Kanu enfolds her tightly for a moment, then takes Syura's shoulders and holds her at arm's length. "Ma Ayah, my mother, what is wrong?" He's surprised to see tears standing in her eyes. "Is everyone well? I've been nervous about Syeha, but not desperately worried." "No, she is well... but not." #WitchingHour#Pangaea
"I will speak to him now, but I think they will consent to foster your daughter for a short while, even though their own children are still very small," and Summer Wind goes into another room to do just that. After almost no time, she returns, saying, "Go and tell Syeha to pack what she needs. We will follow you to Bowing Tree village as soon as we are ready ourselves. It will not take long, I promise." Summer Wind and Kanu both kiss Syura goodbye, although they plan to see her again soon.
Summer Wind seems abstracted very briefly, and then says, decisively, "Get her out of the village. I do not know why, but I think Syeha may be at more risk than some of the others. It is a good time to broaden a young girl's horizons; send her to my family, to Blue Turtle Dreaming and Moon Shadow." Kanu and his mother look a little startled, but each has had such presentiments themselves. "Very well, if this is all right with your people, I will send her immediately," says the witch-woman.
"They all do, and some of them come home with bruises they cannot explain." Syura reaches out for Summer Wind's hand, for comfort perhaps. "The truly alarming thing is that when confronted with knowledge of this behavior, they have no memory of it, and I would know if it were not the truth. Someone, or something, is exploiting them, I think, but I can find no trace of it. I do not know what to do. One family tried tying their son to his bed; the boy fought like a lion until drenched awake."
"It began... I'm not sure... a few weeks ago. Syeha was spending her evenings running with the pack," Kanu's mother says, referring to a perpetual group of wild teens. "I suppose we all do it at some point, so I was not terribly concerned. But lately, your sister has begun to look worn and tired. She is by no means the only one of our young people to be so afflicted. Your father and I took turns observing her surreptitiously, and she sneaks from her bed at night, coming back before dawn."
