Lisiantha woke the next evening in a musty box. She pressed her palm against the lid, as if she could force her anxiety into the wood. Outside, she could hear the others waking, and it was only when she heard Ichirou's voice that guilt spurred her to rise. She couldn't abandon her fledgling to what were basically strangers to him.

Once up, she made her way to her room and changed her pajamas for her clothes. Mére and Ichirou waited for her in the entryway. Together they ...