Eventually, Leelo felt her hands and feet go tingly with blood, and the shaking that had wracked her entire body subsided. She had no desire to spend time with her aunt and cousin at the moment, so after getting out of bed and changing into dry clothing, she went out back to the covered porch. The sun had gone down, but at least the storm had passed, and the moon was nearly full. The children wouldn’t have to navigate in complete darkness. The Endlans wouldn’t sing again until tomorrow night at the earliest, which gave Tate and the others a chance to get well clear of the lake.

Leelo could hear Sage and Ketty in the kitchen, preparing supper. She should probably set aside her anger and sadness, eat dinner, and go to bed. That would be the sensible thing.

A shadow passed in front of the moon, swooping low on silent wings and coming to land in the wooden beams above her. It was a barn owl, Leelo realized. Birds of that size weren’t common on Endla, so it always felt like a good omen when one appeared; for whatever reason, the Forest hadn’t taken it yet. Its pale, heart-shaped face turned at some noise in the distance, and then it was off again, winging into the Forest to hunt.

Without thinking, Leelo stood up, crossed the yard, and headed into the woods. Despite the rain, the Forest floor wasn’t too muddy, thanks to the spring foliage overhead, and she could see well enough in the moonlight. After a few minutes of what she’d thought was aimless walking, she realized where her feet were taking her.

It took longer than it should have to reach the pine grove. In her troubled state of mind, she had taken several wrong turns, and it didn’t help that her eyes were blurry with tears. When she finally reached the grove, she felt the months of pent-up anxiety and fear and hope burning deep in her bones.

She looked up through the branches, to where the moon glowed overhead. The tops of the trees swayed in a wind that took a moment longer to reach Leelo’s skin, and she forced herself to take a deep breath. This place was so peaceful and serene right now, it was almost impossible to believe that it was where they had killed countless animals, that the Forest itself was bloodthirsty.

She could hear Aunt Ketty’s voice in her mind. This place is not evil. It protects us. We would be lost without it.

The knot of sadness that had been stuck in Leelo’s throat was becoming unbearable. She wanted to sing, but she knew she couldn’t. There was still a chance the children were within earshot, and regardless, she wasn’t allowed to sing alone.