“The lake is too choppy. That boat wasn’t built for three adults. If I upset the balance, we could capsize. I can’t take that risk. Not with you.”

“We’re not going without you,” Leelo cried. “We’ll wait until the storm passes.”

“I’m not sure they’ll let you,” she said. She lowered her voice and pulled Leelo into her arms. “The only thing that matters to me is your safety.”

“But the boat. You said it can only make one crossing. We won’t be able to send it back for you.”

Fiona released Leelo. “You’ll come back for me one day, after you’ve found Tate.”

“No,” Leelo sobbed. Now that they were here, now that they were really going, she couldn’t leave without her mother. There would be no one left to take care of her.

“I am going to get better,” Fiona said. “I promise.”

“Leelo...” Jaren was staring above the heads of the crowd, where the Forest glowed a brilliant orange. “The fire is getting worse. We need to go.”

“Please, Mama. Just come with us,” she pleaded, but Fiona was pushing her back toward the boat.

Someone screamed in the distance. “The fire! It’s reached the cottages!”

The mob surged forward, intent on driving them from the island. Jaren had a hold of Leelo’s arm and was pulling her toward the boat. “I’m not leaving you!” Leelo screamed at her mother, just as her feet hit the hull.

“And I’m not letting you stay.” Fiona shoved Leelo backward, digging her heels into the dirt and using all of her strength to push the boat into the water before Leelo could get her bearings.

“Mama!” she screamed. The boat rocked perilously as soon as they reached open water, and Leelo found herself scrambling for an oar. There was a strong wind coming off the mainland, blowing toward Endla, and there were still shouts and screams coming from the Forest.

“I love you!” Fiona shouted, but her voice was lost to the wind. It was too late to go back, Leelo realized. Too late to save Mama.

“Pull!” Jaren screamed. Tears coursed down Leelo’s face as she rowed, her arms burning with every stroke, the tendons in her neck straining to the breaking point. Just when she felt as though they were gaining ground, another strong gust of wind blew them back toward the island. Endla was refusing to let them go.

Leelo couldn’t help thinking of all the people she was leaving behind. Selfishly, she wanted to be free of Endla, to never sacrifice for it again. But if the cost was her mother, her friends, even her aunt and cousin, then it was too high. It would be easier to give up and return to Endla. It would be easier to let the boat capsize.