The care with which Naiobe slides the tip of the knife into the grooved wood could perhaps be considered gentle, if she weren't cutting it. Still, she only caresses with the sharp blade at first, knocking free whatever dried sap clings to the wound from yesterday. With her free hand, she caresses the healed edges of the mark, taking a few seconds to admire it before she applies pressure to the knife.<br/><br/>Slowly, carefully, she reopens the gouges at the bottom, ingraining her mark deeper into the wood, making certain that the tree doesn't heal it over...