Addi looked at him and cocked her head. “And?” she prodded.
“And… and I am going,” he conceded quickly, gesturing for her to back off before sticking his tongue out and winking at her.
“Wow, with maturity like that, no wonder she fell in love with you,” Addi whispered, rolling her eyes before going back to focusing on her dinner.
Wyatt stood and watched Nev for a moment. Dozens of small white moths fluttering all around the edges of their campsite had come out to enjoy an evening free from rain. Smiling, he watched as one landed on the ground in front of Nev and gently quivered its wings up and down. Wyatt focused, catching the light of the campfire on the moth’s wings. It suddenly glowed with bright reds, oranges, and yellows. The moth looked like a tiny flame dancing in the encroaching evening shadows. Without warning, the moth, as if on cue, flew up and landed gently on Nev’s hand. Wyatt pushed his thoughts and caused the light to glow even brighter.
Addi was watching the display and grinned to herself before going back to pretending like she was not paying attention to either of them.
The flash of light coming from the moth snapped Nev back into the moment. Unexpectedly, she found herself entranced by the small, winged insect. Gently she turned her hand from side to side, watching the light shimmer and dance on the moth’s wings.
Wyatt grinned and took a deep breath. The ground was instantly showered with the warm light of the fire as it danced on the wings of a dozen nearby moths.
Addi saw the flash of light and looked up at Wyatt and Nev. She knew her brother had special talents, but he rarely displayed them. He always said it made him feel awkward to use them. After she returned with her mark, he’d only hidden them more. Addi smiled at the sight of the moths. Mostly, however, she smiled at the sight of her brother feeling so at ease. She watched him grinning like a fool and chuckled softly to herself. Maybe I misjudged you, she thought, looking at Nev.
Nev gasped when the other moths began to glow. As the moth that was resting on her hand flew up to join the others, she simply stared in astonishment. Standing, wide-eyed, and smiling, she watched the beautiful glowing symphony that played all around her. Nev outstretched both arms and slowly began to twirl amongst the moths.
A memory from her childhood pushed into her thoughts. The purple butterfly she had often chased as a child danced in her mind’s eye, while Wyatt’s fire moths cavorted around her. In a flash, other thoughts raced through her mind: Nightlights from moonbeams, her father’s stars, warm air around her chilly hands, fire from tiny embers, and countless other “tricks” her father had performed to her young heart’s delight.
How had I forgotten? How did I not remember my father could make lights dance like Wyatt? That he was a…Tink, she thought. Nev stood still as her mind flurried. There had been so much she’d simply shut out and forced herself to forget those first few days, weeks, and months after her father’s death. The pain of her memories had been so intense. Survival had become her only focus, leaving little to no room to think about anything else. She’d let herself—made herself—forget. Now with memories swirling, she felt pieces of her life’s puzzle finally start to fit together. “I remember,” she noted, looking up at Wyatt in astonishment.
Wyatt had been entranced watching Nev dance among his moths. He could have watched her like that for hours or perhaps forever. Suddenly, he felt his concentration broken as Nev raced over and hugged him. “Remember what?” he inquired, searching Nev’s face for a clue as the moths all returned to their normal state. “What did you remember? Are you okay?” he asked, with growing concern.
Addi was now standing and watching the two of them closely.
Nev kissed Wyatt quickly and then grinned. “You showed me. I had made myself forget, but you and your wonderful moths reminded me,” she bubbled, almost bouncing with excitement.
Wyatt smiled at her and questioned, “So, I take it I helped you remember something good?”
Nev looked up at Wyatt and nodded emphatically, replying, “Yes!”
Shaking his head, Wyatt laughed heartily. “Well, good then,” he asserted.
Looking at him, Nev realized he had no idea what she was talking about. “I am sorry. I just got excited. I can explain,” she offered, still smiling.
Wyatt grinned at her and replied, “First, you never have to apologize to me for getting excited. Secondly, you are so damn adorable right now I can hardly think straight. So, you had better hurry and tell me whatever is on your mind before I lose all control and drag you off into the woods for a bit.”
Addi groaned with disgust and annoyance. “Really, you do realize your sister is right here?” she grimaced, sounding very perturbed.
Wyatt laughed and replied, “You are the one that insisted on coming along. Now, Nev… tell me what you’ve remembered.”
Nev felt her cheeks go red, but she was far too excited to reprimand Wyatt at the moment. “There was a purple butterfly that would always come and play with me as a child. I remember it glowing, just like your moths did. I remember other things now, too. ‘Tricks’ he did to make me happy. I had forgotten. I thought almost every minute had been spent training, but I was wrong. Those minutes spent training are just the minutes I didn’t forget,” she noted, sounding a bit sad for a moment.
Wyatt placed a hand on her cheek as he attempted to deduce what Nev was trying to tell him. Caressing her cheek softly with his fingers, he proposed, “You are talking about your father, aren’t you? Are you saying he was a… what? A Tink?”
Nev nodded. “Yes, I had
