Spark's island continued drifting through possibility.
Small.
Young.
Curious.
The emotional resonance spread softly across existence.
Because the island had started doing something unusual.
It was asking questions.
Golden leaves continued appearing upon the tree.
Each leaf showing a different possibility.
A different future.
A different path.
The island wasn't deciding.
It was wondering.
And somehow—
Everyone found that adorable.
The seed visited every day.
Mostly because it liked the tree.
And partly because it also liked asking questions.
The tree and the seed had become unexpectedly similar.
One morning—
Or whatever counted as morning beneath impossible skies—
The seed floated toward the island.
Immediately freezing.
OH.
Across the Wonder Fair—
Lyra sighed.
"There it is."
The emotional resonance prepared itself.
The seed pointed dramatically.
THE ISLAND MADE SOMETHING.
Absolute silence.
Everyone looked.
At the center of the island—
Near the stream—
