The ring finger on his left hand was missing, lost along with his gold wedding band in an incident years ago—an event he had never fully explained.

Collected together for the first time, here is the entirety of “The Bluebirds Were Her Friends” by Gaylen J. Pruitt!

“A few weeks later Zareen left the cottage, too. She had packed a bag and ventured deep into the jungle, only to return a few hours later. She looked stunned, her expression distant as she reverently stroked her stomach with her fingertips. Mrs. Bluebird recognized the signs immediately: Zareen was pregnant. She shared the news with her husband, who was surprised but trusted his wife’s discerning eye regarding such matters…”

“From its high perch, the Tash Snake laid eyes on a new opportunity. A bear had emerged from the trees, lumbering toward the garden where Zareen hummed to herself, gathering vegetables. With her head bowed and her mind filled with hopeful daydreams, she was oblivious to the massive predator’s approach. The snake watched with cold anticipation…”