Ansgarde thought she would be sick, the roots she had eaten coming back up as bile. She was so naive to think she had found a friendly ally. She should have listened to the voice of reason. Larimar was just like the others.

She glanced around at the villagers, wondering what they would do with her. She expected calls to action and an angry mob, but everyone was smiling and exchanging excited exclamations. Everyone but Tephra, whose hatred-filled glare sent a chill down her spine. Did their prophecy say that she would put their Mystic under a spell? Why were they happy about it?

She tried to get out of his grasp, but he wouldn't let her go. Instead, he hugged her closer to his chest.

"You're safe," he whispered in her ear.

For thinking that she put him under a spell, he was very content with it. Or did he mean something else by it? She wasn't blind to the affection he had been showing her, but to phrase it so boldly in front of everyone... But he barely knew her. Why would he be so sure of his feelings this soon?

A branch burned through and snapped in half with a crack, sending sparks flying. A part of it was hanging outside of the firepit. No one bothered to fix it, too preoccupied with the excitement of having captured the Starlit Sky at last.

Tephra stepped forward and stood in front of them, the fire blazing behind her. Spinel hid in Larimar's long hair and tried to blend in.

"What will you do to save us, demon?" she said, her accent thick with venom.

"You can't rush a prophecy, sweet Tephra," Olivine said.

"Sit down," Larimar ordered.

Ansgarde had enough of being carried around. His interest was very flattering, but he didn't earn the right to be this possessive of her.

"Let me go," she growled.

Larimar initially did not comply, but she shot him a glare so intense that he raised his hands in defeat. She clumsily got out of his hold, swayed on one foot, and partially opened her wings for balance. She faced the hostile woman, who crossed her arms, sneering down at her.

"Go ahead. Save the Hearth, demon."

All eyes were on her again as she hobbled there. They awaited some big act, a show of magic, or otherwise hero-worthy speech about how she would save each and one of them. She had none. But she was a writer. She could fake confidence.

She imagined that she was Sadie, the warrior princess. Sadie would not care that she was a head smaller than the aggressive woman. Sadie would not buckle under an empty threat and a mountain of anxiety about her future. Sadie would stand her ground, keep her chin up, and kick ass.

"Sit down, Tephra," she said calmly.

A wave of snickers reverberated through the crowd. Tephra grimaced, her eyes seeking allies but finding only amused faces. Olivine's chuckles turned into a fit until her entire body was shaking. Larimar looked quietly pleased, maybe proud. Tephra threw her hair over her shoulder and stomped away, back to her stump.

"Don't mind Tephra." The bearded man leaned forward, his large hand on Olivine's shoulder. "She's just jealous." He laughed and nudged Larimar's arm. "You'd think she hoped the prophecy would never come true."

Larimar shrugged. "Her problem."

Spinel emerged from his hair, her dress like a vivid jade bow. She grinned broadly and hopped on top of his head to start a brand new braid. He didn't seem to mind.

"I'm Gabbro, by the way," the man said. "Olivine's partner."

"It's nice to meet you," Ansgarde said and took a deep breath, releasing the built-up tension. Channeling Sadie gave her a rush as intense as falling to Lower Heliodor.

Felsic crouched in front of the fire and stirred it with a stick, moving logs and branches around, and it came alive, sending a new blast of heat their way.

A gust of wind pushed at her opened wings, so she folded them and leaned on Larimar's shoulder instead. This was more like it. She didn't have to be a Sage to be in control.

"Will someone finally tell me this prophecy?"

Olivine bounced on her stump. "Can I tell her?"

Larimar nodded, and her eyes lit up.

"Sweet!" She got comfortable in her partner's embrace and cleared her throat. The rest of the gathered fell silent, the glow of the fire burning in their expectant faces.

"Scoria was a wonderful woman and a powerful Mystic," she said. "Mystic abilities on Earth are different. For Scoria, her calling turned into the gift of prophecy. She moved to Earth to raise her children but came back before her last days to allow her soul to remain with the Hearth. But also to tell Larimar what her visions revealed - the prophecy we've come to call Larimar's Sky."

Larimar exhaled heavily and scratched his brow.

Olivine smirked. "He was very young then - didn't believe it."

"Who would?" he grumbled.

"I made fun of him," she joked. "Who'd want a regular girlfriend if he's destined to hold the Sky herself in his arms?"

A gentle wave of chuckles reverberated through the gathered group. Only Tephra did not laugh. Ansgarde locked her eyes on Larimar, the reason for his instant interest in her now clearer. She had been promised to him by a woman she never met. What if she refused? Would he honor her will?

"What is the prophecy?" she asked, ready to get this mystery over with.

Olivine cleared her throat, and with a sly smile on her face, she recited.

"The future of The Hearth rests upon the will of Starlit Sky. She will suffer the fate of dragons and fall onto fledgling's cradle. Shelter her in your arms, Larimar, and your heart will sing. If you let her bring you home and flip your world, Starlit Sky shall save Ember souls."

Ansgarde closed her eyes, the words coating her like ash. This was why he refused to allow her to walk on her own. The prophecy literally told him to hold her. Something stung her inside. The prophecy told him to. He didn't actually want to.

When he took care of her and looked at her as a man, she didn't realize how much it pleased her. Having someone who cared for her would have made this exile more bearable, but none of it was real. Larimar was ready to accept the words said by a senile woman on her deathbed as the ultimate fate. He was so blindly devoted to his beliefs, he allowed a prophecy to dictate his feelings. She didn't want a suitor like that.

The rising heat of the flames rippled the air until everything was blurry. Why was she disappointed? She didn't want a stinky human anyway.

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A/N: What do you think about the prophecy?