"Food, medicine, repairs, clothing, firewood, and so much more," Faela thought to herself as she walked back toward the church, the weight of the few supplies she had managed to buy straining her arms. The meager donations they'd received over the past few days barely covered this much.

  As she trudged along the worn path, leaves of red, orange, and yellow filled her sight, swirling around her like dancers announcing the coming of winter. Cold gusts of wind stirred the fallen leaves, carrying with them the sharp, smoky scent of distant fires.

  'I'll have to request more funds,' she mused grimly, 'but with the church’s situation, I doubt we'll see a single coin before next year...'

  As heavy as the supplies were, Faela kept imagining the children's faces lighting up as they gathered around her, eager to see what small treasures she had brought. The thought gave her weary steps a sliver of strength, enough to push onward as the last of the sun dipped below the hills and the night's chill crept over the world.

  The path ahead narrowed, weaving through patches of brittle grass and fallen leaves. Twilight deepened into dusk, washing the world in shades of gray and blue. Faela adjusted the strap of her pack without slowing, the quiet crunch of her boots the only sound that kept her company.

  The faint cry drifted on the wind — so soft, at first, she thought it might have been a bird, or a trick of her mind.

  'I have to hurry... Staying in the forest after dark, especially this season, is dangerous,' Faela thought as she pressed onward, the last light of the sun sinking behind the trees.

  The cry grew louder with every step, pulling her deeper into the woods. Her heart hammered in her chest as she pushed through the thinning underbrush, until at last she stumbled into a clearing.

  At its center stood a massive maple tree, its gnarled branches spread wide against the darkening sky.

  Under the massive maple tree, the cause of her foolish trip into the forest lay nestled between the thick roots — a small, gray bundle, barely large enough to be called a child. It shifted and whimpered, the soft sounds too loud in the silence, sure to draw the attention of anything nearby, beast or monster alike.

  Sensing someone nearby, the child fell silent. When Faela finally came close enough, she caught sight of a pair of silver eyes staring up at her through the gloom.

  Captivated, she knelt down and carefully lifted the tiny bundle into her arms.

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  "So small," she thought, her chest tightening as she gazed at the baby's delicate face. "Who would leave a child here? It's dangerous for most adults — a death sentence for someone this small!"

  A distant howl shattered the heavy stillness, snapping Faela out of her thoughts. Heart pounding, she glanced sharply around the clearing, searching for any threat. Seeing nothing, she clutched the child tighter to her chest and quickly began retracing her steps back through the darkening woods.

  Finally, she reached the spot where she had left her supplies, but realized she had a problem.

  "I can't carry the child and the supplies," she thought, frowning. "I'll have to ask the older children to come back for them — if it's not too dark by then."

  Decision made, Faela shifted the sleeping bundle in her arms and hurried toward the church, keeping a constant, worried eye on the child's small face. Now warm and safe, the baby slept peacefully, making soft, contented noises.

  After what felt like an eternity, the familiar silhouette of the church came into view. Faela opened the old rusted gate into the courtyard with a loud grating creak. At once, the children and the other nuns rushed toward her.

  "Sister Faela! What did you bring? Show us! Show us!" the children cried.

  "Sister Faela, we were worried! What took you so long? What happened to the supplies?" called the other nuns.

  Faela, laughing breathlessly, held up a hand."Give me a second to catch my breath!"

  As she steadied herself, she scanned the crowd until she found two of the older children.

  "Osric! Garin!" she called. "I need you to run back to town — about three miles, just past the bend. I left the supplies there. If you go quickly, you should be able to return before dark. Go now — we'll save you some dinner!"

  Watching Osric and Garin run off, one of the nuns asked,"Sister Faela, what's going on? And what are you holding?"

  Finally breathing normally, Faela turned to the children and the nuns and began telling her story."On my way back, I suddenly heard a cry..."

  She told them how she had followed the sound into the forest, through the gathering gloom, until she found the baby lying alone under the great maple tree. A collective gasp rose from the listeners.

  The children erupted, shouting,"Baby! Baby! Baby!" while the nuns began whispering among themselves.

  "A baby?!" one murmured. "Who would leave a baby in the forest?"

  "Another mouth to feed," another added grimly.

  Faela raised a hand to quiet them."The baby is sleeping. You can take a look later. For now, go wash your hands and get ready for dinner — it's almost time."

  Turning to the nuns, she added,"We'll talk about it later. First, we need to get inside and make sure the baby's all right. I didn't have a chance to check."

  As the group began filing back toward the church, Faela lingered a moment longer. She turned to glance back at the darkened forest, then down at the small bundle in her arms.

  The baby was awake now, silent but staring at her with those same luminous silver eyes. Faela sighed, the weight of the world pressing faintly against her heart.

  "It's going to be okay," she murmured, and stepped into the light of the church.