Adeline sang as she walked through the colorful autumn trees. She had been sent to gather some herbs for healing in the forest and was enjoying her walk. Even though the woods were cheerful and bright, Adeline knew that dangerous animals loomed inside, she carried her bow and arrows for protection because of her high status as an archer.

Ok, what did Aunt Misti say she wanted me to get, Adeline puzzled to herself. She remembered it was Billow Mite, an herb used to take the infection out of deep wounds. She searched the bottom of the trees where the root normally grew, but only found a small clump gathered by an old rotting stump. Adeline decided that she would bring the tiny bunch to her aunt and if there were any problems , Adeline would explain that she just couldn’t find any more of the plant. She bent down and gathered of much of the Billow Mite she could and just as she was beginning to rise, she noticed something bright violet sparkling in the sun. She picked it up and examined it carefully. It was small enough to fit in the palm in her hand and shone like a gem in the sun. But Adeline knew that this was not a gem, it was too smooth and polished, too round and perfected. She dropped both the rock and the Billow Mite into her side bag and started home to her Aunt. Maybe she would know what the strange trinket was.

When Adeline arrived at the small cabin that she and her family called home, her Aunt immediately came to the door.

“Adeline, where have you been? Do you realize that your friend has been here all afternoon waiting for you?” she quieted her voice and added, “She’s been talking to me for hours about stuff like logic and mathematics and such!”

Adeline laughed and followed her grumbling aunt into the house, knowing that she meant no harm in her words. Sure enough, when they walked through the threshold, May was there talking to Adeline’s mother about division. Adeline could tell that her mom was trying to be polite and listen but did not really understand what May was talking about. She had not been taught division by her parents because it wasn’t really needed back then.

“Adeline! So glad to see you! Do you want to go practice shooting with me?” May looked so cheerful even after talking to Adeline’s family all day that Adeline had to laugh.

“All right, as long as it’s okay with my parents…” she turned to her them and made a pleading face.

“Ask you aunt, she’s the one that is teaching you medicine so that you can become a healer, not us. I doubt you’ve been taught enough today,” Adeline’s mother stated clearly. Adeline now turned to her Aunt Misti.

“You can go because if you are to be a healer you still need your archery skills in case of danger but you must be back before dinner.” Adeline hugged Aunt Misti but then scowled.

“Aunt Misti, you know I do not want to become a healer, I want to explore the land, fight pirates, see a unicorn, things like that, not sitting around healing the smallest of wounds.”

“You will become a healer whether you like it or not!” thundered her father. “You know what happened to your Uncle when he tried to explore the world!” Adeline rolled her eyes because she had been told of this story more than five times.

“Yes, I know. He became the captain of a ship, but was then brutally attacked by pirates and had to watch as both his ship and crew disappeared underneath the ocean. He still escaped!”

“Not without catching a fever that cost him his life!” May had been watching this whole scene quietly before but now took the chance to speak up.

“Uh, Adeline do you wish to leave now?” Her eyes were wide and her face burned with embarrassment. She nodded and dashed out the door with her friend, avoiding any more trouble with her father. When they were far from earshot May asked,

“Do you have arguments like that often?”

“Yes,” Adeline answered. “Mostly about my future but that’s the point, it’s my future, not theirs!” She tossed a rock on the ground and that reminded her of something. She reached into her side bag and pulled out the stone she had found earlier. She yelped in pain and dropped it onto the ground.

“It’s burning hot, like an ember!” she cried as she stuck her fingers hurriedly into her mouth. She pulled them out a minute later and gasped. A violet mark in the shape of a star was printed onto her forefinger and was the same shade of purple as the stone was. As shocked as Adeline was she didn’t feel right showing this to May so she quietly put her hand down and mumbled,

“I’m okay.”