Hello, faithful readers! Sorry I haven't updated (it's only been 11 days…). I've been busy with the start of the second semester at school. Thanks to everyone who reviewed/subscribed/favorited. I especially want to thank Laura for the awesome review! Hope this one's long enough for you :) Enjoy, everybody! -Ivy

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Written in Flame

Everything was black. Meggie floated along in the darkness, not feeling anything, and not wanting to, either. There was nothing, absolutely nothing, and it soothed Meggie's troubled mind.

A dull light invaded the darkness of Meggie's dream. The girl squeezed her eyes shut. She was hoping the darkness would last. Wishing the night would continue. Unwilling to let the dawn steal the dream away.

Rolling over, Meggie buried her face into the pillow, trying to force herself back into the darkness of her dream. It had not been a harsh darkness, or a scary one. It had been soft and comforting, like a big blanket. It had calmed her, controlling her emotions after so many long days of suspense and heartbreak.

Unfortunately, the light still penetrated. Meggie squeezed her eyes shut tighter, rolling over again. She squirmed, trying to stay comfortable.

A chattering sound made Meggie freeze. What the… ?

She untangled herself from her sheets, slowly opening her eyes. The room was blurry for a few moments ss her pupils resized to accommodate the lighting. Sitting up, Meggie rubbed her eyes. Her hands stopped when the chattering sound came again. That sounds like…

Meggie shook her head, her eyes still covered. Don't get your hopes up, she instructed herself. Slowly removing her hands from her face, Meggie let her gaze sweep the room. Although her hopes had not been high, her heart still dropped when she didn't see anything.

The chattering noise came again.

Meggie's head whipped to the side. Her eyes widened. I don't believe it…

Sitting on top of her desk, sat a marten. And not just any marten. Jink. His marten. Farid's marten.

Tears gathered in Meggie's eyes. She blinked them away angrily. No. Not again.

She stood slowly, her legs weak from having done nothing but sit for five days straight. Meggie approached the desk slowly, one arm extended. "Here, boy," she murmured, wiggling her fingers at the marten.

Jink scampered to the edge of the desk. He stretched out his neck and sniffed Meggie's hand. Instead of recoiling, as the marten usually did when it was anyone except his master, Jink licked Meggie's fingertips.

This brought a sad smile to Meggie's face. Of course, she thought. Of course he trusts me now… Now that there's no one else to take care of him. Now that Farid is… She blinked away more tears, not realizing they had gathered. Reaching toward the marten with both hands, Meggie whispered, "Will you let me…?"

Jink cocked his head to one side. He lifted on paw and set it on Meggie's finger. The girl nodded. "Yes, it's alright."

The marten scampered forward, curling up on Meggie's hands. The girl cradled Jink against her chest. She used to shoo him away when he tried to climb on her shoulder. But she didn't do that now. After all, the marten was all the girl had left of her lover.

Meggie gently stroked Jink's back. "I suppose we should go down and tell them, huh, Jink?" Meggie sighed. "Let them know I'm still alive and haven't died of a broken heart." Not dead, but the broken heart is there.

She reached the door before realizing she was still in her pajamas. Setting Jink gently back on the desk, Meggie quickly changed clothes. No reason to keep Mo and Resa waiting any longer. The sooner I do this, the better.

Scooping the marten up again, Meggie cradled Jink gently as she made her way down the stairs. When Meggie entered the kitchen, Resa looked up. Her mother must had noticed the marten, but chose to make no comment.

Meggie stood behind her chair. Mo looked up from across the table. He glanced at Jink, then back up at his daughter's face. He stared for a moment, then exchanged a glance with Resa. All the while, Meggie simply stood, waiting for someone to say something.

Mo slowly moved his book to one side, revealing a piece of parchment folded into thirds. Mo carefully lifted the parchment, holding it out to Meggie, who took it. Mo said, "Go upstairs and read it, Meggie." His face was grave. Meggie could guess what was in the letter.

"You opened my mail?" Meggie said, her eyes wide. Mo had never intruded on her personal life before.

"No!" Mo assured her. "The mailman told me what it was." He raised an eyebrow, making Meggie suspicious. She narrowed her eyes accusingly at him before turning to climb the stairs with the letter and the marten held tightly in her grip. The latter squirmed, climbing up the front of Meggie's dress to sit on the girl's shoulder. She patted Jink's little furry head.

After reaching the top of the stairs and closing her bedroom door behind her, Meggie's steps slowed. Although she could guess what the letter said, she was in no hurry to actually read the words. It would just make everything seem more real.

Sighing, Meggie placed the letter on her desk. Jink leaped from her shoulder, landing on his paws with a light thud. He scurried over to the letter. After sniffing it, Jink chattered at Meggie, placing a paw on the parchment. Meggie blinked at the marten. What is he doing?

Ignoring the marten, Meggie pulled out her chair and sat on it. Her hand hovered over the parchment. She really did not want to read it.

Jink bumped his head against her fingers. He chattered, almost sounding impatient. But that was impossible. He was a marten, for goodness' sake! Meggie wondered if her lack of sleep was not only giving her mood swings, but making her hear and see things, too.

"Why are you so eager?" Meggie growled at Jink.

The marten just chattered again, pawing at the parchment.

Meggie pulled it out from under Jink's paws. "Alright, I'll read it!" she exclaimed, a little louder than necessary.

"What was that, Meggie?" Resa shouted up from the kitchen.

"Nothing!" Meggie shouted back. She glared at the marten. "Look what you made me do!"

Jink chattered again. Now he really did sound impatient. I need to sleep more, Meggie though to herself. Or he's going to start speaking.

The girl shuddered at the thought. Turning her attention back to the letter, she picked at the wax seal. It bore an emblem she did not recognize. Probably Dustfinger or Roxane's symbol.

Once the seal was out of the way, Meggie hesitated. Two fingers gripped the top fold, ready to open the letter. But she did not want to open it. Jink chattered again. "Oh, shut up, you," Meggie muttered.

She slowly pulled open the letter, and began to read.