Before he ever met Siena, before he knew Foresthome even existed, Remi was an Aberration living under the iron-fisted rules of his tribe. Learn how a spirited and resourceful 12-year-old boy ousted his Plainsman oppressors in this prequel to the Forestfolk series. A little shoutout to maniacgirl for inspiring the title of this story. Though the events in this short story take place before Book 1 in the series, I recommend reading it AFTER you finish "Siena." I think it will be more satisfying that way, because then you'll understand the little Book 1 references I've planted here and there. Finally, the format of the title and cover for this story is different from the rest of the series. That's because I consider this to be bonus material rather than a continuation of the series. It's only 12 chapters long. I may change the cover at some point, but in the meantime, this is what I have. :)

Nirrin spends her days in Foresthome caring for orphans, getting into trouble, and listening to other people's adventures with secret envy. Which is why following an intriguing stranger into an unknown part of the forest seemed like a good idea at the time. Nirrin doesn't expect to find her missing parents among a band of odd-looking misfits, but family is family, right? Her hopes to reclaim the kin she'd lost are challenged, however, when she uncovers their violent plot against "Normals" like her. They'll make an exception for her (Nirrin has always been great at exempting herself from rules), but doing nothing would mean endangering her friends in Foresthome. She must stop these outcasts from--who is she kidding? She's a smart-mouthed girl with no special talents. What is she going to do, talk them to death? Maybe babysitting a bunch of other orphans in Foresthome wasn't such a bad deal after all.

Little Sember stole readers' hearts in "Siena." Join her now, ten years later, as she embarks on a quest of her own to save her people, and to finally accept her true self along the way. - - - Sixteen and struggling is not how Sember wants to describe herself. Born with the ability to conjure fire, every day is a challenge to keep the churning blaze within her under control. After nearly incinerating her parents at the age of six, guilt and doubt plague her at every turn. While the village's gifted healer is away, a mysterious disease sweeps through Foresthome, and people start dying. When her parents get infected and the resident herbalist has no solutions, she takes it upon herself to track the clues and locate the source of this unnatural plague. Joined by her brother and a handsome Iceling, they must unravel the mystery and face an unexpected enemy in the shadows. If they fail, the plague will engulf the world she knows, plunging it into dark times. Maybe a little fire is exactly what they need. --- Big thanks to @vexnir for illustrating this awesome cover.

Siena can heal wounds with a touch of her hands. A captive since birth, she is used as a tool of war by a Plainsmen tribe. A chance escape into the forest proves successful... and deadly. Rescued by the Forestfolk--a group of people she always thought were nothing more than bedtime stories--Siena remains on edge. Trust does not come easily when persecution is all she's ever known. Keeping her abilities a secret seems like the right thing to do, until a tragic accident renders two Forestfolk spiraling toward death. If she chooses to reveal her abilities, she risks being subjugated again. Treated as no longer human. Maybe even sent back to the Plainsmen. But keeping her talent to herself means ignoring the injured around her, even allowing them to die. The choice seems obvious to Siena, but living with the repercussions of that choice is another matter altogether. A journey of self-discovery, a bit of adventure, and a splash of romance. On the Wattys 2017 Shortlist!