A soft whisper grew into a shout and I was moving before the last word finished.Theo ran with me. "Ryn who is calling like that?""Someone on the south path. We get there fast."Elyra and Lira joined us mid-run. "We heard the shout," Elyra said.Lira added "Kaelan and Seri are already on the way."We found a small group under the trees. One person leaned against a trunk shaking hard. Their leader looked at me. "Ryn the heat came without warning. We need the talk and the touch now."I stepped close. "Tell us what you need.""Join us. Speak while we move. That is the only way."Theo said "We do it now. Everyone stay and talk."Clothes came off quick. I pulled Theo against me. "You ready love?""Ready. Start with me then we open," Theo answered.I slid into Theo. "Feel that? Steady. Tell me how it is."Theo spoke clear "Good. Full. The heat feels less when you talk. Keep going Ryn."A group member asked Seri "Can I touch you?"Seri said "Yes. Tell me what you want.""Your hands on me. S

The ground under my feet jumped and I was already running before the second tremor hit.Theo stayed right beside me. "Ryn that was strong. You feel it too?""Yes. Something is wrong outside. We go now."Elyra and Lira met us in the hall. "We felt the tremor," Elyra said.Lira added "Kaelan and Seri are already at the south gate."We reached the open ground. A mixed group stood in a loose circle looking shaky and pale. Their leader saw me and called out. "Ryn the tremor brought the heat with it. We cannot calm it alone. Help us."I stepped close. "Tell us what you need.""Join us. Speak while we move. That is the only way."Theo said "We do it now. Everyone stay and talk."Clothes came off quick. I pulled Theo against me. "You ready love?""Ready. Start with me then we open," Theo answered.I slid into Theo. "Feel that? Steady. Tell me how it is."Theo spoke clear "Good. Full. The tremor feels less when you talk. Keep going Ryn."A group member asked Seri "Can I touch you?"Seri said "

The second the door shut behind the group I felt the heat still burning under my skin and I knew sleep was not coming tonight.Theo pulled me close right there in the hall. "Ryn they left but the spark did not fully leave me. You feel it too?""Yes. Stronger than before. We need each other now."Elyra stepped out of the side room with Lira right behind her. "We heard your voices. The calm is holding but something new is waking up."Kaelan and Seri came from the yard. Kaelan spoke first. "I cannot sit still. My body wants more of the talk and the touch."Seri nodded fast. "Same here. Ask me. Tell me what you need."I looked at all of them. "We stay together tonight. No one goes alone. Speak every step."Theo already had my shirt open. "I want you inside me again. Harder than this afternoon. Say you will.""I will. Tell me how you want it.""Against the wall first. Then we open the circle."I pushed Theo to the wall. Clothes hit the floor in seconds. I slid into them slow at first. "You

The second voice at the gate made my blood run hot before I even saw the face.A woman stood there, hair messy from the walk, eyes bright. “I heard the talk from the road. The heat pulled me. Can I come in?”I stepped forward first. “Name. Then say what you want clear.”“Nia. I want the same fire you all have. Skin and words. Please.”Theo stayed close to my side. “Ask proper, Nia. We answer the same way.”Nia nodded. “Can I join the group? All of you. I need touch and talk right now.”Seri answered quick. “Yes if you keep every word honest. No quiet moves.”Kaelan looked her over. “We do the same. Clothes stay on until someone says otherwise.”Elyra touched Lira’s arm. “You good with a new one?”Lira said “Yes. Let her closer.”Vex stood a little behind us. “I just got here this morning. Same rules for me.”I waved Nia in. “Gate stays open for honest voices. Tell us the first thing you need.”Nia stepped onto the grass. “I want someone’s hands on me. Then more. Ask me anything.”Theo

The fourth voice came just after the sun touched the trees.We stood together and walked to the open gate. A woman waited there, hair loose, breathing hard from the walk. “I heard the talk from the road. The heat pulled me. Can I come in?”I stepped forward first. “Name. Then say what you want clear.”“Mira. I want the same fire you all have. Skin and words. Please.”Theo stayed close to my side. “Ask proper, Mira. We answer the same way.”Mira nodded. “Can I join the group? All of you. I need touch and talk right now.”Seri answered quick. “Yes if you keep every word honest. No quiet moves.”Kaelan looked her over. “We do the same. Clothes stay on until someone says otherwise.”Elyra touched Lira’s arm. “You good with a new one?”Lira said “Yes. Let her closer.”Vex stood a little behind us. “Same rules for me.”Nia and Joren both nodded. “Same for us.”I waved Mira in. “Gate stays open for honest voices. Tell us the first thing you need.”Mira stepped onto the grass. “I want someone