not the time. If there ever would be. Right. We need a new chief.`

　　Any takers&?` one of the gathering muttered. Sosa tried hard not to look abashed.

　　Elders!` she shouted, to all who might be assembled. All Elders need to meet outside. Now. If they`re here.`

　　A nearby Elder looked doubtful. It might take a while to find all of them,`

　　Then they miss out, don`t they!` Sosa snapped. With every moment the sun crept towards the other side of the village. Was she the only one who felt it?

　　Those Elder near enough to do so gathered, while the a crowd of villagers gawped.

　　We really should be somewhere more private,` muttered one.

　　Why are we here?` This led to much muted discussion.

　　It was still disconcerting that she had told the Elders to gather and they just had.

　　Sosa spoke loudly. Listen, please. We need a chief.` She thought for a moment. This was how Hora took over and then Jode reclaimed his power, all in the spur of the moment. That could not happen again. We need someone to agree to be chief, just for now and then we get someone more permanent when this is all over.` The glaring assumption was passed over. Who can we put in charge, just for now?`

　　The gathered Elder were looking at each other, but no one raised a head or hand.

　　What about Elder Nima?` There was no reason for it, other than it was a name that came to mind and Sosa needed this to be over quickly. There was an increase in muttering, the tone of which could not be gauged. Any objections?` She didn`t wait long. Then it is decided. Shall we say for one week? Then the village will meet again and decide on a more permanent chief.` She didn`t wait for approval, there wasn`t time. Good. Where is chief Elder Nima?`

　　She`s not here.`

　　Oh. Well then someone had better go and find her and break the news. In fact, I`ll go, I`ve a job for her as chief. Did anyone see where she went?`

　　Someone gave her a direction and she left the bemused council to disband itself. She found Nima helping gather food from the stores. She took the news well, Sosa felt.

　　What do I do now?` she asked Sosa.

　　Come with me.` By the time they returned, Nima has agreed to her first act as chief and Sosa set about gathering a crowd as witnesses.

　　With a nod from Sosa, Nima addressed her congregation. Sosa sat back to watch, quite pleased with herself.

　　I am your new chief.` Nima presented herself to an underwhelmed audience. I am only here for one week, but I want you to know that I will keep you safe through all of this. We will listen to Sosa and do as she suggests and we will work together and get through this.` There were nods, but most people waited for her to finish so they could go about their jobs. First, I wish to remind you that it is not fadi to leave the dead unattended. It is simply our tradition to wait three days. As chief, I call upon the chief-ki and the Elders gathered here to change this tradition.` Most Elders had now dissipated, I hereby declare that the three day vigil be ended. The dead from here on may now be given a funeral at any point up to three days after their death.`

　　She did not speak further which Sosa thought was clever. Instead, Sosa stood up and began to make hasty funeral arrangements. Those whose loved ones were laying out here, wrapped up and covered in flowers, had one hour to make the bodies ready for the funeral clearing. Sosa felt compelled to carry the message to anyone who was busy elsewhere and soon all the bodies were being prepared. For those who had no surviving relative to grieve for them, and there were sadly many, Sosa found volunteers to prepare the bodies.

　　Sosa thought that nearly all the orange flowers in the village must have been picked as she watched the seemingly endless procession of bodies trail up to the funeral clearing. Despite their ardent demands to adhere to the funeral custom, the vehemence ran out when villagers had to enter the clearing - the closest spot in the village most ever got to the dark trees. Only once Sosa had agreed to oversee the funerals were they able to finally lay the fallen to rest.

　　Sosa stood at the edge of the clearing.The line of sobbing mourners never seemed to end and the funeral clearing was piled with orange flower shrouded bodies. In a single night it was nearly impossible to believe they had lost so many people, other than that Sosa stood and stared at the immutable, glowing orange truth.

　　For Sosa it was an honour to stand and protect these people in their grief, but she was only too aware of the shadows as they crept across the ground. When they were done, fires were being lit near the entrance of the council chamber. Talon was back and there was plenty of food, water, cooking tools, bedding and other supplies they would need to get through the night. Seeing what her father had managed Sosa felt her own accomplishments for the day somewhat lacking. Cots had been laid to make the room more comfortable and people were busy gathering or rearranging supplies and the cooking was well underway. Sosa hoped no one would consider they were breaking fadi by eating in each other`s sight, given that they were all together under a single roof. If someone took issue with it, she did`t think it was a problem she could easily solve.

　　Slowly people returned and the shadows drew lines across the whole village.

　　They`re not all here.` A voice came from high up over Sosa`s shoulder.

　　Sosa turned to see who had spoken to her. Dorrel had spent the day following Talon and helping move things. The tall woman prided herself on how much she could carry. The look on her face suggested today had been a very good day for Dorrel.

　　Sosa looked around. Dorrel was right. People had spread out around the building giving plenty of room for people to lie down and sleep, but even then, there were not as many as there should be. Dorrel might not be the brightest, but she worked hard, and she paid attention.

　　Maybe they`re still working?` Sosa wondered out loud.

　　I`ll go and look for them.` Dorrel said. Make them come back.`

　　Sosa looked outside. Dorrel, take one on of the spears and make sure you`re back long before the sun is gone. Don`t stay out even if you think there are more people to find, okay? You`re important. I need you here.`

　　Dorrel nodded and smiled, then galloped off on her mission.

　　Sosa hadn`t seen Kala for a while. She returned to Raela`s room of healing. Many had been cleared out now, sent back to the newly created sleeping chambers with bandaged wounds. Only the immovable remained. Grammawe sat in a quiet corner chatting to a small huddle of enthralled and bandaged youngsters. Nelo, the man Kala had stabbed in her escape, the one Sosa had brought to Raela when this all started, was one of those who still remained. He looked sheepish, but Sosa avoided his gaze.

　　Are you here to get in the way as well?` Raela asked. Or are you here to give me more to look after?`

　　I`m looking for Kala.`

　　I`m serious, Sosa, I don`t have time for this and I don`t have anything left. If someone gets so much as a cut, there is nothing I can do for them any more.`

　　Kala wasn`t in the main room. Sosa felt her neck tighten and her shoulders began to stiffen. What can I find for you?`

　　I don`t even have time to give you a list.` Raela was busily tending to one moaning man`s still bleeding gashes. You can find someone to take the dead away, give me some room. Your brother would have been more useful.`

　　Sosa bit her lip and felt the sting in her eyes. She fought an urge to slap the woman, but right now Raela was the most useful of all of them and she was under a lot of pressure. She`d probably even had less rest than Sosa had. She let it go.

　　It was true though. Halo had taken more of an interest in healing, he always had loved spending time with Raela. Sosa`s time and skills had been spent elsewhere. She waited for the heat in her eyes to go and the thickness in her throat to pass.

　　Just tell me what you need.`

　　Raela did in the end give her a list and Sosa found people who could help her assemble it, aware every time she left the council building that the shadows were no longer spreading, but widening and the sky was a burning orange.

　　Dorrel returned with a handful of stragglers.

　　Sosa.` Dorrel tried to speak to her.

　　Not now, Dorrel. Well done, though, good work, but just& just hang on a moment.`

　　Frustrated, she ran back to Raela`s new room, ignoring the healer this time. Grammawe, where is Mmawe? Where is Kala?`

　　Gone, little one. She said she needed to walk.`

　　Walk? Walk where? This late?`

　　Grammawe was holding the gaze of a giggling toddler whose arm was bandaged up and apparently still bleeding. She dabbed him under the chin and he cackled in delight. The finger shot back and did the same in the boy`s belly button.

　　Grammawe!` Sosa was struggling to hold on to her patience.

　　She said to give you those.` Grammawe waved a hand without looking to the space beside her.

　　Laying on a sheet of linen lay the two armoured upper-arm plates which Sosa had put on her mother to keep her safe. Grammawe!` Sosa screamed, clutching the two armlets.

　　Her grandmother stopped and turned. The child who had been giggling now burst into tears and the general noise of patients and volunteers treating them hushed. Sosa didn`t care, or notice. Where is my mother?`

　　Grammawe looked only hurt and blank and Sosa regretted shouting, though the regret did not quench the frustration. She slipped the two armlets onto her own arms and ran out.

　　Sosa!` It was Dorrel again.

　　What?` she snapped, looking around for Talon, in the hope Kala would be with him.

　　They`re not all here.`

　　I know, you said that before, but you went to find them, remember?`

　　Dorrel loomed heavily in her line of sight. She was not an easy woman to look around.

　　Dorrel remembers.` Dorrel nodded. Do you want me to go again?`

　　Yes, yes that`s fine.` Then Sosa heard herself and stopped. No, Dorrel. No. I`m sorry, no you`ve done well in finding who you did. It isn`t safe out there any more. Don`t go out, okay?`

　　Bodaki come?`

　　Maybe.`

　　They`re not all here.` Dorrel said again

　　No they`re not, are they? Dorrel, have you seen Kala? You know, the chronicler? My mmawe?`

　　The woman shook her head. No. Sosa, I think some of them might have gone for a walk.`

　　Sosa felt her throat close. You saw some of them?`

　　Dorrel nodded. They were far away and Dorrel had to bring back the other people. Dorrel thought Sosa would prefer it that way.` Sosa wanted to tell Dorrel she`d done well, to ask if her mother might have been among those who took a walk, but her throat felt thick again, as if it tried to swell her vocal chords closed and she could say none of it.

　　The dark. It had been in her mother. Sosa remembered how it had called to her when she`d come back to the village, even when she was safe. It had called to Halo until he`d woken enough to answer it. Of course it would call to the others too.

　　No, no, oh Ale-ki, no, please.` She was moving towards the door. Dorrel was flanking her. Did you see where they went?`

　　Dorrel shook her head.

　　People scattered to get out of their way. When Dorrel moved with purpose, people got out of her way. When Dorrel and a woman in bronze armour come running, they moved.

　　Her father was not outside by the fires.

　　Where`s Talon?`

　　Gone, they told her, helping bring some last minute supplies before they lost the sun.

　　What is it?` Dorrel asked confused, but Sosa was already running. Dorrel followed.

　　No, you have to stay, it`s not safe.`

　　Dorrel gave a dismissive shrug and stabbed the air with her iron tipped spear. Meh. Dorrel think she be okay.`

　　Please Dorrel, stay here, help protect everyone.`

　　Dorrel paused uncertain, taking a few more steps.

　　Stay,` Sosa called back. Please.`

　　Dorrel looked disappointed. Dorrel helpful?` The look would have broken Sosa`s heart if she wasn`t aware that every moment lost them more light. She sprinted away, realising that Talon would return to find them both gone.

　　Alone at last Sosa sprinted from the square around the corner to where Ale-ki stood, tall and grand. It was one of the largest trees in the village. Villagers had been ushered away from it where many of them had spent the day in thought and conversing with the great ki. Sosa ran at the tree not pausing, grabbed a branch, lifted herself until a foot could reach a fork and then began to ascend as fast as she could. It had only been a short time ago she`d done penance at this tree and now she scrambled up as if it were a common banefruit tree. She apologised to Ale-ki and hoped the tree understood.

　　As high as she dared go, as high as would support her armoured weight, Sosa stopped and looked about. From up here she could see to all sides of the village, and all the way to the trees on every side.

　　Dim light faded over the village.

　　Sosa searched the dusk light desperately until she found what she sought, what she`d hoped not to find.

　　There were dark shapes moving near the tree line. It was not clouds of the dark seeping out of the forest, no, they were the shapes of people. One by one, they walked into the trees and melted into the darkness.

　　One by one they returned to what called them.