MaliyahIt’s been about three days since I woke up. Dr. Ase insists I still rest and use a wheelchair for the time being. I’ve been doing physical therapy but it’s mostly just stretches and mild strength training. Dr. Ase says I am not strong enough to walk yet which I think is a load of crap but I promised Aspen to listen to the doctor.Everyone has been tip toeing around me, especially after I snapped saying I didn’t want to celebrate my birthday. I just didn’t feel like it. I also don’t get straight answers to my questions and I still have yet to see uncle Owen. I really need to speak with him. I feel like there was something important I needed to tell dad about auntie Keila but I’m drawing a blank. “Penny for your thoughts?”I look up to find Aspen. He helps me out of the chair and places me in the grass. He knows I prefer to feel the earth under me

Maliyah After the execution I asked Aspen to take me to visit Malayah’s graves. I’ll want to stop my aunt Keila’s and uncle Owen’s as well but I need to see Malayah first. I am upset that I didn’t get to attend her funeral but I understand at the same time. They couldn’t just leave her like that. When we arrive in front of her grave, I set down her favorite flowers, pink dahlia’s. I can see dad planted dahlia’s near her grave. Aspen sets me down in the grass and takes a seat with me. A few more memories have resurfaced recently and I have been waiting to get Aspen alone. I am not sure I want to talk to my parents about this yet. “You’ve had that look all day Maliyah. What is it?” I quickly avoid Aspen’s gaze. I am not sure I want to talk about this to him as well. “Maybe he can help,” says Terra, encouraging me. “I….I know what Cedar saw Aspen.” “Oh.” “The things is though, I saw something else in my future from what Cedar saw. I don’t know what that means but that means ther

Maliyah Today is the day. It’s been a week since I started riding Beauty daily and I have almost made it to the end of those stupid bars. I am determined to get out of this wheelchair. If I can make it to the end of the bars I can start using a cane and that is better than the wheelchair. “Terra, do you think we’ll be able to shift soon?” “I have fully healed Maliyah, so I can but do you think you’ll be able to handle a shift?” “I think so.” “Alright, if you make it to the end of the bars today we’ll do it.” I am so excited as I wheel myself out the elevator and meet my family in the dining room. “Morning everyone.” “Liyah!” The twins come running at me and climb up in my chair. I’ve been visiting them more often and try to play with them as best I can. Another reason I want out of the dumb chair. I want to be able to run with them. “I’ve missed you two as well. It’s been what, ten minutes since I saw you upstairs,” I laugh “Can we go riding with you today,” asks Accalia. I

Davina“Wait! Stop Amara,” says uncle Gabriel. Her look softens and Derek hands me a dress and the boys turn around. Amara shifts and puts the dress on. “Where are my parents Gabriel!”Gabriel looks at her with sad eyes before answering her. I know she will not take this news well.“Your father is gone and your mother is missing.”“We have to go back now! I told you I didn’t want to leave!”“We will return first thing tomorrow. Hopefully we will find survivors and if we do, your people are going to need a leader Amara,” Derek tries to reason with her. However, she is far from being able to leader her people. She is just a child.“My brother can do that. Where is he? Did he return home?”“I never saw your brother Amara. Ghalen is also missing

AspenDavina prepares to take the group of survivors back to the Palemetto pack with Derek. Maliyah and I are helping Amara and Ghalen ensure there are no other survivors. We are also helping with building a giant pyre to burn the bodies of those lost. Davina asked us to make sure we get everyone’s name to put up a memorial wall. I can’t believe how many lives were lost. Not even a quarter of the children survived. “Ghalen, I have all our pack records and other important documents loaded into the Jeep. I also grabbed our family albums and family heirlooms,” says Amara as she hands a ring to Ghalen. It appears to be a bone tribal ring. The ring appears to be mostly black with a pattern I am unfamiliar with. It must’ve belonged to their father as Ghalen slips it on, his gaze lingering on the ring.