“Abitha, my blood brings many gifts. It’s time you began to understand what you are. The wilderness is your home.… You have many friends here.” She wasn’t sure what he meant. Sky? Creek? But they could do so little. The stables were fully ablaze now, and though they were well within the trees, flickering beams of light penetrated the darkness. Samson led her around a large clump of brush, pulling her down within the shadows. He placed her hand on the ground. “Feel Mother Earth … hear her.”

