Like many of the children surrounding her, Ashe had no idea what was going on. She didn't understand why her parents had dropped her off here and not returned yet, or what she was doing in this place in the first place. She knew nothing about magic or the trees that the old man kept going on about. She certainly didn't know that the new friend she had made, the girl who's hand was clutched in her own, would die just ten short years later. All she truly knew right now was that she was tired from so much walking.

The old man finally stopped and started talking to them. He used a lot of big words that she didn't understand, but she thought he said something about them watching something and not getting in the way. Then they started walking again, but only for a short time more. They stopped again on the edge of a clearing, where there were more people. She didn't understand the beauty of the tree, or why the people were dancing around the tree, or what the glowy lights were. All she saw was some silly adults doing silly adult things. When the old man asked them what they thought, Ashe was completely silent. But several people around her collapsed into fits of giggles. Including the girl who's hand she was still holding.

"We walked all this way, for that?" Ashe said finally. "It was just some silly grown ups." She didn't understand the importance of what she saw, and wouldn't for several more years. For now, she just sat on the ground next to the girl, tired and more than a little cranky.