Spark

Mina is certain that the festival should be canceled. However, when Pixit pushes her to do something about it, she doubts her capabilities. She is convinced that if she speaks up, it would result in her getting expelled while the festival will carry on anyway. When they get off the river ship, Papa is waiting for them. After Mina hugs her father, she speaks on Pixit’s behalf, and her father embraces Pixit, too. Again, Pixit urges her to speak out about the festival, but Mina stays quiet.

On their way home, Papa tells her that it is okay if she does not want to return to Mytris. When she remembers that she cannot create a spark, Mina tells him that she must “figure a few things out” (200). At the house, Orli dangles a ribbon from her talons for the twins to chase. Mina asks her father a hypothetical question, wondering what he would do if the game the twins played harmed other children. Without hesitation, he says that he would tell them to play a different game. Pixit commends Mina for starting to speak up.

Throughout her week at home, Mina continues to rationalize her silence.