a's

ence can change a pers

ttled in my bones. I sat with my knees pulled to my chest. My back pres

iece of bread crust. One for each day. I lost count. Sometimes I

. The water they gave me tasted like metal. The bread was ha

ices. Most of the time it was quiet. I listened to the sil

Her cruel smile. Her wink. I remembered the way she lo

We used to be friends. We used to laugh together. We used to talk about the future.

es. "Betrayal will not be tolerated." I remembered the wa

ook at me. He did not say a word. I wondered if he believed L

She said she had to help someone in another town. She hugged me before she l

o me. I wondered if she would come bac

er said he was brave. She said he had to leave. I wondered if

r. I woke up with tears on my cheeks. The dreams felt real. Sometimes, in the dream, I he

n and the blood. The lost will be found. The world will change." I did not know

h a stranger by the river. I followed her. She gave him a map."

m. I never saw it before. I wondered who

the wall. I counted them.

held a bowl. He pushed it toward me with his boot. I pi

me. His eye

elieve me

ay. "It's no

to throw the bowl at him. B

ell my mother I di

d. "If I

oor slammed. T

d my eyes. I tried to call my wolf. Ag

sed my eyes. I reached for my wolf. My bones ached. M

y hands twisted. My nails grew, then snappe

My wolf whimpered inside me.

listened to the water dri

She blamed me. I took the punishment. She brought me berries later. She said sorry

f fruit through the bars once. "Don't gi

they come after me? Would my mother find me gon

room. How did it get there? Did Lila put it there? Did someone else? I t

wanted me gone. Maybe the elders were sc

I tried not to cry. I would n

d, "I'm st

r gnawed at me. My body ached. M

talked to my wolf. I talked to

s talking outside my cel

tch said?" one whispered. "Ab

d. "They say she's cursed. They say s

to the wall, but

. I counted my heartbeats. I cou

ened again. Bran cam

down again. He

m. "Why are yo

d away.

ieve I did

n't answer. He ju

s pressed i

ning through the woods with my w

t Lila win. I wouldn't let

t

to the wall. I counted the

d for m