Kelty kicked off her boots.

The snow bit her toes, then melted

froze

melted

froze

melted

till Kelty stood in a mold of her feet

her feet shaping the ice.

She felt a tingling warmth rise up through her body and spread slowly out through her hands. Lights sprang up in amongst the trees, but didn't singe their boughs. They were a small comfort in the gloom of an overcast afternoon.

Can you hear the forest song, grandaughter? said the Voice. Said her Nan. That's where I learned the magic. The wild calls to be brought home.

Kelty wondered, Why?

It misses us, she said.