I am a woman Meant to create Care for and nurture To see the needs of others Your weaknesses Your volnerabilities. To turn them into strengths Bringing out the potential in others Even if it means Throwing you to the fire Even if it means Calling in the wolves Showing you of what you're capable Raising you into your strength Pulling out your character So that when you look in the mirror You see what we see Your potential Realized.

AfteAfterr I lit the wick, the flame bounced around as if it were debating whether or not to go out. I glared at the wayward flame; it recovered quickly, obeyed and began to sway to its own rhythm within the lamp. I closed the lamp feeling proud of myself, and wiped my hands on the apron of my dress. The apron was a recent addition to my wardrobe. If I came home with a soiled dress, Mother would forbid me from accompanying Father again. The thought of what that would do to ou

"Do you ever wonder why the birds fly like that?" Lilly asked, pointing up to the sky. A flock of white dipped and soared overhead. Probably pigeons, Sedric guessed. The two were lying on the hill watching clouds go by like they had when they were youngsters. Sedric chewed on the grass in his mouth for a thoughtful moment and asked, "What do you mean?" The two were an odd pair. Lilly, a noblewoman lying sprawled on the ground in an expensive gown made of fine silk. Sedric, a

Survival. That was my only focus as I drove myself forward through the trees. My survival. Every organism on this planet has a drive to live at any cost. From predators of the north to the parasites that inhabited their hosts. Hell, even sickness and disease had a drive to survive through spreading from host to host. Survival was also driving the humans who were chasing me just now. To them, either they survived, or I survived. So I ran. Eager to prove them wrong. The funny t