The visions shifted again.
This time, they returned to the spirits.
The tiny spirits had not returned to the cavern for one reason.
They had been caught.
It happened while they were gathering food.
Humans found them.
The first humans other than the man in the cavern to ever see them.
For one breath, the humans only stared.
Then greed entered their eyes.
The spirits did not understand that look yet.
They only knew that something had turned wrong.
Earth tried to roll backward into the grass. A net woven with crude runes slammed over her.
Fire flared in panic, but a sealing jar swallowed the heat around her and forced her brilliance to dim.
Wind shot upward, quick and frightened, only for a weighted talisman to drag her down like a bird caught by invisible hands.
Water scattered into droplets, but the humans had brought a vessel lined with thirsty inscriptions. The droplets were pulled together and trapped before she could flee.
