The Secred Mission

e) seemed to change about her, with trees bending in as if to listen in on her thoughts. Every rustling of leaves and cr

rt and moss, and the only sounds were the odd chirp of an unseen bird or the distant murmur of water. Adanna ti

h-pitched and humorous, but with an edge that mad

, her voice solid despite

seemed to come from everywhere at once. "A traveler lost

rting from tree to tree. The voice was pla

self!" She

a kid, with a wiry body and skin that glowed like moonlight. Its eyes were large and dazzling, reflecting

verdone flourish. "Keeper of tricks, master of

ales of trickster spirits, entities that lived on game

your help," sh

do. You see, this road you choose is mine. A

her arms. "Wo

talisman made from bone with blazing markings. It pulsed sl

lisman carefully. "A

nly a game. Solve my riddle, and the talisman will be yours. Fail, and... It trailed off, its smile beco

wa, she recognized the talisman's potential

eplied. "What

glitter. The forest became motionless as if holding i

grow; I don't have lung

mouth, y

t am

ard on the surface, but she knew better than to respond too hastily

the words in her thoughts. Something that grows but doe

fire she had started the night b

d firmly. "The

to applause. "You're a clever girl! You're smar

pting it. The talisman felt warm to the touch, and the symbols inscr

ontinuously, tucking th

very gift has its weight, and every road

wa vanished, its laughter res

ed to have changed as a result of her meeting with the trickster. The trees loom

xiety persisted. Ọnwa's leaving words echoe

r dream, the talisman shone brilliantly, providing a route through the dark. But wit

ere quivering and the talisma

self. Whatever the cost of Ọnwa's gift

done, and the forest stil