The darkness there had changed.
A thin line of blue light had appeared along the mountain's highest ridge. It stretched from one side to the other, like a crack in the night sky.
Then the entire mountain shuddered.
The ground beneath the village shifted.
Somewhere, a wooden walkway snapped.
"Everyone away from the houses!" Jude shouted.
The wives moved together, gathering around the central firepit. Serena and Scarlet took positions on either side of the children. Sophie caught the younger Jude by the arm before he could move towards the northern path.
But the boy beside Natalie did not follow them.
He stood staring at the house.
"Sol," Natalie said gently. "Come here."
He didn't move.
"Sol?"
The child slowly raised his wrist.
The silver crescent pendant began to unfold.
Its curved edges separated like delicate pieces of a mechanical flower. Beneath them was the familiar symbol: three curved lines surrounding a central point.
But this time, something else appeared.
