Kaye stumbled into Gaerlom, muddy and exhausted. She'd spent Aleda's Day half-buried inside the snowbank and began walking at dusk when the cold started to hurt. She wasn't sure how she made it back—she barely remembered walking.

She knocked weakly on the doorframe at the Breens and nearly fell into Timin's arms when he opened the flap.

"Great Awena, Kaye. What happened to you?"

"Avalanche," she coughed out.

He sat her on the cot. "Avalanche? Where?"

"The pass home." She closed her eyes and lay back. She could almost hear his heart break.

"Home? You tried to go home?"

She didn't open her eyes or respond. She tried to go home, but Aleda stopped her. Even the Goddess didn't want her to return to Fie Eoin. Tears slipped from the corners of her eyes and left warm tracks down her cold temples. She passed out before Timin could become angry with her.

When she woke, the Breens were conferring in hushed voices on the other side of the hut. She groaned and Abigail brought her a cup of tea. She brushed Kaye's hair from her forehead as she drank. "Timin said something about an avalanche?"

Kaye nodded. When she spoke her voice rasped as if she'd been screaming. Had she screamed? Maybe when the snow closed in on her.

"I found the pass home, but there was an avalanche. The Mother saved me."

"Saved you?"

She nodded again. "She's sending me to the Faye lands. She said She would find a way."

Abigail pushed her hair back again. "What do you mean?"

Kaye took another drink. She had no idea how she was supposed to know it was time to leave. "I have to wait and trust Her. She'll send me a sign."

Abigail looked at Gabe and Kaye knew he wouldn’t argue. He trusted the Mother. "We'll keep an eye out then, and be prepared for a hasty exit."

That wouldn't be difficult—Kaye's material goods consisted of her clothes and wing balm. She sat up and looked around. Her bag with the wing balm was in the snow somewhere. Kaye dropped onto the cot; at least she'd be able to leave quickly if she needed to.