CHAPTER 1 It is a clear night and a full moon and starry sky light up the sparse woods as much as the dying campfire does A couple of hours ago the fire had been roaring in front of the squat wood cottage set among dozens of cottages just like it in these woods Now it’s late and most of the residents who live in this tiny forest village have gone to bed Only some of the young villagers are still awake They’re mostly teenagers old enough to stay up even when the wolves begin to howl and young enough to stay up without feeling tired the next day But there’s one person awake who is one of the oldest villagers She’s been living in the village as long as any of the other villagers can remember Longer even No one knows how old she is at least eighty some of the adults say
