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Dear gods:

I know Leah said that the winikin should pick specific gods to write to, but it doesn't feel right.  I'm not a magic-user, not a Nightkeeper.  I'm just support staff.  I've done my best to protect, teach and guide my charges, even when we thought the barrier was closed, the end-time war averted.  Now that we know otherwise, it's all hands on deck as we try to stretch a dozen magi over the roles of hundreds, with too little information and not enough power. 

I'm afraid, gods.  I'm afraid it won't be enough, that I won't be enough.  I already called it wrong once- I told Strike to sacrifice Leah, leaned on him hard to do it.  Where would we be now if he'd listened?  Leah is good for him, and it's important for the others to see how their love increases his magic far and above that of the others.  Which leaves me. . . where? 

Then again, does it matter where I'm left?  Perhaps not.  The Nightkeepers are the key to the future, not the winikin.  Our job is to support and guide, and deliver a well-placed kick in the butt as needed.  The heavy lifting. . . that's up to the magi and their mates.  Gods willing, one of the other couples will find their way to hooking up.  Jade and Michael don't strike me as the right match, but Nate and Alexis. . . I have a feeling there could be something there.  Or maybe it's that they would've been perfect for each other if they had been raised as was meant, in the Nightkeeper way.  Given what happened, though, with Nate losing his winikin early on and winding up raised in foster care, then juvie and prison. . . maybe that's the end of it for them.  I'm not sure I see perfect-student Alexis going for the bad boy any more than she already has.  And that makes me feel old, and tired.

I dare not ask you for anything for myself, gods, because it wouldn't be appropriate.  So I'll ask on their behalf, instead.  Please do what you can to help Nate and Alexis find their way to each other.  It won't be easy, and deep down inside I suspect their paths have diverged too far for it to be possible.  But if they could come together as a mated pair. . . it would be a wonderful thing.

Aj winikin,

 Jox

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