This was the time of year that allowed Sylvirah the most time for reflection. The crops had all been harvested thanks to the help of local farmers and the Ild’vann were settling in for a calmer winter. It hadn’t been until their descent from the mountain that her people learned how to cultivate the land, and it was opening up an entirely new world of possibilities for them. Locals had shown them the best places for crops, which would work better at what times of year, and what sort of natural calamities to be wary of. For a small group of hardened survivors who had never so much as seen a healthy crop in their lifetime they were beyond thrilled to have storehouses even half filled, let alone with the bounty they’d been able to keep. No longer were her people barely making it by on frozen roots and rotten jerky, suckling on stones just for the salt and praying for a sunny day.

Now they were thriving.

The proof itself was in her children. The youngest of the Ild’vann and by far the healthiest. They were far larger than Sylvirah had been at their age with a fullness to their cheeks that almost made her wonder if they weren’t being fed too well. The children didn’t tire as easily, were able to keep up with many of the older hunters and were nearly boundless in their zest for life. It was as amazing as it was baffling. At times she found herself snapping at them over the smallest of things and then immediately apologizing. What should it matter if they had extras at supper or a little snack? They could afford to be liberal with these things, but Sylvirah’s past still made it hard not to ration. She held on to many things that others would discard and tried to reuse as much of the hides as possible. Times were good now and for that she was thankful, but a part of her always worried that the bad times would come back on them.

So, when the local farmers invited the Ild’vann to their annual end of season feast the hunters found themselves at a loss. They would attend, of course, but they had never been to such an event so it was an awkward sort of affair. Sylvirah knew to bring food so they mad a bevy of traditional dishes; some of which were received far better than others. There were other children for her own to play with, serving women so plump that she feared they would burst and men with beards that drug the floor. They were encouraged to eat to their hearts content, drink until they could no longer walk and dance until the stars no longer shown in the sky! It was…more than she’d ever thought to imagine for her people.

They were happy here; surprised, a little frightened even with all the sounds, but happy. All of their suffering throughout the past years had culminated in this beautiful moment and Sylvirah could feel herself getting misty eyed over it. They had allies now. Families that would come to their aid whenever they needed it and Zyphire’s own family to assist however they could. The Ild’vann were growing instead of fading away and her heart couldn’t have been more full.

If she had stayed on the mountain then there was no telling what would have happened. She may have survived a few more years at best, but Sylvirah would never have had children of her own. There was no doubt in her mind that she would have watched everyone around her either starve to death or freeze in their own homes, herself included, until all that were left were spirits. If her mother hadn’t slept with a married man…if she hadn’t met Zyphire….Spirits, what would have happened?

Her grandfather was no longer strong enough to move freely on his own, but just seeing him sitting by a warm fire, a cup of mulled wine in his hand and a laugh in his voice was enough for her. His eyes traveled over the children, watching gleefully as a group of their played with a few raptrix pups and danced along with local songs. Seeing the life in his eyes reminded her so much of the fire he’d held when she was young; the same he’d shared with her grandmother. The original Yngvara would have been overjoyed to see the changes, as would the others who perished that day and Sylvirah knew she would do her best to live as fully as she could for them.

[770]