Kai
Her eyes widened as she walked into the room.
“HAPPY BORN DAY!” we all shouted.
She looked around the table. We were all there, the whole family. Even Conin and Kisaa joined us. Leela and Asha ran to her, hugging her tightly. It had all been their idea.
“You thought we’d forgotten, Panda? You mentioned it in passing weeks ago, you thought we’d let it pass?” Sakina laughed, as Orsa stood there speechless.
The tears fell then, but she couldn’t wipe the smile from her face as everyone approached her, one by one, hugging her and giving her their gifts. I went last, crushing her to me as she wept with joy. I took her hand and slid on a ring. It was a brown, circular topaz, set in an intricate gold band with carvings of her mark.
“Kai… it’s exquisite,” she breathed.
“Do you like i
