The soft crackle of the flame echoed in the sacred grounds, its gentle blue light flickering against the soft lines of his mother’s face as she sat before him, legs underneath her. Her smile, tired but full, like a lantern gaining its spark back after years of darkness.

  A warm, tender breeze circulated occupied the space, the sound of rustling leaves and branches provided a welcoming tune.

  “I have so many questions, I don’t know where to begin.” Kneeling in seiza position, InuShin breathed out.

  “Ask away, Shin. I will do my best to answer all of them.” Silver hair free, from braids, spilled over her shoulders like fallen silk. Her garments, worn and winkled from a long journey, scuffed with dirt.

  Exhaling slowly, still hopeful it’s not a dream, he rested his hands in his lap and said, voice cracking. “Where’ve you been? Why did you leave us?”

  “Here,” her face softened, eyes welling. “And I had no choice. I was sent back to this realm. A woman, an elder, dressed in purple, told me I couldn’t stay in your father’s realm, that I didn’t belong there.”

  Woman in purple? Could it be Duanna? His mind drifted.

  “So here I returned, and remained. Protecting the village of our people.”

  “You say ‘our people.’ I know we’re S?lvcù, but I don’t understand what a S?lvcù exactly is. And Father couldn’t tell me anything.”

  Scooting closer, she took a spot beside him, the aroma of warm honey and mint calming his nerves. “Your Father never asked about my past, said it never mattered. Only that I was there with him mattered.” A small smile formed. “Our people, S?lvcù, are a race connected with nature. As you are aware, we have canine ears, fangs, and claws.”

  Pointing to one of the towering stones, the one with the Tree of Life symbol. “We are protectors of the land. The forest. And the constellation guides us to do what is right.”

  “It’s just like my necklace.” InuShin reached into his haori and pulled it out, examining it. The dog stared up into the branches. Hopeful. A faint glow emitted from the blue and green crystals, slightly pulsing from the energy around him. “Is this why you gifted me the necklace?”

  “Yes.” She reached into her top and pulled out a matching necklace. “I wanted to ensure you had a connection with us, so using leftover metals and crystals from here, I had your Father’s help in crafting it, and then entrusted him to give it to you on your eight birthday.”

  “He forgot.” A soft laugh escaped him. “I found it on my eleventh birthday.”

  “You must forgive him. He nor I expected my forced return.” She rested her hands in her lap. “Speaking of your Father, how is he?”

  “Okay, I think?” His stomach churned as an ache filled his chest. “Last time I saw him…” He forced a swallow as the tears started to form. “The villagers formed a mob, attacked our home. Lit it on fire.” Tears started to fall, soaking into the faded blue fabric of his kimono. His shoulders shook as he clenched his fists. “Why didn’t you return? You could have helped protect us. I couldn’t protect us, I don’t know what’s happened to him.”

  Duanna said he’s okay, but what if she only said that to make me feel better? A lump formed in the back of his throat. His stomach curbed, as if he was about to vomit. What if the villagers killed him?

  “I’m sorry, Shin, “his mother’s voice cracked. A softness filled her eyes, a mutual pain. “I couldn’t imagine the pain you endured. And I couldn’t return, I’ve tried and tried and tried for years. Even this morning, the portal remained sealed.” Repositioning, she wrapped her arms around him and held him close, running her fingers through his hair. “I don’t know how it opened in the first place, but I’m thankful it did, because I was able to meet your Father, and have you.”

  There’s a portal between here and Dad? InuShin clung to her, body shaking as he couldn’t stop crying. “I want to go back to see if Dad is okay, I need to know. Dad told me to leave, but I should have waited for him to come with me. I shouldn’t have just ran away. But I wasn’t strong enough. I’m not strong enough.”

  “Everything happens for a reason,” she squeezed him, her hand shifting from his hair to his back. “If I could help you return, I would without a second thought. I want to see him as well. I still hope that the portal reopens and I can be reunited with him, but for now, I must remain in this realm, to help protect our people, and now to protect you.”

  Realms. Duanna mentioned realms and needing to bring balance to them. I’ve already been to four realms. How many are there? How do I get to them? His heart twisted once more, not wanting to leave his mother’s side. He gripped her clothes, moss-like under his fingers. I should have asked her sooner, maybe she could have taken me back to Japan. Maybe she could have helped me save him.

  The wind shifted, as if sensing his uneasiness. It cradled around him, like a warm blanket. Soothing him. In sync, his mother started humming, a melody from before she left. He couldn’t remember it, but his spirit recognized it.

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  Nuzzling closer, the tears dried and a small smile formed. “Mother…”

  “Yes, my son?” Her voice was soft. Warm.

  “Before I was banished, I entered a world where I met someone strange. And that’s where I grew my ears, fangs, and claws. Can you tell me anything about it? Do we all go there?”

  “Féinara,” she muttered.

  “Huh?” He shifted and looked at her.

  “Féinara,” she repeated. “The Soul Wild.” Her gaze shifted to the open sky above.

  As he followed her gaze, streaks of gold and red filled the sky, piercing the soft off-white clouds.

  “It is the spirit land of Cilo,” his mother continued. “The Deity of Animals who watches over us. Passed through generations, the Elders have told us that whenever it is time for éirí an Spioraid, Rising of the Spirit, our soul enters the land of Cilo for our spirit to become what it is meant to be.”

  “What does Cilo look like?”

  “There are many debates between the races, but our tribe agrees that he takes the form of a man with a wolf’s head; silver fur and golden-amber eyes, dressed in green and brown with feathers on his shoulders.”

  “So that’s who I met,” he mumbled, lowering his gaze and surveying the area. “What is this place?”

  “An Crios Fíréan.” She gestured around them.

  The other villagers continued as they were; some prayed in silence, others spoke with the elders. Everyone was respectful.

  “Circle of the Faithful, it is where we seek guidance from the Elders, listen to the stories passed through generations, and feast together under the night of the new moon.”

  “Why the new moon?”

  “Because it’s a symbol of new beginnings, introspection, and setting inventions. It’s the beginning of a new lunar cycle, so it’s a fresh start for us, to make changes. To improve.”

  His mother pushed herself off the ground and held her hand out for him. “Come. Let me show you around.”

  Taking her hand, he followed her out of the circular area and onto the spiral path.

  “There is a special place you need to visit.”

  “What’s that?”

  “I will show you.” Her hand lightly squeezed his.

  A light pulse echoed through their feet from the moss-laced path below them, mushrooms and flowers lined the edges. Watching the other S?lvcù return to their duties, he noticed some of them had different colored-streaks in parts of their hair while others don’t. Returning his attention to his mother, she held no colors, pure silver like himself.

  “Mom, what are the different colors for? Are they natural? Will I get a color?”

  A small, warm smile spread across her face. “How I missed you calling me mom.”

  Warmth from her hand comforted him and he squeezed it.

  “The streaks, though not naturally occurring, are from natural resources from the world. Each color, each placement, speaks for the soul. You are not required to have one, but they are not just for decoration.” She guided him up the spiral path, moving closer and closer to the stars.

  “The S?lvcù believe we are born with three truths: The truth we carry from the stars, the truth we find through living, and the truth we offer back to the world when we leave it,” her voice shifted. Softer. “These truths are spoken through color, chosen not at birth, but when the soul is ready to reveal something of itself. Each color has its own meaning.”

  “What do the colors mean?”

  “Blue represents peace, whether you found it or you seek it. Green is for healers, gardners, menders of both body and spirit. Orange is for an abundance of joy. Pink is for hearts opening up, unsure yet brave.”

  The wind shifted, curious. Eager. InuShin glanced around him and spotted the girl from before, peaking around the corner from one of the building’s walls. She watched them, canid ears partially drooped, trying to hide herself. The red streaks started above her right brow and framed the right side of her face

  “And what about red?”

  “I see you sensed the presence as well.” A fanged grin emerged. “Red is a symbol of passion, courage and emotional openness.”

  A hush swept through the towering trees.

  At the top of the path, a grove appeared, bathed in an eternal silver moonlight the colors of bluish-green bioluminescent, indigo-black, and specks of silver, resembling the constellations. A low, earthy musk mixed with something smoky filled the atmosphere.

  A woman, black dye at the bottom of one of her braids, walked across the mystical grounds. Slow. Deliberate. Bioluminescent fireflies scattered into the air as she walked. They resembled stars ascending to the sky.

  “Talamh na Síochána,” his mother breathed. “Land of Peace. This is the final resting place of our people. We come here to pay our respects, to seek guidance from the ones before us. Without words, the land listens to us and gives us answers when the time is ready. If you are ever in need of answers and no one here can answer them, come here. The spirits will.”

  Maybe I can talk to Duanna here? But How? Thinning his lips, he exhaled through his nose. I’ll find my answer. Somehow.

  The still wind shifted once again, same as before, his mother spoke. This time in her native tongue.

  A soft, cautious step emerged from behind. Turning around, InuShin saw the girl from before.

  A soft blush crossed her cheeks as she offered a gentle smile and approached them, her hands fiddling with her dark green oversized shirt. His mother continued speaking, words unknown to him and the girl responded.

  Stopping in front of him, she stood slightly taller than him, hair tied into unique braids, with a patch of red at the bottom. Her zaffre eyes sparkled with curiosity. Excitement. Nervousness. Around her neck, a triple spiral pendant around three different gems. Red. Indigo. Violet.

  Conversing back and forth for a bit, InuShin heard his name before his mother turned to him, a flicker of knowing in her expression. “This is Syelira,” she said gently, translating the girl’s quiet words. “Your energy has piqued her curiosity, so she’s been following, watching us.”

  Nodding respectfully, he repeated her name slowly. “...Sye…lir…a.”

  The girl mirrored the gesture, her lips shaping his name with care. “I…nu…Shin.”

  Then. Without warning, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him in a soft, warm hug. The fragrance of sun-warmed flowers after morning mist engulfed him.

  Wide-eyed, InuShin froze. Rigid.

  His mother laughed playfully, stepping closer. “Ah, she means well.” Her hand lightly rested on his back. “In our culture, touch is a way of expressing kindness and welcome. Here, affection is shared freely, even among strangers.”

  Still stiff in her embrace, InuShin glanced at Syelira and muttered. “We respect each other’s boundaries and only touch after we’re really close.”

  His mother gently translated for Syelira, who pulled back with a surprised expression, saying something quickly.

  “What did she say?”

  “She apologizes for not knowing.”

  Shifting his attention back to the girl, she was bowing, hands slightly displaced but folded in front of her legs.

  “Did you tell her that?”

  His mother nodded with a warm smile. “InuShin, this is a good chance for you both to learn. You may be different, but there is much beauty in sharing culture. I think she’d like to know yours, just as you’d like to learn ours.”

  Syelira offered her hand this time, palm up and open, with a friendly smile.

  Hesitant, he stared. Contemplating.

  His mother spoke again, in her native tongue, and Syelira nodded, beckoning him to join her.

  “I told her to give you time, let you accept physical touch when the time is right. And she understands. Let her join us, I will help translate.”