Illustration by K. Ryan The clearing reeked of springtime. The air was warm, dotted with butterflies as they drifted from one bloom to another. The plum trees blossomed earlier than cherries, arching overhead in splashes of pink and white. A…

Illustration by K. Ryan When Chiyo awoke, she was only half-surprised to see she was alone. Faint trails of sunlight peeked in through the window slats, revealing a pointedly empty room. “Ugh,” she groaned, wiping a paw over her face.…