The moon was nearly full. Torrential freezing rain and sleet hammered the walls. Nearly all of them had taken refuge in the girls' room that night, as it was the warmest. Through the mirror, Kolo watched Channei punch the sandbag. "I hate rain," Channei snarled.

Kolo cocked her head. "Go outside, then."

Channei half-laughed and half-barked. "I'd punch you right now if Lalek hadn't made you look so damn pretty."

Kolo ran a hand through her now much-shorter white hair. "I guarantee I'd punch you harder," she smirked. "Thanks again, Lalek. I've never really been good at cutting my own hair."

"Of course." Lalek beamed. "You'd better look fantastic for your second ascension, don't you think?"

Dakko mumbled something under his blanket.

Lalek turned. "What was that?"

Rizval interpreted. "He wants to know if you can cut his hair too sometime."

"Oh, sure." The muscular woman smiled. "Don't mind at all."

Kolo went over and sat down next to Dakko, pulling his blanket off enough that she could see his timid face. "Are you cold?"

Dakko averted his eyes. "I don't get cold."

She knew it was a lie. Azvalath had told Kolo earlier about how he'd found Dakko on the floor crying in pain, and how the poor boy's eyes had frozen shut with his tears. Even now, his cheeks were still red and inflamed. "You can be honest with us, you know."

Dakko pulled his knees in toward his chest. "But I'm not supposed to..." He paused and rubbed his hideously scarred neck. "If anyone knows I'm hurt, they'll only make it worse for me. Right?"

"No." Kolo shook her head. "Not us, we won't." She looked over to the corner where Azvalath and Ido sat playing a game. "You know, I used to think there were monsters here too."

Dakko looked over there too. "Really?"

"Hm." Kolo crossed her legs. "I think we're all a lot like you. A bunch of scared lost kids who'll do just about anything to stay alive."

The boy looked down. From the corner, Azvalath gasped and Ido burst out laughing. It was the first time Kolo had ever heard him laugh. Dakko's lips lifted in a small smile. Then he sighed an icy breath. "I am cold, actually."

"There we go." Channei gave the sandbag one last smack and then flopped onto her mattress. "I'm cold too."

Dakko gave a nervous chuckle. "I think we all are."

Kolo grabbed a blanket and pulled it around herself. Truth be told, she had never felt warmer than she did now.

A knock at the door startled all of them. "Hey, sorry, were we being too loud?" Lalek called.

"Oh, not at all." Master Qila came in with a stack of cups and a steaming pot of tea. She set them down on Channei's desk. "Sorry. I don't mean to intrude. Carry on." The old woman made a hasty exit.

"Thanks!" Kolo called, but Qila didn't respond.

"What's this?" Rizval got up to go sniff the teapot. "Oh, that's perfect. My favorite." They poured a cup and then took a long sip. "Everyone, it's the good stuff tonight."

Kolo came over and filled each cup, adding a little bit extra to her own. When she tried a sip, the taste was rich and earthy with a hint of warm spice. "That's really good," she agreed. "What did she brew it with?"

"You'll never get an answer on that." Rizval smirked. "She says it's top secret."

"Oh, the secret tea?" Azvalath got up from the game, clearly in the middle of his turn, if Ido's protest was any indication. "Can't say no to that."

"I know what it's made out of," Dakko piped up as Kolo brought him a cup.

Everyone turned to stare at him. Kolo's eyes narrowed. "How could you possibly know?"

He sniffed his cup and then smiled wide. "It's clearly made out of plants and hot water."

Laughter erupted all around. Kolo nearly spilled her tea. "You don't say?"

"No, it's also got milk in it," Channei corrected. "Probably to keep Master Xigon from stealing any."

Azvalath, Lalek, and Rizval all chortled at that. Seeing Kolo's confusion, Azvalath explained. "Master Xigon gets sick if he drinks milk."

"That's...really weird." Kolo tried to imagine it happening. "The man can stop your heart with his eyes but can't keep his milk down?"

Dakko looked bewildered. "You can't be serious." Then he took a sip of tea and his expression changed to one of pure delight. His shivering stopped at once. "Whoa, I'm not cold now!"

"Enjoy it, kid." Lalek plopped down on her mattress. "I sure would've appreciated this stuff last week. I almost got caught in a blizzard delivering that message."

"Almost," Kolo pointed out. "Can't believe it. Full moon is tomorrow night." Tomorrow would be her last day of helplessness.

"Hope you know that second ascension's not a walk in the sun," said Azvalath.

"Can't be worse than the first ascension." Kolo thought back to running from Azvalath that day, bleeding out in the cold rain after he'd finally caught her. "Or what, are you afraid I'll die or something?"

"Wouldn't be the first time." Azvalath bit his lip. "Yeah, I'm afraid. And reasonably so, I'd think." Some of the others nodded along with him. Channei in particular looked worried.

"Big bad Aza, scared?" Kolo tapped her foot and hummed. "Why's that?"

"You might not believe me. It's ridiculous, I know, but even though you've cost me my rank and my dignity," Azvalath admitted, "I've come to like having you around."

"Aww, who's a big sappy kittycat?" Rizval twiddled their thumbs. "Why can't we get any of that?"

Azvalath put his head in his hands. "This is why I usually avoid saying nice things, in case any of you were wondering."

Kolo cleared her throat and scowled.

"Right. Sorry." Azvalath looked down at the game. "You got me, Ido. Good job." He knocked his last piece off the board. "Anyhow, second ascension can go wrong in a lot of ways, especially if you aren't truly ready for it."

"I am ready," Kolo insisted.

"That's what they all say before it goes to hell," Rizval's tone darkened. "And we veterans have seen it go wrong an awful lot."

"So what happens, anyway?" Kolo cocked her head.

"You take an oath, they give you your last rites in case you don't survive, and then you see the blue eye again." Channei bit her thumbnail. "Not going to lie, I've never been able to watch without looking away."

"You won't look away tomorrow." Kolo tipped her chin up, determined. "Trust me. You won't want to. Going to make the big snake my bitch."

Azvalath looked taken aback. "Do you even know what you're saying?"

"Um...no, not really." Kolo shrugged. "But it'll be a night to remember, for certain."

"For better or worse." Channei fell back onto her pillow. "Say, Dakko, Ido – you joining in the ceremony?"

Dakko hugged his knees tighter.

"It's kind of a sore subject," said Ido. "To think we ever trusted that man..."

"I miss him," Dakko whimpered. "Why do I miss him? I shouldn't, not after everything he did to us."

"Feelings are funny like that." Kolo put a hand on Dakko's back. "You can't force them in or out, not really. Whatever's going through your head, it's allowed. Got it?"

The freezing boy nodded. His teeth clenched together. "I guess you're right."

"I know I'm right." Kolo gave him a pat. "In this instance, at least."

Azvalath got up and headed toward the door. "I'll be right back. Getting my bedroll. And the cat."

"Not sleeping in your own room tonight?" Kolo asked.

"Bunking here tonight." He brushed a strand of brown hair out of his face. "No way I'll get any sleep otherwise."

Kolo's eyes followed Azvalath as he left. Then she glanced at Channei. "Is that all right?"

"Totally fine. I joke about Aza being a creep, but he's really not." Channei sounded halfway asleep. "Man won't even take his shirt off in front of us, and he certainly isn't into women."

Kolo chuckled.

"I'm serious." Channei rolled onto her back. "Surely you've seen how he gets around a particularly striking man..."

Rizval cleared their throat. "This is not a conversation to be having behind kittycat's back." They got up as well. "Now don't be talking bad about me while I go get my blankie."

The shapeshifter sighed. "You did not just call it a blankie."

Rizval left without saying anything else.

As it turned out, no one had the nerve to gossip about Rizval.

Gradually, the room went quiet and the lamps burned out. Aza and Rizval came back. Jai-Lag came in at some point and curled up with Azvalath. Kolo and Channei eventually settled into their usual arrangement, with Kolo in Channei's bed and the shapeshifter snuggled up next to her as a small fluffy cat.

Kolo's sleep was deep and dreamless, but short. She woke up confused after a few hours, convinced she had slept the whole night, but it was still dark and quiet. Careful not to disturb Channei, she sat up and looked around.

Her eyes landed on Azvalath. He lay perfectly still, with Jai-Lag's enormous paw kneading on his chest, but his eyes were wide open. Not sure whether he was awake or simply asleep with his eyes open, Kolo whispered. "Psst. Aza, hey."

His head turned toward her. He put a finger on his lips. "Shh."

She got up and tiptoed over. "Why are you still up?"

He stared up at the ceiling. "I could ask you the same thing."

Kolo crouched next to him. "Can't sleep?"

"Nothing new," said Azvalath. "Always been a problem."

"I have an idea." Kolo leaned forward. "Use a command on me, will you?"

Azvalath raised an eyebrow. "Huh?"

"Trust me on this one," she insisted. "Just nothing too ridiculous."

He thought for a moment. "Now..." Azvalath hesitated. "Now pet Jai-Lag."

Kolo reached over and ruffled the sabretooth cat's fur. Jai-Lag stretched, yawned, then fell back asleep, paws still kneading with whatever happy dream she was having. Then, feeling confident, Kolo turned back to Azvalath. "Now sleep."

He was out like a candle dropped into water.

The storm only strengthened as the night crawled on into the next day. That cold night and dark day blended together. They stayed in that room together all the while, hiding from their masters and the world beyond. To everyone's surprise, Qila and Xigon allowed it, only disturbing them to bring them food or another pot of tea, or the occasional dose of painkillers for Dakko. It was a day with no obligations. A day to simply live. At least until the sky cleared and the masters came to tell them it was time.

[29] Kolo: Warmth in the Darkest Place

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