* * *
Hazy sensation filtered its way through the soothing black abyss the spirit found itself in. A sensation of pain and sadness. In a panic, the willow fought its way back down into the abyss.
**You wanted life and you thought to cheat us for it.**
**No, I didn't want this. Not this way. Don't make me go back....**
**You ask us to undo what cannot be undone. Remember, the consequences you face are because of your actions.**
**No, please....**
**Now wake!**
The intense flood of pain caused eyes to fly wide open and a deep intake of breath. Clenched teeth barely held back the scream in her throat. A red haze seemed to cover everything and it took a while before her vision began to clear. Gathering what strength she could, she slowly sat up and look around. The entire area around her was scorched black. Only bones remained of the wolf.
A small hint of red caught her eye. It was the thread. She reached a hand over to pick it up but stopped when she saw the skin of her hand. She quickly grabbed the thread before inspecting her hand and arm closer. Hesitantly, the fingers of her free hand explored the skin of her face as well. As she feared, all her skin was the same; the same as the bark on the willow shell that once belonged to her.
In stunned curiosity, she began to examine the rest of her body. Her feet, she found, resembled roots and only a thought sent them burrowing into the ground, surprising her with a refreshing drink. Something else seemed different, but it took her a long time before she could figure out what it was. She wasn't breathing, well not in the normal sense anyway. The leaves adorning her head breathed for her.
Tears began to fill her eyes. So the Fates let her live but still held her tied to her wooden shell. Made to take sustanance from the ground and sun. Not allowed to even breathe as a human. She looked at the thread still held in her hand.
**I'm sorry,** she thought as she held it at her chest. **I will keep you safe.**
With that, she focused what energy she had and enveloped the thread within the wooden skin over her heart. As soon as it was settled within her, the thread seemed to warm. It became a small glowing presense within her.
**So your name was Devessa? Well, I will take that name to remember what I have done to you. I am so sorry my selfishness ended your life, child.**
The glow seemed to warm a bit more as a sense of understanding flowed through her. Devessa looked around.
**Let me clean this up and then we will find the one who is Spirit Touched.**
Carefully, she began to clean up the scorched grass as best she could and went around the grove tending each tree. The willow branches seemed to reach out to caress Devessa as she worked, as if happy the Great Willow was back.