Chapter 17
Dazi had run out of tears. When Kuhma first dragged him to his house, his mother was there with a tender embrace and soothing words while Kuhma explained, but Dazi had felt and heard little. His heart was pounding too loudly in pain for that. With a blank stare he had gone to his room, curled up on the bed, and cried. His mother took on her bobcat skin and came to give him further comfort, purring reassuringly as she nuzzled against him.
“Thanks,” Dazi had said, “but I need to be alone for now, okay?”
His mother nodded and gestured that she was going out for a walk. Dazi let her outside, leaving her clothes by the door so she could retrieve them when she returned. The air was still tainted with the smell of smoke. It made Dazi feel sick. After closing the door behind her, he
