Welcome to Ashes to Ashes, the second book in the How the Mighty Fall trilogy. If you're new, be sure to read How the Mighty Fall first; these stories are completely intertwined.


Water. The soft burble of a stream.

A slim shadow creeps through the tangled undergrowth, tail low, eyes narrowed, claws unsheathed.

Waiting. Watching. Healing.

It has heard many things from the forest, but so few things that it understands. A sparrow flitting by gives it no more than a passing glance, and dry grass crackles underfoot.

At least it understands that it is barely more than a ghost to this world.

Two familiar scents. Nearby.

The shadow doesn't want to meet its intended end.

It might anyway if it holds to this path.

A pair of green eyes.

Despite every sign that this task is a dangerous one, the shadow continues forward. It cannot surrender searching. It will follow its goal to the ends of the world, even though the way is most certainly perilous.

But it moves soundlessly along its path, never forgetting the conviction that brought it so far in the first place.

Vengeance.

It is alive, it has a trail to follow, and it will stare down a monster if it must.

Yet it is not alone.