Fire. K'luha had almost forgotten Tahj's deathly fear of flame. Almost. She felt the young girl stiffen in front of her and caught her terrifed glances. K'luha tried to offer a reassuring smile, pressing her hands to Tahj's shoulders and squeezing there firmly. Her eyes were firmly fixed upon the bonfire and the ceremony at the center. It was tradion. It was important. And it was important that K'tahja not fear the flames of Azyema. Even though fire had taken her mother, it also gave life.
The sound of K'jhanhi's staff was soothing. For a moment, the sound felt as if it could envelop K'luha and hold away the despair. But it was only for a moment before the sound seemed to turn back to sound.
K'luha's eyes lifted to the shimmering beads along K'takka's wrist. They would light the fire now. Roughly and abruptly, K'luha took Tahj's shoulders and pulled her around, pressing the girl's face to her chest to shield her.
"Just hold onto me, okay? It'll be okay." K'luha whispered softly, hugging her niece tightly.
The sound of K'jhanhi's staff was soothing. For a moment, the sound felt as if it could envelop K'luha and hold away the despair. But it was only for a moment before the sound seemed to turn back to sound.
K'luha's eyes lifted to the shimmering beads along K'takka's wrist. They would light the fire now. Roughly and abruptly, K'luha took Tahj's shoulders and pulled her around, pressing the girl's face to her chest to shield her.
"Just hold onto me, okay? It'll be okay." K'luha whispered softly, hugging her niece tightly.
![[Image: urVhoNf.png]](http://i.imgur.com/urVhoNf.png)
