Prologue

In this family, survival tops everything else in the world. Love is discouraged, recognized as a selfish weakness. Some members of the family are born cursed; and the queen is after them with all her best generals now that the war is over. Welcome to the Everfall Family's life.

Here, in the Everfalls' temporary home, little Pine has stepped out of the Fire of Life. But there is something wrong. Her hair is black. The Everfalls' hair is always a distinct dark red, clashing with their striking dark blue eyes. Which could only mean one thing.

Pine was cursed.

Or was she?

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Sage was excited.

She had been the last Lifegiving, three years ago. And finally, finally, after a few years of fear and fleeing, the Everfall family has found a place to live. For now.

Sage had to stay inside the Ring, of course, if she wanted to watch. But she didn't mind. She didn't have to be right next to the Fire of Life to be excited. The familiar leafy canopy that could be folded up and set out again was a perfectly fine place to watch. That was the way it worked for every single Young. But she would only be a Young for two more years. Then she would be Five. And she would start to learn. She would earn the title of Apprentice.

Sage shook herself out. The leader of the family, Current, was still out gathering everyone. His manager Seashell was organizing the event. It could be another half hour before everything was ready, the way it was going.

Sighing, she sank back into the leaves and practiced one of the things the Youngs had to learn before they became Apprentices. There were just a few requirements. Youngs could walk as soon as they came out of the Fire of Life, so there was no need to worry about that. But they needed to learn to talk, to sneak away quickly, to climb vines, and to Change into their other form. A dragon.

Sage was still working on that. She scrunched up her eyes in concentration. Remember what they told you. Think. Imagine you changing, not the color or shape but just changing... She felt a small twinge and opened her eyes. Something flapped behind her. A pair of small dragon wings had sprouted. A frustrated growl shook her throat. This was the third time this had happened! And they weren't even fully developed, so in other words the wings were useless. She sighed. She had gotten pretty good at getting back into her normal form and was closing her eyes again to change back when a voice said, "Seriously, Sage.  Wings again?"

Sage turned and saw a caretaker teasing her fondly. She turned back quickly, embarrassed.

The caretaker laughed. She was the kindest out of all of them, as well as the eldest. Her name was Clover, Sage remembered.

"Well, little one, the birthgiving is about to start! I don't suppose you want to miss it." 

Sage nodded and climbed as close as she could get to the Fire of Life from on top of the Ring's canopy where a vine led. "Thanks," she called to Clover as the ceremony started.

"I got this male's blood a little while back," Current said, starting the introduction of the father of the new Young about to be brought into the world. "He seemed to like one of our members very much as she was very kind. A great Caretaker." He paused. "But she was lost during our last flight. On her I found this bottle. She must have been planning to request to use it once we were settled. But as she is now gone, we must pick another female from our family." The leader looked at the audience and his eyes rested on one member. It was a hunter, easily recognized by their posture. 

"Parsley," Current said. "This will be your last chance to pass on yourself before you become an elder. I'm sure your sister would have wanted you to do it if she didn't make it, which she didn't." His voice was emotionless and calm.

Parsley had declined every single offer given to her ever since she was born, so she wouldn't accept now, would she? But Parsley was hesitating, and she suddenly remembered Clover telling her how close Parsley and the lost female had been. 

Parsley's head swiveled, and suddenly her eyes locked with Sage's. Sage couldn't pull away from it,  the signature dark blue that marked someone as a Everfall member along with the dark red hair. Parsley's eyes were pleading, so desperate and confused. 

Sage tried to send Parsley a message, screaming "Yes! Please accept!" 

Parsley looked away from Sage, and for a second Sage feared she was going to decline. And Sage would have been so excited for nothing.

But the words that she heard said a quiet, stern "I accept."

Everyone was silent with shock as Parsley defiantly marched to the unlit ashes of the Fire of Life and took a piece of the rock. She scratched her forearm and let a drop of blood drip into the ashes. Then came the bottle's drop of blood.

The Fire roared into life the moment the second drop of blood touched the ashes. A second later, a bright light formed and the lifegiven Young was walking out. It was a female, her white gown complimenting her curious dark blue eyes, her hair faint from the mist and smoke as the fire vanished back into ashes as fast as it had started. Parsley opened her arms to greet her as the new Young walked out, then smiled faintly at the family, announcing the name. "Pine."

The entire family started to clap, then gasped suddenly. Parsley looked at Pine again and let go of her in shock.

Pine's hair, obscured by the mist and smoke earlier was clear to see now. And it was black. Not the dark red everyone had. Black.

There was only one case that could make an Everfall born from the Fire have this kind of odd quality. The new Young was cursed.

Sage wasn't sure why this was so horrifying, or what cursed even meant. But she felt bad for Pine, who wasn't getting the welcome a Young usually got. And her difference probably meant no one would like her.

Well, I will. I'll love her no matter what. Because no one deserves the discrimination she'll get.