When Morning Felt Different

Mariza woke to the sound of heavy footsteps on the temple stones. Her wolf ears twitched as she heard El, Feather, and Clover returning from their trip to the village. She jumped from her bed, her ruby-covered pocket watch jingling against her black jacket.

"You're back!" Mariza called, running toward the main hall where golden sunlight streamed through tall windows.

El stood near the doorway, her massive frame casting a long shadow. The goddess of harvest looked down at Mariza with eyes that seemed colder than usual. "Move," El said sharply, pushing past her.

Mariza stumbled backward, confused. El never spoke to her like that. She looked toward Feather, whose golden-brown wings were folded tight against her back. The goddess of bardic music wouldn't even meet her gaze.

"Feather? What happened in the village?" Mariza asked.

Feather turned away without a word.

Clover, the youngest goddess of nature, sat in the corner picking at her fingernails. When Mariza approached, Clover's usual warm smile was gone.

Something was terribly wrong.

The Garden of Cold Hearts

Mariza spent the rest of the morning trying to understand what had changed. She followed El to the garden where the goddess usually tended her vegetable patches. Instead of her usual gentle humming, El yanked weeds with sharp, violent movements.

"El, did something happen in the village?" Mariza asked, stepping closer.

El's massive hand shot out and pinched Mariza's arm hard. "Stop asking questions," she growled.

Mariza yelped and stumbled backward, tears stinging her eyes. El had never hurt her before.

She found Feather in the music room, but the goddess with golden-brown wings sat silent at her harp, refusing to play. When Mariza tried to sit beside her, Feather stood up and walked away without a word.

Clover was no better. The youngest goddess sat by the fountain, staring at wilted flowers in her hands. Usually, Clover could make any plant bloom with a touch, but now the petals crumbled to dust between her fingers.

"Please talk to me," Mariza whispered.

Clover looked up with cold eyes. "Leave me alone."

Something terrible had happened in that village. Someone had poisoned her family against her.