Chapter 19
When Isika woke, she found that she was curled at the base of a tree, dressed in the tunic and pants Jabari had loaned her, but they were clean and dry. She blinked. The sky was dark. Through the branches of the tree above her, she saw the round, full moon. Somewhere nearby a fire crackled and the murmuring voices she heard told her the others were nearby. She stayed where she was, enjoying the feeling of dry, warm sleepiness. She reached one hand out to touch the tree, which was tall and white, nearly silver, with papery bark, and felt its deep energy humming through her, this one different from the others again. This tree felt like a long drink of water, and she realized at once that she smelled food and that she was incredibly hungry.
She sat up. Not far away, her brother a
